Standard Deck Tech: Kingdra -Paradox Rift-

The release of the Scarlet & Violet: Paradox Rift set brought several "rogue" Pokémon options. These decks usually don't center around the meta, but are still quite interesting, and this one is extremely strong and cheap.

Today, we'll be talking about Kingdra sv4 32, which has a mechanic which is "similar" to its predecessor, Gyarados TEU 30 (from the Sun/Moon: Team Up era). In this case, Kingdra discards all Water energies by discarding the top cards in your deck through its effect, without recycling them. Gyrarados, however, when attacking and discarding the top cards in your deck, would return the Water energies discarded into your deck.

Decklist

Kingdra: The Main Attacker and its Goal

This deck's premise is quite simple: to use this Pokémon's first attack, for the cost of only one Water energy, and, by doing so, choose an opponent Pokémon (active or benched) to attack.

Then, you'll discard the top 6 cards in your deck, and the damage you'll deal will be based on the number of energies that are discarded through this effect. Each energy is equivalent to 60 damage (in the best-case scenario, you'll deal 360 damage if you discard 6 energies). Finally, any card that isn't an energy will be returned to your deck - unlike the energies, which will go to the discard pile.

"How will I recover the energies I spent when attacking?". Here's the answer: Energy Recycler BST 124, which I'll explain more thoroughly when we discuss Trainer cards.

Horsea and Seadra: A Few Thoughts

I'll leave here a brief consideration on why I chose the Horsea BST 31 and Seadra LOR 36 lines. I chose them because of their first attacks, which give them immunity against enemy attacks if your opponents fail the coin flip required to attack your Pokémon (it's worth stressing that the cost of these attacks is only one energy). This will delay your opponents when it's time for them to try and knock out your Pokémon, and you'll gain time to evolve Kingdra sv4 32.

You can also opt for Seadra sv3pt5 117, but considering its attack cost (three (W)(C)(C) energies), it's honestly not worth it, even though it's still worth a mention.

Recursive Pokémon

Card Draw Pokémon

Pokémon to Act as a "Boss's Orders"

Iron Bundle comes in with its Hyper Blower ability, which will force your opponent to promote a Pokémon on their bench to the active position, and, after that, you'll discard this Pokémon (Iron Bundle).

Pokémon to Protect the Bench against Sniper and Spread Damage

Whereas Jirachi sv4 126 protects your basic Pokémon from getting hit with damage counters (that is, protecting your Horsea BST 31 against Sableye LOR 70 attacks), Manaphy BRS 41 comes in to protect them from enemy "sniper" attacks, such as Radiant Greninja ASR 46, Kyogre CEL 3, Kyogre CRZ 36, Moltres sv3pt5 146, Heatmor FST 41, and Jolteon VMAX EVS 51.

Starting Hands

In this simulation, our starting hand is quite generous:

1) Place Horsea BST 31 as the active Pokémon, and Bidoof CRZ 111 and Iron Bundle sv4 56 on the bench.

2) Play Battle VIP Pass FST 225 and look for Radiant Greninja ASR 46 (to filter your deck, considering you have two Water energies in your hand, and one of them will be used to use its ability to draw two cards) and the second Pokémon you'll look for will be according to the game state:

- If your opponent has any "sniper" attacker, look for Manaphy BRS 41.

- If you feel safe, you can look for the second Horsea BST 31.

3) On the next turn, use Irida ASR 147, already looking for Rare Candy PGO 69 and Kingdra sv4 32, and play out an explosive attack.

In this other simulation, the situation is also quite favorable:

1) Place Horsea BST 31 as the active Pokémon, and Bidoof CRZ 111 on the bench.

2) Play the two Battle VIP Pass FST 225 and look for Radiant Greninja ASR 46, Manaphy BRS 41 (to give you some safeguards for the game), and two Horsea BST 31.

Trainer Cards

Supporter to Look for Water Pokémon and Items

Irida is the heart of this deck, and speeds up Horsea's evolution line to Kingdra, cheating out their natural evolution rule just so you can use Rare Candy PGO 69, which is another bonus this Supporter card brings.

Supporter to Draw more Cards and Renew the Cards in Your Hand

It is useful to help fix your hand, in case the cards you have aren't helping you set up the game dynamically or if they are too expensive and slow.

Pokégear 3.0 sv1 186 increases the odds of this card appearing to you by looking at the top 7 cards in your deck.

Supporter with the "Catcher" Role against the Enemy Pokémon

Items to Look for Pokémon

Item to Filter your Top Deck and Have "Draw Power"

Item to Speed up Horsea's Evolution to Kingdra

Items to Recycle Pokémon and Energies

- Your Super Rod sv2 188 are vital to recycle the Horsea, Seadra and Kingdra line, because even if, by any chance, they are discarded through Kingdra sv4 32's attack, they'll be able to return to your deck, as described in the Whirltide attack effect.

At some point, they'll be knocked out by your opponent, and it is important you always keep them in your deck, because, as soon as you have a Kingdra sv4 32 in play and a Horsea BST 31 to evolve on the next turn, it is ideal to keep this flow going.

- As I promised when I discussed Kingdra sv4 32 in depth, I'll explain its attack, Whirltide. Energy Recycler BST 124 is essential to recycle Water energies and constantly deal damage with this Pokémon, and, as the game moves on to late game and endgame, you'll filter more precisely. With your Energy Recycler BST 124, you'll be able to filter these energies more consistently - and you'll be able to, in the best-case scenario, deal 360 damage by hitting the top 6 cards in your deck!

Item with the "Catcher" Role against your Opponent

Favorable

- Fire archetype decks.

- Decks that start slower and use stage 2 Pokémon ex, such as Charizard ex sv3 125 and Gardevoir ex sv1 86.

Disadvantages

- Electric archetype decks.

- "Instant K.O." decks, such as Giratina VSTAR CRZ GG69 and Roaring Moon ex sv4 229.

- Lost Box decks using "single prize" attackers.

- Gholdengo ex sv4 139 decks, such as this one.

- Garchomp ex sv4 38 decks, because they can deal damage in multiple ways and heal fast by using Cheryl BST 123. Check out more details about this deck by clicking here.

- Electric archetype decks such as Iron Hands ex sv4 70, due to its second attack, which draws extra Prize Cards for each knockout, like so speeding up the Prize Cards race.

- Iron Valiant ex sv4 89 decks if your opponent can play their combo and use their ability to place damage counters on Pokémon. It is possible to play the mobility combo with these Pokémon to place as much damage counters as possible and knockout opponents as fast as possible on the first few turns.

It is a strong deck that is very practical to build for anyone who wants to start buying cheaper cards from the Paradox Rift set and start playing this TCG.

It is very satisfying to use a Pokémon by spending only one simple Water energy and be able to deal massive damage, up to 360 points in the best-case scenario, knocking out most Pokémon in the current format.

See you next time!