Table of Contents
Introduction
Welcome to my Marowak ex Sandslash Deck Guide for Pokémon TCG Pocket! This deck aims to punish your opponent's slow start or long-game strategy with a1-138-sandslash and a1-153-marowakex taking the helm. Do you want to play a somewhat fast tempo-aggro deck in this game? This might be the deck for you.
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Deck List
Core Cards
These are the core cards for the deck (best to have 2 copies of each in the deck):
- a1-151-cubone
- a1-153-marowakex
- a1-137-sandshrew
- a1-138-sandslash
- a1-198-farfetchd
Sandshrew/Sandslash
This Pokémon can really destroy mono lightning decks on it's own once it gets going earlier on. 2-energy for 70 damage and with 100 hp is really strong if your opponent fails to evolve their Pokémon or build their board state to a comfortable level. Against most lightning type Pokémon, a1-138-sandslash deals a whooping 90 damage which enables it to stand toe-to-toe against a a1-96-pikachuex. Note that a1-138-sandslash has 100 hp and can survive 1 round against a fully charged a1-96-pikachuex (unless they have a1-223-giovanni in hand).
Cubone/Marowak-ex
This Pokémon packs a punch if it successfully hit that double heads coin flip. 160 damage for 2-energy is too fast and can take out a tanky Mewtwo ex early in the game to make your opponent concede the match. Although there is a probability for a1-153-marowakex to deal 0 damage during a bad match, I find myself consistently hitting 80 damage with this card.
Farfetch'd
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a1-198-farfetchd is a solid basic Pokémon that uses 1-energy to deal 40 damage. On a good day, a Farfetch'd can provide 80 damage in 2 turns before your a1-153-marowakex or a1-138-sandslash finishes the job. This Pokémon also serves an important role to be a placeholder Pokémon at the Active Spot while you setup your Sandslash or Marowak EX.
Marowak-ex Sandslash Deck Guide
If you're playing this deck, always remember that losing a a1-198-farfetchd or a a1-138-sandslash will only give your opponent 1 match point. Thus, I always play a1-153-marowakex when the opponent already secures 2 points from knocking out my 1-point-Pokémon twice. Usually at that point, I've already secured 2 points myself and Marowak ex is just there to be a finisher.
Going second with this deck places you in a very strong position as all your basic Pokémon in this deck only requires you to have 1 energy to start putting pressure on your opponent's active Pokémon. Additionally, if you're able to evolve a a1-137-sandshrew to a1-138-sandslash or a a1-151-cubone to a1-153-marowakex in the next turn, you're already pass halfway winning the match already.
Finally, the Pokémon in this deck only requires 1 energy to retreat with exception to a1-138-sandslash. Since all pokemon used has very low energy requirement to attack, your opponent's a1-225-sabrina or a1-188-pidgeot play are rendered useless during the mid-game or late-game phase of the match when all your benched Pokémon are equipped with energy already.
Match-ups and Strategy
These are general strategies that work well against specific decks, though many of them can be applied more broadly across other matchups too.
Playing against Pikachu ex decks
Your fighting type Pokémon basically deal +20 damage to most electric type Pokémon. If you manage to find a1-153-marowakex early, that's 100 damage for a single head flip and will most likely seal you the game from the get go.
If your opponent plays a1-104-zapdosex at the start, your a1-137-sandshrew can deal 10 damage before evolving into a a1-138-sandslash to deal another 70 damage. When their Zapdos ex is ready to attack and knock out your Sandslash (for 1 point), you'll be in a position to use your a1-198-farfetchd to secure 2 points.
Playing against Mewtwo ex decks
Most players will setup a1-129-mewtwoex at the Active Spot and a a1-130-ralts at the bench. Most players will retreat their a1-129-mewtwoex if it gets hit by a a1-138-sandslash for 70 damage or a a1-153-marowakex for 80 damage. If this happens, just shift between your Pokémon and attack the second a1-129-mewtwoex for 70-80 damage trading 1 point match point with 2 match points.
Playing a a1-225-sabrina is a very good strategy if your opponent's benched a1-130-ralts is within 1 hit K.O. by a Sandslash early in the game, crippling their deck strategy at the same time. It's usually a 50-50 against this deck bu since you're playing a somewhat "aggro" deck that creates problems for them to solve, don't feel too bad losing to a1-104-zapdosex decks.
Playing against Articuno ex Decks
You either lose because they high roll a a1-220-misty or they get beat down by your 'aggro' deck. If they fail to have successful flips or even fail to draw a1-220-misty, it's an auto-win for you since you're dishing out consistent damage from the beginning of the match.
Marowak-ex Sandslash Deck Weaknesses
- This deck losses hard against grass type decks that utilizes big heals to drag the match to late-game phase.
- Failing to secure a win during the early to mid-game phase will usually end in defeat against decks that plays big heavy hitting Pokémon like a1-36-charizardex or a1-185-dragonite.
Closing
Your strategy remains simple: attack your opponent and use X-speed to gain an extra 1-2 turns. Set up your Sandslash early to deal 70 damage, and use Marowak ex to deal 80-160 damage against opponents that Sandslash can't one-shot. Don’t worry about going down 2-1 or 1-0. You only need to eliminate one EX Pokémon to turn the game in your favor. Most EX decks will crumble once their main damage dealer is knocked out. Thanks for reading my Marowak ex Sandslash Deck Guide!
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