Alt. Format Thunder Storm (Zeraora GX / Raikou / Zapdos / Tapu Koko Prism / Naganadel)

[Dark Espeon]

THUNDER STORM

Pokémon (12):

• 1 Tapu Koko Prism (accelerate)
• 1 Tapu Koko SM7a (beatdown)
  
• 2 Naganadel SM8 (beatdown)
• 2 Poipole SM8-P (evolution)
• 3 Zapdos SM8a (beatdown)
  
• 3 Zeraora GX (beatdown)

Trainer (34):

• 3 Sightseer (draw)
• 3 Guzma (control)
• 4 Cynthia (draw)
• 3 Lillie (draw)
• 3 Mysterious Treasure (search)
  
• 1 Rescue Stretcher (retrieval)
• 3 Energy Switch (accelerate)
  
• 4 Electro Power (beatdown)
• 3 Choice Band (beatdown)
• 4 Ultra Ball (search)
• 1 Thunder Mountain Prism (enable)
  
• 2 Aether Paradise Area (protect)

Energy (14):

• 14 Lightning Energy

STRATEGY:

Start with Zeraora GX and use the search items to bench some additional attacker. Discard Basic Lightning Energy cards and accelerate them to bench with Tapu Koko Prism and Naganadel. Use Energy Switch to move the energies to Zeraora GX. Zapdos is used in the early game to apply some initial pressure while Zeraora GX and Naganadel are used as mid-game attackers.

SPOILER:

Zeraora GX
Basic Lighting Pokémon
HP: 190
Ability: Electric Zone
Each of your Pokémon that has any [L] energy attached to it has no retreat cost.
[L][L][C] Plasma Fists: 160
This Pokémon can’t attack during your next turn.
[L] Full Voltage GX
Attach five Basic Energy cards from your discard pile to your Pokémon in any way you like.
Retreat Cost: CC
Weakness: F
Resistance: M

Zapdos
Basic Lightning Pokémon
HP: 110
[L] Assault Thunder: 10+
If this Pokémon became your active Pokémon this turn, this attack does 70 more damage. This attack’s damage isn’t affected by Weakness.
Retreat Cost: CC
Weakness: L
Resistance: F

Tapu Koko Prism
Basic Lightning Pokémon
HP: 130
Ability: Ancestor’s Dance
Once during your turn (before your attack), if this Pokémon is on yourbBench, you may use this ability. Choose 2 of your benched Pokémon and attach 1 [L] energy from your discard pile to each of them. Then, put this Pokémon in the Lost Zone (discard all cards attached to this Pokemon).
[L][L][C] Mach Bolt: 120
Retreat Cost: C
Weakness: F
Resistance: M

Sightseer
Trainer - Supporter
Draw cards from your deck until you have 5 cards in your hand. Before drawing, you may discard any number of cards from your hand.

Electro Power
Trainer - Item
During this turn, your [L] Pokémon’s attacks do 30 more damage to your opponent’s active Pokémon.

Thunder Mountain Prism
Trainer - Stadium Prism Star
The attacks of each player’s [L] Pokémon cost [L] less.
As long as this Stadium is in play, whenever a player uses an Item or Supporter card from their hand, prevent all effects of those cards done to this Stadium.

 

[Dark Espeon]

Hi folks,

Tested this deck out and revised it a little to include selected cards from the new set. Would be interested in constructive criticism on how to optimize this deck.

 

[DKQuagmire]

If you want to attack with Garbodor. the psychic energy might be a hindrance if your trying to set up you big main lightning type attackers.
Luckily we have Unit energy LPM. This special energy can provide both Lightning and psychic energy at the same time. this special energy won't count towards the effects of either Raikou or Zeraora, but can still provide for the lightning energy costs if need be.
other than that, this first draft looks pretty solid.
if your looking for techs, you could try out Dedenne from Forbidden Light, as a dragon type counter. since your playing with lots of lightning types, its effect of dealing more damage will work. add a choice band onto it, and your doing 180 to stuff like Rayquaza GX.

 

[Dark Espeon]

Hi DKQuagmire,

Thanks for the review. Will also test a variant with Unit Energy. The main benefit I see from using Unit Energy is that it provides free retreat for Garbodor too. I originally decided on Basic Psychic Energy because it can be accelerated with Full Voltage GX which enables me to discard Psychic Energy to use the search items.

The main reson to include Raikou SM8 was to have another low cost non-GX attacker but he also needs Lost Mixer. Not sure on whether one copy of Lost Mixer is sufficient. What do you think on this issue? I also considered to loose one Aether Paradise Conservation Area for one Field Blower but not sure on it either.

 

[DKQuagmire]

You can try running 1 less stadium for a field blower. but if the opponent has their own prism star stadium out, then only your own stadium card can remove it, as these stadiums are unaffected by field blower and Faba (the new reprint of Xerosic).

 

[Dark Espeon]

Hi DKQuagmire,

Thanks for the review. Guess one Field Blower instead of a stadium card could be fine since it also allows me to discard tools.

 

[Dark Espeon]

Hi folks,

Modified the list with the release of the new set.