Standard Deck Tech: Iron Valiant ex + Decidueye ex

The release of the Scarlet & Violet: Paradox Rift set brought more Paradox Pokémon to the game. Now, we can use Iron Valiant ex sv4 89 alongside a Pokémon from the previous set that wasn't used a lot: Decidueye ex sv3 15.

Together, they have synergy with mobility, and swap Pokémon out of their places, optimizing Iron Valiant ex sv4 89's ability.

Decklist

Decidueye ex: Main Attacker and Mobility Support

Decidueye's main focus is its ability, Total Freedom: if this Pokémon is on your bench, you can promote it to the active position. If it is the active Pokémon, you can swap out Decidueye ex from this position to the bench and promote another Pokémon from your bench to the active position.

As a result, your combo will be to build a play line in which, if this Pokémon is in the active position, you'll promote its deck partner, Iron Valiant ex sv4 89 to the active position, and activate its ability, Tachyon Bits, placing 2 damage counters on two Pokémon on the enemy bench. We also have this same process but inverted: next turn, when Iron Valiant ex sv4 89 is set as the active Pokémon, reactivate Decidueye ex sv3 15's ability to retreat it, play Switch CRZ 144, promote it again to the active position (in this case, promote Iron Valiant ex sv4 89) and replay the combos with the counters.

Its attack is also generous: it has a low energy (G) (C) cost, deals 130 damage, and also has the effect of placing 30 damage on a Pokémon on your opponent's bench, as a "sniper" effect.

Iron Valiant ex: The Main Card to Place Damage Counters

Iron Valiant comes in with its ability, Tachyon Bits, which states: if it is promoted from the bench to the active position, it can place two damage counters on one of your opponent's Pokémon.

Hisuian Decidueye: An Attacker for Specific Moments

Its main role is its first attack, which, for no energy cost, deals 30 damage based on the counters stacked on the opponent's active Pokémon. Which means, assuming your opponent has 9 damage counters, Hisuian Decidueye ASR 82 will deal 270 damage.

We use this Pokémon to attack the colorless archetype's weakness, such as Arceus VSTAR CRZ GG70, Slaking V PGO 58, Snorlax LOR TG10 (used in Lugia VSTAR SIT 211 decks) and Snorlax PGO 55.

Recursive Pokémon

Card Draw Pokémon

Mobility and Damage Counter Pokémon

- Radiant Alakazam SIT 59 comes in with its ability, Painful Spoons, which is essential to move the damage counters placed by Iron Valiant ex sv4 89 and for Decidueye ex sv3 15's "sniper" attack effects.

Starting Hands

In this simulation, we start like so:

1) We put Iron Valiant ex sv4 89 as the active Pokémon (because it has more HP and can possibly handle enemy attacks) and place Rowlet sv3 13 on the bench; we also attach the Grass energy on Rowlet sv3 13.

2) On the next turn, we'll evolve Rowlet sv3 13 with Rare Candy PGO 69 into Decidueye ex sv3 15 and activate Decidueye ex sv3 15's ability effect to replace this Pokémon. You'll have the option of using Escape Rope BST 125 to activate Iron Valiant ex sv4 89's ability. After this, play Iono sv2 185.

In this second simulation:

1) Put one of the Rowlet sv3 13 as the active Pokémon and the other Rowlet sv3 13 on the bench, alongside Iron Valiant ex sv4 89.

2) Equip Iron Valiant ex sv4 89 with Future Booster Energy Capsule sv4 164 so that it has zero retreat cost.

Like so, you can use Switch CRZ 144 to swap Rowlet sv3 13 from the active position, promote Iron Valiant ex sv4 89 and activate its ability, like so adding the first 2 damage counters.

Carrying on with our combo, retreat Iron Valiant ex sv4 89 (with Future Booster Energy Capsule sv4 164) and swap it out with Rowlet sv3 13 (which wasn't previously set as the active Pokémon) to use Escape Rope BST 125, replay this dynamic with Iron Valiant ex sv4 89 and place 2 extra damage counters.

In this simulation, our hand is great:

1) Place Bidoof CRZ 111 as the active Pokémon, as it is your only choice.

2) Play, without hesitation, Battle VIP Pass FST 225 and set up the bench with an Iron Valiant ex sv4 89 and a Rowlet sv3 13.

Next, play Artazon sv2 171 to look for another "baby" Pokémon. You'll have two choices:

- Manaphy BRS 41, if your game plan is being threatened by your opponent's "sniper" attacks.

- Rowlet sv3 13, if your game state is reasonably comfortable and safe to add another attacker.

3) On the next turn, you'll play Arven sv3 186 to look for an item and a tool; you'll look for Ultra Ball BRS 150 (by using Escape Rope BST 125 and Professor Turo's Scenario sv4 171) to evolve your Bidoof CRZ 111 to Bibarel BRS 121, and guarantee some "draw power" to your game; and you'll look for Future Booster Energy Capsule sv4 164 to guarantee zero retreat cost for your Iron Valiant ex sv4 89.

Trainer Cards

Supporter to Look for Items and Tools in your Deck

This deck's priority is to evolve Rowlet sv3 13 to Decidueye ex sv3 15 directly with the help of Rare Candy PGO 69.

You'll still be able to look for tools also, such as Future Booster Energy Capsule sv4 164 so that Iron Valiant ex sv4 89 has its retreat guaranteed as well.

Supporter to Pull an Enemy Pokémon

Supporter to Sabotage your Opponent's Hand

Supporter to Retreat a Damaged Pokémon to your Hand

This card is essential to loop Iron Valiant ex sv4 89, in case the mobility item cards aren't accessible, such as Switch CRZ 144 and Escape Rope BST 125. It protects your Pokémon from possible knockouts and places them in play again, creating synergy with Decidueye ex sv3 15 and keeping this deck consistent.

Items to Look for Pokémon

Item to Speed up the Evolution Step

This item is useful precisely to evolve Rowlet sv3 13 into Decidueye ex sv3 15 directly, without having to go through the manual process of Rowlet >> Dartrix >> Decidueye ex.

Item to Recycle Pokémon and Energies

Item to Recycle Supporters

Mobility Items

These cards are essential for Iron Valiant ex sv4 89 to work, to activate its ability and to place damage counters on your opponent, speeding up this Pokémon's mobility.

Tools

- Future Booster Energy Capsule sv4 164 was practically made for Iron Valiant ex sv4 89, guarantees its zero retreat cost, and enables this deck's strategy as well.

Future Booster Energy Capsule sv4 164 is essential to chip away at your opponent's Pokémon that have less HP, if they are stacked full of damage counters. It is also useful if your opponent is using stage 1 or 2 Pokémon with a lot of HP, because, usually, their starter Pokémon, the base Pokémon, don't have a lot of HP, and it will be easy to knock them out.

Stadium

Artazon applies to both players: it allows them, once per turn, to look for any basic Pokémon in their deck that doesn't have a "Rule Box" and place them on the board.

You can look for one Pokémon at a time if you'd like to.

Favorable

- Against Charizard ex sv3 125 decks, due to Decidueye ex sv3 15's weakness.

- Against Pokémon that have low HP; usually Lost Box decks that only use "baby" Pokémon, such as the classic Sableye LOR 70, Ditto CRZ 107, Zamazenta CRZ 97 and Kyogre CEL 3, considering that, if the game has a lot of damage counters in play, it is easy to guarantee some easy knockouts.

Unfavorable

- Roaring Moon ex sv4 124 decks, because of their "instant K.O." effect.

- Control decks, such as Alakazam ex PR-SV 50, if your opponent locks you down with Mimikyu sv2 97.

- Control decks with Tsareena ex sv4 46 and Panic Mask LOR 165.

- Stall control decks with Snorlax PGO 55.

- Decks that use Path to the Peak CRE 148, because it locks down Iron Valiant ex sv4 89 and Decidueye ex sv3 15's abilities.

- Decks that use Jirachi sv4 126 and Manaphy BRS 41 as defensive tools.

It is a very simple deck to play and understand when it comes to its mobility, which explores Decidueye ex's "sniper" damage conditions and "spread" damage thanks to Iron Valiant ex.

It is a good way to have fun for those who want to use this type of strategy in Standard, and it even uses cheap Pokémon in their usual versions!

See you next time!