Dockery's Domain & Range

by Dalen Dockery on PokéBeach.com
(original can be found here with paywall required for full view)

Editor's Note: Dalen Dockery, from Sevierville, Tennessee, was 17 years old at the time of this writing (2016) and had been playing the TCG competitively since 2008. About two months after writing this, Dockery placed third at the Dallas, Texas Regionals using a Mega Gardevoir deck. Dalen went on to become a mathematician, so the name of this section is a nod in that direction. In mathematical terms, "domain" is the set of all possible input values for which a function is defined whereas "range" is the set of all possible output values produced by the function as per the domain.

The Volcanion/Volcanion-EX (VVEX) deck focuses on rapid, high-damage output, utilizing "Baby" Volcanion to accelerate Energy and Volcanion-EX's "Steam Up" Ability to boost damage. Key strategies involve using three or four slots for versatile Stadiums like Parallel City or Scorched Earth, three to four cards for switching, and a heavy three or four card investment in Energy recovery like Energy Retrieval to maintain momentum.

The article highlights three Volcanion deck variants, including a consistent traditional build, a high-speed Max Elixir version, and a damage-efficient Bursting Balloon variant. Key techs like Hex Maniac and Spinda enhance adaptability, while strategies for facing M Mewtwo-EX and Yveltal focus on managing Ability-lock and utilizing optimal damage output. Volcanion decks can defeat Vileplume Toolbox by targeting the Fire-weak Vileplume and Pokémon Ranger to neutralize Jolteon-EX. Against Gyarados, success relies on using "Baby" Volcanion, Bursting Balloon, and Spinda to mitigate the Type disadvantage, whereas defeating Greninja requires early aggression and chaining Hex Maniac to block Giant Water Shuriken.

The author concludes that the deck is highly versatile, powerful and competitive with winnable matchups across the board. Its only major obstacle to becoming the absolute best deck in the format is the lack of Tool removal cards, which forces players to knock out Garbodor directly to stop its Ability-locking effect.

Editor's Addendum: The release of new cards led to the further refinement of this deck, with cards like Wela Volcano Park (DRM), Scorched Earth (FCO), Giant Hearth (CEC), Welder and Fire Crystal (UNB), Blacksmith (FLF), and Kiawe (BUS) becoming useful additions when allowed in gameplay. These cards provide a way in which to quickly add Fire Energy to your Pokémon as well as keep in play Special Condition Burned. New Volcanion and Volcanion-EX cards have been released in the ten years that have elapsed since this was originally published.

An XY—Steam Siege Set Review
Originally published July 31, 2016

by Dalen Dockery on PokéBeach.com
(original can be found here with paywall required for full view)

Steam Siege significantly altered the 2016 Pokémon World Championships metagame by introducing new, highly competitive cards. Key strategies from the set include Yanmega BREAK's free attacking capability with Forest of Giant Plants, Volcanion-EX's damage-boosting "Steam Up" Ability for Fire decks, and high-damage scaling of Xerneas BREAK. The set also introduces key tactical Supporters, with Ninja Boy enabling surprise Basic Pokémon swaps for high-value plays and Pokémon Ranger acting as a versatile counter to lingering attack effects like Item-locks. While marking a historic, early legal release, the set's immediate impact is primarily driven by these Trainer cards, with most new Pokémon positioned for relevance post-rotation.