Sleeper Decks for Worlds – Radiant Charizard and Ice Rider Calyrex VMAX
Hello everyone! This year’s World Championships are right around the corner, and I could not be more excited after the long covid break from major events. I don’t know what I’m going to play, but I have been testing with various off-meta decks to make sure I’m not missing anything. Although the meta decks right now are particularly strong, as I discussed in my last article, they will be the most played and most countered decks. If I can find something a little bit different that happens to be of the same caliber, I’d rather play that. Two decks so far have stood out to me. I’ve played and refined them quite a bit lately, so today I’ll spill the beans and discuss their strategies and matchups.
[cardimg name=”Radiant Charizard” set=”Pokemon GO” no=”11″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
The first deck I’ll cover is [card name=”Radiant Charizard” set=”Pokemon GO” no=”11″ c=”name”][/card] toolbox. This deck is crazy strong but also complicated to play. It functions similarly to [card name=”Galarian Moltres” set=”Evolving Skies” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card] toolbox decks of the past, so it feels like a spiritual successor. This is one of the few decks where I believe there is one definitive way to play the list, with little room for adjustments.
The other deck is [card name=”Ice Rider Calyrex VMAX” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”46″ c=”name”][/card] with [card name=”Bibarel” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card], taking inspiration from the deck developed by Frank Percic, but with significant adjustments based on the developing meta. Ice Rider is a bit more straightforward than Radiant Charizard, and it too is extremely powerful (coincidentally doing the same amount of base damage). Ice Rider Calyrex VMAX is a deck that has many options and flexibility when it comes to building the list, which is completely opposite of Radiant Charizard.
Radiant Charizard Toolbox Deck
[decklist name=”liZARD box” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Radiant Charizard” set=”Pokemon GO” no=”11″][pokemon amt=”20″]2x [card name=”Inteleon” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”58″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Inteleon” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”43″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]3x [card name=”Drizzile” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”56″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]4x [card name=”Sobble” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”41″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]1x [card name=”Radiant Charizard” set=”Pokemon GO” no=”11″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Rowlet” set=”Darkness Ablaze” no=”11″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Snorlax” set=”Vivid Voltage” no=”131″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Galarian Zapdos V” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”80″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Galarian Zigzagoon” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”117″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Manaphy” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”41″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Bibarel” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”121″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Bidoof” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”120″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Slowbro” set=”Pokemon GO” no=”20″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Slowpoke” set=”Pokemon GO” no=”19″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”32″]3x [card name=”Raihan” set=”Evolving Skies” no=”152″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Bird Keeper” set=”Darkness Ablaze” no=”159″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Boss’s Orders” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”154″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”Level Ball” set=”Battle Styles” no=”129″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Evolution Incense” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”163″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Quick Ball” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”179″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Scoop Up Net” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”165″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Ordinary Rod” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”171″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Energy Search” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”161″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Choice Belt” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”135″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Hisuian Heavy Ball” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”146″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Tool Scrapper” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”168″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Magma Basin” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”144″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Training Court” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”169″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”8″]2x [card name=”Twin Energy” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”174″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Capture Energy” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”171″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Fire Energy” set=”XY” no=”133″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Fighting Energy” set=”XY” no=”137″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Water Energy” set=”XY” no=”134″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/energy][/decklist]
Playing the Deck
This deck aims to set up a board full of [card name=”Drizzile” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”56″ c=”name”][/card] so that you always have the option to evolve into Inteleon, which lets the deck do whatever it wants each turn. This deck takes a bit of practice to play, as many turns require complicated combos while also thinking ahead and mapping out the rest of the game. Once your opponent takes two Prize cards, [card name=”Radiant Charizard” set=”Pokemon GO” no=”11″ c=”name”][/card] can start attacking easily thanks to [card name=”Raihan” set=”Evolving Skies” no=”152″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Twin Energy” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”174″ c=”name”][/card]. Since Radiant Charizard is the main attacker, [card name=”Hisuian Heavy Ball” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”146″ c=”name”][/card] and multiple [card name=”Ordinary Rod” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”171″ c=”name”][/card] are included to ensure that you get to use it a few times.
In the early game, before Radiant Charizard starts attacking, this deck prioritizes setting up its ideal board state, and [card name=”Sobble” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”41″ c=”name”][/card]’s Keep Calling and [card name=”Snorlax” set=”Vivid Voltage” no=”131″ c=”name”][/card]’s Gormandize are key parts of this. Occasionally, you can attack with [card name=”Rowlet” set=”Darkness Ablaze” no=”11″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Galarian Zapdos V” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”80″ c=”name”][/card] before Radiant Charizard is able to start attacking. If you have an opportunity to take a quick Prize with Rowlet, especially against opposing Sobble, it’s often correct to do so. Although this initial attack puts you onto odd Prizes. this is better than the alternative of the opponent putting you onto odd Prizes later by attacking with their Aqua Bullet [card name=”Inteleon” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”58″ c=”name”][/card].
[cardimg name=”Slowbro” set=”Pokemon GO” no=”20″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
If your opponent is at two Prizes and you are at three or four, you can sometimes set up a checkmate with Radiant Charizard and [card name=”Slowbro” set=”Pokemon GO” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card]. Radiant Charizard can attack to put you down to two or one Prize, while Slowpoke sits on the Bench. If the opponent takes out Radiant Charizard, Slowbro can win the game by simply attacking. If they take out the Slowpoke, Charizard is left alive and threatens massive amounts of damage. You usually don’t want to play down the Slowpoke until the opponent is at two Prizes, because it is difficult to use if it gets KO’d in any other situation.
I’m not sure if you can cut Slowbro from the list. It is situational and clunky, but wildly powerful at the same time. If you do get rid of it, it opens up two deck spots. One of which has to be [card name=”Klara” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”145″ c=”name”][/card] for easy use of that late-game Radiant Charizard in Slowbro’s place.
[card name=”Bibarel” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card] is required in this deck because of the prevalence of [card name=”Roxanne” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”150″ c=”name”][/card] in the meta. Roxanne would otherwise crush decks like this, but Bibarel completely solves the problem. It’s rather easy to set up Bibarel, and if the opponent opts to KO it, that means they are leaving the Radiant Charizard alive to happily collect more Prize cards.
Quick Shooting Inteleon and [card name=”Galarian Zigzagoon” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”117″ c=”name”][/card] are useful against Pokemon with more than 280 HP, such as [card name=”Ice Rider Calyrex VMAX” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”46″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Mewtwo V-UNION” set=”Sword and Shield Black Star Promos” no=”SWSH159 ” c=”name”][/card]. They’re also good when [card name=”Choice Belt” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”135″ c=”name”][/card] is prized, or in some other random situations. Rowlet with Galarian Zigzagoon can KO [card name=”Bidoof” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”120″ c=”name”][/card] as well! [card name=”Manaphy” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”41″ c=”name”][/card] is useless in most matchups but is unfortunately required against [card name=”Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card] or anything that can attack with [card name=”Radiant Greninja” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”46″ c=”name”][/card].
Galarian Zapdos V is incredibly strong in this deck. It is an early attacking option, and it is disgusting against [card name=”Arceus VSTAR” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”123″ c=”name”][/card]. The fact that Galarian Zapdos V gives up two Prize cards is mostly irrelevant, as you’re counting on giving up those early Prizes regardless of whether or not you are attacking. If you can get value out of those burnable Prize cards by attacking with Galarian Zapdos V, all the better.
Two Ordinary Rod are needed as you often need to attack with three Radiant Charizard. You also can’t afford to prize all of them, which makes playing one copy risky. [card name=”Tool Scrapper” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”168″ c=”name”][/card] is a necessary counter to [card name=”Tool Jammer” set=”Battle Styles” no=”136″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Big Charm” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”158″ c=”name”][/card].
The Stadium cards are required to bump opposing [card name=”Path to the Peak” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”148″ c=”name”][/card], as that card locks out Radiant Charizard and Galarian Zapdos V. [card name=”Magma Basin” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”144″ c=”name”][/card] is more powerful and less likely to help the opponent, but [card name=”Training Court” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”169″ c=”name”][/card] is far more versatile and gets used more overall as a result.
Water Energy is included because Aqua Bullet is often useful, and it’s one of the few attacks we can actually use against [card name=”Flying Pikachu VMAX” set=”Celebrations” no=”7″ c=”name”][/card]. Slowpoke’s Ideal Fishing Day attack requires Water Energy too, and it is quite useful against Mewtwo V-UNION stall.
[premium]
Radiant Charizard’s Matchups
Arceus VSTAR / Inteleon — Favorable
[cardimg name=”Galarian Zapdos V” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”TG19″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
This deck boasts a favorable Arceus VSTAR matchup, although some things do need to go right. [card name=”Galarian Zapdos V” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”80″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Radiant Charizard” set=”Pokemon GO” no=”11″ c=”name”][/card] are excellent at taking out Arceus VSTAR, and Arceus VSTAR does terribly against decks that are capable of KO’ing them back to back. Their [card name=”Cheren’s Care” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”134″ c=”name”][/card] plan goes out the window, and they are stuck in a losing Prize trade that they can’t do much about. Be sure to set up Bibarel quickly, as you don’t want Roxanne to lock you out of the game. Thanks to [card name=”Rowlet” set=”Darkness Ablaze” no=”11″ c=”name”][/card]’s ability to take an early Prize, Roxanne becomes live quickly. If you don’t have Bibarel, at least grab [card name=”Snorlax” set=”Vivid Voltage” no=”131″ c=”name”][/card] or leave yourself with several outs to it.
Galarian Zapdos V is not as good later in the game, so if you miss your early opportunity with it, you may not even bother with it the rest of the game. This is even more true if the opponent has [card name=”Dunsparce” set=”Fusion Strike” no=”207″ c=”name”][/card] in their list. Radiant Charizard itself is plenty capable of dealing with Arceus VSTAR, and Rowlet can usually get a Prize or two, plus Slowbro sometimes can as well. If they opt to attack with their own Radiant Charizard, sometimes you can respond with an Aqua Bullet KO.
Origin Form Palkia VSTAR — Slightly Favorable
This matchup is similar to Arceus VSTAR / Inteleon, but it is strictly more difficult. Galarian Zapdos V isn’t a useful option, they can threaten [card name=”Radiant Greninja” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”46″ c=”name”][/card] at any time, and they can more easily attack with [card name=”Inteleon” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”58″ c=”name”][/card]. They are also more likely to play [card name=”Manaphy” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”41″ c=”name”][/card] to counter Rowlet, however, we still have [card name=”Bibarel” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card] to save us from [card name=”Roxanne” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”150″ c=”name”][/card], and Radiant Charizard completely obliterates [card name=”Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card]. This matchup relies more heavily on multiple Radiant Charizard and the threat of [card name=”Slowbro” set=”Pokemon GO” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card]. Fortunately, they play fewer Path to the Peak and Big Charm than Arceus VSTAR, so we don’t always need Tool Scrapper or Stadiums, however, we do always need Manaphy on the Bench as soon as possible.
Mew VSTAR — Slightly Unfavorable
Now that Inteleon toolbox no longer plays [card name=”Galarian Moltres V” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”97″ c=”name”][/card], the [card name=”Mew VMAX” set=”Fusion Strike” no=”114″ c=”name”][/card] matchup suffers a bit. As Mew VMAX is on the decline, however, it is not as important of a matchup. While this matchup is in Mew VMAX’s favor, there are still reasonable ways to win. If the opponent attacks with Mew VMAX equipped with only [card name=”Double Turbo Energy” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”151″ c=”name”][/card], Radiant Charizard can still take it out with enough damage modifiers. If they prep a [card name=”Mew V” set=”Darkness Ablaze” no=”69″ c=”name”][/card] with a [card name=”Fusion Strike Energy” set=”Fusion Strike” no=”244″ c=”name”][/card], you can snipe it with a quick Rowlet to prep for a Radiant Charizard KO.
If anything besides the VMAX is Active, you simply KO it with whatever is most efficient. Your [card name=”Boss’s Orders” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”132″ c=”name”][/card] are important in this matchup, but unfortunately, there is only one. The optimal use for it depends completely on how the game progresses, but it’s often used as a game-ender when you are staring down a healthy and protected Mew VMAX.
If you know you are playing against Mew VMAX, choose to go second. Normally, you choose to go first with this deck. Mew VMAX can KO something on turn one rather easily before you’ve had a chance to use Keep Calling, so choose to go second against it or any other deck that can take a KO on turn one.
Few Mew VMAX lists are playing [card name=”Marnie” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”169″ c=”name”][/card] these days, so take advantage of that and fill your hand with as many useful cards as possible.
Ice Rider Calyrex VMAX — Favorable
This matchup is quite good due to the Prize trade. Even if you barely miss the OHKO on an [card name=”Ice Rider Calyrex VMAX” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”46″ c=”name”][/card], you can finish it off with ping damage on the following turn and then still attack. Sometimes you can even use Boss’s Orders plus Aqua Bullet for four Prizes. Rowlet can sometimes take that early Prize, which is even better than usual because Ice Rider Calyrex VMAX gives up three. Radiant Charizard obliterates all in its path as usual.
Flying Pikachu VMAX — Unfavorable
[cardimg name=”Flying Pikachu VMAX” set=”Celebrations” no=”7″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
This matchup is one of the most difficult. [card name=”Radiant Charizard” set=”Pokemon GO” no=”11″ c=”name”][/card] banks on [card name=”Flying Pikachu VMAX” set=”Celebrations” no=”7″ c=”name”][/card] being on the decline in the meta, but the matchup is far from an auto-loss. [card name=”Galarian Zapdos V” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”80″ c=”name”][/card] can easily take out an [card name=”Arceus VSTAR” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”123″ c=”name”][/card] for two Prizes, and Boss’s Orders can allow for one or two more. Two [card name=”Inteleon” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”58″ c=”name”][/card] can take out a Flying Pikachu VMAX in two shots. And Slowbro can sometimes be used as well. It sounds like there’s many ways to win. This matchup becomes exponentially more difficult if they don’t play down any [card name=”Arceus V” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”122″ c=”name”][/card] and only go with two Flying Pikachu VMAX. They lose the power and consistency that Arceus VSTAR offers, but it’s nearly impossible for this deck to deal with two Flying Pikachu VMAX.
If the opponent plays correctly and lucky, the matchup is impossible, however, there are games where those things are not the case, so the matchup is winnable overall.
Mewtwo V-UNION Stall — Slightly Favorable (?)
This matchup is fairly complicated and I haven’t entirely figured it out yet. I believe that Radiant Charizard is favored if certain cards are not prized. One-of cards that are critically important are Quick Shooting [card name=”Inteleon” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”43″ c=”name”][/card], Water Energy, [card name=”Slowpoke” set=”Pokemon GO” no=”19″ c=”name”][/card], Radiant Charizard, and [card name=”Tool Scrapper” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”168″ c=”name”][/card] — you pressure with Aqua Bullet while building up for a OHKO with Radiant Charizard. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to access Energy without the usual access to [card name=”Raihan” set=”Evolving Skies” no=”152″ c=”name”][/card], so this is a slow process. Slowpoke allows you to infinite resources while still applying pressure with Quick Shooting, which is important because Mewtwo V-UNION would otherwise completely drain your resources given enough time.
Ice Rider Calyrex VMAX Deck
[decklist name=”icebib” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Ice Rider Calyrex VMAX” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”46″][pokemon amt=”19″]2x [card name=”Ice Rider Calyrex VMAX” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”46″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]3x [card name=”Ice Rider Calyrex V” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”45″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”40″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Origin Forme Palkia V” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”39″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Bibarel” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”121″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Bidoof” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”120″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Crobat V” set=”Darkness Ablaze” no=”104″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Mew” set=”Celebrations” no=”11″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Pumpkaboo” set=”Evolving Skies” no=”76″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Pyukumuku” set=”Fusion Strike” no=”77″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Radiant Greninja” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”46″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Empoleon V” set=”Battle Styles” no=”40″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”33″]4x [card name=”Melony” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”146″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Irida” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”147″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”150″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Quick Ball” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”179″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Trekking Shoes” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”156″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Cross Switcher” set=”Fusion Strike” no=”230″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Choice Belt” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”135″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Capacious Bucket” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”156″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Switch” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”183″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Tool Scrapper” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”168″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Battle VIP Pass” set=”Fusion Strike” no=”225″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Air Balloon” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”156″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Training Court” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”169″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”8″]8x [card name=”Water Energy” set=”XY” no=”134″ c=”deck2″ amt=”8″][/card][/energy][/decklist]
Playing the Deck
[card name=”Ice Rider Calyrex VMAX” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”46″ c=”name”][/card] is quite powerful right now because it easily hits for the magic number of 280 with relatively little investment. Water-types in general have insane support right now, and their Weaknesses are difficult to exploit. The natural question you may ask yourself is why you should play [card name=”Bibarel” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card] over [card name=”Inteleon” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”58″ c=”name”][/card], after all, Inteleon consistently finds combo pieces such as [card name=”Melony” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”146″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Choice Belt” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”135″ c=”name”][/card], and is itself a useful attacker.
[cardimg name=”Bibarel” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”121″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
There are two reasons why I prefer the Bibarel version; most importantly, it doesn’t care about [card name=”Roxanne” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”150″ c=”name”][/card]. Not only does the Bibarel version churn through the deck and thins cards, but Bibarel’s Ability is a get-out-of-jail-free card against hand disruption. Inteleon variants do not thin the deck and they play from the hand, making them extremely weak against Roxanne. Since Roxanne will be a threat in nearly every meta matchup, Bibarel is more appealing to me than Inteleon.
The Bibarel version also is more consistent with applying early pressure, such as getting the turn-two Max Lance. With the Inteleon version being built around the Inteleon engine, the deck is a bit slower. The Bibarel version is built to be more turbo and also has access to [card name=”Crobat V” set=”Darkness Ablaze” no=”104″ c=”name”][/card], and sees many cards every turn, so the gap in consistency between Bibarel and Inteleon is mitigated by Bibarel’s draw power and access to Irida.
This deck is built around spamming Max Lance, as that is the best attack in most situations. [card name=”Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card] is mainly for backup or support, but there are windows of opportunity to attack with it. It’s a situational attacker in this deck, much like [card name=”Radiant Greninja” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”46″ c=”name”][/card].
[card name=”Mew” set=”Celebrations” no=”11″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Pyukumuku” set=”Fusion Strike” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card] assist with the “see lots of cards” strategy that this deck employs. Mew is also a great pivot for [card name=”Cross Switcher” set=”Fusion Strike” no=”230″ c=”name”][/card], which is something that the deck otherwise lacks. [card name=”Pumpkaboo” set=”Evolving Skies” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] is included to bump [card name=”Path to the Peak” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”148″ c=”name”][/card], which is annoying because it locks Star Portal, Crobat V, and Radiant Greninja. [card name=”Training Court” set=”Fusion Strike” no=”282″ c=”name”][/card] is in the deck for a similar reason — it’s much better than Pumpkaboo as a Stadium counter, but it is unreliable as the deck has no way to search for it.
[card name=”Empoleon V” set=”Battle Styles” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card] is an optional tech that you don’t need to include; it absolutely destroys Mewtwo V-UNION stall, as well as anything else with [card name=”Miltank” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”126″ c=”name”][/card], but is completely useless against everything else. This makes the card purely a meta call. For PTCGO ladder, it’s worth noting that Empoleon V tears through the hordes of [card name=”Lunatone” set=”Pokemon GO” no=”34″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Regigigas” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”130″ c=”name”][/card] as well.
[card name=”Irida” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”147″ c=”name”][/card] is a ridiculously strong consistency card that this deck likes to spam. [card name=”Melony” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”146″ c=”name”][/card] is only used when you have to, but since Max Lance discards Energy, you are required to use Melony quite often. [card name=”Cross Switcher” set=”Fusion Strike” no=”230″ c=”name”][/card] is the preferred gust option as opposed to [card name=”Boss’s Orders” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”132″ c=”name”][/card] because it doesn’t require the Supporter use for turn, allowing for easy spamming of Irida and Melony. Cross Switcher also has synergy with Mew, Irida, and to a lesser extent, Bibarel — Bibarel likes burnable Items, but more Supporters means clunkier hands.
[card name=”Tool Scrapper” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”168″ c=”name”][/card] is a necessary tech to deal with [card name=”Big Charm” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”158″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Tool Jammer” set=”Battle Styles” no=”136″ c=”name”][/card], and it can be fetched with Irida or Mew. [card name=”Battle VIP Pass” set=”Fusion Strike” no=”225″ c=”name”][/card] is a useful card with incredible synergy with Irida, but it has anti-synergy with Bibarel. If you played more than one VIP Pass, the extras would hinder Bibarel throughout the game.
Ice Rider Calyrex VMAX’s Matchups
Arceus / Inteleon — Favorable
[card name=”Arceus VSTAR” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”123″ c=”name”][/card] variants are [card name=”Ice Rider Calyrex VMAX” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”46″ c=”name”][/card]’s favorite. Max Lance shreds through Arceus VSTAR and it has no options to OHKO Ice Rider Calyrex VMAX back. This makes for a stupidly skewed Prize trade. Ice Rider Calyrex VMAX’s combination of speed, power, and HP makes it nearly impossible for Arceus VSTAR to overcome it. Furthermore, Bibarel trivializes Roxanne, which is their strongest comeback option.
Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR — Slightly Favorable
[cardimg name=”Radiant Greninja” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”46″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR is another VSTAR that falls to Ice Rider Calyrex VMAX and is incapable of OKHO’ing in return, however, you do need to be especially wary of one particular play. Do not have any Pokemon with low-HP in play if you also have Ice Rider Calyrex VMAX in play. This allows them to use Moonlight Shuriken to take one Prize against something like [card name=”Bidoof” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”120″ c=”name”][/card] or Mew, while also placing 90 damage on the VMAX. From there, they KO the VMAX and are at two Prizes remaining, which they can easily find on one of your various two-Prizers.
The counter-play to this involves not playing down Mew or Pumpkaboo early while that line of play is still a threat. Furthermore, you can’t have an unevolved Bidoof while you also have an Ice Rider Calyrex VMAX in play. Try to get [card name=”Bibarel” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card] out as fast as possible so that you can start attacking with the VMAX without getting punished.
Flying Pikachu VMAX — Favorable
Ice Rider Calyrex VMAX shreds through Arceus VMAX, and [card name=”Flying Pikachu VMAX” set=”Celebrations” no=”7″ c=”name”][/card] itself is hardly a threat. You can trade evenly with it, or opt to Cross Switcher around it twice. You can also do the same Radiant Greninja play against them that Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR tries to do against you, but that is highly situational.
Mew VMAX — Unfavorable
The [card name=”Mew VMAX” set=”Fusion Strike” no=”114″ c=”name”][/card] matchup isn’t good but still winnable. If you want to play [card name=”Path to the Peak” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”148″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Roxanne” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”150″ c=”name”][/card] like the original list, your Mew VMAX matchup would be quite good, however, the deck is way less clunky without those cards, and Mew VMAX is falling out of favor, so it’s okay to take a bad matchup in exchange for a much better deck.
In this matchup, [card name=”Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card] is the better attacker for a change. Ice Rider Calyrex VMAX is sometimes used later in the game, as it is much more difficult to OHKO once they have used some resources. Look for a [card name=”Radiant Greninja” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”46″ c=”name”][/card] play involving hitting Mew VMAX and KO’ing one of their single-Prize Pokemon. If they have [card name=”Oricorio” set=”Fusion Strike” no=”42″ c=”name”][/card] in play, you can [card name=”Cross Switcher” set=”Fusion Strike” no=”230″ c=”name”][/card] it and take it out with Radiant Greninja due to its Weakness. After Mew VMAX takes snipe damage from Radiant Greninja, Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR can easily KO it. Whether you do the Radiant Greninja play before or after attacking into the Mew VMAX with Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR depends on how the game goes.
If you manage to put together this line, you win in three attacks, forcing Mew VMAX to draw perfectly. Radiant Greninja takes one Prize while either setting up or finishing off the VMAX. Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR either finishes off the VMAX after a Radiant Greninja attack or sets it up for the Shuriken. After those four Prizes, it’s a simple matter of taking out a [card name=”Genesect V” set=”Fusion Strike” no=”185″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Mew V” set=”Darkness Ablaze” no=”69″ c=”name”][/card] for two Prizes, and of course, sometimes that happens first.
Additionally, if you go first and get the Turn 2 KO on a two-Prize Pokemon, you can Cross Switcher twice for two Prizes each and win that way.
One final thing that you need to be aware of is that the Radiant Greninja play falls apart if they use Psychic Leap to heal their VMAX. Since you cannot OHKO the VMAX and are forced to put damage on it, you need to make sure they cannot get value out of that Psychic Leap. If they do not get a KO with it, they are wasting a turn, which offsets the benefit they get of healing the Mew VMAX. This means keeping low-HP Pokemon like [card name=”Mew” set=”Celebrations” no=”11″ c=”name”][/card] out of play while Psychic Leap healing is still a threat. I don’t think [card name=”Leon” set=”Vivid Voltage” no=”154″ c=”name”][/card] is worth playing for this matchup (for Max Lance) because it is completely useless if they have [card name=”Oricorio” set=”Fusion Strike” no=”42″ c=”name”][/card].
Mewtwo V-UNION Stall – Very Favorable
[cardimg name=”Empoleon V” set=”Battle Styles” no=”146″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
[card name=”Empoleon V” set=”Battle Styles” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card] shuts off Gormandize, which makes it so that the Mewtwo V-UNION deck can’t do anything the entire game.
It is comical how hard of a counter Empoleon V is…
Empoleon V also happens to be a Water-type, so it attacks easily and takes advantage of all the Water support. Make sure to put Empoleon V in the Active as soon as possible, start attacking with it, and you win.
Conclusion
Both of these decks are among my top picks for Worlds at the moment. They function quite differently, but both are amazing right now due to their absurd damage output. [card name=”Radiant Charizard” set=”Pokemon GO” no=”11″ c=”name”][/card] is difficult but rewarding to play, while [card name=”Ice Rider Calyrex VMAX” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”46″ c=”name”][/card] is more straightforward and consistent.
I recommend trying them out, and feel free to make edits to the Ice Rider Calyrex VMAX list as well! I have a hard time justifying any cuts or changes to the Radiant Charizard list because every card is so important — there’s just no space.
Thanks for reading!
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