Searching Standard: Trevenant V

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 Trevenant V EVS 13, and can strip your opponent's hand down with ease. Let's get started by taking a look at the deck list.

By attacking with Trevenant V EVS 13's Shadow Claw attack, you'll deal 120 damage to your opponent's Active Pokemon. Additionally, you'll get to discard a random card from your opponent's hand. This can be a great way to mess with their future plans. You can also play Grabber MEW 162 to put a Pokemon of your choice from your opponent's hand on the bottom of their deck. Grabber MEW 162 also gives you insight into the other cards that are left in their hand, so you'll know what to expect on upcoming turns. Later in the game, after your opponent has multiple Supporter cards in their discard pile, you can evolve Trevenant V EVS 13 into Trevenant VMAX EVS 14 and attack with its Missing in the Forest attack, dealing 40 damage for each Supporter card in your opponent's discard pile. This can be a great way to finish off the match.

To help find both Trevenant V EVS 13 and Grabber MEW 162, you might need to use Arceus VSTAR BRS 123's Starbirth Ability VSTAR Power. With this, you can find any two cards from your deck to put into your hand. Arceus VSTAR BRS 123 can also act as a great secondary attacker by using its Trinity Nova attack, which will help power up your other attackers.

Speaking of other attackers, Flying Pikachu VMAX CEL 7 is a terrific Pokemon to use against any Basic Pokemon. By attacking with its Max Balloon attack, you'll be able to prevent all damage that Flying Pikachu VMAX CEL 7 would take from the attack of any Basic Pokemon. Additionally, this attack will deal 160 damage, so you can usually take care of any opposing Pokemon with two attacks.

As a card drawing engine, there's nothing better currently in Standard than Bibarel BRS 121's Industrious Incisors Ability. By pairing this up with Skwovet SVI 151's Nest Stash Ability, you're able to see numerous new cards from your deck each turn.

The final Pokemon in this deck is Spiritomb PAL 89, who is included for the use of its Fettered in Misfortune Ability. This Ability negates allAbilities of Basic Pokemon V in play. While this won't have any effect on the Pokemon in this deck, it could have a profound effect on your opponent's Pokemon.

Since hand disruption is the name of the game with this deck, it should come as no surprise to see both Judge SVI 176 and Iono PAL 185 in this deck. Playing either of these Supporters resets your opponent's hand, and will also often reduce the number of cards found there. Having less cards in their hand makes it easier for you to discard important pieces of their plan.

Since you need to be able to find certain Pokemon from within your deck, most decks will employ some number of Poke Ball cards. With Nest Ball SVI 181, you'll be able to find any Basic Pokemon to put onto your Bench. Ultra Ball SVI 196 is harder to play and requires you to discard two other cards, but it's also more powerful. With it, you can find any Pokemon from your deck to put into your hand, presumably to play as your next card.

In addition to having the right Pokemon in play, being able to move those Pokemon around from your Active Spot to your Bench and back is equally important. Both Switch SVI 194 and Escape Rope BST 125 allow you to exchange one Pokemon from your Bench with your Active Pokemon. Escape Rope BST 125 also forces your opponent to switch their Pokemon, as well. Similarly, Boss's Orders PAL 172 also forces your opponent to switch two of their Pokemon, but instead of your opponent choosing which Pokemon from their Bench will become their Active Pokemon, you get to choose instead. This allows you to choose a Pokemon that you're sure to be able to Knock Out, taking some valuable Prize cards as a result.

Also helping you in your quest for Prize cards are some Pokemon Tools. By attaching a Choice Belt PAL 176, you'll be able to deal an additional 30 damage to your opponent's Active Pokemon V. With Supereffective Glasses ASR 152 attached, damage dealt to a Pokemon that is Weak is tripled instead of doubled. Finally, by attaching Bravery Charm PAL 173 to one of your Basic Pokemon, it will get an additional 50 HP, making it more difficult to Knock Out and preventing your opponent from taking their Prize cards as easily.

The final card in this deck is Path to the Peak CRE 148, which is included as a way to punish certain opposing decks that rely on using the Abilities of Pokemon with Rule Boxes. Since you only have Arceus VSTAR BRS 123 that would be affected by this, most of the time, you'll be safe to play this powerful Stadium.

Wrapping Up

By disrupting your opponent's hand with Trevenant V EVS 13's Shadow Claw attack and Grabber MEW 162, you can limit their options. Perhaps you'll discard a Pokemon they were planning to Evolve into. You might discard an important Pokemon Tool they hadn't attached yet. You could even discard the much needed Energy card they were going to attach next turn. Whatever happens, the unpredictability of it will certainly make for memorable games.

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