New Decks from Paldean Fates


Learn more about our second Scarlet & Violet mini set by visiting the articles below.

Set List | Card Translations | Visual Set List | Selected Proxies | New Decks

With the arrival of Paldean Fates in January, 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.


Espathra ex

Illus. takuyoa

BASIC STRATEGY

Play down and evolve Natu into Xatu, using Xatu’s Clairvoyant Sense Ability to attach a Psychic Energy card from your hand to 1 of your Benched Pokémon and draw two cards. Attack using Espathra ex’s Psy Ball attack, which does 30 damage plus 30 more damage for each Energy attached to both Active Pokémon, all while Espathra’s Ability, Dazzling Gaze, and Pokémon League Headquarters (against Basic Pokémon) make it cost [C] more each for their Pokémon to attack.

KEY CARDS

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

  • Tulip for Pokémon and recovery of Basic Psychic Energy, which can also mean you’re able to use Xatu’s Clairvoyant Sense Ability to draw cards more often.

EXAMPLE DECK LIST

Pokémon - 15
4 Flittle SVI 102
3 Espathra ex PAF 6
3 Natu PAR 71
3 Xatu PAR 72
1 Manaphy BRS 41
1 Mew ex MEW 151

Trainer Cards - 34
4 Iono PAF 80
4 Professor's Research PAF 88
2 Boss's Orders PAL 172
4 Battle VIP Pass FST 225
4 Fog Crystal CRE 140
4 Ultra Ball PAF 91
2 Counter Catcher PAR 160
2 Nest Ball PAF 84
2 Switch SVI 194
1 Super Rod PAL 188
2 Rigid Band MEW 165
2 Pokémon League Headquarters OBF 192
1 Artazon PAF 76

Energy - 11
11 Basic Psychic Energy SVE 5

Testing Streams

United Wings

Illus. AKIRA EGAWA

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

  • Forgoing the Kilowattrel in favor of an additional consistency card, like a second copy of Squawkabilly ex.

EXAMPLE DECK LIST

Pokémon - 25
4 Flamigo PAL 170
4 Murkrow PAL 131
4 Wattrel PAL 80
3 Kirlia SIT 68
3 Ralts SVI 84
2 Ditto CRZ 107
1 Gallade ASR 62
1 Jirachi PAR 126
1 Kilowattrel PAF 22
1 Manaphy BRS 41
1 Squawkabilly ex PAL 169

Trainer Cards - 27
4 Professor's Research PAF 88
2 Boss's Orders PAL 172
1 Klara CRE 145
1 Serena SIT 164
1 Zinnia's Resolve EVS 164
4 Level Ball BST 129
4 Ultra Ball PAF 91
2 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
2 Switch SVI 194
1 Echoing Horn CRE 136
1 Nest Ball PAF 84
1 Pal Pad SVI 182
1 Rescue Carrier CRZ 142
2 Collapsed Stadium BRS 137

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

Testing Streams

Great Tusk ex

Illus. kawayoo

BASIC STRATEGY

Build up Great Tusk ex on the Bench with the help of Professor Sada’s Vitality, then, with Path to the Peak in play, switch Great Tusk ex into the Active Spot and attack with its Great Bash attack, which does 260 damage and is unaffected by any effects on your opponent’s Active Pokémon.

KEY CARDS

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

  • Koraidon ex SVI 125 to take advantage of its Dino Cry Ability to help accelerate Fighting Energy into play, especially on turn 1.

  • Squawkabilly ex PAL 169 to churn through more of your deck on your first turn, to help guarantee getting a Great Bash on turn 1 going second.

  • Grant to boost the damage of Great Tusk ex’s Great Bash by 30, as needed.

EXAMPLE DECK LIST

Pokémon - 11
3 Great Tusk ex PAF 53
2 Bibarel BRS 121
2 Bidoof CRZ 111
2 Slither Wing PAR 107
1 Brute Bonnet PAR 123
1 Sandy Shocks ex PAR 108

Trainer Cards - 38
4 Professor Sada's Vitality PAR 170
3 Iono PAF 80
2 Boss's Orders PAL 172
1 Arven OBF 186
4 Energy Switch SVI 173
4 Gutsy Pickaxe ASR 145
4 Nest Ball PAF 84
3 Ultra Ball PAF 91
2 Earthen Vessel PAR 163
2 Switch SVI 194
1 Escape Rope BST 125
1 Super Rod PAL 188
3 Ancient Booster Energy Capsule PAR 159
4 Path to the Peak CRE 148

Energy - 11
8 Basic Fighting Energy SVE 6
3 Double Turbo Energy BRS 151

Testing Streams

 

Mabosstiff ex

Illus. PLANETA Mochizuki

BASIC STRATEGY

After evolving Maschiff into Mabosstiff ex, use a combination of manual attachments of Double Turbo Energy and Dark Patch to power up Mabosstiff ex’s Proud Fangs attack, which does 100 damage plus 120 more damage if any of your Benched Pokémon have damage counters on them. To guarantee that you have a Pokémon with damage counters on your bench, discard Gengar with Trekking Shoes, Ultra Ball, or Professor’s Research and then use Gengar’s Netherword Gate Ability which pulls Gengar out of the discard pile and puts 3 damage counters on it.

KEY CARDS

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

  • An additional copy each of Iono and Path to the Peak and further hand disruption options, like Judge.

Mabostiff ex is releasing as a promo card a month or so after the release of Paldean Fates.

EXAMPLE DECK LIST

Pokémon - 18
4 Maschiff SVI 135
3 Mabosstiff ex SVP 86
2 Bibarel BRS 121
2 Bidoof CRZ 111
2 Gengar LOR 66
1 Galarian Moltres EVS 93
1 Lumineon V BRS 40
1 Mabosstiff SVI 137
1 Morpeko PAR 121
1 Radiant Greninja ASR 46

Trainer Cards - 31
3 Professor's Research PAF 88
2 Boss's Orders PAL 172
2 Iono PAF 80
4 Battle VIP Pass FST 225
4 Dark Patch ASR 139
4 Ultra Ball PAF 91
3 Earthen Vessel PAR 163
3 Trekking Shoes CRZ 145
2 Switch SVI 194
1 Super Rod PAL 188
3 Path to the Peak CRE 148

Energy - 11
7 Basic Darkness Energy SVE 7
4 Double Turbo Energy BRS 151

Testing Streams

Iron Treads ex

Illus. toriyufu

BASIC STRATEGY

Evolve up Magnemite into Magnezone via Rare Candy and use its Giga Magnet Ability to power up Iron Treads ex’s Clad Rolling attack, which does 150 damage and, if you have a Future Booster Energy Capsule attached to Iron Treads ex, reduces the damage it takes during your opponent’s next turn by 150, effectively giving Iron Treads ex 370 HP.

KEY CARDS

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

  • Technical Machine: Turbo Energize to attach two Basic Energy cards from your deck to 1 of your Pokémon and Bronzong BST 102 to take advantage of its Metal Transfer Ability to move Metal Energy around your Pokémon as you please. Potentially also a copy or two of Penny, to scoop up a damaged Iron Treads ex after rearranging the energy.

EXAMPLE DECK LIST

Pokémon - 15
4 Iron Treads ex PAF 66
3 Magnemite SVI 63
3 Magnezone ASR 107
1 Lumineon V BRS 40
1 Miraidon ex SVI 81
1 Radiant Greninja ASR 46
1 Rotom V CRZ 45
1 Zamazenta CRZ 97

Trainer Cards - 32
4 Professor's Research PAF 88
3 Iono PAF 80
2 Boss's Orders PAL 172
1 Penny SVI 183
1 Thorton LOR 167
4 Nest Ball PAF 84
4 Ultra Ball PAF 91
3 Rare Candy PAF 89
2 Super Rod PAL 188
1 Energy Recycler BST 124
1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
4 Future Booster Energy Capsule PAR 164
1 Crystal Cave EVS 144
1 Stormy Mountains EVS 161

Energy - 13
13 Basic Metal Energy SVE 8

Testing Streams