Searching Standard: Luxray EX Control

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 Luxray ex TWM 68, who is able to discard cards of your choosing from your opponent's hand. Let's get started by taking a look at the deck list.

The goal with this deck is to use Luxray ex TWM 68's Piercing Gaze attack to control your opponent's hand. You can discard any card you think is an important piece of their strategy, plus this attack will deal 120 damage.

Luxray V ASR 50 makes for a great additional attacker thanks to its Fang Snipe attack. This attack will deal only 30 damage, but it also allows you to discard a Trainer card from your opponent's hand, which can be useful.

Pidgeot ex OBF 164's Quick Search Ability is a terrific way for you to find any card you need from within your deck. Pidgeot ex OBF 164 also makes for a good backup attacker due to its Blustery Wind attack.

For drawing extra cards during your turn, this deck relies on Bibarel BRS 121's Industrious Incisors Ability. When you have the option, always use this Ability prior to using Pidgeot ex OBF 164's Quick Search Ability, for maximum effectiveness.

Regieleki ASR 51 has a neat attack, Electromagnetic Sonar. This attack lets you put a Trainer card from your discard pile into your hand. By doing this, you're able to set up a situation where you can return any card in your discard pile to your deck again and again, with the combination of Pal Pad SVI 182 and Cyllene ASR 138.

Chi-Yu ex PAL 40 is an additional backup attacker. With its Jealously Singe attack, you'll discard the top two cards of your opponent's deck, further limiting their options throughout the game.

Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex TWM 141 makes for a great late game attacker. Its Seasoned Skill Ability reduces the amount of Energy needed to attack with its Blood Moon attack. You can use both Penny SVI 183 and Professor Turo's Scenario PAR 171 to work around being unable to attack on the following turn.

The last batch of Pokemon are all included for their Abilities. Lumineon V BRS 40's Luminous Sign Ability lets you search your deck for a Supporter when you play Lumineon V BRS 40 to your Bench during your turn. Manaphy BRS 41 protects your Benched Pokemon from receiving damage with its Wave Veil Ability. Finally, with Rotom V CRZ 45's Instant Charge Ability, you have another way of drawing extra cards, if you need it, but remember that doing this will end your turn.

By playing Unfair Stamp TWM 165, you'll force your opponent down to only having two cards in their hand. Follow this up by attacking with Luxray ex TWM 68's Piercing Gaze attack whenever possible. Eri TEF 146 and Miss Fortune Sisters LOR 164 will both help you further limit your opponent's options by getting rid of Item cards.

This batch of Items are all found in most Standard decks as a way to help you find the Pokemon you need.

Both Arven SVI 166 and Forest Seal Stone SIT 156 provide you with the means of searching your deck for specific cards you might need. Iono PAF 80 offers you a way of drawing a new hand of cards, while also penalizing your opponent if they're ahead in the race to take Prize cards.

To make the most out of your attacks, you can use both Boss’s Orders PAL 172 and Counter Catcher PAR 160 to attack the Pokemon of your choosing. Remember that Counter Catcher PAR 160 can only be played when your opponent has taken more Prize cards than you have.

Bravery Charm PAL 173 is a great card to attach to Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex TWM 141, giving it a total of 310 HP. Defiance Band SVI 169 offers you a way to deal 30 more damage when you attack, provided that your opponent has taken more Prize cards than you have. Enhanced Hammer TWM 148 allows you to discard a Special Energy from any of your opponent's Pokemon. Discarding a copy of Double Turbo Energy BRS 151 can really set them back a turn or two.

The final pair of Trainer cards are all-purpose cards. Super Rod PAL 188 offers you a way of reusing cards that have gone to your discard pile. Using the Devolution attack found on Technical Machine: Devolution PAR 177 can result in you achieving multiple Knock Outs at once.

Wrapping Up

There's a lot happening in this deck, and if you're new to the game, you might want to try a different deck. Knowing what card to make your opponent discard requires a little knowledge of what other decks are in the format and how they operate, and without that, you might be better off having them discard cards randomly. If you do understand what cards are needed to make a deck run smoothly, having your opponent discard those cards can result in some quick victories.

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