Searching Standard: Malamar VMAX

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 FlexDaddy. It features Malamar VMAX RCL 122, which allows you to control your opponent's options throughout the game. Let's get started by taking a look at the deck list.

Malamar VMAX RCL 122 is the main attacker in this deck. By using its Max Jammer attack, you'll deal 180 damage to your opponent's Active Pokemon. This attack also allows you to mess with your opponent's plans. They have to reveal their hand to you and you choose one card to put onto the bottom of their deck. Doing this can really throw off your opponent. For example, if they only have one Energy card in their hand, choose it and they might not be able to attack on their next turn. Or if you see Marnie, you can put it on the bottom of their deck to help prevent your plans from being messed with. You can also choose an Evolution Pokemon to get rid of, keeping their threats weaker than yours. Using this attack might also make your opponent overplay their hand, playing cards sooner than they should just so you can't put that card on the bottom of their deck.

Arceus VSTAR BRS 123 is the Pokemon that helps this deck run smoothly. By attacking with its Trinity Nova attack, not only will you deal 200 damage to your opponent's Active Pokemon, but you can also search your deck for three Basic Energy cards that you can attach to Malamar VMAX RCL 122 to fully power it up. Arceus VSTAR BRS 123 also has the Starbirth Ability as its VSTAR Power. Starbirth allows you to search your deck for up to two cards to put into your hand, so you're sure to find whatever pieces you are missing that you need.

This last batch of Pokemon are all included in this deck for their useful Abilities. Crobat V DAA 104's Dark Asset Ability allows you to refill your hand to six cards after playing Crobat V DAA 104 onto your Bench. Lumineon V BRS 40's Luminous Sign Ability lets you search your deck for any Supporter card to put into your hand after playing Lumineon V BRS 40 onto your Bench. Finally, Pumpkaboo EVS 76's Pumpkin Pit Ability allows you to discard any Stadium card when you play Pumpkaboo EVS 76 onto your Bench. Using these Abilities can give you a leg up on your opponent.

In order to find the Pokemon you need, you can rely on this group of Items. Quick Ball FST 237 will allow you to find any Basic Pokemon from your deck, while Evolution Incense SSH 163 can only find Evolution Pokemon. Ultra Ball BRS 150 can search for any Pokemon, but at a higher cost of discarding two other cards from your hand.

Drawing additional cards will allow you to filter through your deck quickly, which helps you find the cards you need faster. Professor's Research BRS 147 can be used to draw a new hand of seven cards, but playing it requires you to discard your current hand. Marnie CPA 56 has you shuffle your current hand back into your deck in order to draw a new hand of five cards. Marnie CPA 56 also resets your opponent's hand, and by attacking with Malamar VMAX RCL 122's Max Jammer attack right after, you'll be able to leave your opponent with only three cards in their hand. Finally, by playing Zinnia's Resolve EVS 164, you'll be able to draw a card for each of your opponent's Pokemon in play. While this can be quite helpful, it doesn't play nicely with the Stadium in this deck that I'll mention later on.

In order to make sure that you're able to attack with the Pokemon you want, you can rely on these next two Items. Both Escape Rope BST 125 and Switch SSH 183 allow you to move your current Active Pokemon to your Bench, while replacing it with a Pokemon from your Bench. Escape Rope BST 125 also forces your opponent to do the same, and it forces your opponent to do this first.

In order to make sure your opponent's attacking choices are limited, you can play Boss's Orders BRS 132 to choose a Pokemon from your opponent's Bench to go to their Active Spot. Doing this allows you to attack a Pokemon that you'll get the most Prize cards from Knocking Out. If you move up a Pokemon V, you can deal extra damage to it by having Choice Belt BRS 135 attached to your Active Pokemon. 30 extra damage will go a long way towards ensuring that you'll score a Knock Out within two attacks.

Both Crushing Hammer SSH 159 and Fan of Waves BST 127 help to further limit the actions your opponent can take. With a successful coin flip, you can discard an Energy card attached to one of your opponent's Pokemon. This can be any type of Energy, Basic or Special. Fan of Waves BST 127 automatically allows you to remove one Special Energy card from any of your opponent's Pokemon. This Special Energy will then be placed on the bottom of their deck.

With Piers CPA 58, you'll be able to search your deck for any Energy card (likely a Double Turbo Energy BRS 151) and a Darkness Type Pokemon (likely Malamar VMAX RCL 122). When played early, you'll be able to get off to a quick start. If you don't play Piers CPA 58 until the later portion of the game, he will allow you a quick way to catch up if you fall behind. Next, we have Collapsed Stadium BRS 137, the Stadium to which I referred to earlier. Collapsed Stadium BRS 137 limits the number of Benched Pokemon in play, further limiting your opponent's options. The final card in this deck is Tool Jammer BST 136, which you might find useful when facing certain decks that rely on Pokemon Tools.

Wrapping Up

If you're a newer player, this deck might be very challenging for you to play, as it requires some knowledge of which card will be best to remove from your opponent's hand. With that being said, this deck looks to be very fun to play, so whether you're new to the game or an experienced veteran, you might want to give this deck a try.

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