Standard Deck Tech: Dragonite V Lost Box - Melbourne International

A few weeks ago, the Melbourne International took place in Australia, and we had Azul Garcia Griego claiming the trophy with an exotic decklist, using the Lost Box mechanic and with an unusual attacker: Dragonite V PR-SW SWSH154 in the promo version, the Dragonite V that comes in Sword/Shield: Evolving Skies.

This Pokémon has high damage in the format (250 damage that can be boosted with the Choice Belt with 30 additional damage, reaching 280), and with the arrival of the Tool Sky Seal Stone CRZ 143 in the last block, Dragonite V makes combos to draw prize cards.

So, let's analyze his deck and understand how it works.

Decklist

Dragonite V: the exotic attacker

The first attack needs no introduction because it goes through any effect, even on those pesky Pokémon that have damage prevention like "next turn, I don't take damage from basic Pokémon", like Eiscue EVS 47.

But what about Pokémon VStar? Don't be afraid, with Choice Belt BRS 135, which grants another 30 damage to any V-type Pokémon, that is, from 250, it will become 280, and then yes, it manages to knock out practically any Pokémon VStar from the format.

Remembering that in the new special expansion Sword/Shield: Crown Zenith, there is a Tool called Sky Seal Stone CRZ 143, which has the following effect:

"If Basic Pokémon V is equipped with this tool and Knocks out an opponent's VMax or VStar Pokémon, it takes an extra Prize card."

So with this information, your Dragonite V manages to close the damage, in addition to drawing the two prize cards from Lugia VStar by the rule, and you take one more due to the Tool's ability, being three prize cards on one turn!

Drapion V: Fighting against Mew VMax

Drapion V serves to hit double damage on Mew VMAX FST 114 which is very present in the current Metagame, due to its weakness to Dark type.

Cramorant: Single Prize & Fast Striker

You can use Comfey LOR 79 and Colress's Experiment LOR 155 to discard cards to the Lost Zone and speed up the activation of Cramorant's ability, Lost Provisions, so that it can attack for free.

There's also the advantage of Cramorant being a Pokémon that costs at least one prize card.

Sableye: The Spread Attack

The important thing is the second attack, Lost Mine, which can put up damage counters to close out some spread knockouts.

In an example of a combo from this deck, it is even possible to destroy the support Pokémon of the Sobble, Drizzile and Inteleon line, which are very common, as Sableye can overcome the most common Bench Protector of the current meta: Manaphy BRS 41.

Zeraora: “single prize” attacker to counter Lugia V and VStar

Zeraora has 0 retreat and still deals damage due to its Electric-type weakness, in this case 110 damage, which becomes 220, hitting Lugia V and VStar precisely.

- Comfey LOR 79 has Flower Selecting.

With this “draw” power, it is possible to create the looping with Scoop Up Net RCL 165 to reuse the ability to speed up the cards to go to the Lost Zone, or also with Switch Cart ASR 154 to switch between them.

- Radiant Greninja ASR 46 has its ability Concealed Cards, which allows to discard an Energy card from your hand to draw 2 cards from the top of your deck.

- Manaphy BRS 41 has Wave Veil, which makes it protect your benched Pokémon from opponent attacks by “sniper” attacks.

- Oranguru SSH 148 has Primate Wisdom, very useful for getting resources.

- Snorlax LOR 143 has its ability Unfazed Fat, being immunity to “bad status”.

Trainer Cards

- Colress's Experiment LOR 155 is used to look at the top 5 cards of the deck. You take 3 cards to your hand and the other 2 are discarded to the Lost Zone.

In addition to Comfey LOR 79 having the ability to send cards from the Lost Zone, Colress's Experiment is another great accelerator of sending cards to the Lost Zone, allowing Cramorant LOR 50 to attack as quickly as possible, and ensure the use of Mirage Gate LOR 163 with 7 cards in the Lost Zone and accelerate the energies for Dragonite V.

- Bird Keeper DAA 159 serves so that you can retreat your active Pokémon to the Bench, and with that, having a generous “draw power” of 3 cards.

- Boss's Orders BRS 132 serves to pull an opponent's benched Pokémon to close a specific knockout.

- Scoop Up Net RCL 165 serves to collect a Pokémon from the game to your hand that is not GX or V, you can use it as a looping with Comfey LOR 79.

- Mirage Gate LOR 163 can only be used if you have 7 or more cards in the Lost Zone. You can search your deck for 2 different Basic Energies and attach them to one of your Pokémon any way you like.

- Sky Seal Stone CRZ 143 works for Dragonite V PR-SW SWSH154 against format VStar, and Drapion V LOR 118 against Mew VMax.

- Battle VIP Pass FST 225 is used to search for two basic Pokémon in the deck and put them in play right away. This card can only be played during your first turn for the entire game, so the faster you create this setup on your first turn, the better.

- Switch Cart ASR 154 serves as mobility. It can only be used between basic Pokémon, and since we only have basic Pokémon on the rlist, it's extremely useful.

- Air Balloon SSH 156 helps with mobility and retreat flexibility

- Escape Rope BST 125 works like Guzma BUS 115, where your opponent switches an active Pokémon of yours for a benched one, and then you do the same, but your opponent chooses which Pokémon will be exchanged.

Stadium

During each player's turn, players may take a basic energy from the discard pile and put it into their hand.

Special Energy

This energy serves as a "summon" because if you attach this energy with one of your Pokémon, you can search your deck for a basic Pokémon and put it on your Bench.

Advantages

This is a deck that relies on a very explosive early game, meaning that its Comfey LOR 79 has already made the card filters for the Lost Zone, along with Colress's Experiment LOR 155. Things get a lot easier, because with 7 cards already in the discard pile, you can use Mirage Gate LOR 163 to power up Dragonite V PR-SW SWSH154 and deal a lot of damage - not to mention the attackers Cramorant and Sableye.

It's a very efficient strategy against Lugia VStar and Mew VMax, one of the biggest and most played decks in the current Metagame.

It can hardly bring any harm to compromise the game by offering many ultra-rare cards as “easy prizes”, and we have the advantage of the Lost Box, which is good too.

Disadvantages

- There may be situations where key cards such as Comfey LOR 79 or Colress's Experiment LOR 155 are on the prize cards.

- It's bad if the opponent is using Lost City LOR 161 against you, as, if one of your Pokémon is knocked out, you won't be able to recycle it with Ordinary Rod SSH 171 since every Pokémon that is defeated with stadium goes to the Lost Zone.

It's not cool to lose your Dragonite V PR-SW SWSH154 to it. As he is the only attacker with raw damage without applying weakness from the deck and only has one copy, it will be very difficult to take down other opponent's VStar without him.

It's a very interesting and surprising deck, being simple, practical and well-built, and highlighting Dragonite V PR-SW SWSH154, which is a strong card in the format, but that doesn't see much play.

Until next time, for a future article!