Searching Standard: United Wings - Revisited

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 an updated look at a deck I wrote about over a year ago that focuses on the power of the United Wings attack. Let's get started by taking a look at the deck list.

We'll get started by taking a look at all of the Pokemon that have the United Wings attack (except Rowlet SFA 3, who is needed in order to evolve into Dartrix SFA 4). United Wings will deal 20 damage for each Pokemon in your discard pile that has the United Wings attack. That can amount to a lot of damage as the game goes on. The key thing to remember is that you'll need to get some Pokemon with United Wings into your discard pile before you'll be able to use this attack. As you'll see, there are numerous ways of discarding cards in this deck.

While Ditto PGO 53 technically doesn't have the United Wings attack, its Sudden Transformation Ability allows you to attack as if it did, as long as there is a Pokemon in your discard pile with the United Wings attack. It's possible for Ditto PGO 53 to deal up to 320 damage if all of your other Pokemon with United Wings are in your discard pile, all while having 0 Energy attached to it.

In order to keep your Benched Pokemon safe, this deck relies on a pair of Pokemon Abilities. Manaphy BRS 41's Wave Veil has been the go to Ability to keep your Benched Pokemon safe from taking damage when your opponent attacks for quite a while now. This deck also utilizes Rabsca TEF 24's Spherical Shield Ability to keep your Benched Pokemon safe from damage and effects of attacks your opponent's Pokemon deal. Between these two Pokemon, you should be able to keep your Benched Pokemon safe and sound.

Every deck needs ways of drawing extra cards. With Squawkabilly ex PAL 169's Squawk and Seize Ability, you can discard your hand to draw six new cards, but only during your first turn of the game. Fezandipiti ex SFA 38 has the Flip the Script Ability, which allows you to draw three cards on the turn following a turn where your opponent Knocked Out one of your Pokemon. Both of these Pokemon are the only Pokemon in this deck that will give up multiple Prize cards if they get Knocked Out, so be sure to attach Rescue Board TEF 159 to one of them if they somehow get moved to your Active Spot, which will allow a free Retreat.

To help you find the Pokemon you need to succeed, this deck has a variety of Items that you can use. Nest Ball SVI 181 can be used to find any Basic Pokemon from within your deck, while Great Ball PAL 183 will put any Pokemon from within the top seven cards of your deck into your hand. There's also Ultra Ball SVI 196, which you can use to find any Pokemon you need from your deck, however in order to play Ultra Ball SVI 196 you'll need to discard two other cards from your hand. This can be a great way to get Pokemon with the United Wings attack into your discard pile.

By playing Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146, you can swap a Basic Pokemon from your Prize cards with this Item. Preferably, you'll swap a Pokemon with the United Wings attack. Both Boss’s Orders PAL 172 and Counter Catcher PAR 160 can be used to help you attack as effectively as possible. Since United Wings will deal a variable amount of damage, be sure to move a Pokemon you'll be able to Knock Out with a single attack to your opponent's Active Spot.

Drawing extra cards allows you to have more options available to you at any given time. Carmine TWM 145 allows you to discard your hand in order to draw five new cards, plus she can be played during your first turn of the game if you go first. Similarly, Professor's Research PAF 87 lets you discard your hand to draw seven new cards. Both of these Supporters can really help you get Pokemon with the United Wings attack into your discard pile. Even though Iono PAL 185 doesn't offer this benefit, playing her is still beneficial as you'll shuffle your hand and place those cards at the bottom of your deck and draw some new cards. Iono PAL 185 can also halt your opponent's progress and slow down their momentum if they're ahead of you in taking Prize cards.

Another card that offers you the means of discarding a United Wings attacker is Earthen Vessel PAR 163. It can be a great way for you to find Basic Darkness Energy from your deck to put into your hand. Night Stretcher SFA 61 offers you a way of returning a Pokemon (or a Basic Energy, if you really need it) from your discard pile to your hand. One of the best pokemon to return is Ditto PGO 53, but you might need some other Pokemon depending on your situation. Super Rod PAL 188 is another recursion card, allowing you to return Pokemon and/or Basic Energy into your deck.

The final Trainer card in this deck is Collapsed Stadium BRS 137. It's specifically included for those times when you don't want your opponent to be able to Knock Out one of your Pokemon ex cards, so you play Collapsed Stadium BRS 137 as a way of discarding that Pokemon instead.

Wrapping Up

Even though this deck does require a fair amount of set up in order to run efficiently, once things are in place, this deck can deal out a fair amount of damage. If you have the patience for it, you should 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