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 LittleDarkFury. It features Bloodmoon Ursaluna SFA 25, who can Knock Out most Pokemon ex with the help of a few damage counters provided by Iron Valiant ex PAR 89. Let's get started by taking a look at the deck list.
Bloodmoon Ursaluna SFA 25 is the main attacker for this deck, being able to deal a base amount of 100 damage, plus an additional 30 damage for each damage counter on your opponent's Active Pokemon when you use its Mad Bite attack. This attack does cost three Energy to use, but thanks to Bloodmoon Ursaluna SFA 25's Battle-Hardened Ability, you might be able to attack with it the same turn that it comes into play. In order to deal that extra damage with Bloodmoon Ursaluna SFA 25's Mad Bite attack, you can use Iron Valiant ex PAR 89's Tachyon Bits Ability to put 2 damage counters on any of your opponent's Pokemon.
Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex TWM 141 acts as a very thematic backup attacker for this deck. Its Blood Moon attack requires a lot of Energy to use, but this is mitigated with the help of its Seasoned Skill Ability. You might even be able to use this attack for free.
Each of these Pokemon are included in this deck for their useful Abilities that help you draw additional cards. Fezandipiti ex SFA 38's Flip the Script Ability is only usable if you had a Pokemon get Knocked Out during your opponent's last turn, but it will allow you to draw three cards. Radiant Greninja ASR 46's Concealed Cards Ability requires you to discard an Energy card in order to draw two cards from your deck. As you'll see, there are ways to utilize Energy cards from your discard pile, making this cost more bearable. Finally, with Squawkabilly ex PAL 169's Squawk and Seize Ability, on your first turn of the game, you can discard your hand to draw six new cards. This won't happen often, but take advantage of it when it does.
Our first batch of Trainer cards are all cards that help you get Energy from your discard pile into your hand. Energy Retrieval SVI 171 can put a pair of Basic Energy into your hand, while both Night Stretcher SFA 61 and Lana's Aid TWM 155 can return either Energy or Pokemon (or a combination of the two).
The most difficult part of using Iron Valiant ex PAR 89's Tachyon Bits Ability is that it only deals damage when Iron Valiant ex PAR 89 moves from your Bench to your Active spot, leaving Iron Valiant ex PAR 89 stuck there. In order to help with this, you can use any of these item cards to move Iron Valiant ex PAR 89 back to your Bench.
Earthen Vessel PAR 163 is a great Item to use to ensure that you're able to power up your Pokemon with enough Energy to use their attacks. You can use the effect of PokéStop PGO 68 to help find Earthen Vessel PAR 163, or any other Item from within this deck. This can also be a great way to find any of the other useful Items from this deck, such as Switch SVI 194.
Helping you find the Pokemon you need to succeed are a pair of Poke Balls. Nest Ball SVI 181 can be used to find any Basic Pokemon from your deck to put onto your Bench. Normally, Ultra Ball SVI 196 is used to search for evolution Pokemon, but this deck only has Basic pokemon, so it's simply another way of finding what you need.
To ensure you deal that extra damage with Bloodmoon Ursaluna SFA 25's Mad Bite attack, you can use either Boss’s Orders PAL 172 or Prime Catcher TEF 157 to choose which of your opponent's Pokemon to move to their Active Spot. Remember that you'll also need to switch your Active Pokemon with one from your Bench when you use Prime Catcher TEF 157, so make sure whatever you choose has enough Energy to attack.
By drawing extra cards, you cycle through your deck and find the things you need more quickly. There's no better way to draw extra cards than by playing Professor's Research SVI 189. You'll need to discard your current hand when you play this Supporter, but you'll then get to draw seven new cards. Iono PAL 185 also has the ability to draw you extra cards, but its main use is to reduce your opponent's hand size, thereby reducing their options and potentially causing them to lose momentum.
Wrapping Up
In order to deal as much damage as possible with Bloodmoon Ursaluna SFA 25, you definitely need some way of placing additional damage counters onto your opponent's Pokemon. Iron Valiant ex PAR 89 could be the best way of doing this, even though there are other options you could try.
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
