The Spy Who Hydro Sniped Me

Inteleon VMAX/Energy Denial (w/ Clefable RCL or Cinccino SSH) and Toxtricity VMAX/Koga’s Trap
“Oh, behave…”

Hello again, 6P readers! I hope everyone is doing well and staying healthy and safe. Remember to keep social distancing and, eventually, this ordeal will be over. For this next article, I want to dive into a few decks that are new to Standard with the inclusion of our newest set, Rebel Clash. I personally like this set as it has a variety of cool cards that allow for more combos. I’ll be discussing two variants of Inteleon VMAX, even though they are susceptible to Lightning-based decks. Then, I’ll finish with a take on Toxtricity VMAX paired with Koga’s Trap, as I feel it’s a little more consistent and faster than the variant with Garbodor RCL.

I can’t wait for Pokémon and events to start back up. I miss everyone, and just hanging out and having a great time is what Pokémon is all about. In the meantime, I’ve been working and saving up as much as I can. Eventually, when Pokémon is back, I’ll try to get back into the swing of things and attend as many events as possible. Personally, the break has allowed me to get to things I’ve been procrastinating for a while, so I’ve tried to make something positive of it. With that being said, let’s start the article with Inteleon VMAX paired with Clefable RCL.

Inteleon VMAX/Clefable RCL

Pokémon (17)

3 Clefairy RCL

3 Clefable RCL

3 Inteleon V

3 Inteleon VMAX

2 Dedenne-GX

1 Articuno-GX

1 Mewtwo UNB

1 Oranguru SSH

Trainer (34)

4 Cynthia

4 Team Yell Grunt

2 Boss’s Orders

1 Tate & Liza

 

4 Crushing Hammer

4 Pokémon Communication

4 Quick Ball

4 Scoop Up Net

4 Super Scoop Up

2 Reset Stamp

1 Ordinary Rod

Energy (9)

7 W

2 Capture

 

Copy List

****** Pokémon Trading Card Game Deck List ******

##Pokémon - 17

* 3 Clefairy RCL 74
* 3 Clefable RCL 75
* 3 Inteleon V RCL 49
* 3 Inteleon VMAX RCL 50
* 2 Dedenne-GX UNB 57
* 1 Articuno-GX CES 31
* 1 Mewtwo UNB 75
* 1 Oranguru SSH 148

##Trainer Cards - 34

* 4 Team Yell Grunt SSH 184
* 4 Cynthia UPR 119
* 2 Boss’s Orders RCL 154
* 1 Tate & Liza CES 166
* 4 Crushing Hammer UPR 166
* 4 Quick Ball SSH 179
* 4 Scoop Up Net RCL 165
* 4 Super Scoop Up BUS 166
* 1 Ordinary Rod SSH 171
* 4 Pokémon Communication TEU 152
* 2 Reset Stamp UNM 206

##Energy - 9

* 7 W Energy SWSHEnergy 3
* 2 Capture Energy RCL 171

Total Cards - 60

****** via SixPrizes: https://sixprizes.com/?p=80979 ******

Energy Denial Package

3-3 Inteleon VMAX

At first glance, I didn’t think this card was all that great until I recognized all the combos and options you can add to make its first attack, Hydro Snipe, quite powerful. Not only does it do a solid 60 damage for just 1 W Energy, but it also lets you put an Energy from your opponent’s Active Pokémon back into their hand. Its second attack, Max Bullet, takes 3 Energy; this attack is used to clean up the board when you have drained the opponent of Energy. Eventually, doing 160 to the Active and 60 to a Bench-sitter will surely give you all your Prize cards while you hopefully still deny the opponent from attacks.

3-3 Clefable RCL

Here we have another new card from Rebel Clash. Clefable’s Ability, Prankish, sounds funny but lets you put an Energy from your opponent’s Active Pokémon on top of their deck when you evolve into Clefable from hand. This is similar to Hydro Snipe, though the Energy goes on top of their deck as opposed to back into their hand.

1 Articuno-GX

This card is in here mainly for its Cold Crush-GX attack to help against PikaRom (or Lightning decks in general) given that Inteleon VMAX is, in fact, weak to Lightning. This is a crucial Weakness in the format. However, with all the Energy disruption the deck has, I believe it can stand a chance against Lightning.

4 Team Yell Grunt

This card almost mimics Hydro Snipe, though Team Yell Grunt can remove Energy from anywhere, not just from the Active Pokémon.

4 Crushing Hammer

You can see how much Energy denial this deck has going for it. The idea is to give the opponent a tough time attacking.

Combos

Hydro Snipe + Team Yell Grunt

You can remove one Energy from the Active and one from the Bench, or two from the Active, depending on what’s appropriate given the board state.

Mewtwo UNB + Oranguru SSH

You can put a Team Yell Grunt (or any other Supporter) on top of the deck from the discard with Mind Report then immediately grab it to hand with Primate Wisdom. You will likely want to use Mind Report for Team Yell Grunt because it can remove Energy anywhere, so no Energy is safe.

Scoop Up Net/Super Scoop Up + Mewtwo UNB/Clefable RCL

You can use these two Pokémon over and over. By using both Scoop Up cards, you can remove 3+ Energy from the board in one turn if combined with the other cards I mentioned.

Capture Energy + Mewtwo UNB

You can use Capture Energy to put Mewtwo UNB onto the Bench from the deck, then you can use Scoop Up Net (or Super Scoop Up) to use its Ability. Capture Energy is basically a mini Quick Ball for cards with Abilities like that. But you can also just use Capture Energy to put any Basic Pokémon from the deck onto the Bench if you aren’t able to find Quick Ball. So really, Capture Energy gives you more options.

Potential Inclusions

Eldegoss V

This is another way to abuse Team Yell Grunt and Boss’s Orders. You can reuse Eldegoss V with Super Scoop Up (but not Scoop Up Net).

Cryogonal UNM

Slowing the opponent down by having them Item locked can buy you time to set up more Clefable (and basically your strategy). It could be useful against Dragapult VMAX (with Malamar FLI) if you are able to bring up a Malamar with Boss’s Orders and stall long enough to deck them out, or get Inteleon VMAX attacking with Max Bullet. Otherwise that matchup is unfavorable.

Giratina UNM

Another way to remove Special Energy from the Active Pokémon. It can also be reused with Super Scoop Up and Scoop Up Net.

Lt. Surge’s Strategy

It’s likely that you may be behind on Prize cards, thus making Lt. Surge’s Strategy viable. Being able to use 2 Team Yell Grunt at the same time can be crucial.

Other Thoughts

Before I forget, shout out to Evan Cambell for providing the initial Inteleon VMAX/Clefable RCL list. Theoretically, this deck can discard 9 Energy in one turn, but that isn’t realistic. However, I think 3 Energy is realistic and pretty easy to do depending on the situation and what your opponent is trying to attack with.

This deck is all about Energy denial and forcing the opponent to miss attacks as much as possible. This deck would cripple decks like ADPZ or Dragapult VMAX (without Malamar FLI) because they attach only 1 Energy per turn.

If the opponent is somehow able to get a big attacker off, then the 2 Reset Stamps should hopefully slow them down and make them miss Energy drops, allowing you to hit a big Team Yell Grunt + Prankish turn on their only attacker. If you deny those Energies, they will quickly fall to Max Bullet spam.

Note: This deck plays Cynthia over Professor’s Research because you can’t afford to discard too many resources. Most of the deck is important resources that help you deny Energy.

Inteleon VMAX/Cinccino SSH

Pokémon (17)

4 Minccino SSH 145

4 Cinccino SSH

3 Inteleon V

3 Inteleon VMAX

1 Articuno-GX

1 Eldegoss V

1 Mewtwo UNB

Trainer (34)

4 Marnie

4 Professor’s Research

4 Team Yell Grunt

2 Boss’s Orders

1 Tate & Liza

 

4 Crushing Hammer

4 Quick Ball

2 Evolution Incense

2 Pokémon Communication

2 Reset Stamp

2 Scoop Up Net

1 Ordinary Rod

 

2 Air Balloon

Energy (9)

7 W

2 Capture

 

Copy List

****** Pokémon Trading Card Game Deck List ******

##Pokémon - 17

* 4 Minccino SSH 145
* 4 Cinccino SSH 147
* 3 Inteleon V RCL 49
* 3 Inteleon VMAX RCL 50
* 1 Articuno-GX CES 31
* 1 Eldegoss V RCL 19
* 1 Mewtwo UNB 75

##Trainer Cards - 34

* 4 Crushing Hammer UPR 166
* 2 Evolution Incense SSH 163
* 4 Quick Ball SSH 179
* 2 Scoop Up Net RCL 165
* 2 Air Balloon SSH 156
* 2 Pokémon Communication TEU 152
* 2 Reset Stamp UNM 206
* 4 Team Yell Grunt SSH 184
* 4 Marnie SSH 169
* 2 Boss’s Orders RCL 154
* 1 Tate & Liza CES 166
* 4 Professor’s Research SSH 178
* 1 Ordinary Rod SSH 171

##Energy - 9

* 7 W Energy SWSHEnergy 3
* 2 Capture Energy RCL 171

Total Cards - 60

****** via SixPrizes: https://sixprizes.com/?p=80979 ******

Combos

Mewtwo UNB + Cinccino SSH

You can use Mind Report to put a Supporter on top of the deck then use Make Do to retrieve said Supporter immediately. There’s no point in playing Oranguru SSH if you have Cinccino to draw cards anyway.

Potential Inclusions

Wondrous Labyrinth p + Counter Gain

This is a way to slow down the opponent even further. While Wondrous Labyrinth p also adds another C Energy requirement to our attacks, Counter Gain can negate that. You can also play this combo in the Clefable list.

Lt. Surge’s Strategy

The draw from Cinccino can help find Lt. Surge’s Strategy faster, so maybe adding 2 copies is ideal should you decide to play it. Remember, Eldegoss V can get it back as well.

Other Thoughts

This variant of Inteleon VMAX instead utilizes Cinccino SSH to help find your Energy denial cards faster. This variant’s strategy is basically the same as the one with Clefable, just with a few less Energy denial cards while adding more consistency. I’d recommend you try both variants out to see which you prefer.

I added the 1-of Tate & Liza to help get Articuno-GX out of the Active Spot once it’s used should you be unable to find an Air Balloon. Plus you can reuse Tate & Liza if needed with Mewtwo UNB or Eldegoss V.

Capture Energy is pretty cool in this deck because it can let you search out a Minccino or Inteleon V straight from the deck to the Bench, or any other Basic Pokémon.

Toxtricity VMAX/Koga’s Trap

Pokémon (17)

4 Toxtricity V RCL

3 Toxtricity VMAX

3 Dedenne-GX

3 Jirachi TEU

1 Galarian Zigzagoon SSH

1 Mewtwo UNB

1 Oranguru SSH

1 Tapu Koko p

Trainer (31)

4 Professor’s Research

2 Koga’s Trap

1 Boss’s Orders

 

4 Electropower

4 Pokémon Communication

4 Quick Ball

4 Scoop Up Net

4 Switch

 

2 Escape Board

 

1 Thunder Mountain p

1 Viridian Forest

Energy (12)

8 L

4 Speed L

 

Copy List

****** Pokémon Trading Card Game Deck List ******

##Pokémon - 17

* 4 Toxtricity V RCL 70
* 3 Toxtricity VMAX RCL 71
* 3 Dedenne-GX UNB 57
* 3 Jirachi TEU 99
* 1 Galarian Zigzagoon SSH 117
* 1 Mewtwo UNB 75
* 1 Oranguru SSH 148
* 1 Tapu Koko p TEU 51

##Trainer Cards - 31

* 4 Professor’s Research SSH 178
* 2 Koga’s Trap HIF 59
* 1 Boss’s Orders RCL 154
* 4 Electropower LOT 172
* 4 Pokémon Communication TEU 152
* 4 Quick Ball SSH 179
* 4 Scoop Up Net RCL 165
* 1 Thunder Mountain p LOT 191
* 1 Viridian Forest TEU 156
* 2 Escape Board UPR 167
* 4 Switch SUM 160

##Energy - 12

* 8 L Energy SWSHEnergy 4
* 4 Speed L Energy RCL 173

Total Cards - 60

****** via SixPrizes: https://sixprizes.com/?p=80979 ******

Combos

Toxtricity VMAX + Koga’s Trap + Electropower + Galarian Zigzagoon SSH

G-Max Riot can do 280+ damage depending on how many Electropower and Galarian Zigzagoon SSH you use.

Scoop Up Net + Galarian Zigzagoon SSH/Mewtwo UNB/Jirachi TEU

Scoop Up Net is how we can add 10–50 more damage with Galarian Zigzagoon SSH. Scoop Up Net also lets you reuse Mewtwo to get back Koga’s Trap since they are important to get the added damage boost for G-Max Riot. Not only that, but Scoop Up Net can let you reuse the same Jirachi multiple times, allowing you to use Stellar Wish three or more times in a single turn (without needing to three different Jirachi in play).

Mewtwo UNB + Oranguru SSH

You can put a Koga’s Trap (or any other Supporter) on top of the deck from the discard then immediately grab it to hand with Oranguru SSH. As I said, Koga’s Trap is what makes the deck so powerful since we don’t have Garbodor RCL to inflict Poison.

Order of Operations

You should use:

Playing these cards in this order will let you see the top 14 cards + 1 random card with Primate Wisdom after Stellar Wish. If you Primate Wisdom before you Stellar Wish, you see 1 less card, with one of those cards being the same card you had, so really you want to use Stellar Wish before Primate Wisdom. I see a lot of players doing this differently, thinking it doesn’t matter, but really it does if you really think about it.

Potential Inclusions

Mr. Mime DET + Jirachi p

Theoretically you can play this combo in any deck that runs Oranguru SSH a long with Scoop Up Net or Super Scoop Up. You can reuse both of them and potentially net 1–2 free Prize cards. The idea is to get Jirachi p into your prizes via Mr. Mime DET. You do this by playing Mr. Mime DET 11 on the bench then switch the top card of your deck (Jirachi p) with one of your Prize cards. You can put Jirachi p on top of the deck via Oranguru SSH. From here you simply take a KO then grab Jirachi p out of the Prizes to get you a free Prize card. Once done you can pick Jirachi p and Mr. Mime DET back into the hand via Scoop Up Net or Super Scoop Up and rinse and repeat.

Boltund V

This card can provide a mini Full Blitz. For just 1 L Energy, its attack, Electrify, lets you search your deck for 2 L Energy and attach them to your Benched Pokémon in any way you like. This can help fuel multiple Toxtricity VMAX. Overall it’s a solid card, but I’m unsure if it’s needed.

Eldegoss V

Returning Koga’s Trap straight to hand is quite nice; however, I think the deck already has enough ways to achieve this. If you feel you need Eldegoss V, then feel free to add it; another way to get Koga’s Trap back can’t hurt.

Tool Scrapper

Tools such as Big Charm or Metal Frying Pan can negate our 1HKOs at times, so having an out like Tool Scrapper can be clutch.

Other Thoughts

Fellow writer Gabriel Semedo went over Toxtricity VMAX/Garbodor earlier this week if you want to see the differences between the decks. Try both lists and see which you like better. His variant utilizes Garbodor RCL to Poison the Active Pokémon. Personally, I prefer to go the Koga’s Trap route because it seems easier and more reliable to pull off. Garbodor is just another Stage 1 Pokémon you have to get into play, plus there also has to be a Stadium in play to activate its Ability. Koga’s Trap also has the Confusion effect just in case you need to stall.

Overall I like the deck and I think it’s going to be a force to be reckoned with.

Conclusion

That will conclude this article on three new decks from Rebel Clash that I feel can do well in UPR–RCL/Standard. So far, if I had to pick one, I’d go with Toxtricity VMAX/Koga’s Trap. It’s fast, consistent, and can take down essentially any threat it’s up against. I hope you were able to learn something from this article, whether it’s deckbuilding or how to play the decks I mentioned.

I’ll see you guys next month for a brand new article. Again be safe, healthy, and careful when going out if you have to. Otherwise, stay home and relax, and one day we will get through these hard times and come back together.

As usual, I do full-time coaching, even during the pandemic, so if you are interested in lessons, feel free to message me either on Facebook or @Jose_MarreroTCG and we can go over the details.

If you have any questions, leave me a comment below or message me through social media. I’ll be sure to get to back to you as soon as possible. Until next time!


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