Searching Standard: Glaceon VMAX Sniping Deck

Hello and welcome to 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 FlexDaddy. It features Glaceon VMAX EVS 41, who has the potential to take no damage from your opponent's attacks. Let's get started by taking a look at the deck list.

Thanks to the Crystal Veil Ability of Glaceon VMAX EVS 41, you'll be able to prevent all of the damage Glaceon VMAX EVS 41 will take from your opponent's Pokemon VMAX, except from your opponent's Glaceon VMAX EVS 41. With so many Pokemon VMAX being played in our current Standard environment, this Ability has the potential to be huge. Glaceon VMAX EVS 41 also has the Max Icicle attack, which will deal 150 damage to your opponent's Active Pokemon and an additional 30 damage to one of their Benched Pokemon. This additional damage can help make Knocking Out an opposing Pokemon V easier.

Inteleon CRE 43's Quick Shooting Ability allows you to put two damage counters on one of your opponent's Pokemon. By combining this damage with the additional damage from Glaceon VMAX EVS 41's Max Icicle attack, you'll have an easier time Knocking Out opposing Pokemon VMAX. You might also be able to Knock Out an opponent's Basic Pokemon while it sits on your opponent's Bench.

This deck also has a single copy of Inteleon SSH 58. Both Inteleon SSH 58 and Drizzile SSH 56 have Shady Dealings Abilities that allow you to search your deck for Trainer cards when you evolve into these Pokemon. As you'll see below, there are a lot of great Trainer cards in this deck that will be very beneficial.

Crobat V DAA 104 serves only one purpose in this deck. With its Dark Asset Ability, you'll be able to refill your hand to six cards when you play Crobat V DAA 104 onto your Bench. After that, though, you'll want to keep it on your Bench, since it will never be able to attack.

This first batch of Trainer cards all help you find the Pokemon you need. Quick Ball FST 237 can search your deck for any Basic Pokemon, while Evolution Incense SSH 163 can only search for an Evolution Pokemon. Level Ball BST 129 can only find a Pokemon with 90 HP or less, so it's perfect to help find either Sobble CRE 41 or Drizzile SSH 56. By keeping the limitations of each of these cards in mind, you can use each of them most effectively to find whatever Pokemon you might need.

Both Capacious Bucket RCL 156 and Melony CRE 146 can help you accelerate the amount of Energy you have attached to your Pokemon. This will allow you to attack with more powerful attacks earlier than your opponent. Capacious Bucket RCL 156 allows you to search your deck for a pair of Water Energy to add to your hand. This helps ensure that you don't miss an opportunity to attach an Energy card to one of your Pokemon each turn. Melony CRE 146 offers you the chance to attach a Water Energy card from your discard pile to Glaceon V EVS 40 or Glaceon VMAX EVS 41. She also offers you the ability to draw three cards, which helps you dig through your deck faster.

This deck includes a complete playset of Galar Mine RCL 160. This Stadium will help you counter an opponent's Path to the Peak CRE 148, which would be very detrimental if it were allowed to remain in play unchecked. Most often you'll want to hold onto your copies of Galar Mine RCL 160 until you need to remove a Stadium your opponent has played, however it can be played as a means of locking your opponent's Active Pokemon in place.

By drawing additional cards, you can cycle through your deck in search of the pieces you need to gain an advantage over your opponent. Both Professor's Research CEL 23 and Marnie CPA 56 offer you the ability of drawing additional cards. Professor's Research CEL 23 requires you to discard your hand before drawing a new hand of seven cards, so it's a great way to get certain cards into your discard pile. Marnie CPA 56 shuffles your hand back into your deck, while doing the same to your opponent's hand. Then, a new hand will be drawn. With a bit of luck, your new hand will be bigger than the hand you shuffled in, while your opponent's will be smaller. This will also be a great way of slowing down your opponent's momentum, as they might shuffle cards back into their deck that they were counting on playing on future turns.

This final group of Trainer cards offer a bit of certainty for this deck. Boss's Orders SHF 58 allows you to move one of your opponent's Benched Pokemon to their Active Spot, allowing you to attack the Pokemon of your choice. Scoop Up Net RCL 165 returns one of your Pokemon to your hand, giving you another chance to use an Ability that happens when that Pokemon comes into play. It can also be used to save a Pokemon that's sure to be Knocked Out on your opponent's turn. Snow Leaf Badge EVS 159 allows your Glaceon V EVS 40 and Glaceon VMAX EVS 41 to retreat for free and removes their Weakness to Metal Type Pokemon. That can allow Glaceon V EVS 40 and Glaceon VMAX EVS 41 to remain in the game longer than usual, giving you an edge.

Wrapping Up

Against most decks that rely on Pokemon VMAX, you'll have a clear-cut advantage. While Glaceon VMAX EVS 41's Crystal Veil Ability has no effect against non-Pokemon VMAX, you'll still be able to deal enough damage to earn a victory against those decks. This deck looks to be a lot of fun to play, and I'm excited to try it out on PTCGO (Pokemon Online).

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