Searching Standard: Zoroark Spread

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 Zoroark EVS 103, a Pokemon capable of transforming into many other Pokemon. Let's get started by taking a look at the deck list.

In this deck, Zoroark EVS 103 is the only way you'll be able to get many of your attackers into play. By using Zoroark EVS 103's Phantom Transformation Ability, you can put any Stage 1 Pokemon from your discard pile into play, discarding Zoroark EVS 103 and all attached cards in the process. As you'll soon see, there are quite a few different Stage 1 Pokemon that you can choose to put into play, as long as they are in your discard pile.

The first batch of Stage 1 Pokemon we'll look at are only able to be played with the help of Zoroark EVS 103's Phantom Transformation Ability. Drifblim SVI 90 has the Curse Spreading attack which will place 8 damage counters on your opponent's Pokemon any way you would like. By using Electivire BRS 47's High-Voltage Current attack, you'll deal 50 damage to each of your opponent's Benched Pokemon. With no Energy attached, you can use Hisuian Braviary SIT 149's Eerie Cry attack to place an additional 3 damage counters on each of your opponent's Pokemon that already have damage counters on them. Kleavor ASR 85's Rout attack can deal a hefty amount of damage against opponent's that have a lot of Pokemon on their Bench. Finally, by attacking with Slowbro PGO 20's Twilight Inspiration attack, you can possibly win the game on the spot if the right amount of Prize cards are remaining.

Since many of these Pokemon require three Energy to use their best attacks, you'll want to make sure you fall behind on taking Prize cards and attach Reversal Energy PAL 192 where it is most useful.

One great way to fall behind on taking Prize cards is by having Mismagius SIT 64 as your Active Pokemon. It only has 90 HP, so much of the time, it will be defeated with a single attack. If it gets Knocked Out while it has full HP, you'll be able to place 8 damage counters on your opponent's Active Pokemon due to its Spiteful Magic Ability. If your opponent decides that it's not a good idea to attack Mismagius SIT 64, you can always attack with its Eerie Voice attack, placing 2 damage counters on each of your opponent's Pokemon. Mismagius SIT 64 is also a Stage 1 Pokemon, so even if it gets Knocked Out, you can return it to play with Zoroark EVS 103's Phantom Transformation Ability.

Kirlia SIT 68 is another Stage 1 Pokemon that Zoroark EVS 103's Phantom Transformation Ability can help enable. Its Refinement Ability can be a great way to help get other Stage 1 Pokemon into your discard pile, as well as being a great source of card drawing. If you further evolve into Gallade ASR 62, you can attack with the Swirling Slice attack, moving an Energy (like Reversal Energy PAL 192) to one of your Benched Pokemon if Gallade ASR 62 is sure to be Knocked Out on your opponent's next turn. Gallade ASR 62 also has the Buddy Catch Ability that can help you find any Supporter card from your deck.

By using Hisuian Basculin ASR 43's Gather the Crew attack, you can search your deck for a pair of Zorua EVS 102 to put onto your Bench. This can help things get started for you, and if Hisuian Basculin ASR 43 gets Knocked out, it can help keep you behind on taking Prize cards. Radiant Alakazam SIT 59 has the Painful Spoons Ability, which allows you to move up to 2 damage counters from one of your opponent's Pokemon to another of their Pokemon. This can help you score Knock Outs easier.

The final Pokemon in this deck are simply included for their protective Abilities. Jirachi PAR 126's Stellar Veil Ability and Manaphy BRS 41's Wave Veil Ability both help keep your Benched Pokemon safe from damage and damage counters that are placed as the result of your opponent's attacks.

By spreading the damage your Pokemon deal across your opponent's team, you can often set up a situation where Technical Machine: Devolution PAR 177 can allow you to take multiple Prize cards. If the damage placed on your opponent's Pokemon is equal to or greater than the HP of their next highest Stage Evolution, by using the Devolution attack you can put Evolution cards into your opponent's hand that they aren't able to use while Knocking Out those lower Stage Pokemon. It's possible, albeit unlikely, that you can Knock Out all six of their Pokemon at one time with this attack.

Since the plan is for you to be behind on Prize cards, playing Counter Catcher PAR 160 seems like a no-brainer. You'll get to choose a Pokemon from your opponent's Bench to switch places with their Active Pokemon. You can often set up a scenario where your opponent's Pokemon won't have enough Energy to attack or retreat for a turn or two, buying some time to ensure your plans are in place. Playing Iono PAL 185 is also better when you're behind on taking Prize cards, and it can often shake up your opponent's hand so badly that they're forced to rethink their plan of action for the next few turns.

Since it's important to have a copy of Zorua EVS 102 in play, ready to Evolve, you may want to play Artazon PAL 171. Beware that this Stadium can also benefit your opponent, so use it cautiously. If you ever find yourself in a situation where your attacker is on your Bench and needs to move to your Active Spot in a hurry, you'll be happy there's a copy of Switch SVI 194 in this deck.

Finding the Pokemon you need is vital for any deck. This deck utilizes the most common method of finding Pokemon, Poke Balls. Nest Ball SVI 181 can find any Basic Pokemon, while Level Ball BST 129 can only find Pokemon with 90 HP or fewer. This restriction generally doesn't include most of your Stage 1 Pokemon, but there are a pair of exceptions (Kirlia SIT 68 and Mismagius SIT 64). Playing Ultra Ball SVI 196 allows you to find any Pokemon you need, plus it provides you a way of discarding cards, helping to make sure you have some Stage 1 Pokemon in your discard pile.

Professor Turo's Scenario PAR 171 acts as some protection for those times you don't want one of your Pokemon to get Knocked Out. By playing Professor's Research SVI 190, not only do you get to draw seven new cards, but you get to discard your current hand, which can be a great way to get some of those Stage 1 Pokemon into your discard pile.

The final pair of Trainer cards are both great ways of returning copies of Zoroark EVS 103 and Zorua EVS 102 from your discard pile to your hand. Both Klara CRE 145 and Super Rod PAL 188 also give you the means of returning some of the basic Psychic Energy that has hit your discard pile back to your deck as well.

Wrapping Up

By spreading the damage your Pokemon do across the Pokemon on your opponent's team, you can often set up a situation where you're able to Devolve those Pokemon and their previous Stage will have more damage than it can handle. Taking multiple Prize cards in this manner can feel very satisfying.

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