Searching Standard: Rayquaza VMAX

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 Rayquaza VMAX CRZ 101, a Pokemon capable of Knocking Out any opposing Pokemon in one attack. Let's get started by taking a look at the deck list.

When you attack with Rayquaza VMAX CRZ 101's Max Burst attack, you'll deal 20 base damage, plus an additional 80 damage for each basic Fire or Lightning Energy you discard from Rayquaza VMAX CRZ 101. This allows you to Knock Out any opposing Pokemon with ease. You'll just need a way to accelerate the amount of Energy you can attach each turn, which we'll see below. Rayquaza V CRZ 100 has a similar attack, Spiral Burst, but you are limited on the amount of Energy you can discard for extra damage. Rayquaza VMAX CRZ 101 also has the Azure Pulse Ability, which allows you to discard your hand once per turn to draw three cards.

Radiant Eternatus CRZ 105 has the Climactic Gate Ability, which allows you to search your deck for up to two Pokemon VMAX to put onto your Bench when you play Radiant Eternatus CRZ 105 to your Bench during your turn. This can allow you to have all of your Rayquaza VMAX CRZ 101 and Rayquaza V CRZ 100 in play at the same time, or it can allow you to find a terrific alternate attacker, as seen below.

Both Zeraora VIV 61 and Flying Pikachu VMAX CEL 7 are secondary attackers for this deck. Zeraora VIV 61 is best suited for attacking an opponent's Pokemon V, as its Fighting Lightning attack will deal 110 damage instead of just 30 damage. Flying Pikachu VMAX CEL 7 excels when facing a Basic pokemon, as its Max Balloon attack will prevent it from taking any damage from an opponent's Basic Pokemon on the following turn. Remember that Flying Pikachu VMAX CEL 7 can be searched for with Radiant Eternatus CRZ 105's Climactic Gate Ability, and it can't otherwise be played.

In order to power up Rayquaza VMAX CRZ 101 and Rayquaza V CRZ 100, you can use Arceus VSTAR BRS 123's Trinity Nova attack, which will deal 200 damage to your opponent's Active Pokemon and allow you to search your deck for up to three basic Energy cards to attach to your Pokemon V in any way you would like. In a similar manner, Arceus V BRS 122 has the Trinity Charge attack which also finds three basic Energy you can attach to your Pokemon V, but this attack deals no damage. And don't forget to use Arceus VSTAR BRS 123's Starbirth Ability VSTAR Power at some point during the game to search your deck for any two cards to put into your hand. This is the only VSTAR Power you have, and it is extremely powerful.

An additional way to power up Rayquaza VMAX CRZ 101 and Rayquaza V CRZ 100 is with the help of Flaaffy EVS 55's Dynamotor Ability. This allows you to attach a Lightning Energy from your discard pile to one of your Benched Pokemon, once per turn.

When you play Rose DAA 168, you'll be able to attach up to two basic Energy cards from your discard pile to one of your Pokemon VMAX, but doing this will cause you to discard your hand. This is a great way to reuse Fire Energy, as Lightning Energy can be reused with Flaaffy EVS 55's Dynamotor Ability.

This batch of Trainer cards help you find the Pokemon you need from within your deck. Quick Ball FST 237 can only be used to find a Basic Pokemon, while Ultra Ball CRZ 146 can find any Pokemon. Stormy Mountains EVS 161 can only find Basic Lightning Pokemon or Basic Dragon Pokemon, and both players can benefit from this effect. Keep that in mind, as you might not want this Stadium in play if it helps your opponent.

Since Flaaffy EVS 55's Dynamotor Ability can only attach Energy to one of your Benched Pokemon, it's important for your team to be mobile. By using Switch CRZ 144 and Escape Rope BST 125, you'll be able to move an Active Pokemon that has discarded most, if not all, of their Energy to your Bench, while moving a fully powered Pokemon to your Active Spot. Air Balloon SSH 156 fills a similar role, but instead of outright switching the position of two Pokemon, it can allow a Pokemon to retreat for free.

If you're not able to switch your Pokemon around with any of the cards from the previous batch of cards, you can use Scoop Up Net RCL 165 to return your Active Pokemon to your hand, allowing it to be played again onto your Bench. This is also a great way to 'heal' a Pokemon that has damage counters on it.

By playing Boss's Orders BRS 132, you can choose a Pokemon from your opponent's Bench to move to their Active Spot, allowing you to score an easy Knock Out. Serena SIT 164 can do the same if your opponent happens to have a Pokemon V on their Bench that you'd like to make Active. Alternatively, you can use Serena SIT 164 as a way to discard some cards and draw additional cards. That versatility is why she is found in most Standard decks.

Trainers that allow you to draw cards are found in most decks. When you play Professor's Research BRS 147, you'll get to draw seven cards, but you'll first need to discard your current hand. This is a great way to get fresh cards into your hand and basic Energy cards into your discard pile. Marnie CPA 56 can also be a great way to draw new cards, but her primary purpose is to reset your opponent's hand, which might give you an opening and slow down any momentum they have.

The final Trainer cards in this deck are more all-purpose cards. Pal Pad SSH 172 lets you shuffle up to two Supporter cards from your discard pile back into your deck. Doing this allows you to run fewer copies of each Supporter, opening up room in your deck for other useful cards. Big Parasol DAA 157 provides a measure of protection for your Benched Pokemon, preventing any effects from your opponent's attacks from being done to them.

Wrapping Up

Decks like this one utilize the cards in their discard pile very effectively. With numerous ways of reusing those cards, you're able to include a wider variety of Trainers and fewer Energy. That recursion also allows you to continually deal a lot of additional damage with the attacks of Rayquaza VMAX CRZ 101 and Rayquaza V CRZ 100.

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