What’s up, PoTown Store readers? While everyone has been testing the heavily played concepts from Chilling Reign, such as Shadow Rider Calyrex VMAX (Chilling Reign), I’ve been looking under the rug for under-discovered concepts. My idea is that most of the community will create excellent lists for the best Pokemon Online decks, but the other decks that have potential from this new set won’t be as refined. This article will feature three underplayed concepts, strategies, and personal lists for each of them. These decks have a chance to change the metagame, take your friend by surprise in your next PTCGO match, and allow you to discover new strategies! Even if they don’t end up being too competitive, it's always a great idea to look at the different concepts that make up our game. So let’s check them out!

Galarian Slowking VMAX


Galarian Slowking Vmax

Upon first glance, Galarian Slowking VMAX (Chilling Reign) doesn’t seem like a playable card, but I think there is some hope for this deck. Max Toxify hitting for 10 damage and doing a 12x Poison for only two Energy is one of the most efficient ways to do that effectively. Other Pokemon, like Muk & AlolanMuk-GX (Unbroken Bonds), take three to four Energy to do a similar effect. The kicker here is that we can amplify both the damage and the Poison effect by playing Single Strike Energy (Battle Styles) and Toxicroak (Sword and Shield)! In a realistic situation, you can have two Toxicroak in play, have two Single Strike Energy attached, and attack for 16 damage from Poison in between turns and 50 damage to the Active. That’s enough to Knock Out a Zacian V (Sword and Shield) in one hit or take out a Coalossal VMAX (Vivid Voltage) going back into your turn. Sure, they might be able to play Switch (Sword and Shield), but you can always drop Path to the Peak (Chilling Reign) and play a Marnie (Sword and Shield) to slow down your opponent. The goal of being more damage efficient and increasing Poison is incredibly interesting so let’s check out this deck!

Deck List



Pokémon (17)

Trainers (30)

Energy (13)

4x Croagunk SSH 1232x Evolution Incense SSH 1634x Capture Energy RCL 171
1x Crobat V SHF 444x Quick Ball SSH 1793x Darkness Energy SWSHEnergy 7
4x Galarian Slowking V CRE 1794x Pokémon Communication TEU 1522x Hiding {D} Energy DAA 175
4x Toxicroak SSH 1243x Boss's Orders SHF 584x Single Strike Energy BST 141
3x Galarian Slowking VMAX CRE 1004x Professor's Research SHF 60
1x Mew PR-SM 2152x Reset Stamp UNM 206

4x Marnie SSH 169

3x Path to the Peak CRE 148

4x Switch SSH 183

 


Slowking Vmax Deck List

Metagross VMAX


Metagross Vmax

After discussing this concept with my friend Maddy Tate (@Chill_TCG), he sold me on this deck by saying that it's like Metal-type Victini VMAX (Battle Styles). I took that idea and ran with it! If you look at Metagross VMAX (Chilling Reign), its Max Rush attack does 100 for two Energy which is very similar to Victini VMAX’s Max Victory attack. Sure, you don’t get the extra boost against V Pokemon, but you get a 150 damage boost if you used Max Rush during your last turn. Both have their advantages and disadvantages with damage output, but they both pair extremely well with Galarian RapidashV(Promo) to get that extra damage from Libra Horn. Where Victini VMAX plays Welder (Unbroken Bonds), this deck plays Metal Saucer (Sword and Shield) and Bronzong (Battle Styles) to build up Energy in play. I like how Bronzong allows you to keep your Energy in play, allowing you to run cool techs, like Galarian Rapidash V and Zacian V, and still have the energy to move to Metagross VMAX. The spice in this deck comes from playing Cheryl (Battle Styles) because you can move your Energy, heal, and then move them back. This deck has been an experiment, to say the least, but it is worthwhile to test! Let’s peep this Pokemon Online deck list!

Deck List



Pokémon (18)

Trainers (32)

Energy (10)

2x Crobat V SHF 442x Viridian Forest TEU 1563x Coating {M} Energy VIV 163
1x Eldegoss V CPA 54x Metal Saucer SSH 1707x Metal Energy SWSHEnergy 8
2x Bronzor TEU 1002x Cheryl BST 123
3x Metagross V CRE 1124x Quick Ball SSH 179
2x Zacian V PR-SW 183x Pokémon Communication TEU 152
2x Bronzong PR-SW 912x Air Balloon SSH 156
3x Metagross VMAX CRE 1133x Boss's Orders SHF 58
2x Galarian Rapidash V CRE 1684x Professor's Research SHF 60
1x Mew PR-SM 2154x Marnie SSH 169

4x Switch SSH 183
 


Metagross Vmax Deck List

Malamar


Malmar

This deck has been a bit more popular than the rest, but it is still underplayed compared to other popular decks, like Ice Rider Calyrex VMAX (Chilling Reign). Malamar (Chilling Reign) is similar to Blacephalon (Unbroken Bonds) because you need to juggle sub-genres of cards to do extra damage to your opponent. You’re using Rapid Strike Tentaclesto revealRapid Strike cards from your hand to hit harder in this case. This list plays 24 Rapid Strike cards and has plenty of ways to search them out! You can grab them with Octillery (Battle Styles), shuffle-draw them with Bruno (Battle Styles), or search them out with Level Ball (Battle Styles). This deck has plenty of recovery, search, and the only goal is to take OHKOs with Malamar! It struggles at times and has issues that surface often, but the deck has the potential to be one of the best Pokemon decks! Let’s check out this list!

Deck List



Pokémon (22)

Trainers (32)

Energy (6)

3x Minccino SHF 1663x Evolution Incense SSH 1632x Psychic Energy SWSHEnergy 5
3x Cinccino SHF 1672x Tower of Waters BST 1384x Spiral Energy CRE 159
4x Inkay CRE 692x Ordinary Rod SSH 171
1x Mew PR-SM 2153x Great Ball CPA 52
1x Oricorio-GX CEC 953x Bruno BST 121
4x Malamar CRE 701x Boss's Orders SHF 58
3x Remoraid BST 364x Level Ball BST 129
3x Octillery PR-SW 894x Professor's Research SHF 60

4x Fog Crystal CRE 140

4x Korrina's Focus BST 128

2x Air Balloon SSH 156

Malmar Deck List

Happy Testing!


Whether you’re trying to become the next Chill TCG champion or play fun games on the Versus ladder, these underplayed Pokemon decks are a great place to explore for everyone! I’m stoked to continuously test these decks and learn more about the metagame myself! If you need any PTCGO codes for your own testing or collection, PoTown Store is one of the best places to pick up cards for PTCGO. happy testing!

About the Writer


Zach Lesage is a contributing writer for PoTown Store. As a Toronto local, he has been playing the Pokemon Trading Card Game since 2005 and creates Pokemon content as his full time career. He creates YouTube content, coaches players to become better in-game, and provides hot takes on his Twitter. With multiple prestigious accomplishments in the game, such as the 2020 Players Cup 2 Champion and the 2020 Oceania International Championships Finalist, he has proven his success in the game. Outside of the game, he travels the world, enjoys the culture of designer streetwear, and is a professionally trained chef. You can catch him at most Pokemon events and follow him on Twitter @ZachLesagePTCG.