Searching Standard: Gyarados EX

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 Gyarados ex SVI 45 and is capable of dealing a massive amount of damage. Let's get started by taking a look at the deck list.

By attacking with Gyarados ex SVI 45's Tyrannical Tail attack, you'll deal a base amount of 180 damage. However, if your opponent's Active Pokemon has any damage counters on it, this attack will deal an additional 180 damage, or a total of 360 damage. I wonder if there's a way to place damage counters on your opponent's Active Pokemon in this deck?

Of course there is. You can use Starmie MEW 121's Mysterious Comet Ability, which allows you to put two damage counters on one of your opponent's Pokemon in exchange for discarding Starmie MEW 121 and all attached cards.

Since Gyarados ex SVI 45's Tyrannical Tail attack requires so much Energy to use, you can help set things up by using Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR ASR 40's Star Portal Ability VSTAR Power. This allows you to attach up to three Water Energy cards from your discard pile to your Pokemon in any way you'd like. Doing this and then attaching a Double Turbo Energy BRS 151 to Gyarados ex SVI 45 gets it fully powered.

To help you draw additional cards, this deck utilizes Bibarel BRS 121's Industrious Incisors Ability to help keep your hand full of options. You can also use Radiant Greninja ASR 46's Concealed Cards Ability to draw more, and this will also get Water Energy cards into your discard pile for Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR ASR 40's Star Portal Ability VSTAR Power.

Manaphy BRS 41 is included as a means of protection for your Benched Pokemon. Its Wave Veil Ability will keep your Benched Pokemon safe from taking any damage when your opponent attacks.

To help you find the Basic Pokemon you need, this deck runs a few different options. First is Battle VIP Pass FST 225, which you can only play if it is your first turn of the game. There's also Nest Ball SVI 181, which allows you to search your deck for any Basic Pokemon to put directly onto your Bench. You also have a couple of copies of Artazon PAL 171, which allows you to search your deck for any Basic Pokemon without a Rule Box to put onto your Bench. This can be used by your opponent, as well, so be cautious when playing this Stadium if you think your opponent will benefit too greatly.

Ultra Ball SVI 196 can be used to find any Pokemon from your deck, regardless of its stage or evolution. There are also a pair of Rescue Carrier CRZ 142 in this deck, which you will find helpful once your Magikarp PGO 21's get targeted by your opponent.

In the event that you have a turn where one of your Pokemon gets Knocked Out, playing Raihan EVS 152can get you right back into the thick of things. He allows you to attach a Basic Energy from your discard pile to any of your Pokemon, and then search your deck for any card to put into your hand. This is a great way to recover any lost momentum you suffered from having a Pokemon get Knocked Out.

Making sure you're able to move Gyarados ex SVI 45 to your Active Spot once it's fully powered is important. Both Switch SVI 194 and Escape Rope BST 125 can help with this. Escape Rope BST 125 also forces your opponent to swap their Active Pokemon with a Pokemon of their choice from their Bench. If you want to force them to switch with a Pokemon of your choice, you'll want to play Boss’s Orders PAL 172. This can set up an easy Knock Out for you resulting in some Prize cards coming your way.

The final cards in this deck are all Supporter cards. Playing Iono PAL 185 is a great way to disrupt your opponent's hand, and they might even draw fewer cards than they previously had. Irida ASR 147 helps you find a Water Type Pokemon from your deck to put into your hand. You can also get an Item card as well. Melony CRE 146 acts as a means of Energy acceleration as well as card drawing, both of which are extremely useful.

Wrapping Up

By pairing Gyarados ex SVI 45 with Starmie MEW 121, you are able to perform an attack that deals a massive amount of damage. By attacking strategically, you can take multiple Prize cards with each Knock Out, ending games in a hurry.

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