Standard: Scarlet & Violet Decks to play for Rotation in 2023

Hello everybody. I'm Rodrigo, bringing you news about the Pokémon TCG.

With the pace set on the Scarlet & Violet expansion, we're already close to rotation, and today I bring ideas for decks adapted excluding “D” rated cards.

I will present some lists that I find interesting (free for you to use as you wish, after all, they are ideas) that may help you out.

Urshifu VMax (Single Strike) + Lugia VStar + Houndoom

(Art by @_Helio_Art)

Decklist

Analysis

In this case, we bet on the brute force of Single Strike Urshifu VMAX BRS TG29 with its second attack, G-Max One Blow, which deals 270 damage and discards all energies attached to it, but this damage isn't affected by any effects of the opponent's Active Pokémon.

If using Single Strike Energy BST 183, the Pokémon takes 1 damage counter from using that energy. This creates a combo with Single Strike Scroll of Scorn BST 133, which gives the Pokémon 10 + 10 damage for each damage counter on Single Strike Urshifu VMAX BRS TG29.

The dynamic power up of multiple energies will be due to Archeops PR-SW SWSH272 which will be a recursive piece, thanks to Lugia VSTAR SIT 211's Summoning Star. Therefore, two Archeops will be able to put the 4 special energies Single Strike to Urshifu, and of course, its archetype is great against electric Pokémon, which will probably be very present from now on.

Urshifu VMax (Rapid Strike) + Lugia VStar + Octillery

(Art by @_Helio_Art)

Decklist

Analysis

Here we bet on the fluidity and sniper attacks of Rapid Strike Urshifu VMAX BRS TG30 with its second attack, G-Max Rapid Flow, which does 120 damage to two of the opponent's Pokémon (the Bench does not apply weakness and resistance). This damage can be increased on the Bench by 30 raw points with the presence of Passimian PR-SW SWSH115 against Pokémon V or GX.

And the Rapid Strike Energy BST 182 will make it easier to power up the Pokémon with two options: with Archeops putting an energy Spiral Energy CRE 159 and a Rapid Strike Energy BST 182 (with Lugia VSTAR SIT 211) or even a quick fix with Octillery BST 178, which is accessible in fetching cards of any name that has as Rapid Strike, even looking for Supporters like Korrina's Focus BST 128 which will be a strong “Draw Power”, since in this format, there will be many discard effects, like Ultra Ball BRS 186.

And here, it's the same strategy as its counterpart in Single Strike: taking down Pokémon of the electric archetype.

Mew VMax

(Art by tomeko)

Decklist

Analysis

In this deck, there are few variations, such as the presence of the Forest Seal Stone SIT 156 to search for resources like a VPower attack and some elements that use the Lost Zone like the Lost Vacuum LOR 217 to discard a tool or stadium in play as well as the stadium Lost City LOR 161 to Knock Out the opponent's Pokémon, and they cannot be recycled in discards.

This list doesn't have usual lines of Elesa's Sparkle FST 233 and Elesa's Sparkle FST 233. I focused on putting Pokémon against disadvantages and “Mirror Matches”, such as using Drapion V LOR 118 to KO the opponent's Mew-VMax; as well as the Galarian Zapdos V BRS 182 in matches against the electric archetype that has Regieleki VMAX SIT 58 (and if Drapion V and Galarian Zapdos V are equipped with the Sky Seal Stone CRZ 143, they will be able to draw extra prize cards for the knockouts they do).

Darkrai VStar (Dark Box)

(Art by endless whispers)

Decklist

Analysis

This could be a possible opportunity for the Dark archetype to gain the peak it deserves, since psychic Pokémon will probably be very predominant, and in light of that, maybe, who knows, Darkrai can gain relevance alongside other good attackers of the type like Gengar VMAX FST 157 and Umbreon VMAX EVS 95? It remains to be seen how the format will unfold in a few months.

Miraidon ex

(Art by 獏狗baku-inu)

Decklist

Analysis

We reached the point where Lugia VSTAR SIT 139 has its terror declared, with this archetype that has its weakness to the electric type, and evidently this expansion brought more support cards to the type, strengthening it even more.

We have the Electro Generator item as an energy accelerator, not to mention that Flaaffy EVS 55 will gain more strength with this archetype, after the failure it became with the Rayquaza VMAX EVS 111 deck to do Electric power-up for the Pokémon.

Furthermore, we have attackers like Raikou V BRS 48 and Raichu V BRS 45, which if equipped with Sky Seal Stone CRZ 143, can draw more prize cards against Pokémon VStar and VMax, being good basic attackers, not to mention the increased damage Regieleki VMAX SIT 58 offers to the electric basic type.

Gardevoir ex

(Art by bellavoirr)

Decklist

Analysis

It is one of the second favorite decks in Japan due to the presence of Gardevoir ex, which has the ability to attach psychic energies from the discard pile to your Pokémon, but they take two damage counters. Counters that can be reallocated to the opponent's Pokémon with Cresselia.

Some of its main attackers are Zacian V CEL 16 and Drapion V LOR 118 against Mew VMAX LOR TG30.

Radiant Charizard (Lost Box)

(Art by テッシー12月開始のお仕事募集)

Decklist

Analysis

One of the deck architectures from Japan that predominated in these months, it could also gain notoriety in the west, placing Radiant Charizard CRZ 20 as a new complementary attacker of the Lost Box deck.

Regigigas Family

(Art by manuhamu)

Decklist

Analysis

With the loss of special energies such as Speed Lightning Energy RCL 173 and Aurora Energy SSH 186, it will lose some power, but Regigigas' efficiency still remains, as we have the Miriam card (from Scarlet & Violet), which can cycle up to 5 Pokémon from the discard pile back to the deck and still draw 3 cards in a row, replacing Ordinary Rod SSH 171, which will also rotate.

And if you're losing the match, there's the new tool from the Defiant Band expansion, which if the opponent has few prize cards to win the game, your Pokémon gain 30 more damage.

These were some ideas to build decks and prepare for the rotation, but the future could greatly differ, since Scarlet & Violet can make decks undergo many changes according to the needs to respond to the Metagame, or even for personal taste.

What are your thoughts on the rotation? Is there something in mind to help with your decks? Leave it in the comments below!