Sword & Shield—Chilling Reign

Basic Strategy

Play down and evolve both Cherubi and Grookey into Cherrim and Rillaboom, respectively. Use Cherrim’s Spring Bloom ability to flood your side of play with Grass Energy, attaching any Grass Energy that aren’t necessary to use Rillaboom’s attacks to your benched Pokémon. Use Rillaboom’s Raging Repeated Strike attack to knock out your opponent’s Active Pokémon. When Energy is in play, but a Rillaboom isn’t ready, instead attack with Shaymin {*} and its Flower Storm attack.

Key Cards

• Rillaboom CRE 18

• Cherrim BST 8

Other Considerations

• Building with Rowlet & Alolan Exeggutor-GX UNM 1 instead of Rare Candy.

• Rosa, in addition to Bruno, as an option to rebound after one of your Pokémon is knocked out.

• Snorlax VIV 131 or Cinccino SSH 147 as alternate draw engines for the deck, in place of or in addition to Jirachi VIV 119, Dedenne-GX UNB 57, Crobat V DAA 104, and Oricorio-GX CEC 95.

Example Deck List

Pokémon - 21
4 Grookey SSH 11
1 Thwackey SHF 12
3 Rillaboom CRE 18
3 Cherubi BST 7
3 Cherrim BST 8
2 Jirachi VIV 119
1 Dedenne-GX UNB 57
1 Mew UNB 76
1 Oricorio-GX CEC 95
1 Shaymin {*} TEU 10
1 Tapu Bulu BST 16

Trainer Cards - 28
4 Marnie CPA 56
3 Bruno BST 121
2 Boss's Orders RCL 154
4 Quick Ball SSH 179
4 Rare Candy SSH 180
3 Pokémon Communication TEU 152
2 Air Balloon SSH 156
2 Ordinary Rod SSH 171
1 Energy Recycler GRI 123
3 Turffield Stadium CPA 68

Energy - 11
11 Grass Energy SWSHEnergy 1

Basic Strategy

From turn 1, draw for and search out Stadium cards with Stadium Nav and discard them at every opportunity, using Dedenne-GX’s Dedechance ability, Professor’s Research, Hapu, and Quick Ball. Play down Castform’s various forms as necessary, typically preparing to attack with either Castform Snowy Form or Castform Sunny Form, but using Castform Rainy Form to build up a bit of chip damage or to finish off an opponent’s benched Pokémon. Use Martial Arts Dojo in conjunction with an attached Fighting Energy to get a boost to Castform’s damage output.

Key Cards

• Castform Sunny Form

• Castform Snowy Form

• Stadium Nav

• Hapu

Other Considerations

• Using Peony in place of or in addition to Hapu.

• Oricorio-GX to draw additional cards when one of your Pokémon is knocked out.

Example Deck List

Pokémon - 17
3 Minccino SSH 145
3 Cinccino SSH 147
3 Castform Snowy Form CRE 34
3 Castform Sunny Form CRE 22
1 Castform Rainy Form CRE 33
1 Dedenne-GX UNB 57
1 Galarian Zapdos V CRE 80
1 Marshadow UNB 81
1 Mew UNB 76

Trainer Cards - 40
4 Professor's Research CPA 62
3 Boss's Orders RCL 154
3 Hapu UNM 200
4 Level Ball BST 129
4 Quick Ball SSH 179
4 Stadium Nav UNM 208
2 Ordinary Rod SSH 171
1 U-Turn Board UNM 211
4 Martial Arts Dojo UNB 179
4 Old Cemetery CRE 147
4 Path to the Peak CRE 148
3 Power Plant UNB 183

Energy - 3
3 Fighting Energy SWSHEnergy 6

Basic Strategy

Going second, play down Volcanion as your Active Pokémon and play down Larvesta on the Bench. Use Volcanion’s Flare Starter attack to place Fire Energy on the benched Larvesta to prepare them to attack after they evolve into Volcarona on your following turn. Use a combination of the Flare Starter start, Welder, and manual attachments to prepare Volcarona to attack and take knockouts using its Fire Spin attack. As needed, lean into Reshiram & Charizard-GX and use its Counter, Flare Strike, Double Blaze-GX attacks to melt through your opponent’s defenses.

Key Cards

• Volcarona CRE 24

• Volcanion UNB 25

• Welder

• Giant Hearth

Other Considerations

• Victini V SSH 25 as an additional secondary attack and as a means of powering up benched Volcarona toward the end of the game.

Example Deck List

Pokémon - 14
4 Larvesta CRE 23
4 Volcarona CRE 24
2 Volcanion UNB 25
1 Crobat V DAA 104
1 Dedenne-GX UNB 57
1 Mew UNB 76
1 Reshiram & Charizard-GX UNB 20

Trainer Cards - 35
4 Welder UNB 189
3 Boss's Orders RCL 154
4 Pokégear 3.0 SSH 174
4 Quick Ball SSH 179
4 Switch SSH 183
3 Pokémon Communication TEU 152
2 Escape Rope BST 125
2 Fire Crystal UNB 173
2 Ordinary Rod SSH 171
2 Reset Stamp UNM 206
1 Evolution Incense SSH 163
1 Pal Pad SSH 172
3 Giant Hearth UNM 197

Energy - 11
11 Fire Energy SWSHEnergy 2

Basic Strategy

Play down Scorbunny and evolve it into Cinderace SSH using Rare Candy to get it out and attacking as soon as possible. Using discarding options like Quick Ball, Professor’s Research, and Giant Hearth, get a few Fire Energy into your discard pile early so you can take advantage of Cinderace’s Libero ability to attach them to Cinderace. Use a combination of U-Turn Board and Recycle Energy to cycle through multiple Cinderace and use its Flare Striker attack to take knockouts against opposing Pokémon. Later on in the game, use Cinderace CRE’s Fireball Shot, whose damage will then be significantly boosted by Cinderace’s Crisis Power ability, to finish off your opponent’s Pokémon.

Key Cards

• Cinderace SSH 34

• Cinderace CRE 28

Other Considerations

• Snorlax VIV 131 or Cinccino SSH 147 as alternate draw engines for the deck, in place of or in addition to Jirachi VIV 119, Dedenne-GX UNB 57, Crobat V DAA 104, and Oricorio-GX CEC 95.

Example Deck List

Pokémon - 16
4 Scorbunny SSH 30
2 Raboot SSH 32
3 Cinderace SSH 34
1 Cinderace CRE 28
2 Jirachi VIV 119
1 Crobat V DAA 104
1 Dedenne-GX UNB 57
1 Mew UNB 76
1 Oricorio-GX CEC 95

Trainer Cards - 37
4 Marnie CPA 56
4 Professor's Research CPA 62
2 Boss's Orders RCL 154
2 Rosa CEC 204
4 Quick Ball SSH 179
4 Rare Candy SSH 180
3 Level Ball BST 129
3 Switch SSH 183
2 Evolution Incense SSH 163
2 Ordinary Rod SSH 171
2 Pokémon Communication TEU 152
2 U-Turn Board UNM 211
3 Giant Hearth UNM 197

Energy - 7
4 Fire Energy SWSHEnergy 2
3 Recycle Energy UNM 212

Basic Strategy

Fill your bench and evolve Kubfu as quickly as you can so that each of your Pokémon in play is a Rapid Strike Pokémon. Then, use Rapid Strike Energy to power Rapid Strike Urshifu’s Rapid-Fisted Rush attack, which does 30 damage for each Rapid Strike Pokémon you have in play—up to 180 damage with a single hit. Combine that damage with Inteleon CRE’s Quick Shooting ability to take knockouts or use Boss’s Orders to pick on your opponent’s vulnerable benched Pokémon.

Key Cards

• Rapid Strike Urshifu CRE 44

• Inteleon CRE 43

• Octillery BST 37

• Rapid Strike Energy

Other Considerations

• Brawly to quickly bench multiple Rapid Strike Pokémon at once.

• Basic Water Energy as a Ordinary Rod-recoverable means of powering up Rapid Strike Urshifu’s attack.

Example Deck List

Pokémon - 23
4 Kubfu CRE 93
4 Rapid Strike Urshifu CRE 44
4 Sobble CRE 55
3 Drizzile SSH 56
3 Inteleon CRE 43
2 Remoraid BST 36
2 Octillery BST 37
1 Falinks BST 83

Trainer Cards - 29
3 Bruno BST 121
3 Professor's Research CPA 62
2 Boss's Orders RCL 154
2 Korrina's Focus BST 128
2 Marnie CPA 56
4 Quick Ball SSH 179
3 Evolution Incense SSH 163
3 Level Ball BST 129
3 Rare Candy SSH 180
1 Ordinary Rod SSH 171
1 Reset Stamp UNM 206
2 Tower of Waters BST 138

Energy - 8
4 Rapid Strike Energy BST 140
4 Spiral Energy 159

Basic Strategy

Going second, start Cryogonal and play down Path to the Peak. Lock out your opponent out of their Item cards using Cryogonal’s Frozen Lock attack, then set up your Ice Rider Calyrex VMAX with manual attachments and attachments from the discard pile using Melony. Find crucial trainers like Melony and Capacious bucket throughout the game using Drizzile’s Shady Dealings ability, then use Inteleon CRE’s Quick Shooting ability to pile on the extra damage counters. Use Ice Rider Calyrex VMAX’s Max Lance attack to sweep through your opponent’s Pokémon.

Key Cards

• Cryogonal UNM 46

• Ice Rider Calyrex VMAX 46

• Drizzile SSH 56

• Inteleon CRE 43

• Melony

• Path to the Peak

Other Considerations

• Cheryl to heal off damage from Ice Rider Calyrex VMAX that aren’t knocked out immediately after using its Max Lance attack.

Example Deck List

Pokémon - 20
4 Ice Rider Calyrex V CRE 45
3 Ice Rider Calyrex VMAX CRE 46
3 Sobble CRE 41
3 Drizzile SSH 56
2 Inteleon CRE 43
1 Inteleon SSH 58
2 Cryogonal UNM 46
1 Crobat V DAA 104
1 Mew UNB 76

Trainer Cards - 30
4 Melony CRE 146
4 Professor's Research CPA 62
2 Boss's Orders RCL 154
1 Mallow & Lana CEC 198
4 Quick Ball SSH 179
3 Evolution Incense SSH 163
3 Level Ball BST 129
2 Air Balloon SSH 156
2 Capacious Bucket RCL 156
2 Pokémon Communication TEU 152
3 Path to the Peak CRE 148

Energy - 10
10 Water Energy SWSHEnergy 3

Alternate Lists

• ZapdosTCG’s version of this archetype

Basic Strategy

Bench and evolve Blaziken V into Blaziken VMAX, and bench two Zeraora V. In doing so, prepare to use Blaziken VMAX’s Max Blaze attack by discarding any extra Energy cards not needed to power the attack with Dedenne-GX’s Dedechange ability, Professor’s Research, and Quick Ball. Setup knockouts and accelerate energy to benched Zeraora V using Blaziken VMAX’s Max Blaze attack. Then, when ready, use Zeraora V’s Cross Fist attack to snipe vulnerable multi-prize Pokémon from your opponent’s bench. Boost Zeraora V’s damage against Pokémon-GX and Pokémon V with Passimian’s Throwing Coach ability.

Key Cards

• Blaziken VMAX CRE 21

• Zeraora V CRE 53

• Passimian CRE 88

• Rapid Strike Energy

Other Considerations

• Guzma & Hala to search out specific Special Energy cards, as necessary.

• Phione CEC 57 to force your opponent to switch their Active Pokémon so that Zeraora V’s attack can knock out something on the bench and deal damage to the new Active Pokémon.

Example Deck List

Pokémon - 19
4 Jirachi TEU 99
3 Blaziken V CRE 20
2 Blaziken VMAX CRE 21
2 Dedenne-GX UNB 57
2 Passimian CRE 88
2 Zeraora V CRE 53
1 Crobat V SHF 44
1 Galarian Zigzagoon SSH 117
1 Marshadow UNB 81
1 Mewtwo UNB 75

Trainer Cards - 31
4 Professor's Research SHF 60
3 Boss's Orders SHF 58
3 Marnie CPA 56
2 Mallow & Lana CEC 198
4 Pokémon Communication TEU 152
4 Quick Ball SSH 179
4 Scoop Up Net RCL 165
4 Switch SSH 183
2 Air Balloon SSH 156
1 Escape Rope BST 125

Energy - 10
4 Rapid Strike Energy BST 140
4 Spiral Energy CRE 159
2 Capture Energy RCL 171

Alternate Lists

• TaloniteX’s version of this archetype

Basic Strategy

Bench Shuppet and Spiritomb, using Building Spite to build damage on benched Spiritomb and attack using its Anguish Cry attack. On following turns, evolve Shuppet into Banette CRE and prepare to attack using its Resolute Spite attack, boosting its damage using Karen’s Conviction. Devolve your opponent’s damaged Evolution Pokémon using Banette VIV’s Curse of Devolution ability.

Key Cards

• Banette CRE 63

• Spiritomb UNB 112

Other Considerations

• Jirachi VIV 119 and U-Turn Board as additional draw support and as a pivot.

Example Deck List

Pokémon - 17
4 Shuppet VIV 67
3 Banette CRE 63
1 Banette VIV 68
4 Spiritomb UNB 112
1 Jynx UNM 76
1 Oricorio-GX CEC 95
1 Dedenne-GX UNB 57
1 Crobat V DAA 104
1 Mew UNB 76

Trainer Cards - 34
4 Professor's Research CPA 62
3 Boss's Orders RCL 154
3 Bruno BST 121
2 Karen's Conviction CRE 144
4 Level Ball BST 129
4 Quick Ball SSH 179
4 Scoop Up Net RCL 165
4 Switch SSH 183
2 Ordinary Rod SSH 171
1 Great Catcher CEC 192
3 Welcoming Lantern CRE 156

Energy - 9
4 Aurora Energy SSH 186
4 Horror Psychic Energy RCL 172
1 Psychic Energy SWSHEnergy 5

Basic Strategy

Set up by benching Inkay, Sobble, and Remoraid, and evolve them as the opportunity presents, using Drizzile’s Shady Dealings ability as necessary to seek out critical Trainer cards. Prepare your hand by grabbing Rapid Strike cards from your deck with Octillery’s Rapid Strike Search, Korrina’s Focus, Erika’s Hospitality, and the Shady Dealings ability of both Drizzile and Inteleon SSH. Take knockouts using Malamar’s Rapid Strike Tentacles attack, which does 40 damage for each Rapid Strike card you shuffle into your deck.

Key Cards

• Malamar CRE 70

• Drizzile SSH 56

• Inteleon CRE 43

• Fog Crystal

Other Considerations

• Fan of Waves to slow down opposing decks that are reliant on Special Energy for their attacks.

Example Deck List

Pokémon - 23
4 Inkay CRE 69
4 Malamar CRE 70
4 Sobble CRE 41
3 Drizzile SSH 56
1 Inteleon SSH 58
1 Inteleon CRE 43
2 Remoraid BST 36
2 Octillery BST 37
1 Mew UNB 76
1 Oricorio-GX CEC 95

Trainer Cards - 30
4 Korrina's Focus BST 128
3 Erika's Hospitality HIF 56
2 Brawly CRE 131
2 Cynthia & Caitlin CEC 189
1 Boss's Orders RCL 154
4 Evolution Incense SSH 163
4 Fog Crystal CRE 140
3 Level Ball BST 129
2 Lucky Egg SSH 167
2 Scoop Up Net RCL 165
1 Ordinary Rod SSH 171
2 Tower of Waters BST 138

Energy - 7
4 Spiral Energy CRE 159
3 Psychic Energy SWSHEnergy 5

Alternate Lists

• ZapdosTCG’s version of this archetype

Basic Strategy

Given the opportunity, use Gengar & Mimikyu-GX’s Horror House-GX attack to buy a turn to evolve benched Shadow Rider Calyrex V into Shadow Rider Calyrex VMAX. Bench Trevenant & Dusknoir-GX and use Shadow Rider Calyrex VMAX’s Underworld Door ability to attach Psychic Energy to it and switch it into the Active Spot. Use its Night Watch attack to disrupt your opponent’s hand and to take knockouts. Use Solgaleo & Lunala-GX’s Cosmic Burn as needed for its higher damage output.

Key Cards

• Shadow Rider Calyrex VMAX CRE 75

• Trevenant & Dusknoir-GX PR-SM 217

• Gengar & Mimikyu-GX TEU 53

• Fog Crystal

Other Considerations

• Aurora Energy in conjunction with Galarian Zapdos V CRE 80 and/or Necrozma V BST 63, using Aurora Energy to power up Galarian Zapdos V’s Thunderous Kick and to boost the damage from Necrozma V’s Special Laser attack.

• Lillie’s Full Force to open up the option of using Solgaleo & Lunala-GX CEC 75’s Light of the Protector-GX, which protects all of your Pokémon from attacks of effects, including damage, during your next turn.

• Alcremie VMAX CPA 23 both to flood your side of play with energy using Alcremie VMAX’s Adornment attack and to take knockouts using its G-Max Whisk attack.

• Mewtwo & Mew-GX UNM 71 as a higher-HP, different-Weakness means of copying Gengar & Mimikyu-GX and Trevenant & Dusknoir-GX’s attacks.

• Cresselia CRE 64 to use like a Psychic-type Volcanion in that it can accelerate Psychic Energy with its Crescent Glow attack and act as a single prize attack with its Photon Laser attack.

Example Deck List

Pokémon - 17
4 Shadow Rider Calyrex V CRE 74
4 Shadow Rider Calyrex VMAX CRE 75
2 Dedenne-GX UNB 57
2 Marshadow UNB 81
2 Trevenant & Dusknoir-GX PR-SM 217
1 Crobat V DAA 104
1 Solgaleo & Lunala-GX CEC 75
1 Gengar & Mimikyu-GX TEU 53

Trainer Cards - 30
4 Professor's Research CPA 62
3 Boss's Orders RCL 154
3 Marnie CPA 56
4 Quick Ball SSH 179
3 Switch SSH 183
2 Air Balloon SSH 156
2 Pokémon Communication TEU 152
1 Escape Rope BST 125
1 Ordinary Rod SSH 171
1 Reset Stamp UNM 206
4 Fog Crystal CRE 140
2 Path to the Peak CRE 148

Energy - 13
13 Psychic Energy SWSHEnergy 5

Alternate Lists

• ChannelFireball (Tablemon)’s version of this archetype

• ZapdosTCG’s version of this archetype

• Rahul Reddy’s version of this archetype

Basic Strategy

Bench and evolve Houndour and Rockruff into Houndoom and Lycanroc, respectively. Use Houndoom’s Single Strike Roar to attack Single Strike Energy to Lycanroc and attach to fully power-up its Rogue Fangs attack, which does 80 damage plus 10 damage for each Single Strike Pokémon in your discard pile. To boost that damage, discard Pokémon using Dedenne-GX’s Dedechange ability, Professor’s Research, Quick Ball, and Tower of Darkness. Attack, if absolutely necessary, with Stonjourner’s Giga Hammer or Land’s Pulse attack.

Key Cards

• Houndoom BST 96

• Lycanroc CRE 87

• Single Strike Energy

Other Considerations

• Peony, Hapu, or Clay to rapidly burn through your deck to force as many Pokémon into the discard pile as you can.

• Oricorio-GX CEC 95 to provide additional draw power when one of your Pokémon is knocked out.

Example Deck List

Pokémon - 22
4 Houndour BST 95
4 Houndoom BST 96
4 Rockruff CRE 86
4 Lycanroc CRE 87
4 Stonjourner BST 84
2 Dedenne-GX UNB 57

Trainer Cards - 29
4 Bruno BST 121
3 Professor's Research CPA 62
2 Boss's Orders RCL 154
4 Pokémon Communication TEU 152
4 Quick Ball SSH 179
3 Urn of Vitality BST 139
2 Air Balloon SSH 156
2 Karate Belt UNM 201
1 Ordinary Rod SSH 171
4 Tower of Darkness BST 137

Energy - 9
5 Fighting Energy SWSHEnergy 6
4 Single Strike Energy BST 141

Alternate Lists

• TaloniteX’s version of this archetype

Basic Strategy

Bench Sandaconda V and Sobble on your first turn, attacking using Sandaconda V’s Sand Eater attack if you go second. Evolve into Sandaconda VMAX and attack using its G-Max Cyclone attack to take knockouts against your opponent’s Active Pokémon. When your Sandaconda VMAX is at risk of being knocked out on your opponent’s next turn, use G-Max Cycnlone’s effect to move off energy onto your benched Sandaconda V or VMAX. Use Mallow & Lana to switch and heal as necessary. Use Sandaconda VMAX’s Sand Pulse attack in conjunction with Telescopic Sight to spread damage to your opponent’s benched Pokémon-GX and Pokémon V.

Key Cards

• Sandaconda VMAX CRE 90

• Drizzile SSH 56

• Path to the Peak

Other Considerations

• Cheryl to heal off damage from a damaged Sandaconda VMAX after it has moved its Energy onto another Pokémon using its G-Max Cyclone attack.

• A Green’s Exploration/Pokégear 3.0 engine in place of the Inteleon/Drizzile engine.

Example Deck List

Pokémon - 18
4 Sandaconda V RCL 108
3 Sandaconda VMAX CRE 90
3 Sobble CRE 41
3 Drizzile SSH 56
2 Inteleon CRE 43
1 Inteleon SSH 58
1 Crobat V DAA 104
1 Mew UNB 76

Trainer Cards - 32
4 Professor's Research CPA 62
3 Marnie CPA 56
2 Boss's Orders RCL 154
2 Mallow & Lana CEC 198
4 Quick Ball SSH 179
3 Level Ball BST 129
3 Scoop Up Net RCL 165
2 Evolution Incense SSH 163
2 Pokémon Communication TEU 152
2 Switch SSH 183
2 Telescopic Sight VIV 160
1 Energy Spinner UNB 170
2 Path to the Peak CRE 148

Energy - 10
6 Fighting Energy SWSHEnergy 6
4 Stone Fighting Energy VIV 164

Alternate Lists

• ZapdosTCG’s version of this archetype

• TaloniteX’s version of this archetype

Basic Strategy

Bench and evolve Houndour and Galarian Farfetch’d into Houndoom and Galarian Sirfetch’d, respectively. Use Houndoom’s Single Strike Roar to attack Single Strike Energy to Galarian Sirfetch’d and attach Twin Energy to fully power-up its Leek Strike attack, which does 70 damage plus 90 damage if it has a Pokémon Tool card attached to it.

Key Cards

• Galarian Sirfetch’d CRE 79

• Houndoom BST 96

• Single Strike Energy

Other Considerations

• Karate Belt to drop the attack cost of Leek Strike by 1 Fighting Energy when behind on prizes.

• Guzma & Hala to make it possible to search for Twin Energy directly—or to find Chaotic Swell when it’s needed.

• Fighting Energy and Martial Arts Dojo to boost Galarian Sirfetch’d’s damage when you’re behind on prizes.

Example Deck List

Pokémon - 18
4 Galarian Farfetch'd CRE 78
4 Galarian Sirfetch'd CRE 79
3 Houndour BST 95
3 Houndoom BST 96
1 Crobat V DAA 104
1 Dedenne-GX UNB 57
1 Oricorio-GX CEC 95
1 Seviper CRE 102

Trainer Cards - 34
4 Bruno BST 121
4 Professor's Research CPA 62
2 Boss's Orders RCL 154
2 Karen's Conviction CRE 144
4 Pokémon Communication TEU 152
4 Quick Ball SSH 179
3 Air Balloon SSH 156
3 Urn of Vitality BST 139
3 Welcoming Lantern CRE 156
2 Vitality Band SSH 185
1 Ordinary Rod SSH 171
1 Reset Stamp UNM 206
1 Chaotic Swell CEC 187

Energy - 8
4 Single Strike Energy BST 141
4 Twin Energy RCL 174

Basic Strategy

Build up your bench with Koffing and use them to evolve into both Galarian Weezing and Weezing as needed. Pull additional Darkness Energy from your discard pile using Turbo Patch and Galarian Moltres V’s Direflame Wings ability, and use Energy Switch to ensure Weezing is ready to use its Smog Burst attack.

Key Cards

• Weezing CRE 95

• Galarian Weezing CRE 96

• Galarian Moltres V CRE 97

Other Considerations

• Exp. Share to retain attached Energy in play.

Example Deck List

Pokémon - 17
4 Koffing SHF 41
3 Weezing CRE 95
3 Galarian Weezing CRE 96
1 Galarian Weezing RCL 113
2 Dedenne-GX UNB 57
2 Galarian Moltres V CRE 97
1 Mewtwo UNB 75
1 Oricorio-GX CEC 95

Trainer Cards - 30
4 Marnie CPA 56
4 Professor's Research CPA 62
2 Boss's Orders RCL 154
1 Klara CRE 145
4 Pokémon Communication TEU 152
4 Quick Ball SSH 179
4 Turbo Patch DAA 172
3 Switch SSH 183
2 Energy Switch SSH 162
2 Ordinary Rod SSH 171

Energy - 13
11 Darkness Energy SWSHEnergy 7
2 Hiding Darkness Energy DAA 175

Basic Strategy

Build up your bench by placing Greninja & Zoroark-GX and Koffing, preparing the Koffing to evolve into Galarian Weezing to take advantage of its energy-doubling ability, Energy Factory. Pull additional Darkness Energy from your discard pile using Turbo Patch and Galarian Moltres V’s Direflame Wings ability, and use the energy switching effect of Weavile-GX’s ability to ensure Greninja & Zoroark-GX is ready to use its Dark Pulse attack.

Key Cards

• Greninja & Zoroark-GX UNB 107

• Galarian Weezing CRE 96

• Galarian Moltres V CRE 97

• Weavile-GX UNM 132

Other Considerations

• Sableye V SSH 120

• Evolution Incense SSH 163

Example Deck List

Pokémon - 20
4 Koffing SHF 41
3 Galarian Weezing CRE 96
1 Galarian Weezing RCL 113
2 Dedenne-GX UNB 57
2 Galarian Moltres V CRE 97
2 Greninja & Zoroark-GX UNB 107
2 Mewtwo & Mew-GX UNM 71
2 Sneasel CRE 30
2 Weavile-GX UNM 132

Trainer Cards - 28
4 Marnie CPA 56
4 Professor's Research CPA 62
3 Boss's Orders RCL 154
4 Pokémon Communication TEU 152
4 Quick Ball SSH 179
4 Turbo Patch DAA 172
3 Switch SSH 183
2 Chaotic Swell CEC 187

Energy - 12
10 Darkness Energy SWSHEnergy 7
2 Hiding Darkness Energy DAA 175

Basic Strategy

Using Green’s Exploration, get 1-2 Galarian Slowking V in play to evolve into Galarian Slowking VMAX while also preparing an Unidentified Fossil to evolve into Omastar to lock your opponent out of Item cards to lock them out of easy switching options while simultaneously dropping Galar Mine to make it very difficult to manually retreat out of Poison effect of Galarian Slowking VMAX’s Max Toxify attack.

Key Cards

• Galarian Slowking VMAX CRE 99

• Omastar TEU 76

• Green’s Exploration

• Galar Mine

Other Considerations

• An alternative approach using Dust Island and Toxicroak SSH 124.

Example Deck List

Pokémon - 9
4 Galarian Slowking V CRE 99
3 Galarian Slowking VMAX CRE 100
2 Omastar TEU 76

Trainer Cards - 43
4 Green's Exploration UNB 175
4 Professor's Research CPA 62
3 Team Yell Grunt CPA 67
2 Boss's Orders RCL 154
1 Marnie CPA 56
4 Pokégear 3.0 SSH 174
3 Crushing Hammer SSH 159
3 Rare Candy SSH 180
3 Unidentified Fossil CEC 207
2 Energy Spinner UNB 170
2 Evolution Incense SSH 163
2 Galarian Breastplate CRE 141
2 Pokémon Catcher SSH 175
2 Quick Ball SSH 179
2 Switch SSH 183
1 Tool Jammer BST 136
3 Galar Mine RCL 160

Energy - 8
4 Darkness Energy SWSHEnergy 7
4 Hiding Darkness Energy DAA 175

Basic Strategy

Play down Trubbish, Venipede, and Spiritomb, using Spiritomb’s Building Spite and the damage from Old Cemetery to build up the damage of its Anguish Cry attack and use Anguish Cry to take early knock outs. Meanwhile, evolve Venipede into Scolipede using Rare Candy and Trubbish into Garbodor. Continually poison your opponent’s Active Pokémon using Garbodor’s Poisonous Puddle to ensure that Scolipede’s Venoshock does maximum damage and preserve some energy using Exp. Share.

Key Cards

• Scolipede CRE 107

• Garbodor RCL 118

Other Considerations

• Snorlax VIV 131 or Cinccino SSH 147 as alternate draw engines for the deck, in place of or in addition to Jirachi VIV 119, Crobat V DAA 104, and Oricorio-GX CEC 95.

Example Deck List

Pokémon - 18
4 Venipede CRE 105
3 Scolipede CRE 107
3 Trubbish VIV 110
2 Garbodor RCL 118
2 Jirachi VIV 119
2 Spiritomb UNB 112
1 Crobat V DAA 104
1 Oricorio-GX CEC 95

Trainer Cards - 33
4 Bruno BST 121
3 Professor's Research CPA 62
2 Boss's Orders RCL 154
4 Quick Ball SSH 179
4 Rare Candy SSH 180
4 Switch SSH 183
3 Pokémon Communication TEU 152
2 Air Balloon SSH 156
2 Exp. Share BST 126
2 Ordinary Rod SSH 171
3 Old Cemetery CRE 147

Energy - 9
5 Darkness Energy SWSHEnergy 7
4 Twin Energy RCL 174

Basic Strategy

Bench and evolve Houndour and Kubfu into Houndoom and Single Strike Urshifu, respectively. Use Houndoom’s Single Strike Roar to attack Single Strike Energy to Single Strike Urshifu and manually attach energy as necessary to fully power-up its Fists of Strike attack, which does 100 damage plus 100 damage if Single Strike Urshifu has any damage counters on it.

Key Cards

• Single Strike Urshifu CRE 108

• Houndoom BST 96

• Single Strike Energy

Other Considerations

• Spiritomb UNB 112, Jynx UNM 76, and either Cape of Toughness or Big Charm to use Spiritomb as an alternate attacker that’s a bit easier to setup.

Example Deck List

Pokémon - 20
4 Kubfu CRE 93
4 Single Strike Urshifu CRE 108
4 Houndour BST 95
4 Houndoom BST 96
2 Dedenne-GX UNB 57
1 Crobat V DAA 104
1 Mew UNB 76

Trainer Cards - 30
4 Bruno BST 121
3 Professor's Research CPA 62
3 Boss's Orders RCL 154
2 Karen's Conviction CRE 144
4 Pokémon Communication TEU 152
4 Quick Ball SSH 179
3 Urn of Vitality BST 139
2 Air Balloon SSH 156
1 Ordinary Rod SSH 171
4 Tower of Darkness BST 137

Energy - 10
4 Single Strike Energy BST 141
4 Hiding Darkness Energy DAA 175
2 Darkness Energy

Basic Strategy

Place down Metagross V and evolve it into a Metagross VMAX as necessary. Use Green’s Exploration on the first turns of the game to find key cards. Use the deck’s various control options—Marnie, Flannery, Crushing Hammer, Path to the Peak, and Fan of Waves—to slow down and eventually cut off your opponent’s avenue to victory, finding needed cards with Zap Traction on most turns, but taking knockouts with Metagross VMAX’s Max Rush attack as the situation requires. Heal away damage on Metagross VMAX with Mallow & Lana and Cheryl.

Key Cards

• Metagross VMAX CRE 113

• Green’s Exploration

• Cheryl

• Path to the Peak

Other Considerations

• Team Yell Grunt as an additional disruption option.

Example Deck List

Pokémon - 8
4 Metagross V CRE 112
4 Metagross VMAX CRE 113

Trainer Cards - 40
4 Green's Exploration UNB 175
3 Cheryl BST 123
2 Boss's Orders RCL 154
2 Cynthia & Caitlin CEC 189
2 Mallow & Lana CEC 198
1 Flannery CRE 139
1 Marnie CPA 56
4 Crushing Hammer SSH 159
4 Metal Saucer SSH 170
4 Pokégear 3.0 SSH 174
2 Evolution Incense SSH 163
2 Fan of Waves BST 127
2 Quick Ball SSH 179
1 Energy Spinner UNB 170
1 Hero's Medal VIV 152
1 Pal Pad SSH 172
1 Tool Scrapper RCL 168
3 Path to the Peak CRE 148

Energy - 12
9 Metal Energy SWSHEnergy 8
3 Coating Metal Energy VIV 163

Basic Strategy

Bench Tauros and Houndour and evolve Houndour into Houndoom as soon as possible. Use Houndoom’s Single Strike Roar to attack Single Strike Energy to Tauros, taking advantage of the damage Single Strike Roar does to boost the damage of Tauros’ Raging Bull attack, which does 20 damage plus 20 more damage for each damage counter on Tauros.

Key Cards

• Tauros CRE 115

• Houndoom BST 96

• Single Strike Energy

Other Considerations

• Galarian Rapidash SSH 82 to prevent Raging Bull from confusing Tauros or Full Heal to recover from confusion, in the rare event that Tauros survives a turn after it attacks.

Example Deck List

Pokémon - 17
4 Houndour BST 95
3 Houndoom BST 96
4 Tauros CRE 115
2 Jirachi VIV 119
1 Crobat V DAA 104
1 Dedenne-GX UNB 57
1 Mew UNB 76
1 Oricorio-GX CEC 95

Trainer Cards - 31
4 Bruno BST 121
3 Boss's Orders RCL 154
3 Professor's Research CPA 62
4 Quick Ball SSH 179
3 Pokémon Communication TEU 152
3 Switch SSH 183
3 Urn of Vitality BST 139
2 Air Balloon SSH 156
2 Ordinary Rod SSH 171
1 Reset Stamp UNM 206
3 Old Cemetery CRE 147

Energy - 12
4 Capture Energy RCL 171
4 Powerful Colorless Energy DAA 176
4 Single Strike Energy BST 141

Basic Strategy

Bench Blissey V and Porygon, evolving Porygon into Porygon-Z as early as possible via Rare Candy. Use Porygon-Z’s Crazy Code ability to flood Blissey V with energy, then use Blissey V’s Blissful Blast attack, which does 10 damage plus 30 more damage for each energy attached to Blissey and attaches up to 3 Energy cards from your discard pile to Blissey V to further boost its damage.

Key Cards

• Blissey V CRE 119

• Porygon-Z UNB 154

• Hapu UNM 200

Other Considerations

• Dubwool V as an easier-to-power alternate attacker to take revenge knockouts when necessary.

• Peony to search for Rare Candy and Evolution Incense to ensure that Porygon-Z is available early in the game.

Example Deck List

Pokémon - 15
4 Blissey V CRE 119
4 Porygon UNB 154
4 Porygon-Z UNB 157
2 Zacian V SSH 138
1 Crobat V DAA 104

Trainer Cards - 27
4 Hapu UNM 200
4 Professor's Research CPA 62
2 Boss's Orders RCL 154
2 Erika's Hospitality HIF 56
4 Quick Ball SSH 179
4 Rare Candy SSH 180
3 Cape of Toughness DAA 160
2 Evolution Incense SSH 163
2 Switch SSH 183

Energy - 18
4 Powerful Colorless Energy DAA 176
4 Recycle Energy UNM 212
4 Draw Energy CEC 209
2 Capture Energy RCL 171
2 Lucky Energy 158
2 Weakness Guard Energy UNM 213

Basic Strategy

Bench and evolve Houndour and Torndus V into Houndoom and Tornadus VMAX, respectively. Use Houndoom’s Single Strike Roar to attack Single Strike Energy to Tornadus VMAX and manually attach energy as necessary to fully power-up its either its own Max Wind Spirit attack, which does 120 damage plus 120 more damage if there is a Stadium card in play (and also discards the Stadium card) or the Furious Anger attack from Single Strike Scroll of Scorn, which does 10 damage plus 10 more damage for each damage counter on the Pokémon the scroll is attached to.

Key Cards

• Tornadus VMAX

• Houndoom BST 96

• Single Strike Energy

Other Considerations

• Wyndon Stadium to heal off damage Tornadus V takes prior to evolving.

• Bruno as an alternative draw supporter that can also be discarded by Tower of Darkness to draw more cards, even on turns when another Supporter has been used.

• Tyranitar V BST 97 to take advantage of the 240 damage of its Single Strike Crush attack.

Example Deck List

Pokémon - 18
4 Houndour BST 95
3 Houndoom BST 96
4 Tornadus V CRE 124
3 Tornadus VMAX CRE 125
1 Dedenne-GX UNB 57
1 Crobat V DAA 104
1 Mew UNB 76
1 Single Strike Urshifu V BST 85

Trainer Cards - 31
4 Professor's Research CPA 62
3 Marnie CPA 56
3 Boss's Orders RCL 154
4 Quick Ball SSH 179
3 Pokémon Communication TEU 152
3 Urn of Vitality BST 139
2 Evolution Incense SSH 163
2 Switch SSH 183
2 Air Balloon SSH 156
1 Single Strike Scroll of Scorn BST 133
4 Tower of Darkness BST 137

Energy - 11
4 Single Strike Energy BST 141
3 Powerful Colorless Energy DAA 176
2 Capture Energy RCL 171
2 Triple Acceleration Energy UNB 190