Abomazong (TCG): Difference between revisions

{{DeckInfobox

|types={{e|Water}}{{e|Psychic}}{{e|Fighting}}

|cards={{TCG ID|Stormfront|Abomasnow|12}}, {{TCG ID|Majestic Dawn|Bronzong|16}}, {{TCG ID|Great Encounters|Claydol|15}}

'''Abomazong''' is currently a popular competitive deck in the [[Pokémon Trading Card Game]].  The deck is a favorite among competitive players for its ability to spread damage quickly ''and'' make a big hit if need be. Since the deck was just recently developed and has only seen use in the relatively small [[Premier Events (TCG)#City Championships|City Championships]] series of {{TCG|Premier Events}}, it is unknown if the deck will continue to prove effective in larger, more significant tournaments.

Although the exact origin of the deck is unknown, the first well-known player to effectively use the deck was [[Jimmy Ballard]].  A challenge to players to build a deck using {{TCG ID|Stormfront|Abomasnow|12}} appeared on the [[Banginboards]], Ballard's TCG discussion forum, and the best combo appeared to be with {{TCG ID|Majestic Dawn|Bronzong|16}}.  Since the deck's key card, {{TCG ID|Stormfront|Abomasnow|12}}, was only recently released in the {{TCG|Stormfront}} expansion, Abomazong has had few chances to win major tournaments, but it has had a strong showing lately and has proven to be a top-tier deck.

Abomazong has a seemingly straightforward strategy, but in reality it is a deck with many options and often overlooked strategic advantages over other current archetypes.

The basic, solid strategy of Abomazong centers purely around spreading damage with {{TCG ID|Stormfront|Abomasnow|12}}'s '''Snow Play''' attack and {{TCG ID|Majestic Dawn|Bronzong|16}}'s '''Pain Amplifier''' attack.  Snow Play does 20 damage to the Defending Pokémon and 20 damage to each of the opponent's non-{{e|Grass}} or -{{e|Water}} Pokémon, all for an Energy Cost of {{e|Colorless}}{{e|Colorless}}.  Provided Abomazong is not facing a water- or grass-centric deck, this is a very powerful spread effect.  The second key part of the assault is {{TCG ID|Majestic Dawn|Bronzong|16}}'s '''Pain Amplifier''' attack.  Pain Amplifier is a free attack that places one damage counter on each of the opponent's Pokémon that already has damage counters on it.  For no energy cost, this is a very strong follow up to Snow Play.  Another reason {{TCG ID|Majestic Dawn|Bronzong|16}} is used is for its '''Cursed Alloy''' {{TCG|Pokémon Power|Poké-Power}}.  Cursed Alloy states that "As long as {{tt|Bronzong|this Pokémon}} is your Active Pokémon, put 1 damage counter on each of your opponent's Pokémon that has any Poké-Powers between turns."  This simply piles on damage to Pokémon already ailing from Snow Play and Pain Amplifier, and it is helpful against most decks since most decks utilize many Poké-Powers, such as those of {{TCG ID|Great Encounters|Claydol|15}} and {{TCG|Legends Awakened|Uxie|43}}.

Although the deck's basic strategy centers around Snow Play, Pain Amplifier, and Cursed Alloy, Abomazong is far more versatile than the average spread deck.  It needs to be, since Snow Play is ineffective on {{e|Grass}}- and {{e|Water}}-type Pokémon.  And spreading damage is unproductive against decks using high-HP Pokémon.  Abomazong has other ways of dealing with decks like these.

When facing a deck where its typical strategy is ineffectual, the focus of Abomazong shifts toward {{TCG ID|Stormfront|Abomasnow|12}}'s '''Below Zero''' attack and {{TCG ID|Majestic Dawn|Bronzong|16}}'s '''Coating''' attack.  Below Zero does 60 damage for {{e|Water}}{{e|Colorless}}{{e|Colorless}} and reads that "if {{tt|Abomasnow|this Pokémon}} evolved from Snover during this turn, the Defending Pokémon is now {{TCG|Paralyzed}}."  60 damage is decent alone, but the Paralyzation effect makes Below Zero a real threat in some situations.  It can buy Abomazong one additional turn to set up, while stalling the opponent's strategy by denying them an attack.  {{TCG ID|Majestic Dawn|Bronzong|16}}'s Coating attack does 60 damage for {{e|Psychic}}{{e|Colorless}}{{e|Colorless}}, and reduces damage done to {{TCG ID|Majestic Dawn|Bronzong|16}} during the next turn by 20.  This is great for stalling and doing decent damage at the same time.

*{{TCG ID|Stormfront|Abomasnow|12}} - The main attacker in the deck, chiefly uses its ''Snow Play'' attack to spread damage to all the opponent's Pokémon.

*{{TCG ID|Majestic Dawn|Bronzong|16}} - Supports Abomasnow with its ''Pain Amplifier'' attack and ''Cursed Alloy'' [[Pokémon Power|Poké-Power]] to help further spread damage after the initial onslaught by ''Snow Play''.

*{{TCG ID|Great Encounters|Claydol|15}} - Uses its ''Cosmic Power'' Poké-Power to allow the player to draw several new cards each turn.

*{{TCG ID|Stormfront|Snover|74}} - Chiefly used for evolving into {{TCG ID|Stormfront|Abomasnow|12}}.  Can also stall with its ''Hide'' attack.

*{{TCG ID|Majestic Dawn|Bronzor|52}} - Chiefly used for evolving into {{TCG ID|Majestic Dawn|Bronzong|16}}.

*{{TCG ID|Great Encounters|Baltoy|60}} - Only used for evolving into {{TCG ID|Great Encounters|Claydol|15}}.

*{{TCG ID|Legends Awakened|Spiritomb|16}} - Used to increase damage already caused by ''Snow Play'' with its ''Cursed Breath'' Poké-Power.

*{{TCG ID|Legends Awakened|Azelf|19}} - Uses its ''Time Walk'' Poké-Power to root needed Pokémon out of the Abomazong player's prizes.

*{{TCG ID|Secret Wonders|Bebe's Search|119}} - Simply used to search for whatever Pokémon the player may need at any given time.

*{{TCG ID|Secret Wonders|Roseanne's Research|125}} - Searches for {{TCG|Basic Pokémon}} and/or {{TCG|Energy Cards}}.  Very useful.

*{{TCG ID|Secret Wonders|Professor Oak's Visit|122}} - Functions as a simple drawing card.

*{{TCG ID|Mysterious Treasures|Team Galactic's Wager|115}} - Used to refresh the hand and possibly gain hand advantage.

*{{TCG ID|Majestic Dawn|Dusk Ball|80}} - Good card to search Pokémon without using the {{TCG|Supporter card}} for the turn.

*{{TCG ID|Legends Awakened|Poké Radar|133}} - Same use as Dusk Ball.

*{{TCG ID|Majestic Dawn|Warp Point|88}} - Extremely useful for field control and swapping out heavily damaged Pokémon.

*{{TCG ID|Stormfront|Luxury Ball|86}} - Like {{TCG ID|Secret Wonders|Bebe's Search|119}} except not a Supporter; can only be used once per game, though.

*{{TCG ID|Secret Wonders|Night Maintenance|120}} - Recycles Knocked Out Pokémon and Energies back into the deck.  Useful for obvious reasons.

*{{TCG ID|Great Encounters|Moonlight Stadium|100}} - Counters other {{TCG|Stadium card}}s such as {{TCG ID|Legends Awakened|Snowpoint Temple|134}}.  Also provides {{TCG ID|Majestic Dawn|Bronzong|16}} with free retreat.

*{{TCG ID|Majestic Dawn|Call Energy|92}} - Useful in the early game for setting up.

*{{TCG ID|EX Holon Phantoms|Water Energy|107}} - Used to power {{TCG ID|Stormfront|Abomasnow|12}}'s ''Below Zero'' attack.

*{{TCG ID|EX Holon Phantoms|Psychic Energy|109}} - Used to power {{TCG ID|Majestic Dawn|Bronzong|16}}'s ''Coating'' attack.

{| {{graytable}}

|- style="background: #eaeaea;"

| 3x || {{TCG ID|Stormfront|Abomasnow|12}} || {{e|Water}} || {{Rar|Rare}}

|-

| 3x || {{TCG ID|Stormfront|Snover|74}} || {{e|Water}} || {{Rar|Common}}

|-

| 3x || {{TCG ID|Majestic Dawn|Bronzong|16}} || {{e|Psychic}} || {{Rar|Rare}}

|-

| 3x || {{TCG ID|Majestic Dawn|Bronzor|52}} || {{e|Psychic}} || {{Rar|Common}}

|-

| 2x || {{TCG ID|Great Encounters|Claydol|15}} || {{e|Fighting}} || {{Rar|Rare}}

|-

| 2x || {{TCG ID|Great Encounters|Baltoy|60}} || {{e|Fighting}} || {{Rar|Common}}

|-

| 1x || {{TCG ID|Legends Awakened|Spiritomb|16}} || {{e|Psychic}} || {{Rar|Rare}}H

| 1x || {{TCG ID|Legends Awakened|Azelf|19}} || {{e|Psychic}} || {{Rar|Rare}}

|-

| 4x || {{TCG ID|Secret Wonders|Bebe's Search|119}} || T || {{Rar|Uncommon}}

|-

| 4x || {{TCG ID|Secret Wonders|Roseanne's Research|125}} || T || {{Rar|Uncommon}}

|-

| 3x || {{TCG ID|Secret Wonders|Professor Oak's Visit|122}} || T || {{Rar|Uncommon}}

|-

| 2x || {{TCG ID|Mysterious Treasures|Team Galactic's Wager|115}} || T || {{Rar|Uncommon}}

|-

| 4x || {{TCG ID|Majestic Dawn|Dusk Ball|80}} || T || {{Rar|Uncommon}}

|-

| 3x || {{TCG ID|Legends Awakened|Poké Radar|133}} || T || {{Rar|Uncommon}}

|-

| 2x || {{TCG ID|Majestic Dawn|Warp Point|88}} || T || {{Rar|Uncommon}}

|-

| 1x || {{TCG ID|Stormfront|Luxury Ball|86}} || T || {{Rar|Uncommon}}

|-

| 1x || {{TCG ID|Secret Wonders|Night Maintenance|120}} || T || {{Rar|Uncommon}}

|-

| 1x || {{TCG ID|Great Encounters|Moonlight Stadium|100}} || T || {{Rar|Uncommon}}

|-

| 4x || {{TCG ID|Majestic Dawn|Call Energy|92}} || E || {{Rar|Uncommon}}

|-

| 6x || {{TCG ID|EX Holon Phantoms|Water Energy|107}} || E || {{Rar|Common}}

|-

| 5x || {{TCG ID|EX Holon Phantoms|Psychic Energy|109}} || E || {{Rar|Common}}

|}

*{{TCG ID|Great Encounters|Unown G|57}} - Some player may choose to use this card as a counter to decks that focus on placing damage counters, such as {{TCG ID|Stormfront|Dusknoir|1}} variants.

All the cards in '''Abomazong''' are currently legal in [[Pokémon Organized Play]].

{{Project Decks notice}}