Searching Standard: Galarian Obstagoon/Toxtricity

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 Galarian Obstagoon ASC 132, who has a very powerful attack as long as your opponent's Pokémon has damage counters on it. Let's get started by taking a look at the deck list.

Galarian Obstagoon/Toxtricity
LittleDarkFury
Pokémon
  2 Munkidori 99
  2 Toxtricity 68
  1 Pecharunt 143
  3 Galarian Obstagoon 132
  4 Galarian Zigzagoon 130
  2 Galarian Linoone 131
  1 Tatsugiri 131
  2 Toxel 67
Trainers
  1 Risky Ruins 127
  2 Iono 80
  3 Poké Pad 198
  3 Rare Candy 191
  4 Punk Helmet 92
  4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin 101
  1 Night Stretcher 61
  2 Air Balloon 79
  2 Super Rod 188
  2 Technical Machine: Evolution 178
  1 Counter Catcher 160
  4 Lillie's Determination 119
  2 Professor's Research 123
  1 Unfair Stamp 165
  1 Boss's Orders 114
  2 Arven 166
Energy
  8 Darkness Energy

Galarian Obstagoon ASC 132 has the Scarring Shout attack that deals 70 damage for each damage counter on your opponent's Active Pokémon. That's a lot of damage potential for only requiring 2 Energy to use. Luckily there are some ways that you'll be able to place damage counters onto your opponent's Pokémon before using this attack.

One way to put damage counters on your opponent's team while also accelerating your own Energy attachments is by using Toxtricity PFL 68's Sinister Surge Ability. This Ability allows you to search your deck for a Basic Darkness Energy card to attach to one of your Benched Pokémon. Doing this will allow you to put 2 damage counters on that Pokémon. Now, you usually won't want to use this Ability unless you have Munkidori ASC 99 in play, so you can use its Adrena-Brain Ability to move damage counters from your Pokémon onto one of your opponent's Pokémon.

Both Pecharunt ASC 143 and Tatsugiri TWM 131 have Abilities that are useful in this deck. Pecharunt ASC 143's Final Chain Ability lets you search your deck for any Pokémon you're in need of when Pecharunt ASC 143 gets Knocked Out by taking damage from your opponent's attack. Tatsugiri TWM 131's Attract Customers Ability helps you find a Supporter you might be in need of. Both of these Pokémon only give your opponent 1 Prize card when they are Knocked Out, and the value they can provide to you can be worth that small loss.

Punk Helmet PFL 92 is an amazing card for this deck. Attach it to a Pokémon that is sure to either be damaged by or Knocked Out by your opponent's attack to deal 4 damage counters to your opponent's Active Pokémon. This helps set up a future attack from Galarian Obstagoon ASC 132. Since Galarian Obstagoon ASC 132 is a Stage 2 Pokémon, it should be no surprise to see Rare Candy SVI 191 included in this deck as a way to evolve it easier. Risky Ruins MEG 127 will place 2 damage counters on any non-Darkness Type Pokémon that gets played from hand onto a player's Bench. This is another great way to set up Galarian Obstagoon ASC 132's Scarring Shout attack.

Every deck needs a way to find the Pokémon you need from within your deck. Buddy-Buddy Poffin PRE 101 helps you find Basic Pokémon more easily, while Technical Machine: Evolution PAR 178 can help you find evolutions more easily. Poké Pad ASC 198 is a new Item that is useful in finding any Pokémon that doesn't have a Rule Box, regardless of whether it is a Basic Pokemon or an Evolution.

In most card games, card advantage is important for winning matches. This batch of cards all help you draw extra or new cards, giving you an advantage over your opponent. Lillie's Determination MEG 119 gives you a new hand while allowing you to shuffle your current hand back into your deck, so those cards can be used later. Professor's Research PRE 123 gives you a new hand, but requires you to discard your current hand when you play it. Unfair Stamp TWM 165 and Iono PAF 80 both offer you the means of drawing a new hand of cards, and both punish your opponent, slowing down any momentum they might have had in the process.

Both Boss's Orders MEG 114 and Counter Catcher PAR 160 can be used to move one of your opponent's Benched Pokémon to their Active Spot. This can be very important, allowing you to move a Pokémon that has enough damage counters on it to be Knocked Out when you attack with Galarian Obstagoon ASC 132's Scarring Shout attack.

Both Night Stretcher SFA 61 and Super Rod PAL 188 offer you the chance to reuse cards that have gone to your discard pile. Whether you get one card that goes to your hand or three cards shuffled back into your deck are the main differences, but both can be useful.

When you attach Air Balloon BLK 79 to one of your Pokémon, you make it easier to maneuver from your Active Spot to your Bench. It allows you to Retreat without having to discard Energy to pay for a Retreat Cost. Arven SVI 166 is one of the best Supporters in Standard, allowing you to search your deck for both an Item and a Pokémon Tool to put into your hand. This will help you find nearly anything you need from your deck.

Wrapping Up

When you play this deck, you'll see that a little bit of damage can go a long way. By placing a few damage counters on your opponent's Pokémon, you make them susceptible to being Knocked Out with a single use of Galarian Obstagoon ASC 132's Scarring Shout attack. Once the first Pokémon is Knocked Out this way, your opponent will fear taking even the slightest amount of damage.

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