Turbo Victini VMAX is the Future – Plus Overlooked Cards From Chilling Reign

Hello everyone! This is Grant Manley here once again. Today I’m going to talk about a crazy-aggressive deck I’ve been playing lately; Turbo [card name=”Victini VMAX” set=”Battle Styles” no=”22″ c=”name”][/card].

This deck has great matchups in the current format, and it transitions even better into the post-Chilling Reign format. As usual, I’ll be covering the list and matchups, and at the end, I also want to go over some overlooked cards from the new set.

Turbo Victini VMAX

[decklist name=”turbo victini” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Victini VMAX” set=”Battle Styles” no=”22″][pokemon amt=”19″]4x [card name=”Victini VMAX” set=”Battle Styles” no=”22″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Victini V” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”25″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]1x [card name=”Victini V ” set=”Battle Styles” no=”21″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]3x [card name=”Dedenne-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”57″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Crobat V” set=”Shining Fates” no=”44″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Eldegoss V” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”19″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Marshadow” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”81″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Heatran-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”25″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Cramorant V” set=”Shining Fates” no=”54″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Galarian Rapidash V” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”167″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Reshiram and Charizard-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”194″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”31″]4x [card name=”Welder” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”189″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Boss’s Orders” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”154″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Quick Ball” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”179″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Pokémon Communication” set=”Team Up” no=”152″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Switch” set=”Black and White” no=”104″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Pokégear 3.0″ set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”182″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Air Balloon” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”156″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Cherish Ball” set=”Unified Minds” no=”191″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”Giant Hearth” set=”Unified Minds” no=”197″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”4″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”10″]10x [card name=”Fire Energy” set=”XY” no=”133″ c=”deck2″ amt=”10″][/card][/energy][/decklist] 

Victini VMAX has been an established archetype from the moment Battle Styles dropped. It does 220 damage for only two Energy, which applies fast pressure against any deck that uses Pokemon V, so as more and more powerful Pokemon V get released, this card will only keep getting better and better. This list is focused on getting the turn-two Max Victory plus [card name=”Boss’s Orders” set=”Shining Fates” no=”58″ c=”name”][/card] to overwhelm an opponent by disrupting their board and applying fast pressure.

[cardimg name=”Victini V” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”25″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

Traditional Victini VMAX lists choose to play [card name=”Jirachi” set=”Team Up” no=”99″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Scoop Up Net” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”165″ c=”name”][/card], and other techs that can be used with Scoop Up Net. In exchange for the “boost” in consistency that Jirachi offers, they trim down on the Victini line as well as other essentials such as [card name=”Dedenne-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Crobat V” set=”Shining Fates” no=”44″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Giant Hearth” set=”Unified Minds” no=”197″ c=”name”][/card], Boss’s Orders and [card name=”Pokégear 3.0″ set=”Sword and Shield” no=”174″ c=”name”][/card] — I prefer cutting the many unnecessary cards and focusing on speed and consistency.

This deck’s goal is to attach an Energy to [card name=”Victini V” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”25″ c=”name”][/card] turn one, and follow it up with Victini VMAX, Energy, and Boss’s Orders on turn two — the other attackers in this deck are situational or backup attackers. Victini VMAX is all but useless if the opponent has no Pokemon V in play, and this is a reality that we must face every once in a while.

With Chilling Reign‘s release, several powerful Pokemon V are introduced into the meta such as [card name=”Galarian Zapdos V” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”80″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Shadow Rider Calyrex V” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”171″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Shadow Rider Calyrex VMAX” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card] — these are but more two-Prize treats for Victini VMAX to snack on.

Although this deck works best when going first, you often choose to go second against decks that prefer to go second, such as [card name=”Pikachu and Zekrom-GX” set=”Team Up” no=”33″ c=”name”][/card]. When going second, you are forced to play like a normal [card name=”Welder” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”189″ c=”name”][/card] deck, often digging for a turn-one Libra Horn or Double Blaze GX. You’ll find that the games differ greatly depending on whether you’re going first or second.

Deck List Breakdown

Three/One Victini V, Four Victini VMAX

I play one of the “bad” [card name=”Victini V ” set=”Battle Styles” no=”21″ c=”name”][/card] because it’s better for the early game. Every so often, its second attack or low Retreat Cost comes in handy. For the most part though, particularly past the first turn or two, the original [card name=”Victini V” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”25″ c=”name”][/card] is superior. Four VMAX is a lot, but in most games, we absolutely need it by turn two, and we want to maximize the odds of that happening. Some games will actually have you use three VMAX, retreating between them when one gets damaged.

Three Dedenne-GX, Two Crobat V

Without Jirachi’s Stellar Wish, we rely on these cards to aggressively dig through the deck to find the cards we need. Your Bench often gets clogged, but the goal is to end the game fast enough so that it doesn’t matter.

One Marshadow, Four Giant Hearth

This deck is committed to always having [card name=”Giant Hearth” set=”Unified Minds” no=”197″ c=”name”][/card] in play. [card name=”Marshadow” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”81″ c=”name”][/card] counters problematic Stadiums such as [card name=”Path to the Peak” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”148″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Power Plant” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”183″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Chaotic Swell” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”187″ c=”name”][/card], and [card name=”Wondrous Labyrinth Prism Star” set=”Team Up” no=”158″ c=”name”][/card]. Since this deck plays eight Pokemon search cards in addition to the Marshadow and four Giant Hearth, it consistently deals with these Stadiums as if they were nothing. Marshadow can be useful in nearly every matchup.

One Cramorant V

Victini VMAX’s game plan in many matchups is to snipe Pokemon V with Boss’s Orders, however, [card name=”Victini VMAX” set=”Battle Styles” no=”22″ c=”name”][/card] can’t KO Dedenne-GX, so [card name=”Cramorant V” set=”Shining Fates” no=”54″ c=”name”][/card] comes in for an easy two Prizes against Dedenne-GX when needed.

Beak Catch is useful on slow turns when you have nothing better to do, though hopefully, you won’t have to use Beak Catch often. Against any deck with Dedenne-GX, Cramorant VMAX easily wins one-third of the game in one attack, which makes it an efficient and powerful option for this deck.

One Reshiram and Charizard-GX

[card name=”Reshiram and Charizard-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card] is particularly useful against PikaRom and even sometimes [card name=”Arceus and Dialga and Palkia-GX” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”156″ c=”name”][/card]. When going second, this deck has the option of a turn-one 200 damage attack, which is incredibly strong most of the time. On top of that, it can be followed up with Flare Strike + [card name=”Boss’s Orders” set=”Shining Fates” no=”58″ c=”name”][/card], which is insane pressure and helps end games fast. Additionally, Reshiram and Charizard-GX is a strong backup attacker when Victini VMAX is unable to do 220 damage like normal.

One Galarian Rapidash V

[card name=”Galarian Rapidash V” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”167″ c=”name”][/card] is situational but amazing against three-Prize Pokemon, particularly against Tag Teams where Victini VMAX doesn’t do much damage — a turn-one Libra Horn against Tag Teams is often enough to swing the game in your favor. Against PikaRom, they won’t have the immediate means to dispose of Galarian Rapidash V, so you can use Libra Horn against another target before it goes down.

Galarian Rapidash V is also useful against Pokemon that can evolve into VMAX. For example, when going second you can snipe a benched [card name=”Eternatus V” set=”Darkness Ablaze” no=”116″ c=”name”][/card] to put the VMAX into Max Victory KO range.

One Cherish Ball

The Trainer lineup is considerably straightforward and probably self-explanatory. The one-of [card name=”Cherish Ball” set=”Unified Minds” no=”191″ c=”name”][/card] may look strange, but it’s basically an extra search/draw out, it’s quite limited compared to [card name=”Quick Ball” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”179″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Pokémon Communication” set=”Team Up” no=”152″ c=”name”][/card], but I wanted this spot to go towards consistency, and Cherish Ball seemed like the best fit for that.

You could possibly play a Supporter here like [card name=”Professor’s Research” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”178″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Marnie” set=”Champion’s Path” no=”56″ c=”name”][/card].

[premium]

Matchups

ADPZ – Favorable

[cardimg name=”Cramorant V” set=”Shining Fates” no=”54″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

Choose to go first if possible. Going second is fine, it simply means you have to hit the [card name=”Welder” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”189″ c=”name”][/card] + attack. When going first, there are two ways to beat ADP, and they both work fine as long as you can pull them off. The first way is this deck’s normal game plan; go for the Victini V attachment on turn one. On turn two, go for the Boss’s Orders KO on anything, such as [card name=”Zacian V” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”138″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Crobat V” set=”Shining Fates” no=”44″ c=”name”][/card], or [card name=”Mawile-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”227″ c=”name”][/card]. They use Altered Creation GX, and you follow up with either another Boss’s Orders KO or a Cramorant V KO. They use Ultimate Ray for three Prizes, then you use Boss’s Orders or Cramorant V to take your final two and win the game.

The second way to win is your only option when going second – get the turn one attack. If the ADP is Active, hit it once with anything before it uses Altered Creation GX, usually with any attacker besides [card name=”Victini V” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”25″ c=”name”][/card] or Cramorant V. If the ADP is on the Bench, KO their Active, with Double Blaze if you must. It’s easier to win if ADP isn’t Active, as you can snipe around it the rest of the game after you KO their Active on turn one.

They will use Altered Creation GX, then you can either finish ADP with any attack or Boss’s Orders KO something. The specifics can deviate from game to game, but all games that you win will go along these general lines. As always with ADP, if you whiff something, you’ll probably lose, but this matchup doesn’t demand a lot. It simply forces this [card name=”Victini VMAX” set=”Battle Styles” no=”22″ c=”name”][/card] deck to work how it’s supposed to.

Rapid Strike Urshifu VMAX – Favorable

This matchup is basically an auto-win if you go first, but it’s not too bad if you go second. Going first, spam Max Victory and Boss’s Orders (when needed) until you win. With enough Energy, you sometimes make use of Hot Burn GX for 350. Additionally, Galarian Rapidash V is sometimes useful when they get a [card name=”Rapid Strike Urshifu VMAX” set=”Battle Styles” no=”88″ c=”name”][/card] into play.

Going second, try to get the turn-one Galarian Rapidash V attack on their [card name=”Rapid Strike Urshifu V” set=”Battle Styles” no=”87″ c=”name”][/card] so you can finish it off with Max Victory. Also try to get an Energy on Victini V so you can snipe off any unevolved Rapid Strike Urshifu V with Max Victory, then try to set up a late-game Hot Burn GX for 350. Reshiram and Charizard-GX is not the go-to attacker, but sometimes you’ll be forced to use it; it dies to Gale Thrust + G-Max Rapid Flow, which is why it’s a less-than-ideal attacker. Max Victory is the go-to attack in this matchup, but the other attackers have utility as well.

PikaRom – Favorable

Galarian Rapidash V destroys [card name=”Pikachu and Zekrom-GX” set=”Team Up” no=”33″ c=”name”][/card], especially if you get to use it on turn one. Because of this and the fact that PikaRom prefers to go second for their turn-one Electrify, you want to choose to go second when possible. Double Blaze GX on turn one to KO [card name=”Boltund V” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”67″ c=”name”][/card] isn’t bad, but Galarian Rapidash V is the better option when it’s available, as long as they have a Tag Team in play. Even if they attach [card name=”Big Charm” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”158″ c=”name”][/card] after you use Libra Horn, which will happen every once in awhile, you can still use Steaming Stomp or Energy Burst to KO the Tag Teams that have been softened up with Libra Horn. Otherwise, using Victini VMAX is preferred, as it can also take easy OHKO’s against Pokemon V like Boltund V and Crobat V.

Even when going first, it’s often better to go for [card name=”Galarian Rapidash V” set=”Sword and Shield Black Star Promos” no=”SWSH111″ c=”name”][/card] first. The Victini V + [card name=”Boss’s Orders” set=”Shining Fates” no=”58″ c=”name”][/card] rush strategy only works if they play down two Pokemon V in addition to a [card name=”Dedenne-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] (that you can snipe with [card name=”Cramorant V” set=”Shining Fates” no=”54″ c=”name”][/card]), and it doesn’t always work out like that. Even if you don’t use Libra Horn until after they Electrify, you can still easily finish off the Tag Team they Electrify to once it starts attacking, which puts them on the back foot.

Eternatus VMAX – Even to Slightly Favorable

[card name=”Eternatus VMAX” set=”Darkness Ablaze” no=”117″ c=”name”][/card] is a contentious matchup that can go either way. Choose to go first, and if you start with Victini V, get another one and attach to it on the Bench. Don’t leave your Victini V with Energy Active, because you don’t want it to get hit with Power Accelerator. If they turn-one Power Accelerator into your Victini V, they can follow up with a Dread End KO with only one [card name=”Galarian Zigzagoon” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”117″ c=”name”][/card]. When going first, go for the turn-two Max Victory and spam it on Pokemon V until you win.

When going second, you need to hit the turn-one Libra Horn onto their [card name=”Eternatus V” set=”Darkness Ablaze” no=”116″ c=”name”][/card] with Energy. If they KO it, return KO and take the momentum with Max Victory. If they attach to another Eternatus V, attack with Libra Horn again. When you get everything as planned, you always win this matchup, however, if they go second and Power Accelerator into Victini v with Energy, or if you go second and whiff something at any point, you’ll probably lose.

Rillaboom Box – Even to Slightly Unfavorable

[card name=”Rillaboom” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”14″ c=”name”][/card] is a tricky matchup that can go either way. When going first, you can employ the Max Victory + Boss’s Orders strategy to deny Rillaboom from ever being used, however, even with this, they’ll quickly start attacking with [card name=”Mewtwo and Mew-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”71″ c=”name”][/card], and you’ll need attackers other than Victini VMAX to bring it down. Galarian Rapidash V is useful, but they can heal most of the damage between [card name=”Mallow and Lana” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”198″ c=”name”][/card] and Calming Hurricane. Even so, there isn’t much you can do about it. You just have to apply pressure on the Mewtwo and Mew-GX and hope that denying Rillaboom disrupts the function of their deck enough.

You should choose to go second — you’ll have the option for a turn-one Libra Horn, which you can follow up with a quick three-Prize KO while they’re still setting up, or more Libra Horns. You’ll also have the option of denying Rillaboom, but if you can take a quick KO on a Tag Team, going with the route of Knocking Out two Tag Teams is easier than bothering with Rillaboom. If you ever set up Double Blaze GX or Hot Burn GX, they can be your win condition for the second Tag Team KO.

Seeing this, and having access to Rillaboom, the opponent may go for Tropical Hour GX, but you should anticipate this and try to have Energy Burst [card name=”Victini V” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”25″ c=”name”][/card] ready to go; if they have the six required Energy to use Tropical Hour GX, and you have [card name=”Welder” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”189″ c=”name”][/card] for three Energy onto Victini V, it will deal exactly 270 damage. If they have Big Charm, you’ll have to damage them beforehand.

Mad Party – Unfavorable

Mad Party trades too efficiently and there’s nothing you can do about it, but you’ll win this matchup every so often by luck. It’s not a horrible matchup, but definitely unfavorable and painfully straightforward. Start out by attacking with [card name=”Heatran-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”25″ c=”name”][/card] or Victini V. The early game is when they’re less likely to be able to score a OHKO on those 190 HP Pokemon, so it’s the best time to get some value out of them. Aside from that, just aggressively go after the two-Prizers they play down before they can get rid of them with [card name=”Giovanni’s Exile” set=”Hidden Fates” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card].

Lucario and Melmetal-GX / Zacian V – Very Favorable

[cardimg name=”Victini V ” set=”Battle Styles” no=”21″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

This matchup is basically an auto-win; I choose to go first, but there’s an argument for choosing second, as you could attack for Weakness before they get a chance to search for [card name=”Coating Metal Energy” set=”Vivid Voltage” no=”163″ c=”name”][/card] with [card name=”Guzma and Hala” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”193″ c=”name”][/card].

Spam Max Victory and Boss’s Orders when needed to aggressively pressure and take down the [card name=”Zacian V” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”138″ c=”name”][/card], and your other Fire-type attackers can deal with [card name=”Lucario and Melmetal-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”120″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Zamazenta V” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”139″ c=”name”][/card]. The opponent has some defenses thanks to [card name=”Coating Metal Energy” set=”Vivid Voltage” no=”163″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Metal Goggles” set=”Team Up” no=”148″ c=”name”][/card], but ultimately their backup attackers do not do enough damage when you’re keeping Zacian V off the board.

If they use Full Metal Wall GX on your early [card name=”Victini VMAX” set=”Battle Styles” no=”22″ c=”name”][/card], I usually respond with an immediate Spreading Flames to get the Energy back, unless I have the option to do something more devastating that turn. Victini VMAX is nearly useless against anything besides Zacian V, so you’ll have to use the likes of [card name=”Reshiram and Charizard-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card] and the Basic Victini V against Zamazenta V and Lucario and Melmetal-GX.

This is one matchup where the ‘bad’ [card name=”Victini V ” set=”Battle Styles” no=”21″ c=”name”][/card] can be useful, as a turn-one Flare Shot can take out a Zacian V or Zamazenta V, or deal devastating damage to Lucario and Melmetal-GX. Also, don’t forget that Libra Horn is useless against Metal Goggles!

New Stuff From Chilling Reign

As with any new set, there are obvious frontrunners that clearly will have their place in the meta. Everyone already has their eye on the likes of [card name=”Shadow Rider Calyrex VMAX” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Galarian Zapdos V” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”80″ c=”name”][/card], however, there are a few cards that I believe might be overlooked, and I’m going to talk about them briefly.

The biggest card that caught my eye that no one is talking about is [card name=”Sandaconda VMAX” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”90″ c=”name”][/card]. As a high-HP Pokemon VMAX with a one-Energy attack, Sandaconda VMAX could have a [card name=”Cheryl” set=”Battle Styles” no=”123″ c=”name”][/card] spam deck built around it. And boy, what a one Energy attack it is! For one Fighting Energy, this bad boy does 60 to the Active and 20 spread damage to the entire Bench. Slap on a [card name=”Telescopic Sight” set=”Vivid Voltage” no=”160″ c=”name”][/card], and you’re doing 50 damage to most benched Pokemon. Overall, this is a LOT of damage for only one Energy — perhaps you could even run [card name=”Grimsley” set=”Unified Minds” no=”234″ c=”name”][/card], although [card name=”Mew” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] is still around, it’s a simple [card name=”Boss’s Orders” set=”Shining Fates” no=”58″ c=”name”][/card] away from being KO’d.

The Grass Weakness isn’t too bad, but it does mean you’ll have trouble against [card name=”Rillaboom” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”14″ c=”name”][/card]. Interestingly, the basic [card name=”Sandaconda V” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”89″ c=”name”][/card] from this set has an Ability that prevents it from being OHKO’d by Victini VMAX’s Max Victory, which may come in handy. If you do build this deck with lots of Cheryl, you’ll need some sort of draw support in the form of Pokemon. I think a [card name=”Jirachi” set=”Team Up” no=”99″ c=”name”][/card] engine would be best, and you could also incorporate [card name=”Scoop Up Net” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”165″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Mewtwo” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card]. I could also see this deck being played in Expanded with [card name=”Max Potion” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”128″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Acerola” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”112″ c=”name”][/card]. Sandaconda VMAX’s second attack is nothing to write home about, but it could be useful from time to time.

Another card that has potential is [card name=”Kirlia” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card]. Reminiscent of the Water Duplicates [card name=”Frogadier” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”39″ c=”name”][/card], this Kirlia could breathe some life into otherwise-unplayable Stage 2 Pokemon. [card name=”Gardevoir” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”61″ c=”name”][/card] has an incredible Ability with an admittedly lackluster attack, and [card name=”Gallade” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”81″ c=”name”][/card] has a decent attack. You’d probably want to play some heavy-hitter Pokemon alongside these Stage 2’s, possibly even [card name=”Shadow Rider Calyrex VMAX” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card]. This archetype will probably be better post-rotation for two reasons; first, [card name=”Arceus and Dialga and Palkia-GX” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”220″ c=”name”][/card] rotates — Altered Creation GX would give this deck some major trouble. Second, all Pokemon-GX rotate, leaving only Pokemon V, which is incredible for Gallade.

[card name=”Blissey V” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”119″ c=”name”][/card] looks like it will be good in Expanded — make a steadfast Blissey with [card name=”Buff Padding” set=”Team Up” no=”136″ c=”name”][/card] and use its attack to load up four [card name=”Double Colorless” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”136″ c=”name”][/card], and then deal a ton of damage. You could also play cards like [card name=”Hyper Potion” set=”Champion’s Path” no=”54″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Aspertia City Gym” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”127″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Recycle Energy” set=”Unified Minds” no=”212″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Max Potion” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”128″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Powerful Colorless Energy” set=”Darkness Ablaze” no=”176″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Acerola” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”112″ c=”name”][/card]. Unfortunately, you’d also need some way to cover the Fighting Weakness, such as [card name=”Weakness Guard Energy” set=”Unified Minds” no=”213″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Weakness Policy” set=”Primal Clash” no=”142″ c=”name”][/card], or else [card name=”Coalossal VMAX” set=”Vivid Voltage” no=”99″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Rapid Strike Urshifu VMAX” set=”Battle Styles” no=”88″ c=”name”][/card] will have a field day Knocking Out Blissey V after Blissey V.

[card name=”Rugged Helmet” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”152″ c=”name”][/card] can help Energy control decks in Standard — It can help a lot with resetting tempo if your opponent gets a bit too far ahead. Although we don’t see many of these kinds of decks in Standard nowadays, they do have potential. I could see this card being used with something like [card name=”Centiskorch V” set=”Darkness Ablaze” no=”33″ c=”name”][/card] for example, probably alongside [card name=”Path to the Peak” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”148″ c=”name”][/card]. This might work better post-rotation when threats like [card name=”Pikachu and Zekrom-GX” set=”Team Up” no=”33″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Chaotic Swell” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”187″ c=”name”][/card] rotate.

Summing Up

Overall, although Chilling Reign has a few crazy good cards and a few sleeper hits, I think the set is fairly underwhelming as a whole. There’s a ton of Trainer cards and the only good ones are basically reprints of older cards. I don’t expect this set to shake up the format too badly, though [card name=”Shadow Rider Calyrex VMAX” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”75″ c=”name”][/card] decks will certainly be a new frontrunner in the metagame. Ironically or intentionally, in the same set that the new Tier 1 archetype introduced is badly weak to Darkness, an easily splashable hard-counter to Darkness is printed in the form of [card name=”Galarian Zapdos V” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”80″ c=”name”][/card]. In addition to the existing [card name=”Rapid Strike Urshifu VMAX” set=”Battle Styles” no=”88″ c=”name”][/card] in the meta, this certainly leaves [card name=”Eternatus VMAX” set=”Darkness Ablaze” no=”117″ c=”name”][/card] in a weird spot. I’m interested to see how this all plays out going forward.

What isn’t in a weird spot is [card name=”Victini VMAX” set=”Battle Styles” no=”22″ c=”name”][/card]. This deck is absolutely cracked and you have to try it out. It’s fun and easy to play, and it has phenomenal matchups against the meta. I suspect it will be good against Shadow Rider Calyrex VMAX, but I haven’t tested against this yet. [card name=”Gengar and Mimikyu-GX” set=”Team Up” no=”164″ c=”name”][/card]’s Horror House GX will certainly be an obstacle, but I don’t think it’s a big deal whatsoever.

Anyways, that’s all I have for today. Hopefully next time I’ll be back with some interesting concoctions with the new cards from Chilling Reign, as there’s quite a few that I want to try out. Thanks so much for reading!

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