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 two versions of Hydreigon ex, Hydreigon ex SSP 119 and Hydreigon ex WHT 67, who each do unique things. Let's get started by taking a look at the deck list.
Hydreigon ex
LittleDarkFury
Pokemon
1 Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex 141
1 Budew 4
1 Cleffa 80
3 Deino 117
1 Fezandipiti ex 38
1 Hawlucha 118
2 Hydreigon ex 119
1 Hydreigon ex 67
1 Munkidori 95
2 Pidgeot ex 164
1 Pidgeotto 17
1 Pidgey 16
1 Pidgey 162
2 Zweilous 66
Trainers
1 Air Balloon 79
4 Arven 186
1 Boss’s Orders 172
1 Brock's Scouting 146
4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin 101
2 Counter Catcher 160
1 Counter Gain 169
1 Crispin 105
1 Hilda 84
3 Iono 80
2 Nest Ball 181
1 Night Stretcher 61
3 Rare Candy 89
2 Technical Machine: Blindside 176
1 Technical Machine: Evolution 178
3 Ultra Ball 196
Energy
4 Basic Darkness Energy
1 Basic Metal Energy
2 Basic Psychic Energy
2 Ignition Energy 86
1 Neo Upper Energy 162
Hydreigon ex WHT 67 has the Greedy Eater Ability, which allows you to take an additional Prize card if your opponent's Active Pokemon would be Knocked Out by damage from an attack made by Hydreigon ex WHT 67. This can be difficult to utilize since Hydreigon ex WHT 67's only attack, Dark Bite, requires 5 Energy to use. Luckily, the attack used doesn't have to be listed on Hydreigon ex WHT 67, just an attack used by it. That's where Technical Machine: Blindside PAR 176 comes in. If you attach Technical Machine: Blindside PAR 176 to Hydreigon ex WHT 67, you can use the Blindside attack which only requires 3 Energy. This attack will deal 100 damage to one of your opponent's Pokemon, as long as that pokemon has any damage counters on it. As you'll see, there are a couple of ways to put damage counters on your opponent's Pokemon without having to rely on attacking.
Alternatively, you might consider using Hydreigon ex SSP 119 as your main attacker, as it has two powerful attacks. Crashing Headbutt deals 200 damage while also discarding three cards from your opponent's deck, all for just 2 Energy. Obsidian is also a terrific attack, even though it requires 4 Energy to use. Dealing 130 damage to three of your opponent's Pokemon can result in multiple Knock Outs.
As a means of finding specific cards from your deck to put into your hand, this deck utilizes Pidgeot ex OBF 164's Quick Search Ability. Keep this Pokemon safe and sound on your Bench and search for whatever you need each turn.
Other notable attackers in this deck include Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex TWM 141, Budew PRE 4, and Cleffa OBF 80. Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex TWM 141 is a great attacker if you're behind on taking Prize cards. Budew PRE 4 can slow down your opponent's early game progress by restricting your opponent from playing Item cards. Finally, Cleffa OBF 80's Grasping Draw attack might not deal any damage, but it's a great way to refill your hand after you've played every card you can.
The final Pokemon in this deck are included for their useful Abilities. Both Hawlucha SVI 118 and Munkidori TWM 95 are able to place damage counters onto your opponent's Pokemon, making it easier for you to use the Blindside attack Technical Machine: Blindside PAR 176 provides. Fezandipiti ex SFA 38's Flip the Script Ability helps you recover after suffering a Knock Out.
Since this deck relies on a number of Stage 2 Pokemon, it should come as no surprise that Rare Candy PAF 89 is included in this deck. To help make sure you are able to power up your attackers, you can play Crispin PRE 105. There's also a copy of Counter Gain SSP 169 that you can attach to Hydreigon ex WHT 67 to reduce the amount of Energy needed for its attacks by 1.
This batch of Supporters all help you search your deck for specific types of cards. Arven OBF 186 helps you find an Item and a Pokemon Tool. Brock's Scouting JTG 146 helps you find 2 Basic Pokemon or 1 Evolution Pokemon. Finally, Hilda WHT 84 helps you find an Evolution Pokemon and an Energy card. These are all great ways to supplement Pidgeot ex OBF 164's Quick Search Ability.
Much like Rare Candy PAF 89, it shouldn't be surprising to see a copy of Technical Machine: Evolution PAR 178 in this deck. It will help you evolve into your Stage 2 Pokemon more quickly. Both Boss’s Orders PAL 172 and Counter Catcher PAR 160 allow you to choose which of your opponent's Pokemon to attack. This can be helpful in making sure that a Pokemon has damage counters on it.
Buddy-Buddy Poffin PRE 101 and Nest Ball SVI 181 are here to help you find the Basic Pokemon you need for the deck to run smoothly. Ultra Ball SVI 196 can also help with this, but you'll more likely want to use it to search for Evolution Pokemon.
In the event that you need to Retreat more easily, you can attach Air Balloon BLK 79 to a Pokemon to reduce its Retreat Cost by 1 Energy. Playing Iono PAF 80 can not only net you some additional cards, but it will also reset your opponent's hand, slowing down their momentum in the process. The final Trainer card in this deck is Night Stretcher SFA 61, which is a useful Item that allows you an additional use of a Pokemon or Basic Energy card that has gone to your discard pile.
Wrapping Up
In a format with multiple versions of the same Pokemon, there will be times that one is better to use than another. In this case, as this deck has shown, it's entirely possible to run multiple versions together to success. By doing so, you open up your options throughout the game.
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
