Searching Standard: Incineroar 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 Incineroar ex TEF 34, a Pokemon capable of dealing 240 damage while having just a single Energy attached. Let's get started by taking a look at the deck list.

The more Benched Pokemon your opponent has in play, the easier it will be for you to use Incineroar ex TEF 34's Blaze Blast attack. That's thanks to its Hustle Play Ability. With this attack, you'll be able to Knock Out most opposing Pokemon with a single attack. You'll also want to pay attention to Litten SIT 30's Reprisal attack, which you might be able to use during the game to also deal a bunch of damage.

Radiant Charizard PGO 11 is a current Standard all-star, seen in a lot of decks. That's due to having a powerful attack, Combustion Blast, that can potentially be used for a single Energy, due to its Excited Heat Ability. This is a great finishing move to use to take your final Prize cards.

To aid you in drawing extra cards, this deck relies on Bibarel BRS 121's Industrious Incisors Ability, which always ensures you're able to refill your hand to five cards. It's one of the best ways to be able to draw cards, outside of playing a Supporter, currently in Standard.

We've reached the Pokemon that are solely included in this deck for the use of their Abilities. Relicanth TEF 84's Memory Dive Ability allows your evolved Pokemon to use the attacks of their previous Evolutions. Rabsca TEF 24's Spherical Shield Ability protects your Benched Pokemon from taking damage and from any effects of attacks your opponent makes. Neither of these Pokemon will be able to attack, so try to keep them on your Bench where they belong.

When you play Arven SVI 166, you'll be able to search your deck for an Item and a Pokemon Tool to put into your hand. While there are plenty of Items you can choose from, there are only two Pokemon Tools in this deck. Choice Belt BRS 135 offers you additional damage to your opponent's Active Pokemon V. Now that we're moving away from Pokemon V and into the Pokemon ex world, this can be a very situational choice. Alternatively, you can get Technical Machine: Evolution PAR 178, which will offer you an attack you can use to evolve up to two of your Benched Pokemon.

Pairing nicely with Bibarel BRS 121's Industrious Incisors Ability is Ciphermaniac's Codebreaking TEF 145. Search your deck for any two cards to put on top of your deck, then draw them into your hand. Another method of drawing additional cards is with Iono PAL 185. If you're behind on Prize cards, playing Iono PAL 185 can often result in your opponent having fewer cards in hand than they previously did.

To find the Pokemon you need, there are a variety of cards in this deck that you can play. Artazon PAL 171 allows each player to search their deck for a Basic pokemon to put onto their Bench each turn. Playing Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144 lets you find up to two Basic pokemon with 70 HP or less to put onto your Bench. Finally, Ultra Ball PAF 91 can be used to find any Pokemon you need, but comes with the cost of discarding two other cards from your hand.

In addition to finding Pokemon, you might need help getting extra Energy attached to your Pokemon. Magma Basin BRS 144 can help with this by attaching Fire Energy to your Benched Pokemon, at the cost of placing two damage counters on the Pokemon receiving the Energy. Mela PAR 167 allows you to attach a Fire Energy from your discard pile to any of your Pokemon, and then draw cards until you have six cards in hand. The drawback is that you need to have had a Pokemon get Knocked Out on your opponent's previous turn.

Helping you Knock Out your opponent's Pokemon most efficiently is this next batch of cards. Prime Catcher TEF 157 and Boss’s Orders PAL 172 both allow you to choose which of your opponent's Benched Pokemon to move to their Active Spot. The main difference between these two is that you also have to choose a Benched Pokemon to move to your Active Spot with Prime Catcher TEF 157, but you don't with Boss’s Orders PAL 172. Counter Catcher PAR 160 is similar to Boss’s Orders PAL 172, except you need to be behind on taking Prize cards to use it.

One copy of Lost Vacuum LOR 162 is included in this deck as a way to counter a troublesome Stadium or Pokemon Tool your opponent has in play. Rare Candy SVI 191 offers you the means of evolving Litten SIT 30 into Incineroar ex TEF 34 without evolving into Torracat SIT 31 first.

The final Trainers in this deck are generally found in most decks. Super Rod PAL 188 offers you a way to reuse some cards that have gone to your discard pile. Switch SVI 194 offers you mobility for your Pokemon, whether you need to move a powered up attacker to your Active Spot, or whether your opponent Switched your Pokemon and you're not able to retreat them.

Wrapping Up

Incineroar ex TEF 34 is a powerful attacker, capable of winning many matches, even if it is possible for your opponent to play in such a way that they mitigate the use of its Hustle Play Ability. By choosing your targets carefully, you can take multiple Prize cards at a time and defeat your opponent in no time.

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