Top 2017 World Championship Pokémon Decks

The 2017 Pokémon World Championships was a thrilling event, showcasing incredible skill and innovative deck strategies. Analyzing the decks used by the top players provides valuable insights into the metagame of that time and can still offer lessons for deck building today. Let's dive into some of the most successful decks from the 2017 World Championships.

Masters Division Champion: Gardevoir-GX

The deck that took home the top prize in the Masters Division was Gardevoir-GX, piloted by Diego Cassiraga. This deck was all about accelerating energy and hitting hard with Gardevoir-GX's powerful attacks. The core strategy revolved around using the Secret Spring ability of Tapu Lele-GX to attach Fairy Energy from the hand to Gardevoir-GX, quickly powering it up.

Consistency was key to this deck's success. It included multiple copies of draw Supporters like Professor Sycamore and N to ensure a steady stream of resources. Trainers' Mail helped search for crucial Trainer cards, while Ultra Ball and Rare Candy facilitated the evolution of Ralts into Gardevoir-GX as quickly as possible. The deck also incorporated tech cards like Parallel City to disrupt the opponent's board and control the game's tempo.

What made this deck so strong? First, Gardevoir-GX's Infinite Force attack could do incredible damage, scaling up with the number of energy attached to both Active Pokémon. Combined with Choice Band, this could easily knock out even the toughest opponents. Second, the deck had a built-in healing mechanism with Max Potion, allowing Gardevoir-GX to stay in the game longer. Lastly, the ability to stream Gardevoir-GX attackers made it difficult for opponents to keep up. The Gardevoir-GX deck was a force to be reckoned with due to its damage output, consistency, and ability to disrupt opponents. This deck was built around speed and power, and it truly exemplifies the aggressive strategies of the 2017 metagame. The list's inclusion of tech cards and emphasis on consistency highlight the importance of adaptability in high-level competitive play. This deck remains a testament to the power of well-constructed offense and solid energy acceleration.

Masters Division Runner-Up: Greninja BREAK

The runner-up in the Masters Division was Greninja BREAK, played by Ryan Allred. This deck was a stark contrast to Gardevoir-GX, focusing on disruption, spread damage, and clever use of abilities. Greninja BREAK was designed to overwhelm opponents with constant damage and prevent them from setting up their own strategies.

The primary attacker was Greninja BREAK, whose Giant Water Shuriken ability allowed the player to discard a Water Energy card to put 6 damage counters on one of the opponent's Pokémon. This ability, combined with Moonlight Slash, which did 60 damage and allowed the player to return an Energy attached to Greninja to their hand, made for a disruptive and resourceful strategy. Cards like Bursting Balloon further increased the spread damage potential, punishing opponents for attacking into Greninja. The deck also used Shadow Stitching Greninja to shut down opponent's abilities.

Greninja BREAK's strength lay in its ability to control the pace of the game and disrupt the opponent's plans. Cards like Enhanced Hammer helped to discard Special Energy, while Crushing Hammer disrupted basic Energy attachments. This energy denial, combined with the constant spread damage, put immense pressure on the opponent. Moreover, the deck had great matchups against popular Pokémon like Volcanion-EX, which struggled against Greninja’s water-type attacks. The deck relied on a strong understanding of the metagame and an ability to adapt to different matchups. By disrupting the opponent's energy and spreading damage, Greninja BREAK could slowly grind down even the most powerful attackers. The runner-up decklist highlights the effectiveness of control-oriented strategies and the importance of understanding the metagame. Greninja BREAK was a true testament to the power of strategic disruption and careful resource management.

Senior Division Champion: Decidueye-GX / Vileplume

The Senior Division saw a victory for Decidueye-GX / Vileplume, played by Zachary Bokhari. This deck archetype was all about locking down the opponent's Items while dealing consistent damage with Decidueye-GX's Feather Arrow ability. It was a control-oriented deck that aimed to create a resource denial scenario for the opponent, hindering their ability to respond effectively.

Decidueye-GX's Feather Arrow ability allowed the player to place two damage counters on one of the opponent's Pokémon, and this ability could be used multiple times per turn with multiple Decidueye-GX in play. Vileplume's Irritating Pollen ability prevented both players from playing Item cards, which shut down many common strategies. Trainers like Professor Sycamore and N were still crucial for draw power, but the Item lock made it difficult for opponents to use cards like Ultra Ball and Rare Candy. The synergy between Decidueye-GX and Vileplume was the cornerstone of the deck's success.

This deck's strength came from its ability to completely shut down certain strategies. Decks that relied heavily on Items, such as many evolution-based decks, struggled to function against Vileplume. Decidueye-GX's consistent damage output, combined with the Item lock, made it difficult for opponents to recover. The deck required careful management of resources and a deep understanding of the opponent's strategy. By denying the opponent access to Items, Decidueye-GX / Vileplume could control the pace of the game and slowly whittle down their resources. The Decidueye-GX/Vileplume deck demonstrates the power of control-based strategies and the importance of disrupting the opponent’s setup. Its victory underscored the effectiveness of resource denial and consistent damage output in competitive play. Overall, it showcased the potent combination of strategic disruption and consistent damage output, making it a formidable force in the Senior Division.

Junior Division Champion: Tapu Koko / Vikavolt

The Junior Division was won by Zachary Livingston playing Tapu Koko / Vikavolt. This deck utilized the speed and energy acceleration provided by Tapu Koko and Vikavolt to deliver quick and powerful attacks. The deck's core strategy revolved around getting Vikavolt into play as quickly as possible to use its Strong Charge ability, which allowed the player to attach a Lightning Energy and a Grass Energy from their deck to their Pokémon.

Tapu Koko's Flying Flip attack did 20 damage to each of the opponent's Pokémon, which set up knockouts for later in the game. Vikavolt’s powerful attacks, combined with the spread damage from Tapu Koko, created a formidable offensive threat. The deck also included support Pokémon like Tapu Lele-GX for consistency and draw power. Trainers like Ultra Ball and Rare Candy helped to accelerate the evolution of Grubbin into Vikavolt. The goal was to overwhelm the opponent with quick attacks and efficient energy management.

The strength of this deck lay in its speed and consistency. Vikavolt's ability to accelerate energy made it possible to power up attackers quickly, while Tapu Koko's spread damage softened up the opponent's board. The deck was relatively straightforward to play, making it a great choice for younger players. The Tapu Koko / Vikavolt deck was a testament to the power of speed and efficient energy acceleration. Its success highlighted the importance of a well-rounded strategy that combines early game pressure with late-game power. By combining speed, consistent damage, and strategic energy acceleration, the Tapu Koko/Vikavolt deck achieved great success in the Junior Division. This victory emphasizes the significance of straightforward strategies and efficient energy management, making it a potent force in the competitive scene.

Key Takeaways from the 2017 World Championship Decks

Analyzing the 2017 World Championship decks reveals several key insights into the metagame of that time:

• Consistency is Crucial: All of the winning decks emphasized consistency, using multiple copies of draw Supporters and search cards to ensure a steady stream of resources.
• Energy Acceleration is Key: Efficient energy acceleration was a common theme, allowing players to power up their attackers quickly and apply early pressure.
• Disruption Can Be Effective: Decks like Greninja BREAK demonstrated the power of disruption, using cards to deny energy and prevent opponents from setting up.
• Metagame Awareness is Important: The best decks were often those that were well-positioned against the popular archetypes of the time.

These lessons are still relevant today. Understanding the metagame, building a consistent deck, and having a clear strategy are all essential for success in competitive Pokémon. By studying the decks of past champions, players can gain valuable insights into the art of deck building and improve their own gameplay.

Final Thoughts

The 2017 Pokémon World Championships provided a fascinating look into the competitive scene and the innovative deck strategies that emerged. From the powerful Gardevoir-GX to the disruptive Greninja BREAK and the control-oriented Decidueye-GX / Vileplume, the winning decks showcased a diverse range of approaches to the game. Guys, these decks highlight the ever-evolving nature of the Pokémon TCG and the importance of adaptability, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of the metagame. By learning from these champions, aspiring players can refine their deck-building skills and strive for success in their own competitive journeys. So, keep these strategies in mind and good luck in your future battles! Remember, whether you're aiming for the top spot or just having fun, the most important thing is to enjoy the game and the community around it.