Pokémon TCG: Standard Deck Tech - Kingdra (Upgraded with Destined Rivals!)

Destined Rivals, the new Pokémon TCG set, was released last May. With the new cards from this set, we'll be able to bring a few old cards back to Standard.

In this article, we'll explore Paradox Rift Kingdra!

Decklist

Structure

Kingdra sv4 32

Its main attack, Whirltide, lets you look at the top 6 cards in your deck. Then, you get to deal damage to any enemy Pokémon (active or on the bench) based on how many Basic Water Energy sv2 279 you find among these six cards.

However, then you'll have to discard all the Basic Water Energy sv2 279 you find this way. The other cards you found will return to your deck, that is, this card recycles Trainers and Pokémon!

Until now, we didn't have efficient ways to recycle Water energies in this format and make this deck consistent, but that changed when Energy Recycler DRI 164 came along. It solved this issue and made Kingdra extremely efficient!

In the best-case scenario, you will deal up to 360 damage with it, that is, if you manage to find 6 energies on the top of your deck!

Recursive Pokémon

Budew: Sabotaging Your Opponent

Its free attack prevents your opponent from using items, so it sabotages enemy strategies that rely on a handful of key cards to set up, like Buddy-Buddy Poffin, Nest Ball sv1 181, and Ultra Ball sv4pt5 91.

Shaymin: The Bench Protector

Its ability protects your benched Pokémon without Rule Boxes from enemy "sniper" attacks, so it protects your Horsea and its entire evolution line.

However, please note it doesn't protect them from "damage counters" ("spread" damage). Pokémon like Dragapult ex PRE 73 can deal damage to your Pokémon even with Shaymin in play.

Revavroom: Single Prize Card Draw Pokémon

Its ability lets you draw until you have 6 cards in hand, as long as you discard an energy from your hand.

With Energy Recycler DRI 164, this won't be an issue because, as your deck gets smaller and you shuffle energies back into it, Kingdra's main attack will get even better. After all, it lets you look at the top 6 cards in your deck, filter them, and deal damage according to how many energies you find there.

More Card Draw

This Pokémon's ability lets you draw 3 cards whenever your opponent Knocks Out one of your Pokémon.

Trainers

Supporter to Filter/Draw Items and Tools

This card is essential early on, as you'll use it to get Buddy-Buddy Poffin and Technical Machine: Evolution sv4 178. After that, you'll use Poffin to put 2 Pokémon with 70 HP or less on your bench and use the tool to evolve them as fast as possible. This is how you'll be able to efficiently evolve Horsea in the blink of an eye.

Furthermore, Arven sv3 186 also draws your ACE SPEC, Precious Trolley SSP 185.

Supporter to Draw Two Pokémon Evolutions

Items to Draw Pokémon

Item to Evolve Pokémon Fast

This card lets you evolve Horsea into Kingdra directly, and basically skip the standard evolution line (Horsea >> Seadra >> Kingdra).

Items to Recycle Pokémon, Energies, and Supporters

Super Rod sv2 188 lets you draw a combination of 3 cards, either basic energies or Pokémon (basic or evolution) from your deck.

Pal Pad sv1 182 recycles two Supporters from your discard pile and shuffles them back into your deck.

Sacred Ash DRI 168 recycles 5 Pokémon from your discard pile and shuffles them back into your deck.

Energy Recycler DRI 164 recycles 5 Basic Water Energy sv2 279 from your discard pile and shuffles them back into your deck.

Tools

Stadium

ACE SPEC

This ACE SPEC lets you look for 5 basic Pokémon in your deck and put them on your bench, which is incredible. You can even use it on turn 1!

Favorable

As this deck can Knock Out any Pokémon in the format with a single strike (that is, if you find 6 energies in the top of your deck and deal 360 damage), it is great against Pokémon like Charizard ex sv4pt5 54, Dragapult ex TWM 130, Cynthia's Garchomp ex DRI 104, and Marnie's Grimmsnarl ex DRI 136.

Unfavorable

This deck relies a lot on a single evolution line, and, even with Rare Candy PGO 69 and Technical Machine: Evolution sv4 178 as support, you'll need a great opener on turn 1 to progress your game plan.

Pokémon that deal "spread" damage will have an advantage over it.

Decks that use Iron Hands ex PRE 31 are a big issue because of its attack, Amp You Very Much. Besides drawing extra Prize cards for them, this Pokémon also deals twice as much damage because of the weakness buff, so it is even more efficient against this list.

Most of the cards in this list are quite cheap (Fezandipiti ex is the only exception) and it is quite consistent in terms of damage. It vaguely reminds me of Sun & Moon: Team Up's Gyarados, but Kingdra actually recycles all your cards, so it is quite efficient.

What did you think of it? Tell us your thoughts in our comment section below.

Thank you for reading, and see you next time!