PLEASE STAND UP! M&M is back like he never left – the archetype that is.
What’s good, Cut or Tap subs! Back with poetic justice, I have an overview of Meloetta/Mew (which I will refer to as M&M) with some interesting meta information that should help you understand why such an old archetype has taken over this new format. I’ll share some data from the 2021-2022 season, as well as some old ideas that show just how close our meta is shifting to the past.
The last time we chatted, I left advice on the new archetype Arc/Dura/Umbreon. I’m pleased to say I was right on its viability in the Scarlet/Violet meta, as it had numerous placements that I will now list. Between three major events (Hartford Regional, Malmo Regional, and SPE Buenos Aires), this archetype cleaned up an astounding 1200 Championship Points, with pilots such as Owyn Kammerman, Ryan Harris, and “The Dura Demon” Christian Labella. Arc/Dura has not seen success at this magnitude since its creation; it was capable of winning tournaments but never has the deck’s success been so high.
I want to pose a question to those reading this: “Why is Arceus doing so well now, when before rotation it was effectively a dead archetype?” The answer is quite simple actually: Consistency. Loathing the boredom of basic decks has brought the format to an interesting place, to where I’ll now quote a dear friend, Kiernan Wagner: “The format has come to choosing between a consistent deck that has no stones, and a stones deck that has no consistency.” In a not-so-distant past, Arceus was the king of the format, winning Regional after Regional with various partners. For me, I’ve never understood why so many disrespected the strength of Starbirth until recently.
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