Searching Standard: Maushold

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 Maushold SVI 161 alongside a variety of other Stage 1 Pokemon. Let's get started by taking a look at the deck.

Maushold SVI 161 is one of the main attackers in this deck. When you use its Family Attack attack, you'll deal 70 damage for each copy of Maushold SVI 161 you have in play. While that means you might be able to deal as much as 280 damage, you'll often want to attach Double Turbo Energy BRS 151 to Maushold SVI 161, which will reduce the damage to 260. That's still a very respectable amount of damage from a single-Prize attacker.

All of the remaining attackers in this deck are set up by getting a copy of Zoroark EVS 103 into play. Its Phantom Transformation Ability allows you to put any Stage 1 Pokemon from your discard pile to replace Zoroark EVS 103 and any cards attached to it. It's then that you'll want to attach Gift Energy LOR 171 to Zoroark EVS 103's replacement.

This batch of Pokemon are all of the other attackers for this deck that are able to be played thanks to Zoroark EVS 103's Phantom Transformation Ability. They are all situational Pokemon, and the amount of damage they will deal is often dependent on the Pokemon your opponent has in play. Raichu SIT 50's Ambushing Spark attack deals extra damage if your opponent has used their VSTAR Power. Appletun EVS 121's Thick Mucus attack works best against an opponent utilizing multiple Special Energy cards. Flapple EVS 120's Acidic Mucus attack is great if your opponent has multiple Pokemon that have Abilities. Finally, Mightyena ASR 96 can use its Wild Tackle attack for free as long as your opponent has any Pokemon VMAX in play. One other thing to remember about these Pokemon is that they will need to be in your discard pile to get them into play. They can't simply evolve, as their Basic counterparts aren't included in this deck.

As a means of drawing additional cards, the Bibarel BRS 121 engine is included in this deck. By using Bibarel BRS 121's Industrious Incisors Ability, you'll be able to draw cards until you have five cards in your hand, but only once per turn (per instance of the Industrious Incisors Ability).

The last pair of Pokemon as included for their Abilities. With Skwovet SVI 151's Nest Stash Ability, when your hand runs out of playable cards, you can shuffle it and put it on the bottom of your deck to draw one card from the top of your deck. Manaphy BRS 41's Wave Veil Ability protects your Benched Pokemon from receiving any damage when your opponent attacks.

Most decks include Items that can help you find the Pokemon you need from your deck, without needing to rely on random chance. As long as you remember what the restrictions are for each of these balls, you can be sure to use the right one when you have a choice. Nest Ball SVI 181 can only get a Basic Pokemon. Level Ball BST 129 doesn't look at the Evolution status of the Pokemon you're getting. Instead it can find any Pokemon with 90 or fewer HP. Finally, Ultra Ball SVI 196 isn't restricted in the slightest, allowing you to put any Pokemon into your hand. Its drawback is that you have to discard two cards from your hand in order to play it. You can turn this into an advantage if you're able to discard any of the Stage 1 Pokemon that Zoroark EVS 103 can transform into with its Phantom Transformation Ability.

In addition to the PokeBalls I just talked about, you can play Battle VIP Pass FST 225 to put up to two Basic Pokemon from your deck onto your Bench. However, Battle VIP Pass FST 225 can only be played during your first turn. If you draw it later on, feel free to discard it whenever you play Ultra Ball SVI 196.

Drawing additional cards on your turn helps you find what you need more quickly. Professor's Research SVI 189 allows you to draw seven new cards, but you must first discard your current hand to do so. Both Cynthia's Ambition BRS 138 and Bruno BST 121 also allow you to draw new cards, but both of these are much better if you play them on the turn after one of your Pokemon was Knocked Out.

Serena SIT 164 is a modular card, offering you two different choices when she is played. You can either discard cards in order to draw new ones, or switch your opponent's Active Pokemon with one of their Benched Pokemon V. Those modes make her very versatile. Playing Boss's Orders BRS 132 allows you to switch any of your opponent's Benched Pokemon with their Active one. Since you get to choose which one to switch, you can choose a Pokemon you're sure to Knock Out. Escape Rope BUS 114 is handy to play after your opponent has switched your Pokemon around. It allows you to move a powered up attacker to your Active Spot, while forcing your opponent to switch their Pokemon as well.

The final pair of cards in this deck are recursion cards. Rescue Carrier EVS 154 lets you put up to two Pokemon with 90 HP or less into your hand from your discard pile. It's a handy way to replay Tandemaus SVI 160 and Maushold SVI 161 if they get Knocked Out. Playing Miriam SVI 179 lets you shuffle up to five Pokemon from your discard pile back into your deck. She also lets you draw three cards when you do this, so you might draw some of those Pokemon right away.

Wrapping Up

While this deck might not fare so well against Lost Zone decks, against most other decks it can perform very well. If you enjoy playing decks that focus on Pokemon that only offer your opponent one Prize card when they get Knocked Out, you should consider trying this deck out.

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