Pokémon TCG: Expanded Deck Tech - Toxtricity VMax (Poison Box)

In this article, we'll bring back a few forgotten Pokémon for this Expanded list, which uses a Poison strategy with Toxtricity VMAX RCL 71 to win. Its main attack deals more damage if the enemy Pokémon is Poisoned, and is at the center of the entire strategy.

To make it even more powerful, we added some support cards from Sword & Shield and Scarlet & Violet.

That being said, let's see how it works!

Decklist

Deck Structure

Toxtricity V & Toxtricity VMax: The Main Stars

Toxtricity V's main attack, Electric Riot, deals 90 extra damage if the enemy Pokémon is Poisoned. In total, it'll deal 180 damage if that's the case.

As for Toxtricity VMax, it is pretty similar, but it deals even more damage. Instead of 160, it deals 240 damage if the enemy Pokémon is Poisoned.

Recursive Pokémon

Boltund V: The "Early Game" Star

Boltund V RCL 67 is essential early on as an engine. Its attack, Electrify, lets you look for 2 Basic Lightning Energy sv1 257 in your deck and attach them to your Benched Pokémon. This way, you'll be able to attack with Toxtricity in no time.

Support Pokémon for the Poison Strategy

Brute Bonnet sv4 123 is essential, as its ability, Toxic Powder, Poisons enemy Pokémon, but only if you equip Ancient Booster Energy Capsule TEF 140 to it beforehand. It also Poisons your active Pokémon at the same time. Nonetheless, it is still a great way to deal more damage with Toxtricity VMAX RCL 71.

If you equip Binding Mochi SFA 55 to Toxtricity VMAX RCL 71 as well, you'll deal 160 + 80 (base damage) + 40 extra damage, which adds up to 280 total damage. Mind you, your Poison counters will also deal damage in between each turn.

As for Radiant Hisuian Sneasler LOR 123's ability, Poison Peak, it puts 2 more Poison counters on Poisoned Pokémon each turn.

Together, Radiant Hisuian Sneasler LOR 123, Brute Bonnet sv4 123, and Virbank City Gym PLS 126 deal a considerable amount of damage. They often deal over 300 damage over the course of a single turn.

Other Recursive Pokémon

You'll use Flaaffy EVS 55's ability, Dynamotor, to attach one Basic Lightning Energy sv1 257 from your discard pile to one of your Benched Pokémon. The best Pokémon to set up this way is Toxtricity itself.

Tapu Koko ◇ TEU 51's ability, Dance of the Ancients, recycles up to 2 Basic Lightning Energy sv1 257 from the discard pile. It lets you attach them to two different Benched Pokémon if you send Tapu Koko to the Lost Zone.

Dedenne-GX UNB 57's ability, Dedechange, renews your hand. With it, you can discard your entire hand and draw 6 new cards.

Trainers

Supporter to Get Resources

You will use this Supporter to get a Stadium from your deck and, if you also discard two cards from your hand, get 1 Tool and 1 special energy. If you need a quick change of plans, it's quite efficient.

Supporter to Sabotage Your Opponent's Hand and Renew Yours

This Supporter is perfect if your opponent has too many cards.

Supporters to Swap Pokémon

These cards are great ways to reposition Pokémon on your board or your opponent's.

Items to Get Pokémon

Item to "Poison" Enemy Pokémon

This Item "Poisons" enemy Pokémon, and, if you get "heads" with it, it also makes them fall "Asleep". After you play this, your opponent will barely be able to react, as they won't be able to stop your attacks if their Pokémon can't wake up.

Items to Recycle Cards

Ordinary Rod SSH 171 recycles Pokémon and basic energies from your discard pile. It shuffles them back into your deck.

Pal Pad SSH 172 recycles up to 2 Supporters from your discard pile and shuffles them back into your deck.

Eco Arm AOR 71 recycles 3 Tools from your discard pile and shuffles them back into your deck. It makes this strategy quite consistent.

Tools

Technical Machine: Evolution sv4 178 evolves Pokémon on your board and is a very fast way to set up the entire strategy.

Binding Mochi SFA 55 makes your active Pokémon deal 40 extra damage if it is Poisoned and is part of the main combo with Toxtricity VMAX RCL 71.

Ancient Booster Energy Capsule TEF 140 enables Brute Bonnet sv4 123's Toxic Powder ability.

Float Stone BKT 137 lets you retreat the Pokémon it is attached to for free.

Forest Seal Stone SIT 156's VStar Power lets you get any card from your deck. It is very helpful in multiple situations.

Stadiums

Stormy Mountains EVS 161 lets you get basic Electric Pokémon from your deck. With it, you'll have no trouble setting up your board.

Thunder Mountain ◇ LOT 191 lets you use Electric attacks for one Electric energy less.

Virbank City Gym PLS 126 puts 2 more Poison counters on Poisoned Pokémon in play in between turns. It essentially makes the main combo a lot more powerful, as do Radiant Hisuian Sneasler LOR 123 and Brute Bonnet sv4 123.

ACE SPEC

If you discard 3 cards from your hand (ideally, you should discard any leftover Battle VIP Pass FST 225 you have), this card lets you get 1 Supporter, 1 Stadium, 1 Item, and 1 Tool from your deck. It is also perfect if you need a quick change of plans.

Pros

Water Pokémon struggle against this list because they're weak against Electric Pokémon. Furthermore, because it is meant to deal a lot of damage with Poison counters, it is particularly more effective against resilient Pokémon, like VMax Pokémon.

It is also quite flexible, strategically speaking, because of the many tools it plays. Finally, it has direct answers to many archetypes and makes the most out of Poison Pokémon.

Cons

Unfortunately, this strategy also relies a bit too much on fast setups with Boltund V RCL 67. Any bad opener can compromise its consistency, and, because it also relies on evolution lines, it is a bit complex.

It is weak against anything that removes Tools, like Field Blower GRI 125, and struggles with abilities that disable or ignore "bad statuses", like Espeon VMAX EVS 65.

It is particularly vulnerable to Regidrago VStar, Pokémon immune to special energies, like Duraludon VMAX CRZ 104 and Alolan Vulpix VSTAR SIT 34, and Pokémon immune to special effects, like Mewtwo VUnion and Espeon VMAX EVS 65.

Because of Glaceon-EX FCO 20's second attack, which protects it from evolution Pokémon, Mewtwo & Mew-GX UNM 71 lists can be an issue.

Lists that control bench slots, like Glimmora ex sv3 123, are difficult as well.

And finally, any control list that relies on Avery CRE 130 to sabotage your setup will be difficult to face.

This is a fun strategy if you enjoy dealing damage indirectly, particularly with Poison counters. If you enjoy control and calculated plays, it is an excellent option for Expanded!

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

Thank you for reading, and see you next time!