Thread: Which deck should I pick?

Okay, i'm getting into these Pokemon TCG now and I decided that I wanted to buy a B&W deck. Which deck should I choose and why? I'm having a hard time with choosing which deck. Please help? (:

You don't actually use these premade decks for play because they're usually crap.

Originally Posted by Bloop

You don't actually use these premade decks for play because they're usually crap.

Really? I just need a starter deck to start with for a beginner.

it depends on your other cards, really. None of them are really useful though. BTW this should be in simple questions.

If you don't have card yet, buy a tin or booster packs first. For tins I suggest the Zekrom and/or Reshiram ones. If you go for the Reshi one, you could buy the Emboar deck or another fire themed deck from HGSS on to get you started. That's what I did, Reshi decks are pretty good....

You could buy a starter deck, then buy about 10 boosters, then reselect the cards in your deck.

Originally Posted by Kameinu

If you don't have card yet, buy a tin or booster packs first. For tins I suggest the Zekrom and/or Reshiram ones. If you go for the Reshi one, you could buy the Emboar deck or another fire themed deck from HGSS on to get you started. That's what I did, Reshi decks are pretty good....

Thanks! I should buy a Reshi tin and the emboar deck.

The only deck remotely worth buying is probably the Emboar one, since Emboar is remotely playable.

Experienced players stay away from tins and premade decks because they're extremely inefficient cost-wise. With a tin, you're paying for extra packaging and a promo card (Reshiram is actually good, though). With a deck, you're paying for bad Pokemon, bad Trainers, and Basic Energies you can pick up online at a fraction of the cost. I could probably find someone to sell you a complete Red Frenzy deck for like $7 shipped because they already have all the bad cards needed to make it.

I don't even tell new players to buy decks, because they give you a warped perception of what the game is actually like. Red Frenzy has 29 Pokemon, 18 Energies, and exactly 2 Supporters. You will almost never find a competitive player using under 10 Supporter cards in a deck. You will almost never find a competitive player using 29 Pokemon or 18 Energies in a deck. Professor Juniper and Pokemon Communication, both of which are included in the Red Frenzy deck, are useful cards, but not worth the $12 or whatever you'd pay for it.

You're always better off buying boosters. Even if you don't pull great stuff, there's not much of a chance it will be as bad as the stuff you'll get from the theme deck. Just my two cents.

Originally Posted by Politoed666

The only deck remotely worth buying is probably the Emboar one, since Emboar is remotely playable.

Experienced players stay away from tins and premade decks because they're extremely inefficient cost-wise. With a tin, you're paying for extra packaging and a promo card (Reshiram is actually good, though). With a deck, you're paying for bad Pokemon, bad Trainers, and Basic Energies you can pick up online at a fraction of the cost. I could probably find someone to sell you a complete Red Frenzy deck for like $7 shipped because they already have all the bad cards needed to make it.

It really depends. Lately I've been better of buying $15.00 tins at KMart that bring 4 booster packs than individual, $5 booster packs in most stores.

But I agree 100% percent on everything else. Theme decks tend to be horrible, and nowadays, ridiculously overpriced in most places. TRU has te Emerging Powers ones for 20 dollars, wtf?

If you're buying $5 packs, you're getting destroyed.

Reputable online stores have them for $2.50. Local game shops have them for $3.50-ish.

I think the retail price is $3.79.

Originally Posted by Bloop

I think the retail price is $3.79.

Tell that to K-Mart and TRU.

Originally Posted by Politoed666

If you're buying $5 packs, you're getting destroyed.

Reputable online stores have them for $2.50. Local game shops have them for $3.50-ish.

Which? I haven't come across one that sells below $4.00. And just yesterday I found out a game store opened in my area, and it's only been around for barely two months.

Lowest I've seen in store is $3.79. Most large chain stores go with $4. (TRU and Kmart are notorious for overpricing though, especially TRU). If you cant get access online, buy from either a local hobby shop, or Meijer Target or Walmart. Also, the bigger stores usually have a bigger selection if you are looking for promos/tins/decks/etc.

In England, TRU is the cheapest. There's TRU for £3.50 and HMV for £4.00 (Around $6.40).

Originally Posted by Bloop

In England, TRU is the cheapest. There's TRU for £3.50 and HMV for £4.00 (Around $6.40).

thats pretty bad...