Searching Standard: Amazing Ditto

Hello and welcome to another episode of Searching Standard, where each and every week I look for new, innovative decks for you to play in Standard. This week, I'm looking at a deck that was recently featured on the YouTube channel of Popsicle Knight. It features Ditto PGO 53 using the attacks of numerous ‘Amazing’ Pokemon. Let's get started by taking a look at the deck list.

Ditto PGO 53 is the main attacker in this deck. By using its Sudden Transformation Ability, you can use the attacks of any Basic Pokemon in your discard pile, as long as that Pokemon doesn't have a Rule Box. This deck capitalizes on that Ability to use the attacks of the ‘Amazing’ Pokemon, seen below. You'll still need to have the Energy attached to Ditto PGO 53 to use the chosen attack, which can be the real challenge of playing this deck.

These nine Pokemon are all part of a subset of Pokemon that have 'Amazing' attacks. While most of these attacks will be useful to use, provided you have the correct Energy attached, there are a few I'd like to single out. Jirachi VIV 119 is most useful when on your Bench, and not in your discard pile. That will allow you the use of its Dreamy Revelation Ability. While you're likely never going to use Celebi VIV 9's Amazing Bloom attack (since the majority of Pokemon in this deck don't Evolve), you could find its Energy Press attack to be quite useful. Reshiram SHF 17's Amazing Blaze attack is best used to finish off an opponent, as the damage dealt to your Pokemon will nearly Knock Out your own Ditto PGO 53 when it uses this attack. Finally, both Raikou VIV 50 and Kyogre SHF 21 have great attacks that allow you to deal damage to your opponent's Benched Pokemon. Take advantage of this when you can, because it's very possible to score multiple Knock Out's at the same time.

Flaaffy EVS 55's Dynamotor Ability can act as a small engine, allowing you to accelerate your Energy a bit. While it won't always be useful, those times that it is will definitely be noticed.

The last batch of Pokemon are both primarily used for their Abilities. Manaphy BRS 41 will keep your Benched Pokemon safe from damage with its Wave Veil Ability. Snorlax VIV 131 can use its Gormandize Ability to help you refill your hand at the end of your turn, plus he will soak up some damage from your opponent's attacks.

Since this deck requires having the right Energy in play when you need it, you'll find this next batch of Trainer cards very helpful. Training Court RCL 169 allows you to put a Basic Energy card from your discard pile into your hand. Getting multiple uses from each Energy is very helpful when there's only a single copy of most of the Basic Energies. Sonia CPA 65 allows you to search your deck for a pair of Basic Energy cards or a pair of Basic Pokemon to put into your hand. If you have already found the Energy you need, use Sonia CPA 65 to search up a pair of 'Amazing' Pokemon instead. Finally, Exp. Share BST 126 offers you a way to continue utilizing a Basic Energy attached to a Pokemon that is going to be Knocked Out. Transfer that Energy to another Pokemon that has Exp. Share BST 126 attached. 

Both Quick Ball FST 237 and Ultra Ball BRS 150 allow you to search for specific Pokemon from your deck, while also acting as a means of discarding cards. This can be a great way to get an 'Amazing' Pokemon into your discard pile. Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146 allows you to search your Prize cards for a Basic Pokemon to put into your hand. Doing this will place the Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146 into your Prize cards, and you might be able to use it again later in the match.

All of these cards help you discard your 'Amazing' Pokemon, while also providing additional benefits. With both Professor's Research BRS 147 and Zinnia's Resolve EVS 164, you'll be able to draw some additional cards, helping you find what you need more quickly. Aurora Energy SSH 186 is best attached to Ditto PGO 53, allowing you more ease of attacking with any of the attacks found on the Pokemon in your discard pile. By acting as any Energy type, you'll be able to attack more easily than you could if you had to rely on only using Basic Energy.

Scoop Up Net RCL 165 and Rescue Carrier EVS 154 both act as a way of ensuring that you'll have a Ditto PGO 53 available to attack with. Scoop Up Net RCL 165 can return a Pokemon to your hand, which is very helpful if that Pokemon is likely to be Knocked Out. Deny your opponent the opportunity to take those Prize cards. Rescue Carrier EVS 154 can return up to two Pokemon with 90 HP or less from your discard pile to your hand. If Ditto PGO 53 happens to get Knocked Out, you have a way to return it to your hand, so it can be played again.

Boss's Orders BRS 132 and Switch SSH 183 allow you to manipulate each player's Active Pokemon. With Boss's Orders BRS 132, you can choose which Pokemon your opponent has on their Bench to attack. Switch SSH 183 allows you to move a fully powered up attacker from your Bench to your Active Spot. 

The final card in this deck is Raihan EVS 152. Playing Raihan EVS 152 on the turn after one of your Pokemon was Knocked Out can be crucial in helping you regain your momentum. It helps ramp your Energy by attaching a Basic Energy from your discard pile to any of your Pokemon in play. You also get to search your deck for any one card to put into your hand. This is why Raihan EVS 152 is found in nearly every Standard deck.

Wrapping Up

While this deck can be very challenging to play, it can also be a lot of fun. Your opponent is sure to have a difficult time countering the game plan of this deck. While luck plays a factor in determining what cards you get at the beginning of the game, there are a lot of ways to mitigate that luck as the game progresses. While this deck could be streamlined by removing a few of the 'Amazing' Pokemon, it's a blast to play just as it is.

What do you think of this deck? Do you have any suggestions for improvements? Let me know by leaving a comment below. And be sure to join me here again next week as I continue my search for innovative decks in the Pokemon TCG. I'll see you then!

- Mike Likes