Searching Standard: Radiant Heatran

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 Popsicle Knight. It features Radiant Heatran, and has the potential to deal a ton of damage. Let's get started by taking a look at the deck list.

While this deck features Radiant Heatran ASR 27, it is actually the back up attacker for this deck. That's because Radiant Pokemon are limited to only one per deck of any Radiant Pokemon, and Radiant Heatran ASR 27 requires a bit of setup to get running. By attacking with Radiant Heatran ASR 27's Raging Blast attack, you'll deal 70 damage for each damage counter on Radiant Heatran ASR 27. Since this attack requires having some damage counters on Radiant Heatran ASR 27 as well as three Energy to use, you'll need a bit of time and help setting things up (you'll see the help you get a little later). Cape of Toughness DAA 160 provides 50 additional HP to Radiant Heatran ASR 27, allowing it to deal even more damage.

Now we get to one of our main attackers. Charizard VSTAR BRS 18's Explosive Fire attack will deal 130 damage, plus an additional 100 damage if there are any damage counters on Charizard VSTAR BRS 18. The same tools that help get damage counters onto Radiant Heatran ASR 27 will help get damage counters on Charizard VSTAR BRS 18. You can also use Charizard VSTAR BRS 18's Star Blaze VSTAR Power attack to attack for 320 damage, which is enough to Knock Out nearly any Pokemon your opponent might have in play with a single attack.

Arceus VSTAR BRS 123 is the other main attacker for this deck. By attacking with its Trinity Nova attack, you can deal 200 damage to your opponent's Active Pokemon. You'll also be able to search your deck for up to three Basic Energy to attach to your Pokemon V however you would like. Arceus VSTAR BRS 123 also has the Starbirth VSTAR Power Ability that you can use to search your deck for any two cards to put into your hand. You'll likely use this VSTAR Power more often than Charizard VSTAR BRS 18's Star Blaze VSTAR Power attack, as it will help you set up things better for the rest of the match.

This batch of Pokemon are all useful to help you draw additional cards, or specific types of cards. Snorlax VIV 131 has the Gormandize Ability that helps refill your hand each turn, but will end your turn when you use it. Crobat V DAA 104 has the Dark Asset Ability that you can use to draw cards until you have six cards in your hand. Lumineon V BRS 40's Luminous Sign Ability lets you search your deck for a Supporter to put into your hand when Lumineon V BRS 40 comes into play. All of these cards provide you with additional cards that can give you an advantage.

Our final Pokemon is Manaphy BRS 41, another Pokemon that is useful due to its Ability. Manaphy BRS 41 has the Wave Veil Ability, which will prevent your Benched Pokemon from taking any damage from your opponent's attacks. Keep your Pokemon safe on your Bench while powering them up over a turn or two.

Earlier I mentioned that there were ways of putting damage counters on Radiant Heatran ASR 27 and Charizard VSTAR BRS 18, so that they will be able to deal extra damage. This batch of cards does just that. Magma Basin BRS 144 allows each player to attach a Fire Energy from their discard pile to one of their Benched Pokemon, but doing this will place two damage counters on that Pokemon. Old Cemetery CRE 147 will also place two damage counters on any non-Psychic Type Pokemon when an Energy card is attached to that Pokemon from a player's hand. Finally, Spicy Seasoned Curry ASR 151 will actually heal 40 damage from the Pokemon it is given to, but will also Burn that Pokemon. This Burned condition will deal damage to that Pokemon between each player's turn until a coin flip is won.

This next group of cards can be used to help find the Pokemon you need from your deck or Prize cards easier. Quick Ball FST 237 can search for any Basic Pokemon, while Ultra Ball BRS 150 can be used to find any Pokemon at all. Both will require you to discard cards, giving you an easy way to get Fire Energy cards in your discard pile. With Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146, you'll be able to put a Pokemon from your Prize cards into your hand, replacing that card with Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146. This can be very helpful in the event that your main attackers are all within your Prize cards.

During the battle with your opponent, being mobile is very important. Nothing is worse than having your Active Pokemon locked in place, unable to retreat or attack. Switch SSH 183 allows you to exchange your Active Pokemon with a Pokemon from your Bench. Both Boss's Orders BRS 132 and Escape Rope BST 125 force your opponent to switch their Active Pokemon with a Pokemon from your Bench, however you'll choose what goes to your opponent's Active Spot when you play Boss's Orders BRS 132 while they'll choose the Pokemon when Escape Rope BST 125 is played. Escape Rope BST 125 also forces you to switch two of your own Pokemon, but you'll do so after your opponent switches.

Next, we have a group of Supporter cards that help us to search our deck for what you need. Skyla RCL 166 helps you find a Trainer, while Sonia CPA 65 helps you find a pair of Basic Pokemon or Basic Energy cards. Finally, Raihan EVS 152 helps you find any card you need, plus attaches a Basic Energy card from your discard pile to one of your Pokemon. The downside to Raihan EVS 152 is that it can only be played on the turn after one of your Pokemon was Knocked Out.

By drawing additional cards, you'll find what you need from your deck more quickly. Professor's Research BRS 147 allows you to draw seven new cards, but in order to play it, you'll need to discard your current hand before drawing these new cards. Marnie CPA 56 also offers you a way to refresh your hand, but it also offers you a way to refresh your opponent's hand as well. This can be a great way to slow them down when things have been going their way.

Our last group of cards are more general all-purpose cards. Ordinary Rod SSH 171 offers you a way to replay some Pokemon that have gone to your discard pile. It can also be used to reuse a pair of Basic Energy cards, but you'll often want them to remain in your discard pile so they can be played with Magma Basin BRS 144. Scoop Up Net RCL 165 offers you the means of protecting one of your Pokemon from getting Knocked Out, by returning it to your hand. Finally, Choice Belt BRS 135 gives you the means of dealing some additional damage when you attack.

Wrapping Up

Radiant Pokemon are all very powerful, which is why they are limited to only one per deck. With Radiant Heatran ASR 27, you have the potential to deal over 1000 damage with a single attack, provided that there are enough damage counters on it.

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