Searching Standard: Luxray Energy Crush

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 Rare Candy. It features Luxray BRS 51, who can deal a massive amount of damage if the conditions are right. Let's get started by taking a look at the deck list.

Luxray BRS 51 is the main attacker in this deck. By using its Energy Crush attack, you can deal a massive amount of damage to your opponent's Active Pokemon. This is, of course, dependent on the amount of Energy your opponent has attached to all of their Pokemon. If your opponent gets to the point where they have little to no Energy attached, you can switch to Luxray BRS 51's Flash Impact attack. this will deal 110 damage to your opponent's Active pokemon and 30 damage to one of your own Benched pokemon. Alternatively, the other Luxray in this deck, Luxray BST 48, has the Electrostep attack, which can be used to deal damage to one of your opponent's Benched Pokemon. This attack works nicely in conjunction with our next batch of Pokemon.

Inteleon CRE 43 has the Quick Shooting Ability that can place 2 damage counters on any of your opponent's Pokemon. This includes Pokemon that are on their Bench. This can be a good way to Knock Out a Pokemon that has taken a lot of damage and has retreated to the relative safety of your opponent's Bench. Both Inteleon SSH 58 and Drizzile SSH 56 have the Shady Dealings Ability that allows you to search your deck for Trainer cards. Using this Ability allows you to find specific things you will need to make your deck run more smoothly.

The final Pokemon in this deck is Manaphy BRS 41. Its sole purpose is to sit on your Bench protecting your other Benched Pokemon with its Wave Veil Ability.

In order to make sure you have the Pokemon you need for your deck to run smoothly, you can rely on the cards in this group of cards as well as the next group of cards. Quick Ball SSH 179 can be used to help find any Basic Pokemon from within your deck. Evolution Incense SSH 163 can find any Evolution Pokemon. Rare Candy SSH 180 allows you to skip a Stage 1 Pokemon by playing a Stage 2 directly onto a Basic Pokemon you have in play.

Continuing with the cards that help find the Pokemon you need, we come to Stormy Mountains EVS 161. This Stadium allows each player to search their deck for any Basic Lightning-Type or Dragon-Type Pokemon to put onto their Bench. Finally, with Level Ball BST 129, you can search for any Pokemon with 90 HP or less. By using these five cards, you'll be able to make sure you have the Pokemon you need in play at all times.

This pair of cards continues to allow us to search for other things from within our deck. With Energy Search SSH 161, you'll be able to search your deck for any Basic Energy card to put into your hand. This is a great way to find the single copy of Water Energy if you need it. Raihan EVS 152 will allow you to search your deck for any card to put into your hand. He also allows you to attach a Basic Energy card from your discard pile to one of your Pokemon. However, Raihan EVS 152 can only be played the turn after one of your Pokemon was Knocked Out. That makes Raihan EVS 152 a great Trainer to help you catch back up after things have gone south.

Our next batch of cards help you draw additional cards. When you play Cynthia's Ambition BRS 138, you'll be able to draw additional cards until you have either 5 or 8 cards in your hand, depending on whether any of your Pokemon were Knocked Out during your opponent's last turn. Professor's Research SSH 178 always allows you to draw 7 cards, but requires you to discard your current hand when you play it. Marnie SSH 169 resets both your hand and your opponent's hand, which can help you catch up if things aren't going your way. With all of these cards, drawing additional cards from your deck will help you find what you need faster, allowing you an edge over your opponent.

This pair of cards help allow us to play certain Pokemon over and over. Ordinary Rod SSH 171 can be used to shuffle back up to two Pokemon from your discard pile into your deck. You'll then be able to search for them again, and utilize their Abilities that happen when they come into play. Alternatively, Ordinary Rod SSH 171 can help you recover some Basic Energy from your discard pile, allowing you to make sure your attacks are fully powered. Scoop Up Net RCL 165 can help save a wounded Pokemon from getting Knocked Out. You can also play it on Pokemon such as Inteleon SSH 58 to get a second use of its Shady Dealings Ability.

Our last pair of cards help out when attacking. Choice Belt BRS 135 provides an extra 30 damage when your opponent's Active Pokemon is a Pokemon V. That extra damage can help you Knock Out a Pokemon with a single attack instead of taking two to get the job done. Boss's Orders BRS 132 allows you to move one of your opponent's Benched Pokemon to their Active Spot, allowing you to choose a Pokemon that you know you can Knock Out easily. This, in turn, allows you to take more Prize cards, and win the game before your opponent gets the chance.

Wrapping Up

By attacking with Luxray BRS 51's Energy Crush attack, you'll often be able to Knock Out opposing Pokemon in one shot. By taking advantage of the massive damage you can do and choosing which Pokemon to make Active with Boss's Orders BRS 132, you can win the game before your opponent even gets rolling.

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