Standard Deck Tech: Lugia VStar + Archeops - Laic 2022.2 Champion

With the event that we had at the end of November at the Latin American International, based here in Brazil, in the state of São Paulo, once again, the player Tord Reklev was crowned champion.

And this time, we will analyze his deck and understand how it works.

Decklist

Lugia VStar + Archeops: Understanding the Deck

The main issue is as quickly as possible to use its VStar ability, as it brings back from the discard pile any colorless Pokémon from there to your bench, including stage 1 or 2 evolutions, and this is where it comes in Archeops SIT 147, with its ability to attach two Special Energy from your deck to one of your Pokémon in any way you want.

The ideal is to get 4 Powerful Colorless Energy DAA 176 for Lugia, since each energy grants an additional 20 damage to the colorless Pokémon, thus 80 additional damage, with Lugia reaching 300 of damage in total instead of 220, and using the Choice Belt BRS 135, which provides 30 more damage against opponents that are V-type, so Lugia is capable of dealing up to 330 damage with a single attack!

Another example of an ideal attacker to KO frequent Pokémon in Mirror Match with its first attack to go against Yveltal SHF 46 and Radiant Charizard PGO 11, common in other Lugia decks, and even being countered by Raikou VIV 50 which deals double damage due to the electric type; and for another possibility the Radiant Greninja ASR 46 which is very common.

It can take out many Pokémon VMAX and VUnion from the format, which has a lot of HP and can still draw 3 prizes at once, which is the main objective.

Also, due to the taxation of his divergent energies, we have Archeops SIT 147 quickly power it up.

At the Late Game/End Game, where the opponent will have already taken 3 prize cards, Radiant Charizard PGO 11 can come into action.

Recursive Pokémon

- Archeops SIT 147 comes in with its ability Primal Turbo, where it searches for up to two Special Energy from the deck and can attach them to one of your Pokémon in play.

-Oranguru SSH 148 has the ability Primate Wisdom.

- Dunsparce FST 207 comes in with its Mysterious Nest Ability, removing the weakness from all Colorless Pokémon in the game, making your Lugia VStar lose its weakness to Electric.

- Pumpkaboo EVS 76 has Pumpkin Pit, where it can remove a stadium from the game by moving from your hand to your bench.

- Manaphy BRS 41 comes in due to its Wave Velt ability, which grants protection to your Benched Pokémon if they take direct sniper damage from the opponent's attacks.

- Lumineon V BRS 40 has the ability Luminous Sign, which, if played from your hand to the bench, it searches for a Supporter card. It's almost what the Tapu Lele-GX CEL 60 did in the Sun/Moon era.

Trainer Cards

- Professor's Research BRS 147 is the deck draw's accelerator: you discard your hand and draw 7 new cards.

- Serena SIT 164 is a card with two options:

1) You can discard up to 3 cards from your hand. Draw a specific number of cards that have up to 5 in your hand.

2) You can force an opponent's Benched Pokémon V into Active Position.

- Marnie SSH 169 serves to control the opponent's hand.

- Boss's Orders BRS 132 pulls a specific Pokémon from the opponent's Bench to deal damage to win, speeding up the prize cards.

- Lost Vacuum LOR 162 is an Item card that, in order to be executed, needs to pay a tribute that a card from your hand needs to go to the Lost Zone. If you do, you choose a Tool Item or Stadium card in play and send it to the Lost Zone.

- Evolution Incense SSH 163 is used to search for evolved Pokémon in the game, either Lugia VSTAR SIT 139 and/or Archeops SIT 147.

- Ultra Ball BRS 150 searches for any Pokémon in the deck, at the tribute of discarding two cards from your hand. Preferably, it's good to discard two Archeops SIT 147 so that you can speed up Lugia's VStar* combo.

- Quick Ball FST 237 is used to search a basic Pokémon from the deck with the Tribute cost of discarding a card from the hand. And of course, the focus is whenever possible on discarding all Archeops SIT 147 you have on hand to tribute the Quick Ball effect.

- Choice Belt BRS 135 increases damage by an additional 30 against the opponent's Active Pokémon's V Pokémon, any type: V, VStar, VMax, VUnion.

- Collapsed Stadium BRS 137 serves to reduce the bench space of both players from a maximum of 5 to 4, being a "counter" against decks like Regigigas ASR 130, and Mew VMAX FST 114 that clogs many Genesect V FST 185 and even the duo Solrock PGO 39 and Lunatone PGO 34.

Special Energies

- Aurora Energy SSH 186 grants any energy to the Pokémon, but you need to discard a card from your hand (ideally, discard a Pokémon to synergize the deck).

But, if it is used on Archeops SIT 147 ability, it is linked directly without having the tribute bias of discarding cards from your hand for energization.

- Double Turbo Energy BRS 151 grants two colorless energies, however its attack is reduced by 20 points.

- Capture Energy RCL 171 guarantees that if it's attached to a Pokémon, you can search for a basic Pokémon from the deck and attach it directly to your Bench

- Powerful Colorless Energy DAA 176 does 20 more damage if it's attached to a Colorless Pokémon.

- Hiding Darkness Energy DAA 175 grants a free retreat cost for the dark Pokémon that has this energy attached on, in this case, for Yveltal SHF 46.

Advantages

It is a very aggressive deck that if applied correctly at 4 Powerful Colorless Energy DAA 176 in Lugia VSTAR SIT 139, it practically manages to face VMax Pokémon on equal terms with ease, guaranteeing this with the Choice Belt BRS 135 on its side, as normally, Lugia alone can take on VStar Pokémon naturally and always has some immediate answers, such as Yveltal Amazing Rare and Radiant Charizard with raw damage.

Disadvantages

- Mirror Match where the opponent's Lugia can be faster to attack and set up.

- Electric decks that can contain Raikou VIV 50 and recently electric control and damage increase decks of Regieleki VMAX SIT 58 and Vikavolt V DAA 60.

- Decks that use Yveltal CEL 19 that discard 3 special energies at the same time, since the current Metagame doesn't have cards that cycle special energies, like a Special Charge STS 105.

- Powerful Colorless Energy DAA 176 possibly being on the prize cards, impairing Lugia's damage output.

It is a deck that ensured the victory of one of the greatest players in the current Pokémon TCG scene. And if it worked for him, well, it's because the deck really is functional, consistent and fulfills its role properly. I, personally, am not a big fan of the Lugia deck because of its dependence on these Powerful Colorless Energy DAA 176 that can compromise your game if they are on the prize cards, as mentioned.

You are welcome to comment your thoughts below, and thanks for reading!