How to build a Cradily deck, the Regirocket way: (Edit 1: added translations for unreleased cards)
Grab a cup of coffee; this is going to take a while.
You need to pick what kind of stage 2 deck you want to play. The “common” types are energy acceleration decks, and low energy decks.
- Energy engines:
o Attaching multiple Energy per turn
Emboar for fire, Blastoise for Water
o Multiplying energy
Gardevoir
o Moving energy
Klinklang for dragons, Hydreigon for dark
After deciding on an engine, it’s time for some attackers. Luckily, there are TONS of stage 2 attackers to choose from in this format, so picking one or two to match with an engine is all down to preference. I’ve listed some possibilities below that seem to match up well.
- Multi-attach
o Emboar
Infernape (PLS)
Emboar (Theme deck)
Hydreigon (NVI)
Blaziken (DEX)
Charizard (BCR)
Gallade (PLS)
Vanniluxe (PFR (if we get it))
o Blastoise
Samurott (B/W)
Gallade (PLS)
Vanniluxe (PFR (if we get it))
Hydreigon (NVI)
Vanniluxe (NXD)
Vanniluxe (PLS)
Empoleon (DEX)
Ludicolo (PLS)
- Energy multiplication
o Gardevoir
Gallade (PLS)
Crobat (PLS)
Scolipede (BCR)
Chandelure (NVI)
Gothitelle (EPO)
- Moving energy
o Klinklang
Klinklang (EPO)
Luxray (NXD)
Empoleon (DEX)
Garchomp (DRX)
Togekiss (PLS)
Kingdra (PLF)
Haxorus (BW9)
Gallade (PLS)
o Hydreigon
Hydreigon (NVI)
Krookodile (DEX)
Gallade (PLS)
Beedrill (PLF)
It’s important to keep in mind that with each engine, you will only need 1 or 2 different types of Pokémon for attackers, due to bench space. This makes a lot of variety in deck lists, as far as attackers go, which should be great for our currently-bland format!
Unfortunately for that whole variety thing, I have some bad news. THIS DECK HAS ONE STARTER. And that lovely creature is Virizion EX. Virizion EX gives this deck too much goodness to ignore. Even though its attack only does 50 damage for 1 grass energy and 1 colorless energy, it allows you to search your deck for up to 2 grass energies and attach them to one of your benched Pokémon. It also bears an ability that makes it so any and all of your Pokémon are immune to status conditions, as long as they have a grass energy attached to them. No more lasers!
A lot of the rest of this list is pretty similar throughout the different varieties, with only minor tweaks to fit the engine and attackers. Below is a skeleton, which of course can be modified, that I believe suits this deck well, as it gives you the most consistent way to get a Cradily by turn two, without sacrificing the power of the stage 2s.
Pokémon:
3 Virizion EX – having 3 gives you decent chances of not having a mulligan.
4-3 Cradily – Cradily is not difficult to pull out of the deck, but Lileep can be weird.
1 or 2 Magnezone – A must for Cradily, Magnezone allows you to play 2 supporters per turn, which helps make up time after setting up with Virizion EX and Cradily for the first few turns.
2 or 3 ((Insert Engine Pokémon Here))
Up to 3 ((Insert Attacking Pokémon Here)) – Variety welcome here, even three 1-ofs.
Trainers:
2 Caitlin – Lets you put Lileep as well as stage 2 Pokémon from your hand back into your deck, on the bottom.
3 Juniper - Need that draw support (thanks Blah)
4 N – This card needs no explanation.
3 Skyla – Neither does this card.
4 Pokémon Catcher – Or this one.
1 Computer Search – Being able to discard a Lileep, in search of a Cradily or root fossil is stupid good.
2 Ultra Ball – Similar to Computer Search, only restricted to searching for Cradily.
3 Pokémon Communication – This card is REQUIRED for Cradily, as it is inevitable that you will draw into one of your stage 2 Pokémon, and with it in your hand, it is completely useless.
4 Root Fossil – The only way, aside from Twist Mountain, of getting a Lileep into play.
2 Cilan/Energy Search – Cilan is used for acceleration variant, Energy Search for all others.
3 Switch – Your opponent’s Catchers will hurt a lot without them.
Energy:
As a bare minimum, you need 3 Grass energy to run this deck, but that’s just silly. Keep the Grass energy from 6-9, and fill the rest of the space in the deck with your specific energy.
6-9 Grass Energy
Assuming you use only the minimum card copies in the skeleton above, that leaves 7 slots in the deck to play around with, using energy, and maybe some specific Trainer you need on top of the others. I may have exaggerated slightly with the Communications, but make sure to keep at least 1. There will be games when you will have a hand full of stage 2s, but nothing to do with them, other than to look pretty. Don’t let that happen to you.
I would also like to point out that what I covered here is in no way the extent of Cradily’s reach. There is a possible deck out there for almost all of the stage 2 Pokémon, but that’s up to you to decide. My job here was to open your eyes to how Cradily should be manipulated, to produce a competitive deck.
Thanks for taking all of this time to read about this deck, and I hope you’re as excited to play a real version of this deck as I am! Brownie points for all of those who actually read all of this.
Lileep – Grass – HP80
Restored – Put this card onto your Bench only with the effect of Root Fossil
Ability: Call of the Ancient
Once during your turn (before your attack), if this card is in your discard pile, you may place it on the bottom of your deck.
[G][C] Spiral Drain: 20 damage. Heal 10 damage from this Pokemon.
Weakness: Fire (x2)
Resistance: Water (-20)
Retreat: 2
Cradily – Grass – HP120
Stage 1 – Evolves from Lileep
[G] Life Explosion: For each Energy attached to this Pokemon, search your deck for a Stage 2 Pokemon and put it onto your Bench. Shuffle your deck afterwards.
[G][C] Spiral Drain: 60 damage. Heal 20 damage from this Pokemon.
Weakness: Fire (x2)
Resistance: Water (-20)
Retreat: 2
Virizion-EX – Grass – HP170
Basic Pokemon
Ability: Spring Breeze
Pokemon with [G] Energy attached to them cannot be affected by Special Conditions. (Remove all Special Conditions from your Pokemon with [G] Energy attached to them.)
[G][C] Emerald Slash: 50 damage. You can attach 2 [G] Energy from your deck to one of your Benched Pokemon. If you do, shuffle your deck afterwards.
When Pokemon-EX has been Knocked Out, your opponent takes 2 Prize cards.
Weakness: Fire (x2)
Resistance: Water (-20)
Retreat: 1
Root Fossil – Trainer
Item
Look at the bottom 7 cards of your deck. You may reveal a Lileep you find there and put it onto your Bench. Shuffle the other cards back into your deck.
You may play as many Item cards as you like during your turn (before your attack).
Caitlin – Trainer
Supporter
Return any number of cards from your hand to the bottom of your deck in any order you like. Then, draw an equal number of cards.
You may play only 1 Supporter card during your turn (before your attack).
Kingdra – Dragon – HP140
Stage 2 – Evolves from Seadra
[C] Twister: 20x damage. Shuffle all [W] and [L] Energy from your discard pile into your deck. This attack does 20 damage times the number of cards shuffled back in this way.
[W] Tri Bullet: This attack does 30 damage to 3 of your opponent’s Pokemon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokemon.)
Weakness: Dragon (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1
Beedrill – Grass – HP120
Stage 2 – Evolves from Kakuna
[G] Hustle Spear: 20+ damage. If this Pokemon has no damage counters on it, this attack does 40 more damage, and the Defending Pokemon is now Confused and Poisoned.
[C][C][C] Pierce: 60 damage.
Weakness: Fire (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 0
Vanilluxe – Water – HP130
Stage 2 (Team Plasma) – Evolves from Vanillish
[C] Snowball MAX: 60x damage. Flip a coin for each Energy attached to this Pokemon. This attack does 60 damage times the number of heads.
[W][C] Cold Breath: 40 damage. The Defending Pokemon is now Asleep.
Weakness: Metal (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1
Haxorus – Dragon – HP140
Stage 2 – Evolves from Fraxure
[M] Dragon Axe: 40x damage. This attack does 40 damage times the number of [M] Energy attached to this Pokemon.
[F][M] Master Blow: If the Defending Pokemon is a Team Plasma Pokemon, it is Knocked Out.
Weakness: Dragon (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 2
Grab a cup of coffee; this is going to take a while.
You need to pick what kind of stage 2 deck you want to play. The “common” types are energy acceleration decks, and low energy decks.
- Energy engines:
o Attaching multiple Energy per turn
Emboar for fire, Blastoise for Water
o Multiplying energy
Gardevoir
o Moving energy
Klinklang for dragons, Hydreigon for dark
After deciding on an engine, it’s time for some attackers. Luckily, there are TONS of stage 2 attackers to choose from in this format, so picking one or two to match with an engine is all down to preference. I’ve listed some possibilities below that seem to match up well.
- Multi-attach
o Emboar
Infernape (PLS)
Emboar (Theme deck)
Hydreigon (NVI)
Blaziken (DEX)
Charizard (BCR)
Gallade (PLS)
Vanniluxe (PFR (if we get it))
o Blastoise
Samurott (B/W)
Gallade (PLS)
Vanniluxe (PFR (if we get it))
Hydreigon (NVI)
Vanniluxe (NXD)
Vanniluxe (PLS)
Empoleon (DEX)
Ludicolo (PLS)
- Energy multiplication
o Gardevoir
Gallade (PLS)
Crobat (PLS)
Scolipede (BCR)
Chandelure (NVI)
Gothitelle (EPO)
- Moving energy
o Klinklang
Klinklang (EPO)
Luxray (NXD)
Empoleon (DEX)
Garchomp (DRX)
Togekiss (PLS)
Kingdra (PLF)
Haxorus (BW9)
Gallade (PLS)
o Hydreigon
Hydreigon (NVI)
Krookodile (DEX)
Gallade (PLS)
Beedrill (PLF)
It’s important to keep in mind that with each engine, you will only need 1 or 2 different types of Pokémon for attackers, due to bench space. This makes a lot of variety in deck lists, as far as attackers go, which should be great for our currently-bland format!
Unfortunately for that whole variety thing, I have some bad news. THIS DECK HAS ONE STARTER. And that lovely creature is Virizion EX. Virizion EX gives this deck too much goodness to ignore. Even though its attack only does 50 damage for 1 grass energy and 1 colorless energy, it allows you to search your deck for up to 2 grass energies and attach them to one of your benched Pokémon. It also bears an ability that makes it so any and all of your Pokémon are immune to status conditions, as long as they have a grass energy attached to them. No more lasers!
A lot of the rest of this list is pretty similar throughout the different varieties, with only minor tweaks to fit the engine and attackers. Below is a skeleton, which of course can be modified, that I believe suits this deck well, as it gives you the most consistent way to get a Cradily by turn two, without sacrificing the power of the stage 2s.
Pokémon:
3 Virizion EX – having 3 gives you decent chances of not having a mulligan.
4-3 Cradily – Cradily is not difficult to pull out of the deck, but Lileep can be weird.
1 or 2 Magnezone – A must for Cradily, Magnezone allows you to play 2 supporters per turn, which helps make up time after setting up with Virizion EX and Cradily for the first few turns.
2 or 3 ((Insert Engine Pokémon Here))
Up to 3 ((Insert Attacking Pokémon Here)) – Variety welcome here, even three 1-ofs.
Trainers:
2 Caitlin – Lets you put Lileep as well as stage 2 Pokémon from your hand back into your deck, on the bottom.
3 Juniper - Need that draw support (thanks Blah)
4 N – This card needs no explanation.
3 Skyla – Neither does this card.
4 Pokémon Catcher – Or this one.
1 Computer Search – Being able to discard a Lileep, in search of a Cradily or root fossil is stupid good.
2 Ultra Ball – Similar to Computer Search, only restricted to searching for Cradily.
3 Pokémon Communication – This card is REQUIRED for Cradily, as it is inevitable that you will draw into one of your stage 2 Pokémon, and with it in your hand, it is completely useless.
4 Root Fossil – The only way, aside from Twist Mountain, of getting a Lileep into play.
2 Cilan/Energy Search – Cilan is used for acceleration variant, Energy Search for all others.
3 Switch – Your opponent’s Catchers will hurt a lot without them.
Energy:
As a bare minimum, you need 3 Grass energy to run this deck, but that’s just silly. Keep the Grass energy from 6-9, and fill the rest of the space in the deck with your specific energy.
6-9 Grass Energy
Assuming you use only the minimum card copies in the skeleton above, that leaves 7 slots in the deck to play around with, using energy, and maybe some specific Trainer you need on top of the others. I may have exaggerated slightly with the Communications, but make sure to keep at least 1. There will be games when you will have a hand full of stage 2s, but nothing to do with them, other than to look pretty. Don’t let that happen to you.
I would also like to point out that what I covered here is in no way the extent of Cradily’s reach. There is a possible deck out there for almost all of the stage 2 Pokémon, but that’s up to you to decide. My job here was to open your eyes to how Cradily should be manipulated, to produce a competitive deck.
Thanks for taking all of this time to read about this deck, and I hope you’re as excited to play a real version of this deck as I am! Brownie points for all of those who actually read all of this.
Lileep – Grass – HP80
Restored – Put this card onto your Bench only with the effect of Root Fossil
Ability: Call of the Ancient
Once during your turn (before your attack), if this card is in your discard pile, you may place it on the bottom of your deck.
[G][C] Spiral Drain: 20 damage. Heal 10 damage from this Pokemon.
Weakness: Fire (x2)
Resistance: Water (-20)
Retreat: 2
Cradily – Grass – HP120
Stage 1 – Evolves from Lileep
[G] Life Explosion: For each Energy attached to this Pokemon, search your deck for a Stage 2 Pokemon and put it onto your Bench. Shuffle your deck afterwards.
[G][C] Spiral Drain: 60 damage. Heal 20 damage from this Pokemon.
Weakness: Fire (x2)
Resistance: Water (-20)
Retreat: 2
Virizion-EX – Grass – HP170
Basic Pokemon
Ability: Spring Breeze
Pokemon with [G] Energy attached to them cannot be affected by Special Conditions. (Remove all Special Conditions from your Pokemon with [G] Energy attached to them.)
[G][C] Emerald Slash: 50 damage. You can attach 2 [G] Energy from your deck to one of your Benched Pokemon. If you do, shuffle your deck afterwards.
When Pokemon-EX has been Knocked Out, your opponent takes 2 Prize cards.
Weakness: Fire (x2)
Resistance: Water (-20)
Retreat: 1
Root Fossil – Trainer
Item
Look at the bottom 7 cards of your deck. You may reveal a Lileep you find there and put it onto your Bench. Shuffle the other cards back into your deck.
You may play as many Item cards as you like during your turn (before your attack).
Caitlin – Trainer
Supporter
Return any number of cards from your hand to the bottom of your deck in any order you like. Then, draw an equal number of cards.
You may play only 1 Supporter card during your turn (before your attack).
Kingdra – Dragon – HP140
Stage 2 – Evolves from Seadra
[C] Twister: 20x damage. Shuffle all [W] and [L] Energy from your discard pile into your deck. This attack does 20 damage times the number of cards shuffled back in this way.
[W] Tri Bullet: This attack does 30 damage to 3 of your opponent’s Pokemon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokemon.)
Weakness: Dragon (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1
Beedrill – Grass – HP120
Stage 2 – Evolves from Kakuna
[G] Hustle Spear: 20+ damage. If this Pokemon has no damage counters on it, this attack does 40 more damage, and the Defending Pokemon is now Confused and Poisoned.
[C][C][C] Pierce: 60 damage.
Weakness: Fire (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 0
Vanilluxe – Water – HP130
Stage 2 (Team Plasma) – Evolves from Vanillish
[C] Snowball MAX: 60x damage. Flip a coin for each Energy attached to this Pokemon. This attack does 60 damage times the number of heads.
[W][C] Cold Breath: 40 damage. The Defending Pokemon is now Asleep.
Weakness: Metal (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1
Haxorus – Dragon – HP140
Stage 2 – Evolves from Fraxure
[M] Dragon Axe: 40x damage. This attack does 40 damage times the number of [M] Energy attached to this Pokemon.
[F][M] Master Blow: If the Defending Pokemon is a Team Plasma Pokemon, it is Knocked Out.
Weakness: Dragon (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 2
