Searching Standard: Glaceon VSTAR

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 ForTheWinTCG. It features the very first Pokemon VSTAR ever released, Glaceon VSTAR PR-SW 197. Does this Pokemon still have what it takes to compete in the Pokemon TCG? Let's get started by taking a look at the deck list.

Both Glaceon VSTAR PR-SW 197 and Glaceon VMAX EVS 41 have ways of protecting themselves from your opponent's attacks. Glaceon VSTAR PR-SW 197 does this when you use its Crystal Star VSTAR Power attack. This will deal 220 damage to your opponent's Active pokemon and prevent all damage and effects done to Glaceon VSTAR PR-SW 197 on your opponent's next turn. In a similar manner, Glaceon VMAX EVS 41's Crystal Veil Ability prevents all damage done to Glaceon VMAX EVS 41 from your opponent's Pokemon VMAX, unless they also happen to be Glaceon VMAX EVS 41. By preventing damage done to these Pokemon, plus the added 30 HP provided by attaching a Big Charm SSH 158, you'll be able to outlast your opponent's Pokemon much of the time.

This deck also includes the Inteleon/Drizzile combo that can help you find the Trainer cards you need from your deck quickly and efficiently. Both Drizzile SSH 56 and Inteleon SSH 58 have the Shady Dealings Ability, allowing you to find one or two Trainers from your deck to put into your hand when you evolve into these Pokemon. You can even get an added use of this Ability by playing Scoop Up Net RCL 165, returning the Pokemon to your hand so it can evolve once again. You also have a copy of Inteleon CRE 43 that has the Quick Shooting Ability. This allows you to put two damage counters on one of your opponent's Pokemon during your turn. Using this Ability can be a great way to ensure you get a Knock Out when you attack, or it can be used to pick off a wounded Pokemon your opponent has retreated to their Bench.

The final pokemon in the deck have useful Abilities that you will find to be very helpful. With Radiant Greninja ASR 46's Concealed Cards Ability, you can discard an Energy card from your hand to draw two cards from your deck. You'll soon see that having some basic Water Energy cards in your discard pile can be quite useful. Finally, Manaphy BRS 41 has the Wave Veil Ability, which will keep your Benched Pokemon safe from any damage they would take from your opponent's attacks.

In order to make sure you have enough Energy to use your powerful attacks, you can rely on the help of this batch of Trainer cards. Capacious Bucket RCL 156 allows you to find two Water Energy cards from your deck to put into your hand. With Melony CRE 146, you can attach a Water Energy card from your discard pile to one of your Pokemon V (including VMAX and VSTAR). Doing this lets you draw three cards, helping to find what you need from your deck. Lastly, Training Court RCL 169 allows each player to put a basic Energy card from their discard pile into their hand once during their turn. So, you can see how having some Water Energy in your discard pile can be helpful.

Level Ball BST 129, Quick Ball FST 237, and Evolution Incense SSH 163 are commonly played in many decks as a way to help you find the Pokemon you need. Each of these cards is limited in what you can find with it, so remember those restrictions. Remember that Quick Ball FST 237 requires you to discard a card from your hand when you use it, so it can be used to get Water Energy into your discard pile if needed.

This pair of Supporter cards both help you search your deck for things. Irida ASR 147 lets you search for a Water Type Pokemon and an Item card to put into your hand. Unlike the previous batch of Trainer cards, Irida ASR 147 isn't limited when searching for a Pokemon, so you can get whatever you need. Raihan EVS 152 can only be played if you had a Pokemon get Knocked Out during your opponent's last turn, but he helps turn things around. You'll be able to attach a basic Energy card from your discard pile to one of your Pokemon. If you do this, you can then put any single card from your deck into your hand. That can certainly help turn the momentum of the game around.

The final card in the deck is Cross Switcher FST 230. By playing a pair of Cross Switcher FST 230s, you can switch your opponent's Active Pokemon with a Pokemon of your choosing from their Bench. You'll also have to switch your own Active Pokemon with a Pokemon of your choosing from your Bench, so you'll want to make sure you have a powered up Pokemon on your Bench ready to be switched.

Wrapping Up

I think this deck is very capable of winning games in Standard. It has all of the tools necessary to compete with other decks, but as with most decks, you'll need a little luck in order to win against some decks. It's the perfect deck to play during these last few weeks of Winter.

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