So in my opinion, Sableye is one of the top three new decks from SWSH base set so far, the others being Metal Doggos and Snorlax VMAX. Here's a list for Sableye V:
Pokemon (18):
Trainer (33):
Energy (9):
The deal with Sableye V largely comes from its second attack, Wicked claw, which is similar to Mimikyu GX's second attack, but with a better damage ramp for a slightly higher cost. The reason I think this deck is so good is because of all of the tools the format currently has to spread around damage counters. Though a Volcarona engine could also work here, I decided to go with a combo of Giratina and the new Obstagoon. Zigzagoon drops a damage counter when played from hand, and Obstagoon drops 3 when it evolves, which we use rare candy for (linoone doesn't drop any damage, otherwise it would be played here). To dish out more than one serving of counters per pokemon we bench, and to ensure we have enough space to use them over and over, we run copies of both Giovanni's Exile to clear the bench a bit and Fishing Rod to recover pokemon in the obstagoon line, with additional support coming from Sableye's first attack to recover Rare Candy.
Some relevant numbers:
1 damage counter before attack (1 Ziggy/1 Giratina/1 Shrine) - 80 dmg, KOs most evolving basics
2 damage counters before attack (2 Ziggy or 1 Ziggy + 1 Giratina etc.) - 150 dmg, KO most non multi-prize pokemon stage 1 and below
3 damage counters before attack (1 Obsta) - 220 dmg, KOs most pokemon V and GX Stage 1 and below
4 damage counters before attack (1 Obsta + 1 Ziggy/1 Giratina/1 Shrine) - 290 dmg, KOs most tag teams
5 damage counters before attack (1 Obsta + [1 Ziggy + 1 Giratina] or +2 Ziggy etc.) - 360 dmg, KOs anything in format.
As for the some of the trainer lines, Bede is used to accelerate energy onto Sableye, since Darkness doesn't have good acceleration in the standard format outside of the Incineroar GX from Team up, maybe. With Bede, however, Sableye can get charged up on the first turn going second, and if you're lucky enough to get some extra damage on the field, you can hit really hard and maybe even win on that turn, depending on the lead. Mallow and Lana serves as the primary source of switching, since it can provide additional healing, and I did not have enough room to include Air Balloon. As far as Stadiums, we have Black Market to reduce prize cards taken by the opponent, Chaotic Swell as the counter stadium to play, and Shrine of Punishment to apply additional damage counters to bigger tag team pokemon, since this deck doesn't run any GXs and can't be hurt by it. Aside from those, we have staples like Cynthia, Professor's Research, Quick Ball for basic pokemon search, Evolution Incense for evolution pokemon search, and Cynthia and Caitlin for supporter recovery to supplement Sableye's first attack.
Edit 1:
Roxie and Koffing is a combo that totally suits this deck well, as it both draws cards and drops damage counters on every pokemon on the board, so I made some room for it:
Pokemon (18):
- Sableye V (3)
Sableye V – Darkness – HP170
Basic Pokemon
[D] Ore Search: Put a Trainer card from your discard pile into your hand.
[D][D] Wicked Claws: 10+ damage. This attack does 60 more damage for each damage counter on your opponent’s Active Pokemon.
When your Pokemon V is Knocked Out, your opponent takes 2 Prize cards.
Weakness: Grass (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 2
Basic Pokemon
[D] Ore Search: Put a Trainer card from your discard pile into your hand.
[D][D] Wicked Claws: 10+ damage. This attack does 60 more damage for each damage counter on your opponent’s Active Pokemon.
When your Pokemon V is Knocked Out, your opponent takes 2 Prize cards.
Weakness: Grass (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 2
- G. Zigzagoon (3)
Galarian Zigzagoon – Darkness – HP70
Basic Pokemon
Ability: Tantrum Head
Once during your turn (before your attack), when you play this card from your hand onto your Benched, you may put 1 damage counter on 1 of your opponent’s Pokemon.
[D][C] Surprise Attack: 30 damage. Flip a coin. If tails, this attack does nothing.
Weakness: Grass (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1
Basic Pokemon
Ability: Tantrum Head
Once during your turn (before your attack), when you play this card from your hand onto your Benched, you may put 1 damage counter on 1 of your opponent’s Pokemon.
[D][C] Surprise Attack: 30 damage. Flip a coin. If tails, this attack does nothing.
Weakness: Grass (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1
- G. Obstagoon (1)
Galarian Obstagoon – Darkness – HP160
Stage 2 – Evolves from Galarian Linoone
Ability: Violent Shout
When you play this Pokemon from your hand to evolve 1 of your Pokemon during your turn, you may put 3 damage counters on 1 of your opponent’s Pokemon.
[D][C] Obstruct: 90 damage. During your opponent’s next turn, prevent all damage done to this Pokemon by your opponent’s Basic Pokemon.
Weakness: Grass (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 2
Stage 2 – Evolves from Galarian Linoone
Ability: Violent Shout
When you play this Pokemon from your hand to evolve 1 of your Pokemon during your turn, you may put 3 damage counters on 1 of your opponent’s Pokemon.
[D][C] Obstruct: 90 damage. During your opponent’s next turn, prevent all damage done to this Pokemon by your opponent’s Basic Pokemon.
Weakness: Grass (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 2
- Giratina LOT (4)
- Koffing COE (3)
- Minccino (2)
Mincinno – Colorless – HP70
Basic Pokemon
[C] Glance: Look at the top card of your opponent’s deck and put it back.
[C][C] Tail Slap: Flip 2 coins. This attack does 20 damage for each heads.
Weakness: Fighting (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1
Basic Pokemon
[C] Glance: Look at the top card of your opponent’s deck and put it back.
[C][C] Tail Slap: Flip 2 coins. This attack does 20 damage for each heads.
Weakness: Fighting (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1
- Cinccino (2)
Cinccino – Colorless – HP90
Stage 1 – Evolves from Minccino
Ability: Thrifty
Once during your turn (before your attack), you may discard a card from your hand. If you do, draw 2 cards.
[C] Energy Assist: 40 damage. Attach a basic Energy card from your discard pile to 1 of your Benched Pokemon.
Weakness: Fighting (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat:
Stage 1 – Evolves from Minccino
Ability: Thrifty
Once during your turn (before your attack), you may discard a card from your hand. If you do, draw 2 cards.
[C] Energy Assist: 40 damage. Attach a basic Energy card from your discard pile to 1 of your Benched Pokemon.
Weakness: Fighting (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat:
- Bede (2)
Bede – Trainer
Supporter
Attach a Basic Energy card from your hand to 1 of your Benched Pokemon.
You may play only 1 Supporter card during your turn (before your attack).
Supporter
Attach a Basic Energy card from your hand to 1 of your Benched Pokemon.
You may play only 1 Supporter card during your turn (before your attack).
- Cynthia and Caitlin (2)
- Mallow and Lana (3)
- Rare Candy (1)
- Professor’s Research (Magnolia) (2)
Professor’s Research – Trainer
Supporter (Professor Magnolia)
Discard your hand. Then, draw 7 cards.
You may play only 1 Supporter card during your turn (before your attack).
Supporter (Professor Magnolia)
Discard your hand. Then, draw 7 cards.
You may play only 1 Supporter card during your turn (before your attack).
- Cynthia (2)
- Lt Surge's Strategy (1)
- Quick Ball (4)
Quick Ball – Trainer
Item
You must discard 1 card from your hand in order to play this card. Search your deck for a Basic Pokemon, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then, shuffle your deck.
You may play as many Item cards as you like during your turn (before your attack).
Item
You must discard 1 card from your hand in order to play this card. Search your deck for a Basic Pokemon, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then, shuffle your deck.
You may play as many Item cards as you like during your turn (before your attack).
- Evolution Incense (4)
Evolution Incense – Trainer
Item
Search your deck for an Evolution Pokemon, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then, shuffle your deck.
You may play as many Item cards as you like during your turn (before your attack).
Item
Search your deck for an Evolution Pokemon, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then, shuffle your deck.
You may play as many Item cards as you like during your turn (before your attack).
- Black Market PS (1)
- Chaotic Swell (1)
- Shrine of Punishment (2)
- Reset Stamp (1)
- Giovanni’s Exile (2)
- Roxie (2)
- Fishing Rod (3)
Fishing Rod – Trainer
Item
Shuffle up to 2 Pokemon and up to 2 Basic Energy cards from your discard pile into your deck.
You may play as many Item cards as you like during your turn (before your attack).
Item
Shuffle up to 2 Pokemon and up to 2 Basic Energy cards from your discard pile into your deck.
You may play as many Item cards as you like during your turn (before your attack).
- Darkness (9)
The deal with Sableye V largely comes from its second attack, Wicked claw, which is similar to Mimikyu GX's second attack, but with a better damage ramp for a slightly higher cost. The reason I think this deck is so good is because of all of the tools the format currently has to spread around damage counters. Though a Volcarona engine could also work here, I decided to go with a combo of Giratina and the new Obstagoon. Zigzagoon drops a damage counter when played from hand, and Obstagoon drops 3 when it evolves, which we use rare candy for (linoone doesn't drop any damage, otherwise it would be played here). To dish out more than one serving of counters per pokemon we bench, and to ensure we have enough space to use them over and over, we run copies of both Giovanni's Exile to clear the bench a bit and Fishing Rod to recover pokemon in the obstagoon line, with additional support coming from Sableye's first attack to recover Rare Candy.
Some relevant numbers:
1 damage counter before attack (1 Ziggy/1 Giratina/1 Shrine) - 80 dmg, KOs most evolving basics
2 damage counters before attack (2 Ziggy or 1 Ziggy + 1 Giratina etc.) - 150 dmg, KO most non multi-prize pokemon stage 1 and below
3 damage counters before attack (1 Obsta) - 220 dmg, KOs most pokemon V and GX Stage 1 and below
4 damage counters before attack (1 Obsta + 1 Ziggy/1 Giratina/1 Shrine) - 290 dmg, KOs most tag teams
5 damage counters before attack (1 Obsta + [1 Ziggy + 1 Giratina] or +2 Ziggy etc.) - 360 dmg, KOs anything in format.
As for the some of the trainer lines, Bede is used to accelerate energy onto Sableye, since Darkness doesn't have good acceleration in the standard format outside of the Incineroar GX from Team up, maybe. With Bede, however, Sableye can get charged up on the first turn going second, and if you're lucky enough to get some extra damage on the field, you can hit really hard and maybe even win on that turn, depending on the lead. Mallow and Lana serves as the primary source of switching, since it can provide additional healing, and I did not have enough room to include Air Balloon. As far as Stadiums, we have Black Market to reduce prize cards taken by the opponent, Chaotic Swell as the counter stadium to play, and Shrine of Punishment to apply additional damage counters to bigger tag team pokemon, since this deck doesn't run any GXs and can't be hurt by it. Aside from those, we have staples like Cynthia, Professor's Research, Quick Ball for basic pokemon search, Evolution Incense for evolution pokemon search, and Cynthia and Caitlin for supporter recovery to supplement Sableye's first attack.
Edit 1:
Roxie and Koffing is a combo that totally suits this deck well, as it both draws cards and drops damage counters on every pokemon on the board, so I made some room for it:
- +2 Roxie
- +3 Koffing
- -2 Obstagoon
- -3 Rare Candy
Last edited:
