Searching Standard: Sableye Lost Zone

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. Last week, I started a month-long look at some decks featuring spooky Ghost Type Pokemon. Today, I'm looking at a deck that was recently featured on the YouTube channel of tablemon. It features Sableye LOR 70 and relies on getting cards into the Lost Zone in order to deal a scary amount of damage. Let's get started by taking a look at the deck list.

Sableye LOR 70 is the main attacker in this deck, but you won't generally be attacking with it until there are 10 or more cards in the Lost Zone. Scratch generally isn't worth using as an attack, because you'll only do a meager 20 damage and will set yourself up to be Knocked Out. Instead, be patient and only attack with Sableye LOR 70 when you're able to use its Lost Mine attack. this will allow you to put 12 damage counters on your opponent's Pokemon in any way you'd like. This makes it possible for you to get multiple Knock Outs at once.

Both Cramorant LOR 50 and Radiant Charizard PGO 11 are the alternative attackers in this deck. Cramorant LOR 50 can use its Spit Innocently attack for free once there are four or more cards in the Lost Zone. Radiant Charizard PGO 11 has the potential to attack with Combustion Blast attack for a single Fire Energy, but only if your opponent has been taking their Prize cards. That's because Radiant Charizard PGO 11's Excited Heat Ability will reduce the attack cost of Combustion Blast by one Energy for each Prize card your opponent has taken. Falling behind a little bit can allow you to attack for 250 damage, making the risk worth the reward.

Even though Comfey LOR 79 can technically attack for 30 damage with its Spinning Attack attack, you generally won't want to do this. Instead, focus on using its Flower Selecting Ability, which allows you to put one card from the top of your deck into your hand and another into the Lost Zone. Attaching a copy of Air Balloon SSH 156 allows you to use this Ability and then Retreat for free, giving you the opportunity to do it all again on a future turn.

Playing Galarian Zigzagoon SSH 117 to your Bench is a great way to get some damage onto one of your opponent's Pokemon. Its Headbutt Tantrum Ability will put one damage counter on any of your opponent's Pokemon in play. You can then use Scoop Up Net RCL 165 to return Galarian Zigzagoon SSH 117 to your hand and do it all again. Manaphy BRS 41 acts as protection for all of your Benched Pokemon, keeping them safe from damage with its Wave Veil Ability.

This pair of Trainer cards help you get additional cards into the Lost Zone. By playing a Lost Vacuum LOR 162, you'll need to put one card from your hand into the Lost Zone. Then, you'll choose either a Pokemon Tool or Stadium in play and put that card into the Lost Zone. Getting two cards into the Lost Zone at once really helps speed things along for this deck. Similarly, Colress's Experiment LOR 155 will also put two cards into the Lost Zone, but it will also put three cards into your hand. That will allow you to find specific things you need more quickly.

PokéStop PGO 68 allows you to burn through your deck more quickly to find what you need. This deck does have a fair amount of Item cards, so using PokéStop PGO 68 during your turn could be quite helpful. If you happen to put a Pokemon, Energy card, or Supporter into your discard pile that you would like to still use, you can play either Klara CRE 145 or Pal Pad SSH 172 to help.

Both Battle VIP Pass FST 225 and Fog Crystal CRE 140 can get this deck up and running very quickly. Battle VIP Pass FST 225 can only be used during your first turn, but it allows you to search for up to two Basic Pokemon to put onto your Bench. Fog Crystal CRE 140 also allows you to search your deck, but it can only be used to find a Basic Psychic Type Pokemon or a Psychic Energy card to put into your hand. Both of these cards allow you to get the jump on your opponent, just in slightly different ways.

Marnie SSH 169 and Roxanne ASR 150 have some similarities. Both allow you to shuffle your hand back into your deck and draw a new hand of cards. They also force your opponent to shuffle their hand back into their deck as well. Both also mess with your opponent's future plans. Their differences, though, are pretty substantial. Marnie SSH 169 can be played at any time, while Roxanne ASR 150 can only be played if your opponent has three or fewer Prize cards remaining. Roxanne ASR 150 also rewards you with far more cards than your opponent gets to draw, while the size difference of your new hands isn't as great with Marnie SSH 169.

Being able to search for specific cards is crucial. Pokégear 3.0 SSH 174 allows you to search through the top seven cards of your deck for any Supporter to put into your hand, shuffling afterwards. Level Ball BST 129 allows you to search your deck for any Pokemon that has 90 or fewer HP. This can be a great way to find a copy of Sableye LOR 70 if you need one.

This next batch of Trainer cards are all helpful when attacking. Switch Cart ASR 154 allows you to exchange a Benched Pokemon for your Active Pokemon, healing the Pokemon going to your Bench of 30 damage. Boss's Orders RCL 154 can be used to switch your opponent's Active Pokemon with a Pokemon of your choice from their Bench. Finally, Escape Rope BST 125 forces each player to swap their Active pokemon with one from their Bench, with your opponent choosing first. All of these cards will help you get Knock Outs easier.

The final card in this deck is Echoing Horn CRE 136. You can use this Item to put a Basic Pokemon from your opponent's discard pile onto their Bench. This can be a great way to Knock Out a Pokemon with low HP, getting an easy Prize card in the process.

Wrapping Up

Playing a deck that is dependent on having a certain amount of cards in the Lost Zone takes some patience, but if you're up for the challenge, give this deck a try. It looks like it would be a lot of fun to play.

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