Searching Standard: Dragapult

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 Dragapult SIT 89, and is able to Knock Out multiple Pokemon with a single attack. Let's get started by taking a look at the deck list.

Dragapult SIT 89 is the inspiration for this deck, and attacking with its Dragon Launcher attack is the main goal. Doing this will allow you to discard any Dreepy FST 128 you have on your Bench. You'll then deal 100 damage to a number of your opponent's Pokemon equal to the number of Dreepy FST 128 discarded, but you can't deal damage to the same Pokemon more than once. While this attack has the potential to Knock Out multiple Pokemon at once, it's difficult to pull off unless your opponent has a Bench full of Basic Pokemon. Instead, you'll most likely use this damage to set up future Knock Outs.

Since you'll need as many copies of Dreepy FST 128 on your Bench as possible in order to deal maximum damage, this deck utilizes the Phantom Transformation Ability of Zoroark EVS 103 to transform into Drakloak SIT 88. Doing this allows for the potential of having four copies of Dreepy FST 128 on your Bench. Zoroark EVS 103's Phantom Transformation Ability is also necessary for the next pair of Pokemon as well.

Since the amount of damage Dragapult SIT 89's Dragon Launcher attack will do is dependent on having other cards in play, you'll want to have a couple of backup attackers. Flapple EVS 120 has the Acidic Mucus attack it can use to deal 50 damage to your opponent's Active Pokemon for each Pokemon your opponent has in play with an Ability. You also have Raichu SIT 50 who can use the Ambushing Spark attack to deal either 40 or 140 damage, depending on whether your opponent has used a VSTAR Power during the game. Both of these Pokemon can only come into play with the help of Zoroark EVS 103's Phantom Transformation Ability, but either of them can make winning games easier.

The final batch of Pokemon are included for the use of their Abilities. Bibarel BRS 121's Industrious Incisors Ability can be used to help you draw extra cards each turn. Manaphy BRS 41's Wave Veil Ability helps protect your Benched Pokemon from taking damage.

This Poke Ball package is typical in Standard play. With Quick Ball SSH 179, you can search your deck for any Basic Pokemon. Level Ball BST 129 allows you to search for any Pokemon within your deck that has 90 HP or less. Finally, Ultra Ball BRS 150 can be used to search for any Pokemon from your deck, but requires you to discard two cards to do so. This can be a great way to get a Stage 1 Pokemon into your discard pile so you can use Zoroark EVS 103's Phantom Transformation Ability.

Evolution Incense SSH 163 is typically seen in decks that are running Stage 2 Pokemon. When you play Evolution Incense SSH 163, you'll be able to search your deck for any Evolution Pokemon to put into your hand. Rare Candy PGO 69 allows you to skip Stage 1 Evolution entirely, going straight from a Basic Pokemon to a Stage 2 Pokemon. Both of these Items are very useful for getting your Pokemon Evolved as efficiently as possible.

To help you find what you need from your deck faster, you can rely on the next two batches of Trainers to help you draw additional cards. With Professor's Research BRS 147, you'll get seven new cards, but will have to discard your current hand before drawing these new cards. Marnie CPA 56 might help get you additional cards, but her main purpose is resetting your opponent's hand as a way of slowing down their progress.

Both Cynthia's Ambition BRS 138 and Bruno BST 121 are useful for getting new cards into your hand. You'll be able to draw extra cards with both of these Supporters if your Pokemon was Knocked out during your opponent's last turn.

When you play Boss's Orders BRS 132, you'll be able to switch their Active Pokemon with one from their Bench. This can be very useful and allow you to Knock Out a Pokemon with ease. Air Balloon SSH 156 can be attached to a Pokemon that your opponent has moved to your Active Spot. This will allow any of your Pokemon that Air Balloon SSH 156 is attached to to Retreat for free.

The final batch of Trainer cards are all helpful by providing us with additional ways to use the cards that have gone to our discard pile. Klara CRE 145 and Ordinary Rod SSH 171 are similar, as they both allow you to return either up to two Pokemon or two Basic Energy cards. With Klara CRE 145, those cards will go to your hand, while Ordinary Rod SSH 171 has you shuffle them back into your deck. Rescue Carrier EVS 154 can also return up to two Pokemon in your discard pile to your hand, but those Pokemon must have 90 HP or less.

Wrapping Up

This deck seems like a challenge to play, so if you're new to the game, I wouldn't suggest trying this one for a little while. If you’ve been playing for a while and want a challenge, this deck could be for you.

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