Stage-2s in Standard — Finally, the Missing Piece?

[cardimg name=”Porygon-Z” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”157″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

The season is done but new online events are popping up each day. There’s no time like the present to be trying stuff you never would have otherwise and having fun with the game! In the past few days I’ve been messing around with [card name=”Nidoqueen” set=”Team Up” no=”56″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Porygon-Z” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”157″ c=”name”][/card], at first for fun but now I’m intrigued by the former.

Before I delve in, I want to say that while I am disappointed there won’t be more sanctioned events this season, I am extremely pleased with this decision and support it completely. There are those among our world population that are not prepared to fight off a pandemic like we’re facing and the protection of our fellow brothers and sisters with those conditions needs to be our priority.

Now for the fun stuff. Stage-2 decks have been “out of the game” for a while now and while messing with Nidoqueen I realized something: [card name=”Zacian V” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”138″ c=”name”][/card] is great in these decks. Is it the missing piece to make them Tier 1? Probably not, but it makes them viable and these decks are so fun to play that you don’t want to miss this opportunity.

Porygon-Z

Why Porygon-Z? A “Rain Dance” Ability for Special Energy is sick, especially with a Pokemon that can swing for more damage according to the number of Energy on it. [card name=”Whimsicott-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”140″ c=”name”][/card] is the perfect partner for this deck and Zacian V can attack too if you have attach three [card name=”Rainbow Energy” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”137″ c=”name”][/card] and/or [card name=”Aurora Energy” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”186″ c=”name”][/card]. Fluffy Cotton is annoying to deal with and on a coin flip, you gain the prize advantage. Plus, Fairy isn’t a bad type to be in a format where [card name=”Arceus and Dialga and Palkia-GX” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”156″ c=”name”][/card] is popular. This is more of a for-fun deck but it puts up a fight in any matchup. You’ll live and die by Fluffy Cotton, annoying many opponents in the process. Zacian V giving you some extra draw on your first turn is super important to setting up and improves this deck.

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[decklist name=”.” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Porygon-Z” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”157″][pokemon amt=”19″]3x [card name=”Porygon” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”154″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Porygon-Z” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”157″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Cottonee” set=”Unified Minds” no=”143″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Whimsicott-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”140″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]1x [card name=”Zacian V” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”138″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Oranguru” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”114″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Mew” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”76″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Ditto Prism Star” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”154″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Dedenne-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”57″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Blitzle” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”81″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Zebstrika” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”82″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”27″]4x [card name=”Professor’s Research” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”178″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Cynthia” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”119″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Rare Candy” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”180″ c=”deck2″ 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]3x [card name=”Great Ball” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”164″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Great Catcher” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”192″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Wondrous Labyrinth Prism Star” set=”Team Up” no=”158″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Chaotic Swell” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”187″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”14″]4x [card name=”Triple Acceleration Energy” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”190″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Recycle Energy” set=”Unified Minds” no=”212″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Rainbow Energy” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”151″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Aurora Energy” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”186″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card][/energy][/decklist]

Deck Explanations

Three Cottonee and Three Whimsicott-GX

As your main attacker you might want more of these or an [card name=”Ordinary Rod” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”171″ c=”name”][/card]. However, three is fine because you have Zacian V as an attacker too. Porygon-Z itself can deal 120 damage for a [card name=”Triple Acceleration Energy” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”190″ c=”name”][/card]. There’s a [card name=”Ditto Prism Star” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”154″ c=”name”][/card] in here as well.

One Ditto Prism Star, One Blitzle and One Zebstrika

Sprint is important to dig for more Energy each turn to repeat heavily-damaging attacks from Whimsicott-GX. [card name=”Cinccino” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”147″ c=”name”][/card] is another option, but this deck generally plays everything it can then moves on. [card name=”Zebstrika” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”82″ c=”name”][/card]’s Sprint is two more cards than Make Do, so I prefer Sprint in this deck. Ditto Prism Star fills the role of both a fourth [card name=”Cottonee” set=”Unified Minds” no=”143″ c=”name”][/card] and a second [card name=”Blitzle” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”81″ c=”name”][/card] in case you Prize your one copy or something happens to it.

One Wondrous Labyrinth Prism Star and One Chaotic Swell

This deck is all about gimmicks. Fluffy Cotton steals games on coin flips and this pair of Stadiums can have a similar effect, making it harder for your opponent to damage you or take a Knock Out. Lead with [card name=”Chaotic Swell” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”187″ c=”name”][/card], then play [card name=”Wondrous Labyrinth Prism Star” set=”Team Up” no=”158″ c=”name”][/card]; this deck doesn’t have room for more control cards but if it did, I would play them.

Banter

This deck doesn’t run any switching cards because [card name=”Recycle Energy” set=”Unified Minds” no=”212″ c=”name”][/card] is an “unlimited” switching effect on its own. You can attach it, use it to pay the Retreat Cost, then attach the Energy again. [card name=”Zacian V” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”138″ c=”name”][/card] makes this deck a little better, to the point of being viable as a Stage-2 deck. I’m more excited about [card name=”Nidoqueen” set=”Team Up” no=”56″ c=”name”][/card], but [card name=”Porygon-Z” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”157″ c=”name”][/card] is a nice fun twist on things. This deck can beat anything, but you’ll need to flip some heads and get Porygon-Z out quickly. Against Zacian V for instance, if you get tails, you’re going to be in a bad spot. If you’re able to get a second or third turn one-shot on an [card name=”Arceus and Dialga and Palkia-GX” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”156″ c=”name”][/card] followed by a heads flip on Fluffy Cotton, you’ll be ahead on Prizes and win so long as you’re able to take three more Prizes after that first Tag Team Pokemon-GX Knock Out. [card name=”Pikachu and Zekrom-GX” set=”Team Up” no=”33″ c=”name”][/card] is easy if your opponent puts down two three-Prize Pokemon. Control decks are beatable because of all of your Recycle Energy and your [card name=”Oranguru” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”114″ c=”name”][/card] Resource Management option. Non Pokemon-GX decks come down to your flips alone, you’re not going to have Prize advantage if you’re getting tails a ton. Sometimes this deck backfires badly. Cross your fingers, it’s a wild ride!

Nidoqueen

Why Nidoqueen? Power Lariat can crank itself up to 260 damage, more after [card name=”Vitality Band” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”185″ c=”name”][/card] and/or [card name=”Shrine of Punishment” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”143″ c=”name”][/card]. Against decks like Zacian V you bring the heat with four Evolution Pokemon on your Bench and a Vitality Band attached (a total of 220 damage). Queen’s Call makes this deck extremely consistent after you setup. [card name=”Meganium” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”8″ c=”name”][/card] allows you to chain attackers with ease. [card name=”Inteleon” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”58″ c=”name”][/card] makes this deck more consistent and I’d be lying if I didn’t admit how many times I’ve used [card name=”Nidoran F” set=”Team Up” no=”54″ c=”name”][/card] to use Call for Family. This deck packs a nearly unstoppable engine and Prize advantage against nearly everything into one deck — the only barrier to get past is early turn bricks, then you’ll be good to go. Decks like these have traditionally played [card name=”Swampert” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”35″ c=”name”][/card], but the biggest change I’ve made is removing that completely and running a two-of [card name=”Drizzile” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”56″ c=”name”][/card] count to have a searchable out to a Trainer. Swampert might thin the deck and draw you extra cards, but I’ve had no problems once I’m set up with my current list. Here it is:

[decklist name=”.” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Nidoqueen” set=”Team Up” no=”56″][pokemon amt=”21″]4x [card name=”Nidoran F” set=”Team Up” no=”54″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Nidoqueen” set=”Team Up” no=”56″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Zacian V” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”138″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Sobble” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”55″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Drizzile” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”56″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Inteleon” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”58″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Chikorita” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”6″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Meganium” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”8″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Oranguru” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”114″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”33″]4x [card name=”Professor’s Research” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”178″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Cynthia” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”119″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]1x [card name=”Tate and Liza” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”148″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”Rare Candy” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”180″ c=”deck2″ 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=”Great Ball” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”164″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Vitality Band” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”185″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Great Catcher” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”192″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Air Balloon” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”156″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Ordinary Rod” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”171″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]2x [card name=”Shrine of Punishment” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”143″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”6″]4x [card name=”Triple Acceleration Energy” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”190″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]1x [card name=”Super Boost Energy Prism Star” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”136″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Recycle Energy” set=”Unified Minds” no=”212″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/energy][/decklist]

Deck Explanations

Four Nidoran F and Four Nidoqueen

[cardimg name=”Nidoqueen” set=”Team Up” no=”56″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

As your main attacker and search engine once you get one out, you want to have an extra supply of these guys. I’ve tried three of each, but I think you want to play four to improve the deck’s consistency. With a lower count you can get in trouble if you Prize one and you become super reliant on your [card name=”Ordinary Rod” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”171″ c=”name”][/card], more than you are already.

Two Zacian V

Having two is to safeguard [card name=”Zacian V” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”138″ c=”name”][/card] from being prized and helps [card name=”Great Ball” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”164″ c=”name”][/card] hit. Zacian V getting a turn 1 Intrepid Sword is important, especially since this deck wants to go first. Going second gives you the chance to attack on your second turn with an Evolution Pokemon, something you otherwise would be unable to do. Going second is not the end of the world, but you might see your setup crumble a bit.

Two Sobble, Two Drizzile and Two Inteleon

These are the backbone of this deck. Once you have a [card name=”Sobble” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card] in play you’re a Drizzile away from a Supporter at all times. Likewise, you can Drizzile for a [card name=”Rare Candy” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”180″ c=”name”][/card] and get Meganium out; once Quick-Ripening Herb is online, you will be cruising. These are extremely important to this deck’s consistency and the simple fact that Drizzile is a support Pokemon as a Stage-1 makes this critical to this deck’s success. Inteleon’s Aqua Bullet is a far-cry attack if you have your [card name=”Super Boost Energy Prism Star” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”136″ c=”name”][/card] on.

Two Chikorita and Two Meganium

Without Quick-Ripening Herb, you won’t be going anywhere fast and this deck wouldn’t ever win. You need to be able to “Rare Candy” more times than the four you’re allowed in a deck list and Meganium’s Ability lets you do that. You can Solar Beam in a strange situation if you must with Super Boost Energy Prism Star, otherwise this card is purely support in this deck. You need it to chain attackers and get things set up. Some games you’ll go for two, but usually you don’t need to. Having two is insurance against a gust effect to Knock Out the other, but that means your opponent did not take out your attacker — so Meganium makes an impact either way.

One Oranguru and One Recycle Energy

Resource Management [card name=”Oranguru” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”114″ c=”name”][/card] is included so you can recover extra [card name=”Triple Acceleration Energy” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”190″ c=”name”][/card] if you need to as well as perhaps a Vitality Band. The [card name=”Recycle Energy” set=”Unified Minds” no=”212″ c=”name”][/card] gets you attacking with it and you’ll be able to do this multiple times with your Ordinary Rod to recover the Oranguru thereafter. Against a stall deck, you have a chance because Oranguru can replenish the deck. It’s more for wonky games where you might have used [card name=”Professor’s Research” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”178″ c=”name”][/card] to discard multiple Special Energy. The goal of this deck is to win in as few attacks as possible. The four Triple Acceleration Energy will usually be enough, but Oranguru is a needed recovery card for a deck that relies on Triple Acceleration Energy.

Four Professor’s Research, Three Cynthia and One Tate and Liza

This Supporter lineup has proven itself to be super consistent. [card name=”Tate and Liza” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”148″ c=”name”][/card] fills a switching role if you’re ever trapped in the Active Spot with a Nidoqueen and no Triple Acceleration Energy to be found. This gives you the option to switch into Oranguru and replenish your deck with resources if you must. The Professor’s Research and [card name=”Cynthia” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”119″ c=”name”][/card] are hard draw cards to maintain consistency while you try to chain attackers and ultimately win the game.

Four Quick Ball, Four Pokemon Communication and Four Great Ball

This “ball” lineup of [card name=”Quick Ball” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”179″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Pokémon Communication” set=”Team Up” no=”152″ c=”name”][/card], and Great Ball is strong and keeps you consistent. This is an impressive number of outs to find extra Basic Pokemon on your first turn (when you’re hopefully going first and choosing to when you can). I’ve tried [card name=”Professor Elm’s Lecture” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”188″ c=”name”][/card] in the past and it was too slow; this deck wants to be as fast as possible. You could use [card name=”Professor Oak’s Setup” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”201″ c=”name”][/card] to find your Zacian V but that’s too slow as well. This lineup is certifiably optimal.

Two Vitality Band and Two Shrine of Punishment

You need [card name=”Vitality Band” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”185″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Shrine of Punishment” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”143″ c=”name”][/card] to hit numbers against very important Pokemon. In the case of Zacian V, Vitality Band is needed to get up to 220 damage when you have four Evolution Pokemon on your Bench. Against bigger Tag Team Pokemon-GX, you often need a few Shrine of Punishment ticks to reach the one-shot range, so again you’ll want two Shrine of Punishment to ensure you can do that. Drizzile and Inteleon both find these tech Trainer cards and I’ve found that two is enough. I wouldn’t go below that because you don’t want to Prize it and against Zacian V you need two Vitality Band in a game (unless of course you have five Evolution Pokemon on your Bench, which is possible).

Deck Options

Mew

Bench Barrier [card name=”Mew” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] is good against only a few decks in this Standard metagame. The biggest threat is [card name=”Pikachu and Zekrom-GX” set=”Team Up” no=”33″ c=”name”][/card] using Tag Bolt GX, followed by [card name=”Naganadel-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”160″ c=”name”][/card]’s Venom Shot in [card name=”Mewtwo and Mew-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”71″ c=”name”][/card] decks and [card name=”Dewgong” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”45″ c=”name”][/card] in a few [card name=”Roxie” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”205″ c=”name”][/card] spread-style decks. If you’re having problems against any of these decks then I’d play Mew. I don’t think it’s amazing against Pikachu and Zekrom-GX because once a Pikachu and Zekrom-GX has more than three Lightning Energy on it, and you’re not one-shotting it on the following turn, then you’re probably going to lose anyway regardless if you play Mew.

Rampardos

Running a single [card name=”Unidentified Fossil” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”207″ c=”name”][/card] and a [card name=”Rampardos” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”65″ c=”name”][/card] has a lot of value in this deck. Not only does it give you an unconditionally powerful out to Basic Pokemon, but it’s completely searchable by [card name=”Drizzile” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”56″ c=”name”][/card] and/or [card name=”Inteleon” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”58″ c=”name”][/card] and a single [card name=”Nidoqueen” set=”Team Up” no=”56″ c=”name”][/card]. Being easy to set up makes it a great option if you’re having trouble dealing with higher HP Pokemon. I think I would drop a Zacian V and perhaps a Shrine of Punishment (or Vitality Band) for this pair of cards.

Guzma and Hala

Discarding two cards can be hard with everything in this deck having a place, but [card name=”Guzma and Hala” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”193″ c=”name”][/card] can snag you both of your damage modifiers and a Triple Acceleration Energy at once. I think I’d only play one or two, you need the hard-draw consistency of the Cynthia and Professor’s Research count.

Custom Catcher

While [card name=”Great Catcher” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”192″ c=”name”][/card] is best in this deck, playing Inteleon does open avenues for [card name=”Custom Catcher” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”171″ c=”name”][/card]. To fit it, you’d have to cut a ton of corners and remove Great Catcher, which I wouldn’t recommend. But sometimes sacrifices must be made.

Reset Stamp

As a single Prize deck (aside from Zacian V) you can get amazing value out of [card name=”Reset Stamp” set=”Unified Minds” no=”206″ c=”name”][/card], especially once your opponent drops to a single Prize. A hard-hitting Pokemon coupled with that disruption can be too much for a lot of decks to handle, so this is an option to run if you’re looking for one or two cards that could make this deck better.

Playing the Deck

[cardimg name=”Meganium” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”8″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

Prioritize [card name=”Chikorita” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”6″ c=”name”][/card], then [card name=”Sobble” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card] — don’t get confused and go for [card name=”Nidoran F” set=”Team Up” no=”54″ c=”name”][/card] immediately. These two are the most important building blocks in this deck. Once you have a [card name=”Meganium” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”8″ c=”name”][/card] out you can use its Quick Ripening Herb Ability into Nidoqueen on the turn you play a Nidoran F. Choose to go first if you can. Since this deck has so many Item-based outs to Basic Pokemon you’re going to open with multiple usually, but if you have to choose only two, get [card name=”Zacian V” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”138″ c=”name”][/card] and a Chikorita. Once you get that first Meganium out, try to attack as quickly as possible (this could be as soon as your first turn if you played first). You never need two Nidoqueen in play at once since you can use Meganium’s Ability to get another in one turn (as long as you have a pivot in play with [card name=”Air Balloon” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”156″ c=”name”][/card] attached). At least a Sobble in play at all times is a good idea to have an out to draw off Drizzle’s or Inteleon’s Ability.

Setup should be your early priority, then map out your Prizes. Two Great Catcher are included in this deck to help with this — as a single Prize deck you need to push your advantage and not skip a beat. If you go first you have a single turn buffer for error. Say you’re against a Zacian V deck, as long as you get a Knock Out on your third turn (if you went first) you will have the Prize advantage. This is all the more reason why going first as this deck is better, it gives you more time to stumble. If you go second then that advantage is null and you’re under more pressure. Playing first can be scary if you don’t have many outs to Basic Pokemon, but this deck plays a ton of those to mitigate that problem.

If you like comparisons, this deck is like a more fragile [card name=”Malamar” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card] with a higher upside because it has the potential to one-shot anything. You do very well against Tag Team Pokemon-GX-playing decks and your non Pokemon-GX matchups are about even. Against baby [card name=”Blacephalon” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”32″ c=”name”][/card] if you had a Reset Stamp I think you’d definitely be favored but as-is it’s pretty close. They need to [card name=”Welder” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”189″ c=”name”][/card] more than four times to take out all of your attackers, so it’s possible that you can win on trading attackers. I would avoid putting Zacian V down against any single Prize deck matchups.

Conclusion

Stage-2 decks are better with Zacian V! They’re still flawed, less consistent than the top tier decks, but I believe they are viable once more. They’ve been largely under explored to this point and they will continue to be something that I look into these down months. They’re fun, have the thrill of their boom or bust potential and a lot of different options can be packed into something playing Meganium — the most intriguing being [card name=”Rampardos” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”65″ c=”name”][/card]. I think it would tip the Zacian V matchup further in your favor so if you struggle against that then I would recommend playing it. I’ve said it a bunch but this deck is favored if you manage to set up against decks that award you more than a single Prize for a Knock Out. Malamar has largely fallen out of these format because of its sketchy matchup with [card name=”Arceus and Dialga and Palkia-GX” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”156″ c=”name”][/card] / Zacian V and hopefully Nidoqueen can fill in for it as the non Pokemon-GX / Pokemon V deck to fear!

Alright folks, thanks for reading, let me know in the Subscribers’ Hideout what you think of this deck and your results if you try it out. Any questions? Hit me up there as well! Take care of yourself and others; please be safe.

Peace,

–Caleb

Follow me on Twitter @shredemerptcg.

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