Searching Standard: Hisuian Zoroark 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 end my month-long look at some decks featuring spooky Ghost Type Pokemon. Today, I'm looking at a deck that was recently featured on the YouTube channel of tablemon. It features Hisuian Zoroark VSTAR LOR 147 and thrives when your Pokemon have taken damage. Let's get started by taking a look at the deck list.

Hisuian Zoroark VSTAR LOR 147 is the main attacker in this deck. It's Ticking Curse attack hits for 50 damage for each of your Pokemon that has any damage counters on it. That means this attack has the potential to deal 350 damage if you have a full Bench and every Pokemon of yours has at least one damage counter on it. Hisuian Zoroark VSTAR LOR 147 also has the Phantom Star VSTAR Power Ability, which allows you to discard your hand and draw seven new cards. This is a great way to draw new cards while also getting specific cards into your discard pile.

Gengar LOR 66 just so happens to be one of those cards you want to get into your discard pile as quickly as possible. Doing this will allow you to utilize its Netherworld Gate Ability, placing Gengar LOR 66 onto your Bench from your discard pile and placing three damage counters on it. There are no Gastly or Haunter cards in this deck, so this will be the only way to get Gengar LOR 66 into play. You can then move those damage counters onto your other Pokemon by using Damage Pump LOR 156. Another way to get damage counters on your team is by having a copy of Gapejaw Bog ASR 142 in play.

Empoleon V BST 40 acts as a great secondary attacker. By using its Swirling Slice attack, you'll deal 130 damage to your opponent's Active Pokemon, plus you'll be able to move an Energy card from Empoleon V BST 40 to one of your Benched Pokemon. Empoleon V BST 40 can also hinder your opponent with its Emperor's Eyes Ability, shutting off the Abilities of your opponent's Basic Pokemon that don't have a Rule Box.

Now we'll start to take a look at the supporting cast of Pokemon for this deck. Diancie ASR 68's Princess's Curtain Ability helps protect your Benched Basic Pokemon from the effects of any Supporter card your opponent plays. Radiant Hawlucha ASR 81 has its Big Match Ability that helps you deal an extra 30 damage to your opponent's Active Pokemon VMAX, while Radiant Hawlucha ASR 81 is on your Bench. Then we have Lumineon V BRS 40, whose Luminous Sign Ability allows you to search your deck for any Supporter card to put into your hand when you play Lumineon V BRS 40 from your hand to your Bench.

The final batch of Pokemon in this deck help you draw additional cards. Crobat V SHF 44 has the Dark Asset Ability which allows you to draw cards until you reach a hand size of six when you play Crobat V SHF 44 from your hand onto your Bench. It's a great one-time effect. Bibarel BRS 121, on the other hand, has the Industrious Incisors Ability, which can be used turn after turn. This Ability allows you to draw cards until you have five cards in hand, and can be used once during your turn.

Next, we come to Melony CRE 146, a Supporter who helps you accelerate your Energy by attaching one Water Energy from your discard pile to one of your Pokemon V. Doing this also allows you to draw three additional cards, providing you with additional options. Choice Belt BRS 135 provides an additional 30 damage when attacking your opponent's Active Pokemon V. This additional damage can be quite helpful in scoring a Knock Out.

Quick Ball SSH 179, Evolution Incense SSH 163, and Ultra Ball BRS 150 are all Standard staples that are found in most decks. Each of them help you find the Pokemon you need quickly, allowing this deck to run efficiently.

Both Professor’s Research BRS 147 and Marnie CPA 56 allow you to draw extra cards, helping you to find what you need more quickly. Professor’s Research BRS 147 also allows you to get certain cards into your discard pile more easily. In addition to allowing you to draw extra cards, Marnie CPA 56 will also reset your opponent's hand, which might make their deck falter for a bit.

The next batch of cards allow you to get additional uses from your cards. With Ordinary Rod SSH 171 and Pal Pad SSH 172, you'll be shuffling Pokemon, Basic Energy, or Supporter cards back into your deck, where you can draw them during future turns. Cheren's Care BRS 134 allows you to return a Colorless Pokemon that has any damage counters on it and all attached cards to your hand. This can allow you to avoid having a Pokemon get Knocked Out.

The final batch of cards are all useful during attacking. Boss's Orders BRS 132 can be played to allow you to choose which of your opponent's Benched Pokemon will move to their Active Spot. By choosing a Pokemon you are sure to Knock Out, you'll be guaranteed to be able to draw some Prize cards. Escape Rope BST 125 and Air Balloon SSH 156 offer your Pokemon some mobility, allowing you to move up fully powered attackers with ease. Escape Rope BST 125 also forces your opponent to switch their Active Pokemon with one from their Bench, but they get to decide which one to switch.

Wrapping Up

Dealing damage based on the number of Pokemon you have that are already wounded sounds like it could be risky. However, the amount of damage you're placing on your own Pokemon is minimal and pales in comparison to the amount of damage you're able to dish out with Hisuian Zoroark VSTAR LOR 147.

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