Pokémon TCG - Expanded Deck Tech: Rayquaza VMax (Dragon Burst)

Today, we'll learn more about Rayquaza VMax, an excellent Pokémon for Expanded, as both its V form and its VMax form deal a lot of damage!

Rayquaza V & Rayquaza VMax: The Main Attackers

Let's start with Rayquaza V EVS 110. Its main attack, Spiral Burst, deals 20 base damage plus 80 extra damage for up to two Basic Fire Energy sv3 230 or two Basic Lightning Energy sv1 257 you discard from it. As such, you can deal, at most, 180 damage with it.

As for its VMax form, Rayquaza VMAX EVS 111, it is similar to Rayquaza above, but Max Burst, its main attack, lets you discard as many Basic Fire Energy sv3 230 or Basic Lightning Energy sv1 257 as you want. If you discard at least 3 energies (Fire or Electric), you'll deal 240 extra damage. In total, you will deal 260 damage.

If you manage to discard 4 Fire energies somehow, you'll deal 320 extra damage. In total, you'll deal 340 damage!

Furthermore, Rayquaza VMAX EVS 111's ability, Azure Pulse, draws three cards if you discard a card from your hand.

Radiant Charizard: The Alternative Attacker

Radiant Charizard CRZ 20 was essentially designed for the late game and end game. Its ability, Excited Heart, discounts the cost of its main attack by 1 colorless energy for each Prize card your opponent has taken.

So, in some cases, its main attack may only cost one Fire energy and still deal 250 damage, which will Knock Out many Pokémon.

Recursive Pokémon: Mew ex

Mew ex's ability, Restart, draws cards.

It is perfect in emergencies. For instance, when you can't draw straight away on the first few turns, or if you're taking too long to set up Rayquaza VMAX EVS 111 and, as a result, can't use Azure Pulse fast enough.

Occasionally, Mew ex sv3pt5 151 can be a decent attacker if you also play Welder UNB 189a with it. As such, you'll be able to attach two Basic Fire Energy sv3 230 to it and use its attack, Genome Hacking.

If you manage to get the three energies you need to use this attack, it can be essential. Particularly against Pokémon that deal a lot of damage but also do something else, such as Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX CEC 156, Arceus VSTAR BRS 123, and Charizard ex sv4pt5 54.

Trainers

Supporters

► Welder UNB 189a is essential, as it lets you attach up to two Basic Fire Energy sv3 230 to your Pokémon and also draw 3 cards if you do. You should use it to attach energies to Rayquaza V and Rayquaza VMax.

► Arven sv3 186 is incredibly useful to get items and tools. In this case, you'll use it to get Battle VIP Pass FST 225 as soon as you can so you can set up your bench. However, you can also use it to get Forest Seal Stone SIT 156 early on. You should equip it on Rayquaza V or Rayquaza VMax, then use its ability to get any card you want from your deck.

► Boss's Orders RCL 154 pulls an enemy Pokémon to the active spot from their bench. If you need to Knock Out a specific Pokémon, it is perfect.

Item

This card is essential for this deck because it lets you look for two basic Pokémon in your deck and put them on your bench. However, you can only use it on your first turn. After that turn, it becomes a "dead card" in your hand.

To solve this issue, that is, if you find other copies of it after turn 1, you can use it as fodder for other cards that force you to discard something to work, such as:

- Fiery Flint DRM 60a, which lets you get 4 Basic Fire Energy sv3 230 from your deck but also forces you to discard two cards in your hand to do it.

- Superior Energy Retrieval sv2 189, which recycles 4 basic energies from your discard pile but also forces you to discard two cards to do it.

- Ultra Ball BRS 150, which lets you get Pokémon from your deck but also forces you to discard two cards to do it.

- Computer Search BCR 137, which is this list's ACE SPEC and lets you get any card from your deck but only if you discard two cards in your hand first.

- Rayquaza VMAX EVS 111's ability, Azure Pulse, also only works if you discard a card from your hand. If you do, you'll draw 3 cards.

Stadium

Tower of Waters BST 138 lets you retreat your Rayquaza V EVS 110 and Rayquaza VMAX EVS 111 for less energies because they're Rapid Strike Pokémon. With this Stadium in play, you'll be able to retreat them for two colorless energies less.

Rayquaza VMax + Emboar

Emboar's ability, Inferno Fandago, lets you move any Basic Fire Energy sv3 230 from your hand to your Pokémon however you like. It is similar to "Rain Dance", a common ability in Water archetypes that you can find in Blastoise BCR 31 or Baxcalibur sv2 60, for instance.

Like so, you'll have the Fire energies for Rayquaza's main attack later on. Then, you'll only have to worry about getting Basic Lightning Energy sv1 257.

If you discard 4 Basic Fire Energy sv3 230, you'll deal 320 damage plus the 20 base damage, which is a total of 340 damage!

Usually, you'd need a lot of energies to retreat it as well, but you can just use Float Stone BKT 137 instead to retreat it for free.

Trainers

Stadium

Giant Hearth UNM 197 will filter the Basic Fire Energy sv3 230 in your deck and add them to your hand, as long as you discard a card first.

In this strategy, you can discard a few cards that become useless in your hand after turn one, such as Battle VIP Pass FST 225, whenever you want to use this Stadium.

After you get the two Basic Fire Energy sv3 230 from your deck, you can use Welder UNB 189a to attach them to your Pokémon and also draw 3 cards. This will be essential in emergencies, as you can use it to attach energies to Rayquaza V / Rayquaza VMax or Mew ex sv3pt5 151, depending on the match.

Rayquaza VMax + Flaffy

Flaaffy's ability, Dynamotor, lets you attach one Basic Lightning Energy sv1 257 from your discard pile to one of your benched Pokémon. Please note that you can use this ability more than once if you put more than one Flaaffy in play at once.

As it is a recursive Pokémon, you must use Float Stone BKT 137 on it to retreat it whenever you like.

Trainers

Stadium

This Stadium lets you get Electric or Dragon Pokémon from your deck at least once per turn.

You should use it to get Mareep LOT 75 and Rayquaza V EVS 110.

Pros

Dragon Pokémon aren't weak to any particular Pokémon type, so this strategy is resilient by nature. It also deals a lot of damage, particularly in the late game. It can Knock Out basically anything in Expanded.

Finally, it is also quite easy to play, as it is more straightforward. Both beginners and veterans find it quite accessible.

Cons

It can fail early on because it relies a lot on good opening hands. The main reason behind this is that it doesn't play explosive resources like Dedenne-GX UNB 57 or Squawkabilly ex sv4pt5 75.

Decks centered around Mewtwo & Mew-GX UNM 71 and Glaceon-EX FCO 20's effect will be a problem because they prevent evolution Pokémon from dealing damage.

Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX CEC 156 with Dragonite V can be challenging.

This list will also struggle against cards like Mimikyu sv2 97 (because it's immune to Pokémon V) or decks that use Avery CRE 130 to sabotage your bench.

Stadiums like Silent Lab PRC 140 or Path to the Peak ASR 213 often disable your abilities. They are this list's worst nightmare.

This deck is strong and aggressive, so it's perfect for anyone who enjoys proactive strategies.

And, because it is so linear (you essentially just need to follow a step-by-step plan to set up your Pokémon and Rayquaza), it is an interesting option for both beginners and veterans.

Finally, it is very versatile, so you can adapt it to your own meta. This is one of the best things about Expanded, but you'll have to know your deck and your local format well to do this properly.

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

Thank you for reading, and see you next time!