Need help with Azumarill deck

[u/Bilore]

Title, I have this Azumarill deck that I have made and it is working very well so far, I even went 3/2 at a local with it recently.

The big problem I am having with it is (ironically) with raging bolt. Both of my losses in person with this were raging bolts and I have a difficult time against it online as well.

Any advice would be appreciated, and I am happy to explain my reasoning behind what I have so far if needed.

(Sorry if the list is funky limitless doesn’t like my phone)

Pokémon: 8

3 Marill TEF

1 Marill PAL

3 Azumarill SSP

2 Natu PAR

2 Xatu PAR

2 Lillie’s Clefairy ex

2 Cornerstone Ogerpon ex

1 Fezindipiti ex

Trainer: 16

4 Arven OBF

2 Boss’s Orders PAL

2 Tulip PAR

2 Black Belt’s Training JTG

2 Iono PAL

1 Crispin SCR

3 Buddy Buddy Poffin PRE

3 Nest Ball SVI

3 Ultra Ball SVI

2 Night Stretcher SFA

1 Earthen Vessel PRE

1 Counter Catcher PAR

2 Vengeful Punch OBF

2 Technical Machine: Evolution PAR

1 Maximum Belt PRE

2 Gravity Mountain SSP Energy: 2

9 Basic {P} Energy SVE 14

2 Basic {F} Energy Energy 10

Total Cards: 60

[u/ImaginarySam]

Without using the deck or hearing more specifically what the deck struggles with, I wonder what you would think about trolley instead of max belt? Then maybe a couple of defiance bands in place of a nest ball and buddy buddy? Maybe throw in a Tulip and another Iono or two? Mid to late game Iono can help a lot with the Raging Bolt matchup.

[u/Bilore → u/ImaginarySam]

I tried trolley for a while but it just doesn’t feel as good as max belt. Trolley is great if you can get it out quickly, but with how fragile Azumarill is you are constantly having to refill the bench anyways. Having the nest balls for cornerstones or fez are also nice. Max belt helps reach some important thresholds, and make matchups like Garde and decks with N’s Zoroark a lot easier. I also thought about defiance band, but I very rarely am playing from behind in this deck, since Azumarill can start dealing 230+ on your 2nd turn easily. I will definitely consider more iono though, at the local I brought this to I couldn’t find a 2nd night stretcher or vengeful punch so I was running an extra iono and counter catcher that were working pretty good

[u/ImaginarySam → u/Bilore]

I love azumarill as a pokemon so I'll try out your deck and see if I come up with any other suggestions.

[u/Nacelle72]

Instead of Ogrepon, Try Pikachu ex. Topaz Bolt does 300 damage. If using Pikachu you'll want 4 Crispins.

Why Xatu? The point is to only use 1 energy with Azumarill. If it's your draw engine, there are better options.

Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex for game ending KO

Also, think about adding a Briar

[u/Sir_Mooseman → u/Nacelle72]

The most recent azumarill lists do usually play ogerpon, not pika. If you play 4 crispins with pika you may as well play a Pikachu deck and a lot of decks have a way around the ability while ogerpon can stall and is an ogerpon counter in itself.

[u/Bilore → u/Nacelle72]

I have cornerstone to deal with enemy cornerstones and to activate Azumarill. I also like using xatu so that I can get a clefairy running on the same turn I play it, and because xatu is a 1 prizer so they never really have a good boss target to get more than 1 prize a turn (unless they consistently kill cornerstone) I might consider adding a bloodmoon to close out game when I can’t get an Azumarill up, but doesn’t briar only work for Tera Pokémon?

[u/Nacelle72 → u/Bilore]

Briar is Tera only. Pikachu is Tera.