New Archetypes from Scarlet & Violet
And Other Archetypes Worth Considering After Rotation
Learn more about our Scarlet & Violet base set by visiting the articles below.
Set List | Visual Set List | Set Highlights | New Archetypes | Selected Proxies
With the arrival of Scarlet & Violet in March, we’ll have a handful of new deck archetypes joining the fray—and with rotation, the meta will be shaken up quite thoroughly. As always, some deck archetypes are better than others—some are meme tier and some are merely playable, fun decks without much competitive promise. Lists below are very rough drafts and are intended as a starting place for testing, not as tournament-ready deck lists. Consider creating and using proxies to test cards you don’t already own prior to making any purchases.
Below is a list of archetypes that may be reasonably playable after this year’s rotation—archetypes from competitive standouts to enjoyable casual archetypes are listed below.
Archetypes New to Scarlet & Violet
All Archetypes Worth Considering After Rotation
- Serperior VSTAR
- Spidops ex
- Arcanine ex
- Gyarados ex
- Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR
- Kyurem VMAX
- Lost Box
- Ice Rider Calyrex VMAX
- Wugtrio
- Dondozo
- Magnezone ex
- Magnezone VSTAR
- Ampharos ex
- Miraidon ex
- Mew VMAX
- Gardevoir ex
- Banette ex
- Shadow Rider Calyrex VMAX
- Single Strike Urshifu VMAX
- Rapid Strike Urshifu VMAX
- Darkrai VSTAR
- Origin Forme Dialga VSTAR
- Rayquaza VMAX
- Giratina VSTAR
- Hisuian Goodra VSTAR
- Duraludon VMAX
- Regidrago VSTAR
- Blissey V
- Lugia VSTAR
- Regigigas VSTAR
- Arceus VSTAR
- Hisuian Zoroark VSTAR
- Oinkologne ex
- Maushold
Serperior VSTAR
Illus. PLANETA Mochizuki
BASIC STRATEGY
Evolve Serperior V into Serperior VSTAR to prepare it to attack and Kricketot into Kricketune to take advantage of its Swelling Tune Ability, which reads, “Your [G] Pokémon in play, except any Kricketune, get +40 HP. You can't apply more than 1 Swelling Tune Ability at a time.” Further increase the difficulty of knocking out your own Serperior VSTAR with Full Face Guard and with Radiant Gardevoir whose ability reduces the damage done to your Pokémon by Pokémon V by 20. Attack using Serperior VSTAR’s Regal Blender attack, which does 190 damage and gives you the opportunity to move any Energy cards attach to your Pokémon to your other Pokémon in any way you like. When advantageous, use Serperior VSTAR’s Star Winder attack, which does 60 damage for each Energy card attached to Serperior VSTAR.
KEY CARDS
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Gardenia’s Vigor as an option to draw a couple of cards while also attaching any up to 2 Grass Energy you draw into or have in your hand to 1 of your Benched Pokémon.
Building Serperior VSTAR with the Lost Engine, making it possible to power up Serperior VSTAR with Mirage Gate.
V Guard Energy as yet another means of reducing the damage dealt to your Serperior VSTAR.
Roxanne as a means of disrupting your opponent in the mid to late game.
EXAMPLE DECK LIST
Pokémon - 19
4 Serperior V SIT 7
4 Swablu SIT 142
3 Serperior VSTAR SIT 8
2 Altaria EVS 106
2 Altaria SIT 143
1 Kricketot ASR 9
1 Kricketune ASR 10
1 Manaphy BRS 41
1 Radiant Greninja ASR 46
Trainer Cards - 30
4 Professor's Research SVI 190
2 Boss's Orders BRS 132
2 Judge SVI 176
1 Cheryl BST 123
1 Klara CRE 145
4 Nest Ball SVI 181
4 Trekking Shoes CRZ 145
4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
1 Escape Rope BST 125
1 Pal Pad SVI 182
1 Switch SVI 194
2 Full Face Guard EVS 148
3 Path to the Peak CRE 148
Energy - 11
7 Grass Energy SWSHEnergy 1
4 Double Turbo Energy BRS 151
Spidops ex
Illus. takuyoa
BASIC STRATEGY
Using Nest Ball, Ultra Ball, and Mesagoza, set up Leafeon V to evolve into Leafeon VMAX and Tarountula to evolve into Spidops ex, whose Ability increases the Retreat Cost of your opponent’s Active Pokémon by 1 [C]. Attack, as possible, with Leafeon VMAX’s Grass Knot, which does 60 damage for each [C] in your opponent’s Active Pokémon’s Retreat Cost. Alternatively, attack using Spidops ex’s Wire Hang, which does 90 damage plus 30 more damage for each [C] in your opponent’s Active Pokémon’s Retreat Cost.
KEY CARDS
Pokémon Search Cards (Nest Ball, Ultra Ball, Mesagoza)
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Leafeon VSTAR CRZ 14 as an additional gusting option and alternate two-prize attacker.
EXAMPLE DECK LIST
Pokémon - 19
4 Spidops ex SVI 19
4 Tarountula SVI 16
3 Leafeon V EVS 7
3 Leafeon VMAX EVS 8
2 Zoroark EVS 103
2 Zorua EVS 102
1 Mightyena ASR 96
Trainer Cards - 32
4 Professor's Research SVI 190
2 Boss's Orders BRS 132
2 Raihan CRZ 140
2 Serena SIT 164
4 Nest Ball SVI 181
4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
3 Pokégear 3.0 SVI 186
3 Trekking Shoes CRZ 145
2 Switch SVI 194
1 Escape Rope BST 125
1 Choice Belt BRS 135
1 Forest Seal Stone SIT 156
3 Mesagoza SVI 178
Energy - 9
9 Grass Energy SWSHEnergy 1
Testing Streams
Arcanine ex
Illus. 5ban Graphics
BASIC STRATEGY
Using a combination of Magma Basin and manual attachments, power up Entei V’s Burning Rondo attack, which does 20 damage plus 20 more damage for each Benched Pokémon (yours and your opponent’s). Meanwhile play down and evolve Charcadet into Armarouge and Growlithe into Arcanine ex, preparing the Arcanine ex to take over after Entei V goes down. Use Arcanine ex’s Bright Flame attack to do 250 damage to your opponent’s Active Pokémon. As needed, use Raihan, Exp. Share, and Armarouge’s Fire Alarm Ability to help power up your chain of attackers.
KEY CARDS
Energy Acceleration Options (Armarouge, Exp. Share, Magma Basin, Raihan)
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Rapidash SIT 22 to take advantage of its Heat Boost Ability, which for the discard of a [R] Energy, boosts the damage your [R] Pokémon’s attacks do to your opponent’s Active Pokémon.
EXAMPLE DECK LIST
Pokémon - 20
4 Growlithe FST 32
3 Arcanine ex SVI 32
2 Armarouge SVI 41
2 Bibarel BRS 121
2 Bidoof BRS 120
2 Charcadet SVI 40
2 Entei V BRS 22
1 Delphox V LOR 27
1 Lumineon V BRS 40
1 Radiant Charizard PGO 11
Trainer Cards - 29
4 Professor's Research SVI 190
2 Boss's Orders BRS 132
2 Raihan CRZ 140
2 Serena SIT 164
4 Nest Ball SVI 181
4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
3 Switch SVI 194
2 Exp. Share SVI 174
1 Choice Belt BRS 135
1 Forest Seal Stone SIT 156
4 Magma Basin BRS 144
Energy - 11
11 Fire Energy SWSHEnergy 2
ALTERNATE LISTS
Testing Streams
Gyarados ex
Illus. 5ban Graphics
BASIC STRATEGY
Play down Magikarp and Origin Forme Palkia V and evolve them into Gyarados ex and Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR, respectively. Discard Water Energy to make it possible to use Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR’s Star Portal to attach Water Energy to Gyarados ex and use its Tyrannical Tail attack which does 180 damage plus 180 more if your opponent’s Active Pokémon already has any damage counters on it. To get damage counters where they’re needed, play down Radiant Alakazam to use its Painful Spoons Ability to move damage counters onto your opponent’s Active Pokémon or use Hawlucha’s Flying Entry to put a damage counter each on two of your opponent’s benched Pokémon.
KEY CARDS
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Building Gyarados ex with Cryogonal EVS 43 instead of Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR to use its Elemental Chain attack to power up Gyarados ex’s pricy attack costs.
EXAMPLE DECK LIST
Pokémon - 13
3 Magikarp PGO 21
3 Origin Forme Palkia V ASR 39
2 Gyarados ex SVI 45
2 Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR ASR 40
1 Hawlucha SVI 119
1 Lumineon V BRS 40
1 Radiant Alakazam SIT 59
Trainer Cards - 34
4 Professor's Research SVI 190
3 Irida ASR 147
2 Boss's Orders BRS 132
2 Raihan CRZ 140
1 Serena SIT 164
4 Trekking Shoes CRZ 145
4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
3 Nest Ball SVI 181
2 Escape Rope BST 125
2 Exp. Share SVI 174
2 Level Ball BST 129
1 Energy Search SVI 172
1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
1 Pal Pad SVI 182
2 Lake Acuity LOR 160
Energy - 13
11 Water Energy SWSHEnergy 3
2 Double Turbo Energy BRS 151
ALTERNATE LISTS
Testing Streams
Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR
Illus. aky CG Works
BASIC STRATEGY
Using the deck’s various search cards and draw options, seek out and bench as many Pokémon as possible to boost the damage of Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR’s Subspace Swell attack which does 60 damage plus 20 more damage for each Benched Pokémon (both yours and your opponent’s). Throughout the game, discard Water Energy via Ultra Ball, Kirlia’s Refinement Ability, and Radiant Greninja’s Concealed Cards ability. As needed, use Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR’s Star Portal ability to power up either another Palkia VSTAR, Lumineon V, or Radiant Greninja.
KEY CARDS
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Empoleon V BST 40 to slow down your opponent’s setup.
Building the deck with either the Bibarel or Revaroom engines in place of the Kirlia engine.
Pairing Palkia with Ice Rider Calyrex VMAX CRE 46.
EXAMPLE DECK LIST
Pokémon - 17
4 Kirlia SIT 68
4 Ralts ASR 60
3 Origin Forme Palkia V ASR 39
3 Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR ASR 40
1 Gallade ASR 62
1 Lumineon V BRS 40
1 Radiant Greninja ASR 46
Trainer Cards - 35
3 Melony CRE 146
2 Boss's Orders BRS 132
2 Irida ASR 147
2 Judge SVI 176
2 Professor's Research SVI 190
2 Serena SIT 164
4 Battle VIP Pass FST 225
4 Energy Search SVI 172
4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
2 Level Ball BST 129
2 Nest Ball SVI 181
2 Switch SVI 194
1 Energy Retrieval SVI 171
1 Choice Belt BRS 135
1 Path to the Peak CRE 148
1 Temple of Sinnoh ASR 155
Energy - 8
8 Water Energy SWSHEnergy 3
Testing Streams
Kyurem VMAX
Illus. N-DESIGN Inc.
BASIC STRATEGY
Bench and evolve Kyurem V and Origin Forme Palkia V into Kyurem VMAX and Origin Forme Palkia STAR, respectively. After using Switching Cups to ensure that the top card of your deck is a Water Energy, attach Water Energy to Kyurem VMAX via its Glaciated World ability, which lets you discard the top card of your deck and attach it to 1 of your Pokémon if it is a Water Energy. Attach additional energy cards via manual attachments, Melony, and with Palkia VSTAR’s Star Portal VSTAR Power. Use Kyurem VMAX’s Max Frost attack, which does 120 damage plus 50 damage more for each Water Energy you discard from Kyurem VMAX. Alternatively, attack using Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR’s Subspace Swell attack, which does 60 damage plus 20 more damage for each Benched Pokémon, or Radiant Greninja’s Moonlight Shuriken attack, which does 90 damage to two of your opponent’s Pokémon.
KEY CARDS
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Expedition Uniform as an alternative means of manipulating the top card of your deck.
EXAMPLE DECK LIST
Pokémon - 13
3 Kyurem V LOR 48
3 Kyurem VMAX LOR 49
2 Origin Forme Palkia V ASR 39
2 Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR ASR 40
1 Drapion V LOR 118
1 Lumineon V BRS 40
1 Radiant Greninja ASR 46
Trainer Cards - 36
3 Irida ASR 147
3 Melony CRE 146
2 Boss's Orders BRS 132
2 Professor's Research SVI 190
4 Nest Ball SVI 181
4 Switching Cups EVS 162
4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
3 Energy Search SVI 172
3 Trekking Shoes CRZ 145
2 Escape Rope BST 125
1 Energy Retrieval SVI 171
1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
1 Lost Vacuum CRZ 135
1 Choice Belt BRS 135
2 Primordial Altar SIT 161
Energy - 11
11 Water Energy SWSHEnergy 3
Lost Box
Illus. Midori Harada
BASIC STRATEGY
Using the components of the Comfey engine, get first to four, then seven, and finally ten cards in the Lost Zone—use Colress’s Experiment and Comfey’s Flower Selecting Ability to do so. Attack using Cramorant and its Spit Innocently attack, which does 110 damage (without the benefit of Weakness) for 0 Energy if you have four cards in the Lost Zone, and attack using Sableye and its Lost Mine attack, which allows you to put 12 damage counters on your opponent’s Pokémon in any way you like, provided you have 10 cards in the Lost Zone.
KEY CARDS
Comfey Engine (Comfey LOR 79, Colress’s Experiment, Beach Court)
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Hawlucha SVI 119 as math fixer against certain opposing archetypes, including other Lost Box variants.