Searching Standard: Ninetales EX

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 Ninetales ex MEW 38 alongside some cards that allow you to try to match the number of cards in your opponent's hand. Let's get started by taking a look at the deck list.

By using Ninetales ex MEW 38's Mirrored Flames attack, you'll deal a base amount of 80 damage, however if you happen to have the same number of cards in your hand as your opponent has, you'll deal 140 additional damage, for a total of 220 damage. That's really good for only requiring two Energy. The trick will be getting the same number of cards in your hand as your opponent has... Ninetales OBF 29 has the Nine-Tailed Dance attack, which allows you to put nine damage counters on any one of your opponent's Pokemon. This can be helpful in setting up an attack that will Knock Out a beefier opposing Pokemon.

To help with this, you can use Bibarel BRS 121's Industrious Incisors Ability, which allows you to draw cards until you have five cards in hand. Those cards also allow you to find the things you need to succeed easier. This is only one way that you'll have to manipulate your hand, but we'll talk about those other cards when we get to the Trainers in this deck.

Next, let's talk about some Pokemon that have useful Abilities for this deck. By using Armarouge SVI 41's Fire Off Ability, you can move an Energy from one of your Benched pokemon to your Active Pokemon. You can do this as often as you'd like during your turn, so you'll often be able to attack with a fully powered Pokemon. There's a single copy of Manaphy BRS 41 included in this deck for its Wave Veil Ability to act as protection from damage for your Benched Pokemon.

This last batch of Pokemon are great secondary attackers. Radiant Charizard PGO 11 has the potential to use its Combustion Blast attack for as little as one Fire Energy, thanks to its Excited Heat Ability. Moltres MEW 146 is able to Retreat for free as long as it has a Fire Energy attached to it, thanks to its Flare Float Ability. Its Blazing Flight attack is another way to snipe an opponent's Benched Pokemon for 120 damage. Finally, Delphox V LOR 27 has the Magical Fire attack, which is also able to deal 120 damage to one of your opponent's Benched Pokemon. With attacks like these, your opponent won't feel safe even after Retreating.

As I mentioned earlier, there are additional ways for you to manipulate how many cards you have in your hand. Iono PAL 185 is one way, forcing both players to draw a new hand of cards. This can also result in your opponent being unable to carry out their plans, especially late in the game. Copycat EVS 143 lets you draw a hand equal to the amount of cards in your opponent's hand, perfectly setting up Ninetales ex MEW 38's Mirrored Flames attack. Professor's Research SVI 190 forces you to discard your current hand in order to draw a new hand of seven cards. Finally, you can use the Star Alchemy Ability VSTAR Power on Forest Seal Stone SIT 156 to search your deck for any card to put into your hand. All of these cards can help you have a hand with the same number of cards as your opponent.

Magma Basin BRS 144 is a great way to accelerate the amount of Energy you have in play. Attach a Fire Energy from your discard pile to one of your Benched Pokemon, then move it to your Active Pokemon with Armarouge SVI 41's Fire Off Ability.

To help you find the Pokemon you need to succeed, this deck offers plenty of ways of searching your deck. Nest Ball SVI 181 can find any Basic Pokemon. Level Ball BST 129 can find any Pokemon with 90 HP or less. Ultra Ball SVI 196 can find any Pokemon, but requires you to discard two cards when you use it. Finally, Artazon PAL 171 lets you find any Basic Pokemon without a Rule Box, but it can also be used by your opponent.

Since you'll want to be able to move Energy from your Benched Pokemon to your Active Pokemon with Armarouge SVI 41's Fire Off Ability, you'll want to move any damaged Pokemon from your Active Spot to your Bench, if possible. Using Switch SVI 194 to do this is the most effective way. You can also use Escape Rope BST 125, but your opponent will also have to switch one of their Benched Pokemon for their Active Pokemon. If you simply want to score an easy Knock Out without sniping your opponent's Bench, you can play Boss’s Orders PAL 172. This allows you to choose which of your opponent's Pokemon moves to their Active Spot, allowing you to pick off whomever you choose and take some valuable Prize cards.

The last couple of cards are just generally good cards seen in most decks. By attaching a Choice Belt PAL 176 to a Pokemon, they will deal an additional 30 damage to an opponent's Active Pokemon V. Super Rod PAL 188 is a great card that allows you to recur up to three Pokemon and/or Basic Energy. You'll shuffle those cards back into your deck, where you can search for and draw them for use an additional time.

Wrapping Up

Whether you're dealing damage to your opponent's Benched Pokemon with the numerous snipers in this deck or dealing extra damage based on having the same number of cards in your hand as your opponent has, you're sure to wrack up the Knock Outs with this deck.

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