Here's an Empoleon list I have been tweaking with and would love to get opinions on. I feel like Empoleon is a very overlooked card that has the potential to be pretty good in the format, as it isn't weak to that much and can deal some really solid damage for a non-EX attacker. Tier 1? Definitely not, but I think this could be a Tier 2 with a lot of people looking to play Volcanion-EX and Metal decks.
Pokemon (17)
4x Empoleon (UFO)
2x Prinplup (UFO)
4x Piplup (UFO)
2x Octillery (BKT)
2x Remoraid (BKT)
2x Tapu Lele-GX (GUR)
1x Alolan Vulpix (GUR)
Trainers (33)
4x N
4x Guzma
2x Professor Sycamore
2x Cynthia
1x Brigette
4x Ultra Ball
4x Rare Candy
3x Aqua Patch
3x Choice Band
1x Field Blower
1x Rescue Stretcher
1x Super Rod
3x Brooklet Hill
Energy (10)
8x Water Energy
2x Counter Energy
Potenial Techs
Empoleon BREAK (XY134)
Empoleon (SM5+)
Cyrus (UFO)
Wake (SM5+)
Pal Pad (UFO)
I believe this is the most streamlined and stable version of the deck. Most of the cards are pretty self-explanatory. For Professor Sycamore and Cynthia, I decided on a 2-2 split. Sycamore is much better early on, however it gets pretty damaging late game, while Cynthia is a good consistent card to get a fresh hand without dumping anything. It also can be good early on to keep Empoleon pieces in the deck, as that's an issue all Stage 2 decks have faced. And Counter Energy works wonders in this deck to improve Gardevoir-GX match-up's and being a very safe way to attach energy to Empoleon.
For techs I've considered the two other Empoleon cards, Empoleon BREAK, and the alternate type. Empoleon BREAK can help with very high HP Pokemon, (I.E Gardevoir-GX & Solgaleo-GX,) where we need to deal more damage. However it also is a Stage 3, and that is going to be inconsistent, but I think it's worth keeping in mind. The alternate type could help with Gardevoir-GX, but I think that's too specific to warrant a place in the deck.
Cyrus is also a card that can work in this deck. While it does work against us, it also can be incredibly beneficial to us. The second our opponent sees we're playing Empoleon, they are going to try and keep their bench space to a minimum as to avoid powering us up. As such Cyrus can be used late game to get rid of their bench entirely and knock out their last Pokemon, or at the very least leave them with very few Mons to make use of.
Wake is a card that's almost certainly going to be used in this deck, however I don't know what we would get rid of to make room for it. But it makes the deck work so much smoother and can remove any kinks in getting set-up. Can also be used to build up Aqua Patch. With this pretty diverse supporter counts, I think a Pal Pad would be a necessity to keep those important supporters in your deck when you need them.
In summary I believe Empoleon is a deck that's going to be a lot of fun to use, and should defiantly not be overlooked as a viable deck. I plan on building it to use for some League Cups and Challenges, as it is insanelt fun to use, I found in my testing.
Pokemon (17)
4x Empoleon (UFO)
2x Prinplup (UFO)
4x Piplup (UFO)
2x Octillery (BKT)
2x Remoraid (BKT)
2x Tapu Lele-GX (GUR)
1x Alolan Vulpix (GUR)
Trainers (33)
4x N
4x Guzma
2x Professor Sycamore
2x Cynthia
1x Brigette
4x Ultra Ball
4x Rare Candy
3x Aqua Patch
3x Choice Band
1x Field Blower
1x Rescue Stretcher
1x Super Rod
3x Brooklet Hill
Energy (10)
8x Water Energy
2x Counter Energy
Potenial Techs
Empoleon BREAK (XY134)
Empoleon (SM5+)
Cyrus (UFO)
Wake (SM5+)
Pal Pad (UFO)
I believe this is the most streamlined and stable version of the deck. Most of the cards are pretty self-explanatory. For Professor Sycamore and Cynthia, I decided on a 2-2 split. Sycamore is much better early on, however it gets pretty damaging late game, while Cynthia is a good consistent card to get a fresh hand without dumping anything. It also can be good early on to keep Empoleon pieces in the deck, as that's an issue all Stage 2 decks have faced. And Counter Energy works wonders in this deck to improve Gardevoir-GX match-up's and being a very safe way to attach energy to Empoleon.
For techs I've considered the two other Empoleon cards, Empoleon BREAK, and the alternate type. Empoleon BREAK can help with very high HP Pokemon, (I.E Gardevoir-GX & Solgaleo-GX,) where we need to deal more damage. However it also is a Stage 3, and that is going to be inconsistent, but I think it's worth keeping in mind. The alternate type could help with Gardevoir-GX, but I think that's too specific to warrant a place in the deck.
Cyrus is also a card that can work in this deck. While it does work against us, it also can be incredibly beneficial to us. The second our opponent sees we're playing Empoleon, they are going to try and keep their bench space to a minimum as to avoid powering us up. As such Cyrus can be used late game to get rid of their bench entirely and knock out their last Pokemon, or at the very least leave them with very few Mons to make use of.
Wake is a card that's almost certainly going to be used in this deck, however I don't know what we would get rid of to make room for it. But it makes the deck work so much smoother and can remove any kinks in getting set-up. Can also be used to build up Aqua Patch. With this pretty diverse supporter counts, I think a Pal Pad would be a necessity to keep those important supporters in your deck when you need them.
In summary I believe Empoleon is a deck that's going to be a lot of fun to use, and should defiantly not be overlooked as a viable deck. I plan on building it to use for some League Cups and Challenges, as it is insanelt fun to use, I found in my testing.