Follow The Xerneas Road!

Hello!! And we are here to talk about one of the most hyped decks this year, and that deck would be, Rainbow Road. I will talk about the other Xerneas-Box, another time.

Anyway, Rainbow Road started as a 'Rogue' deck earlier this year, but is now Tier 1, one of the best selections for 2016-2017 now, because there are more EX decks to plunder, and, besides, you gotta admit, it's artwork just looks cool!

Rainbow Road

Pokemon: 17

4 Xerneas

2 Pawniard

2 Bisharp

2 Joltik

2 Galvantula

1 Volcanion-EX

2 Shaymin-EX

2 Mew

Trainers: 33

2 Sky Field/Fairy Garden

4 Professor Sycamore

2 N

2 Lysandre

1 Teammates

2 Fighting Fury Belt

2 E.X.P. Share

4 Ultra Ball

4 VS Seeker

4 Max Elixir

3 Trainers' Mail

1 Special Charge

1 Escape Rope

1 Super Rod

Energy: 10

6 Fairy Energy

4 Double Colourless Energy

I loooove Xerneas, and I loooove this deck, haven't played it yet, so this is my preferred list, but I've seen this deck in action, so, don't think of me as an amateur or anything. :)

Now, to start the matchups, and the card decisions for this deck.

Why no Float Stone, Olympia, OR Switch?!

I have Escape Rope, but, I see the point, and I don't all at the same time. The highest Pokemon retreat cost in this deck is Volcanion-EX, and that's relying you don't start with it, or prize it, or need it. For instance, you're versing Mega Rayquaza, Do you think they are going to target ONLY your Shaymin's? No, they will also target Volcanion-EX, and you shouldn't have to play it down against it, and if you do start with Volcanion-EX however, you have Double Colourless Energy, Special Charge to recycle them, and the 1 Escape Rope.

A 2-2 Galvantula line? Why? And isn't that inconsistent, and clunky?

Well, this is a misprint, because the first attack actually's supposed to read:

For one colourless energy attack cost.

This attack does 30 damage to 2 of your opponents BENCHED Pokemon.

Also apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokemon.

This attack is pretty good against any deck that plays Shaymin-EX, as you can target two Shaymin's at once, and threaten the next turn Knock out on one of them, and it's a dual type, why not play it to increase your damage output? Also, Clunky? Not really, ask any Zoroark/Vespiquen/Zebstrika/Raichu/Yanmega player! :)

I've also left the choice of Sky Field or Fairy Garden, but my preference, to ensure OHKO's on Mega's, you need Sky Field, but you also need Fairy Garden to retreat any of your Pokemon for no retreat cost, which is efficient, but doesn't ensure 100% of the time any OHKO's on any Mega's you know? So that decision is up to preference, and the player. :)

Meanwhile, here are the Matchups:

Rainbow Road V Dark-Box

Rainbow Road V Mega Sceptile

Rainbow Road V Xerneas

Now, this is easy, knock out their Giratina, then Shaymin, THEN knock out their Xerneas. But, if they Giratina early, and you haven't set up well, you could very much lose.

Xerneas: 75%

Rainbow Road V Vespiquen

You are very unstable when it comes to your opponent OHKOing your Pokemon, and to top it off, targetting your unpowered up Xerneas, and when you Mew, and they still do the same, and then, they knock out your Shamin-EX!! This is your overall worst matchup.

Vespiquen: 10%

Rainbow Road V Mega Mewtwo

Rainbow Road V Yanmega

They are slower, can not OHKO your main attackers, and you can use Galvantula on benched Yanmega's, to finish them off! And, though they can play down Bursting Balloon, you can setup several Xerneas, before you have too much of a problem!

80%

Rainbow Road V Vileplume-Box

Rainbow Road V Mega Scizor

Now, this, is your worst, worst, worst matchup, they one hit knock out all of your Pokemon, they discard energy from your board, and your stadium! And, they resist your Xerneas, and that overall sucks! but this doesn't mean you can't sneak in a win, knocking out a Mega Scizor-EX per turn, will definetely guarantee you the win, but that's if their setup is rocky, and that they haven't discarded all your Pokemon/energy by then!

Mega Scizor: 10%

Rainbow Road V Quad Zoroark

Well, thank you for staying and reading this all the way through, I very much appreciate it!! Also, comment down below what I should change in this post, or how a few of these matchups would go! That too, would be absolutely awesome!!