New Archetypes from Paldea Evolved


Learn more about Paldea Evolved by visiting the articles below.

Set List | Card Translations | Visual Set List | Set Highlights | New Archetypes | Selected Proxies

With the arrival of Paldea Evolved this June, we’ll have a handful of new deck archetypes joining the fray. 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.


Meowscarada ex

Illus. 5ban Graphics

BASIC STRATEGY

Play down and evolve Sprigatito into Meowscarada with the help of Rare Candy. Using Meowscarada ex’s Magic Bouquet Ability, discard a Grass Energy to put 3 damage counters on 1 of your opponent’s benched Pokémon. As needed, use Radiant Alakazam’s Painful Spoons Ability to move damage counters to your opponent’s Active Pokémon to boost the damage of Meowscarada ex’s Nail Scratch attack, which does 100 damage plus 120 more if the Defending Pokémon has any damage on it.

KEY CARDS

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

  • Medicham V EVS 83 to make use of its Yoga Loop attack to get in extra turns after wearing down your opponent’s Pokémon.

  • Hisuian Lilligant VSTAR ASR 18 to take advantage of its Star Perfume VSTAR Power which reads, “During your turn, you may search your deck for up to 5 in any combination of [G] Pokémon and [G] Energy cards, reveal them, and put them into your hand. Then, shuffle your deck. (You can't use more than 1 VSTAR Power in a game.)

  • Arceus VSTAR BRS 123 to take advantage of its Starbirth VSTAR Power which reads, “During your turn, you may search your deck for up to 2 cards and put them into your hand. Then, shuffle your deck. (You can't use more than 1 VSTAR Power in a game.)”

  • Building the deck as part of the Lost Zone Box archetype.

EXAMPLE DECK LIST

Pokémon - 16
4 Meowscarada ex PAL 15
4 Sprigatito PAL 12
2 Revavroom SVI 142
2 Varoom SVI 141
1 Floragato PAL 14
1 Lumineon V BRS 40
1 Manaphy BRS 41
1 Radiant Alakazam SIT 59

Trainer Cards - 32
3 Iono PAL 185
3 Professor's Research SVI 190
2 Boss's Orders BRS 132
1 Arven SVI 166
1 Miriam SVI 179
1 Raihan CRZ 140
4 Nest Ball SVI 181
4 Rare Candy SVI 191
4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
2 Superior Energy Retrieval PAL 189
1 Battle VIP Pass FST 225
1 Energy Search SVI 172
1 Escape Rope BST 125
1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
1 Forest Seal Stone SIT 156
2 Artazon PAL 171

Energy - 12
8 Grass Energy SVE 1
4 Double Turbo Energy BRS 151

Alternate Lists

Testing Streams

Skeledirge ex

Illus. 5ban Graphics

BASIC STRATEGY

Play down and evolve Fuecoco into Skeledirge ex, using a combination of manual attachments, Magma Basin, and Raihan to power up its Burning Voice attack, which does 270 damage minus 10 damage for each damage counter on Skeledirge ex.

KEY CARDS

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

  • Oricorio PAL 33 to use its Passionate Dance Ability which reads, “Once during your turn, you may heal 20 damage from your Active Evolution Pokémon.” to help heal off damage caused by Magma Basin and the pings of opposing Pokémon, like Hawlucha, Ting-Lu ex, or Meowscarada ex.

  • Armarouge SVI 41 to make use of it as a means of funneling Energy to your Skeledirge ex without that Pokémon being damaged by the effect of Magma Basin.

  • Radiant Charizard PGO 11 in place of Radiant Greninja for use as a devastating late game single prize attacker.

  • Lumineon V BRS 40 for the additional boost to consistency that access to its Luminous Sign Ability brings.

EXAMPLE DECK LIST

Pokémon - 13
4 Fuecoco PAL 35
3 Skeledirge ex PAL 37
2 Bibarel BRS 121
2 Bidoof CRZ 111
1 Entei V BRS 22
1 Radiant Greninja ASR 46

Trainer Cards - 37
3 Colress's Experiment LOR 155
2 Arven SVI 166
2 Boss's Orders BRS 132
2 Cheryl BST 123
2 Professor's Research SVI 190
1 Raihan CRZ 140
1 Serena SIT 164
4 Nest Ball SVI 181
4 Rare Candy SVI 191
4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
3 Switch SVI 194
2 Battle VIP Pass FST 225
1 Pal Pad SVI 182
1 Super Rod PAL 188
1 Choice Belt PAL 176
1 Forest Seal Stone SIT 156
3 Magma Basin BRS 144

Energy - 10
10 Fire Energy SVE 2

Testing Streams

Quaquaval ex

Illus. 5ban Graphics

BASIC STRATEGY

Evolve Quaxly into Quaquaval and Quaquaval ex. Use Quaquaval’s Energy Carnival Ability as necessary to assist in powering up Quaquaval ex’s Propeller Shot attack, which does 230 damage and puts 2 Energy attached to your attacking Pokémon back into your hand. Alternatively, use Quaquaval ex’s Lively Samba attack to switch Quaquaval ex to the bench and put Klefki into the Active Spot to cripple your opponent’s access to their Pokémon’s Abilities.

KEY CARDS

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

EXAMPLE DECK LIST

Pokémon - 19
4 Quaxly PAL 50
3 Klefki SVI 96
3 Quaquaval ex PAL 52
2 Bibarel BRS 121
2 Bidoof CRZ 111
2 Quaquaval SVI 54
1 Basculin FST 70
1 Quaxwell PAL 51
1 Radiant Greninja ASR 46

Trainer Cards - 31
4 Irida ASR 147
3 Iono PAL 185
2 Boss's Orders BRS 132
4 Nest Ball SVI 181
4 Rare Candy SVI 191
4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
2 Level Ball BST 129
1 Battle VIP Pass FST 225
1 Energy Search SVI 172
1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
1 Super Rod PAL 188
2 Vitality Band SVI 197
2 Artazon PAL 171

Energy - 10
7 Water Energy SVE 3
3 Jet Energy PAL 190

Testing Streams

Chien-Pao ex

Illus. aky CG Works

BASIC STRATEGY

Play down and evolve Frigibax into Baxcalibur to make use of Baxcalibur’s Super Cold Ability, which reads, “As often as you like during your turn, you may attach a [W] Energy card from your hand to 1 of your Pokémon.” Flood your board with Water Energy, pulling Energy from your deck with Chien-Pao’s Shivery Chill Ability, which reads, “Once during your turn, if this Pokémon is in the Active Spot, you may search your deck for up to 2 basic [W] Energy cards, reveal them, and put them into your hand. Then, shuffle your deck.” Use Chien Pao’s Hail Blade, which does 60 damage for each [W] Energy you discard from your Pokémon, to take Knock Outs.

KEY CARDS

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

  • Kyogre CRZ 36 to use its Dynamic Wave attack to deal 180 damage to 1 of your opponent’s Pokémon.

  • Wishiwashi EVS 46 to serve as a bulky single prize attacker that, with 3 or more Water Energy and a Charm of Courage attached, has 230HP!

  • Luminous Energy to still serve as the Metal Energy in Kyurem’s attack cost while still being an Energy that can be discarded to add 60 damage to the attacks of both Chien-Pao ex and Kyurem.

  • Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR 40 both as an alternate attacker and as a means of getting two Energy from the discard pile very quickly back into play via its Star Portal VSTAR Power.

EXAMPLE DECK LIST

Pokémon - 12
3 Baxcalibur PAL 60
3 Chien-Pao ex PAL 61
3 Frigibax PAL 57
1 Lumineon V BRS 40
1 Manaphy BRS 41
1 Radiant Greninja ASR 46

Trainer Cards - 38
4 Irida ASR 147
3 Iono PAL 185
2 Boss's Orders BRS 132
4 Battle VIP Pass FST 225
4 Superior Energy Retrieval PAL 189
4 Trekking Shoes CRZ 145
3 Nest Ball SVI 181
3 Rare Candy SVI 191
2 Ultra Ball SVI 196
1 Escape Rope BST 125
1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
1 Lost Vacuum CRZ 135
1 Super Rod PAL 188
1 Switch SVI 194
2 Bravery Charm PAL 173
2 Skaters' Park FST 242

Energy - 10
10 Water Energy SVE 3

Alternate Lists

Testing Streams

United Wings

Illus. Shibuzoh

BASIC STRATEGY

Using every discarding resource in the deck, put all or most of your “United Wings” attackers in the discard pile. Then, attach Energy to Ditto to use its Sudden Transformation Ability to copy the United Wings attack from your discarded “United Wings” attackers. As necessary, use Rescue Carrier to recover a specific United Wings attacker to hit for Weakness against your opponent’s Pokémon.

KEY CARDS

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

  • The Kirlia engine for additional discard-draw power.

  • Echoing Horn to help the deck get easy knockouts against Basic Pokémon V.

  • Thorton to turn Squawkabilly ex into something other than the giant squishy two prize liability it is after your first turn.

EXAMPLE DECK LIST

Pokémon - 18
4 Flamigo PAL 170
4 Murkrow PAL 131
4 Wattrel PAL 80
3 Ditto CRZ 107
1 Manaphy BRS 41
1 Radiant Charizard CRZ 20
1 Squawkabilly ex PAL 169

Trainer Cards - 31
4 Professor's Research SVI 190
2 Boss's Orders BRS 132
2 Serena SIT 164
2 Zinnia's Resolve EVS 164
4 Level Ball BST 129
4 Trekking Shoes CRZ 145
4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
3 Great Ball PAL 183
2 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
2 Rescue Carrier CRZ 142
2 PokéStop PGO 68

Energy - 11
4 Double Turbo Energy BRS 151
4 Luminous Energy PAL 191
3 Darkness Energy SVE 7

Testing Streams

Tinkaton ex

Illus. takuyoa

BASIC STRATEGY

Build up your board by evolving Tinkatink into Tinkaton ex and Ralts into Kirlia. Rapidly build the size of your hand with Zinnia’s Resolve, Colress’s Experiment, Tinkaton’s Gather Materials Ability, and Kirlia’s Refinement Ability, which allows you to discard a card from your hand to draw two cards. Protect your hand from being whisked away with Milotic’s Dew Guard, which prevents the effects of your opponent’s Supporter cards done to you or your hand. Take Knock Outs with Tinkaton ex’s Big Hammer attack, which does 30 damage for each card in your hand.

KEY CARDS

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

EXAMPLE DECK LIST

Pokémon - 20
4 Tinkatink PAL 101
3 Kirlia SIT 68
3 Tinkaton ex SVP 31
2 Ralts ASR 60
2 Tinkaton PAL 105
1 Feebas EVS 37
1 Lumineon V BRS 40
1 Manaphy BRS 41
1 Milotic EVS 38
1 Ralts SIT 67
1 Tinkatuff PAL 103

Trainer Cards - 31
4 Colress's Experiment LOR 155
3 Zinnia's Resolve EVS 164
1 Arven SVI 166
1 Boss's Orders BRS 132
1 Miriam SVI 179
1 Raihan CRZ 140
4 Level Ball BST 129
4 Rare Candy SVI 191
4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
3 Fog Crystal CRE 140
1 Battle VIP Pass FST 225
1 Super Rod PAL 188
1 Forest Seal Stone SIT 156
2 Artazon PAL 171

Energy - 9
5 Psychic Energy SVE 5
4 Double Turbo Energy BRS 151

Testing Streams

 

Annihilape ex

Illus. PLANETA Hiiragi

BASIC STRATEGY

Build up your board, getting Annihilape ex ready early on while quickly building toward Annihilape as your opponent takes knockouts. Use Annihilape ex’s Angry Grudge attack which does 20 damage for each damage counter (up to 12) that you place on your Annihilape ex or use Annihilape’s Rage Fist attack, which does 70 damage for each Prize card your opponent has taken.

KEY CARDS

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

  • Lake Acuity to reduce the damage done by your opponent’s Active Pokémon to your Pokémon with any Fighting Energy attached by 20.

  • Rock Chestplate to bulk up Annihilape ex’s HP.

EXAMPLE DECK LIST

Pokémon - 16
4 Mankey SVI 107
3 Annihilape SVI 109
2 Annihilape ex SVP 32
2 Bibarel BRS 121
2 Bidoof CRZ 111
2 Primeape SVI 108
1 Manaphy BRS 41

Trainer Cards - 37
4 Professor's Research SVI 190
3 Iono PAL 185
2 Boss's Orders BRS 132
1 Raihan CRZ 140
1 Serena SIT 164
4 Level Ball BST 129
4 Nest Ball SVI 181
4 Rare Candy SVI 191
4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
2 Escape Rope BST 125
2 Super Rod PAL 188
2 Switch SVI 194
2 Defiance Band SVI 169
2 Artazon PAL 171

Energy - 7
7 Fighting Energy SVE 6

Testing Streams

 

Lycanroc ex

Illus. kawayoo

BASIC STRATEGY

After evolving Rockruff into Lycanroc ex, attack with its Scary Fangs attack, which does 140 damage and, if attacked during your opponent’s next turn, puts 10 damage counters on the Pokémon that attacks it. Use Rock Chestplate to make Lycanroc ex more difficult to Knock Out, meaning your opponent will have to eat more of the damage counters from Scary Fangs over the course of the game. As necessary, gust up your opponent’s Pokémon for Knock Outs using Boss’s Orders.

KEY CARDS

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

  • Lake Acuity to reduce the damage done by your opponent’s Active Pokémon to your Pokémon with any Fighting Energy attached by 20.

EXAMPLE DECK LIST

Pokémon - 16
4 Lycanroc ex PAL 117
4 Rockruff PAL 116
2 Bibarel BRS 121
2 Bidoof CRZ 111
2 Galarian Zapdos EVS 82
1 Drapion V LOR 118
1 Radiant Alakazam SIT 59

Trainer Cards - 32
3 Iono PAL 185
3 Professor's Research SVI 190
2 Boss's Orders BRS 132
4 Gutsy Pickaxe ASR 145
4 Nest Ball SVI 181
4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
2 Escape Rope BST 125
1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
1 Pal Pad SVI 182
1 Super Rod PAL 188
3 Rock Chestplate SVI 192
3 Path to the Peak CRE 148
1 Temple of Sinnoh ASR 155

Energy - 12
8 Fighting Energy SVE 6
4 Double Turbo Energy BRS 151

Testing Streams

 

Ting-Lu ex

Illus. 5ban Graphics

BASIC STRATEGY

Play down Squawkabilly ex, Ting-Lu ex, and Koraidon ex, then use Squawkabilly ex’s Squawk and Seize Ability to discard your hand and draw 6 cards on your first turn. In so doing, put Fighting Energy into the discard pile so that Koraidon ex can accelerate it with its Dino Cry Ability which reads, “Once during your turn, you may attach up to 2 Basic [F] Energy cards from your discard pile to your Basic [F] Pokémon in any way you like. If you use this Ability, your turn ends.” Attack with Ting-Lu ex’s Land Scoop attack, which does 150 damage and lets you put 2 damage counters on 1 of your opponent’s Benched Pokémon. Meanwhile, continue to disrupt your opponent with Ting-Lu ex’s Cursed Land Ability which shuts of the Abilities of any of your opponent’s Pokémon that has damage counters on it and isn’t a Pokémon ex, and Spiritomb’s Ability, which shuts of the Abilities of any Basic Pokémon V.

KEY CARDS

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

  • Add in a 1-1 Aerodactyl VSTAR LOR 93 for further shutting down of Abilities of your opponent’s Pokémon V, VMAX, and V-UNION.

EXAMPLE DECK LIST

Pokémon - 12
4 Ting-Lu ex PAL 127
2 Hawlucha SVI 118
2 Koraidon ex SVI 125
2 Squawkabilly ex PAL 169
1 Radiant Alakazam SIT 59
1 Spiritomb PAL 89

Trainer Cards - 35
4 Professor's Research SVI 190
2 Boss's Orders BRS 132
2 Iono PAL 185
2 Judge SVI 176
4 Gutsy Pickaxe ASR 145
4 Nest Ball SVI 181
4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
3 Trekking Shoes CRZ 145
2 Escape Rope BST 125
2 Switch Cart ASR 154
2 Bravery Charm PAL 173
1 Exp. Share SVI 174
2 Gapejaw Bog ASR 142
1 Collapsed Stadium BRS 137

Energy - 13
13 Fighting Energy SVE 6

Alternate Lists

Testing Streams

 

Paldean Clodsire ex

Illus. PLANETA Mochizuki

BASIC STRATEGY

Using Paldean Clodsire ex’s Poison Bog ability, Poison your opponent’s Active multi-prize Pokémon and attack that Poisoned Pokémon with Alolan Raticate’s Super Fang, which puts damage counters on your opponent's Active Pokémon until its remaining HP is 10, and the tick of Poison damage then knocks that Pokémon out. Where possible against single-prize targets, favor instead attacking with Sableye and its Unseen Claw attack, which does 20 plus 70 more damage if your opponent’s Active Pokémon is affected by a Special Condition, like Poisoned.

KEY CARDS

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

  • Instead of focusing on attacking with Alolan Raticate, focus instead on Paldean Clodsire ex itself and bulk up its Poison damage wit Radiant Hisuian Sneasler.

EXAMPLE DECK LIST

Pokémon - 17
4 Paldean Wooper PAL 129
3 Alolan Raticate PGO 42
3 Alolan Rattata PGO 41
3 Paldean Clodsire ex PAL 130
1 Galarian Moltres EVS 93
1 Lumineon V BRS 40
1 Radiant Greninja ASR 46
1 Sableye PAL 136

Trainer Cards - 31
3 Professor's Research SVI 190
2 Boss's Orders BRS 132
2 Iono PAL 185
4 Dark Patch ASR 139
4 Nest Ball SVI 181
4 Trekking Shoes CRZ 145
4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
2 Switch SVI 194
1 Pal Pad SVI 182
1 Super Rod PAL 188
2 Beach Court SVI 167
2 Mesagoza SVI 178

Energy - 12
8 Darkness Energy SVE 7
4 Double Turbo Energy BRS 151

Testing Streams

Regigigas

Illus. Yuya Oka

BASIC STRATEGY

Get 1 of each of the Regis into play via the deck’s large variety of searching options. Discard Energy cards as you do, then use Regigigas’ Ancient Wisdom Ability, which lets you attach 3 Energy from your Discard Pile to 1 of your Pokémon. Attack with the various Regis—use Regieleki’s Teraspark attack to spread damage onto your opponent’s side of play when they don’t have Manaphy out, use Regidrago’s Giant Fangs to pick off support Pokémon like Lumineon V or Squawkabilly ex, and use Regigigas’ Gigaton Break in conjunction with Choice Belt to KO Pokémon VMAX.

KEY CARDS

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

  • Running Iono, a draw and disruption card from Paldea Evolved.

EXAMPLE DECK LIST

Pokémon - 14
2 Regice ASR 37
2 Regidrago ASR 118
2 Regieleki EVS 60
2 Regigigas ASR 130
2 Regirock ASR 75
2 Registeel ASR 108
1 Regidrago EVS 124
1 Regieleki ASR 51

Trainer Cards - 35
4 Professor's Research SVI 190
4 Serena SIT 164
1 Boss's Orders BRS 132
4 Energy Search SVI 172
4 Nest Ball SVI 181
4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
3 Super Rod PAL 188
3 Switch Cart ASR 154
2 Choice Belt PAL 176
1 Escape Rope BST 125
1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
1 Pal Pad SVI 182
3 Artazon PAL 171

Energy - 11
2 Fighting Energy SVE 6
2 Grass Energy SVE 1
2 Lightning Energy SVE 4
2 Luminous Energy PAL 191
1 Double Turbo Energy BRS 151
1 Fire Energy SVE 2
1 Gift Energy LOR 171

Testing Streams