Searching Standard: Mega Heracross ex

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 Mega Heracross ex PFL 4 who is able to retaliate very well after taking damage from your opponent's attack. Let's get started by taking a look at the deck list.

Mega Heracross ex
LittleDarkFury
Pokémon
  2 Meganium 10
  1 Toedscool 17
  3 Bayleef 9
  3 Chikorita 8
  1 Toedscruel 17
  1 Psyduck 7
  3 Mega Heracross ex 4
Trainers
  2 Wally's Compassion 132
  2 Forest of Vitality 117
  4 Lillie's Determination 119
  2 Lively Stadium 180
  1 Air Balloon 79
  1 Protective Goggles 164
  1 Professor's Research 124
  4 Nest Ball 84
  4 Pokégear 3.0 84
  1 Hero's Cape 152
  2 Jumbo Ice Cream 91
  4 Bug Catching Set 143
  1 Night Stretcher 61
  2 Bravery Charm 173
  3 Iono 185
  1 Penny 183
  2 Arven 166
  1 Boss's Orders 114
Energy
  8 Grass Energy 1

By attacking with Mega Heracross ex PFL 4's Juggernaut Horn attack, you'll deal 100 damage plus the amount of damage Mega Heracross ex PFL 4 took from your opponent's attack on the previous turn. This can be a significant amount of damage, especially if you're able to increase Mega Heracross ex PFL 4's HP by attaching Hero's Cape TEF 152 to it, or if you have Lively Stadium SSP 180 in play. Plus, you'll be able to use the Juggernaut Horn attack with just a single Grass Energy attached thanks to our next Pokémon...

Meganium MEG 10's Wild Growth Ability causes each of your Basic Grass Energy to provide 2 Grass Energy instead of the usual 1. By using this Energy acceleration, you'll be able to quickly attack with powerful attacks.

The remaining Pokémon in this deck are included for their helpful Abilities. Psyduck MEP 7's Damp Ability causes all Pokémon to lose any Ability that would cause that Pokémon to be Knocked Out in order to use the Ability. Toedscruel PAR 17's Slime Mold Colony Ability prevents your opponent from reusing any cards that have gone to their discard pile. Both of these Abilities can be crucial against certain opponents, and meaningless against others.

Both Wally's Compassion MEG 132 and Penny SVI 183 are able to heal your damaged Mega Heracross ex PFL 4, although in slightly different ways. While Penny SVI 183 places the Pokémon into your hand along with any attached cards, Wally's Compassion MEG 132 only places any attached Energy into your hand. Jumbo Ice Cream PFL 91 can also heal your Mega Heracross ex PFL 4 of 80 damage, provided that your Mega Heracross ex PFL 4 has 3 or more Energy attached.

Both Bravery Charm PAL 173 and Protective Goggles MEW 164 can be attached to Mega Heracross ex PFL 4 to keep it in the game longer, although only one Pokémon Tool can be attached at any time, of course. Since Energy acceleration is so important in this deck, a pair of Forest of Vitality MEG 117 are included to allow your Grass Type Pokémon to Evolve as quickly as possible.

Both Bug Catching Set TWM 143 and Nest Ball PAF 84 can be used to help you find the Pokémon you need more easily. While Nest Ball PAF 84 can only find Basic Pokémon, Bug Catching Set TWM 143 can be used to find any Grass Type Pokemon, regardless of evolution stage. It can also be used to help find Grass Energy if you need it.

Drawing extra cards is always important in a match, so seeing a playset of Lillie's Determination MEG 119 should not be surprising. Even though Professor's Research PRE 124 is a bit outclassed by Lillie's Determination MEG 119, it can still help you cycle through your deck quickly. Iono PAL 185 is included as both a means of drawing a new hand, and as a way to reset your opponent's hand, slowing down their momentum as an added benefit.

Arven SVI 166 is one of the best Supporter cards to play, as he helps you find an Item and a Pokemon Tool from your deck. You can play Pokégear 3.0 BLK 84 to help you find any of the terrific Supporter cards in this deck, as long as they are in the top 7 cards of your deck.

This final batch of cards are generally found in most Pokémon decks, as they are useful staples. Boss's Orders MEG 114 helps you choose which of your opponent's Pokémon to attack. Air Balloon BLK 79 can be attached to a Pokémon to allow it more mobility. Night Stretcher SFA 61 offers a way to reuse cards that have gone to your discard pile. None of these are flashy cards, but they're all important to have for most Standard decks.

Wrapping Up

While the damage Mega Heracross ex PFL 4 isn't the most consistent, if your opponent doesn't play around its Juggernaut Horn attack, they'll soon find themselves in a world of trouble. It's great to see that Mega Pokémon that aren't overpowered still have a chance to shine in a deck like this.

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