Pokémon TCG: Expanded Deck Tech - Hydreigon Box (Dark Box)

Since Hydreigon ex SSP 119 came out in Surging Sparks and Hydreigon ex WHT 67 came out in the Black Bolt & White Flare special set, we have been asking ourselves, "Can we build a Hydreigon-themed deck for Expanded?"

And that's what today's article is all about! The list we'll explore today "disrupts" the opponent in many ways, like forcing them to discard the top cards in their deck and Knocking Out multiple enemy Pokémon at once and drawing multiple Prize cards. Of course, these powerful Hydreigon get a lot of support from the forgotten Sword & Shield Hydreigon DAA 110.

Decklist

Deck Structure

Hydreigon ex

First, there's Terastal Hydreigon ex SSP 119. Its first attack, Crashing Headbutt, forces the opponent to discard the top 3 cards in their deck. In TCGs, we call that a "mill effect". It essentially sabotages the opponent.

In turn, Hydreigon ex WHT 67 gives you an extra Prize card for each basic Pokémon you Knock Out with its attack because of its ability, Greedy Eater. Furthermore, its attack prevents the opponent from retreating their active Pokémon on the next turn.

Recursive Pokémon

Hydreigon: The Heart of the Deck

This Pokémon is at the very center of this entire strategy. Its ability, Dark Squall, lets you attach the Basic Darkness Energy SFA 98 in your hand to your Pokémon however you like. You'll mostly attach them to Hydreigon ex WHT 67 so you can use its attack (which is also one of the more expensive attacks in this list), but, obviously, you can also attach them to the other attackers in this list!

Pokémon ex and Pokémon V

► Fezandipiti ex SFA 38's ability, Flip the Script, draws up to three cards if one of your Pokémon was Knocked Out by the opponent. It's an essential card draw tool in this list.

Its attack only costs 3 colorless energies, so you can use Hydreigon DAA 110 to get them. As such, you can also use it as an attacker in a pinch.

► Crobat V PR-SW SWSH110's ability, Dark Asset, draws up to 6 cards, so it's another card draw tool.

Trainers

Supporter to Draw Items and Tools

Arven sv3 186 is your main way to set up your strategy. You'll essentially use it to draw Battle VIP Pass FST 225 and set up your bench.

Then there's the second part of its effect, which draws any tool.

You can use it to draw Float Stone BKT 137 and retreat your Pokémon for free, particularly Hydreigon DAA 110.

Or, you can get Spirit Mask EVS 160 to sabotage your opponent by forcing them to discard a card from their hand.

Forest Seal Stone SIT 156 will be perfect on Crobat V PR-SW SWSH110.

Technical Machine: Evolution sv4 178 evolves your Benched Pokémon.

Supporter to Set Up Your Strategy

Supporter to "Pull" Enemy Pokémon

Items to Get Pokémon

Item to Evolve Pokémon

This item is essential, as it lets you skip Deino's evolution line straight to Hydreigon.

Item to Get Supporters

Item to Get Basic Energies

Items to Recycle Cards

Ordinary Rod SSH 171 recycles Pokémon and basic energies from the discard pile and shuffles them back into your deck. You can get up to 2 Pokémon and/or 2 basic energies with it.

VS Seeker PHF 109 recycles a Supporter from the discard pile and adds it to your hand. Pick whatever's best for you at the time, and I'm sure it will be very useful.

Superior Energy Retrieval PLF 103 recycles 4 basic energies from the discard pile and adds them to your hand, but only if you discard 2 cards first.

Tools

Technical Machine: Evolution sv4 178 evolves two Pokémon on your bench.

Spirit Mask EVS 160 is incredible with Hydreigon ex SSP 119. It forces the opponent to discard cards from their hand whenever the Pokémon it is attached to takes damage.

Float Stone BKT 137 lets you retreat a Pokémon for free, so it's perfect with Hydreigon DAA 110.

You should only equip Forest Seal Stone SIT 156 on Crobat V PR-SW SWSH110. You can use its "VStar power" to get any card from your deck.

Stadium

Black Market ◇ TEU 134 forces your opponent to take one less Prize card when they Knock Out your Darkness Pokémon.

ACE SPEC

This card lets you discard 3 cards from your hand to get 1 Supporter, 1 Stadium, 1 Item, and 1 Tool from your deck, so it makes this strategy a lot more consistent. You should use it to discard any dead Battle VIP Pass FST 225 in your hand.

Pros

Psychic Pokémon are vulnerable to Darkness Pokémon, so this list will be great against them.

It leans on "mill" effects (Hydreigon ex SSP 119) and "disruptive" effects (Spirit Mask EVS 160).

It also draws extra Prize cards with Hydreigon ex WHT 67 when you Knock Out basic enemy Pokémon with it.

Finally, it has no issue getting the Darkness energies it needs because of Hydreigon DAA 110. Its mid-game and late-game are excellent.

Cons

It relies too much on recursive Pokémon like Fezandipiti ex SFA 38 and Crobat V PR-SW SWSH110.

It doesn't evolve Deino as fast as it should.

Decks like Iron Hands ex PRE 31, Dragapult ex PRE 73, and Greninja VUnion will be an issue against this strategy, depending on specific setups and strategies.

Explosive decks, like Gyarados TEU 30 and Kingdra sv4 32, will also be an issue.

"Anti Pokémon ex" decks, like Mimikyu sv2 97, will be hard matchups.

It also struggles against Mewtwo & Mew-GX UNM 71 when they use Glaceon-EX FCO 20's second attack, which prevents evolution Pokémon from dealing damage.

Decks that limit how many bench slots you have, like Glimmora ex sv3 123, are also difficult matchups.

Finally, decks that use Avery CRE 130 to sabotage your setup, that is, "control matchups", are tough.

This is an interesting deck for Hydreigon fans. It plays some nice control tools and has potential in Expanded as a competitive list. You can also use Team Rocket's Handiwork FCO 112 in it, as it also forces the opponent to discard the top cards in their deck!

What do you think? Tell us your thoughts in our comment section below.

Thank you for reading, and see you next time!