Blaziken:
| Pokémon (24) | Trainers (20) | Energy (16) |
| 2x Blaziken ex 3x Blaziken 2x Combusken 4x Torchic 4x Dunsparce 1x Rayquaza ex 2x Delcatty 2x Skitty 1x Team Aqua’s Manectric 1x Team Aqua’s Electrike 1x Bellossom 1x Oddish |
4x Steven’s Advice 4x Copycat 4x Rare Candy 3x Oracle 1x Pokemon Nurse 1x Town Volunteers 1x Professor Elm’s Training Method 1x Friend Ball 1x Switch |
10x Fire Energy 3x Multi Energy 2x Lightning Energy 1x Warp Energy |
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This was the most popular deck seen throughout the 2003-04 season, and only got stronger with the release of Blaziken ex. This powerhouse of a deck made it all the way to the finals of the 2004 World Championships piloted by Chris Fulop, losing to Magma. It’s ability to power up strong attacks so easily with Blaziken and deal lots of damage to both your opponent’s active and benched Pokemon made it the deck to beat throughout the season.
Crobyss:
| Pokémon (21) | Trainers (24) | Energy (15) |
| 4x Dunsparce 4x Crobat 3x Golbat 4x Zubat 3x Gorebyss 3x Clamperl |
3x Steven’s Advice 3x TV Reporter 3x Copycat 3x Desert Shaman 4x Master Ball 3x Rare Candy 2x ATM: Rock 3x Desert Ruins |
4x Multi Energy 4x Double Rainbow Energy 4x Psychic Energy 3x Grass Energy |
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This deck relies on stunting the opponent’s setup with a combination of Desert Shaman and Crobat’s Flutter Trick, allowing you to strip them of key resources. Triple Poison also allows you to shut off Poke-Powers while dealing hefty damage for little energy over multiple turns. This allows you to slowly setup Gorebyss to start sweeping later in the game as well as hit for the very relevant fire weakness.
Exploud:
| Pokémon (18) | Trainers (26) | Energy (16) |
| 4x Exploud 3x Loudred 4x Whismur 3x Wobbuffet 4x Wynaut |
4x Steven’s Advice 4x Copycat 3x TV Reporter 2x Mr. Briney’s Compassion 1x Pokemon Nurse 3x ATM: Rock 3x Rare Candy 3x Friend Ball 3x Desert Ruins |
12x Psychic Energy 4x Boost Energy |
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One of the few decks in format not to rely on Dunsparce, Exploud’s breaking sound can prove to be too much to deal with for many evolution decks. All 4 of Exploud’s attacks are situationally useful, especially with Boost Energy, and 120HP on a non-ex combined with multiple healing cards can be devastating while building to the big swing turn using ATM Rock. The Wobbuffet line allows you both a good setup option with Wynaut’s attack, as well as an effective wall against ex focused decks. The format’s reliance on Dunsparce makes Friend Ball an amazing asset, allowing the deck to set up surprisingly consistently.
Gardevoir:
| Pokémon (23) | Trainers (23) | Energy (14) |
| 2x Gardevoir ex 3x Gardevoir 1x Kirlia (#34) 1x Kirlia (#35) 4x Ralts 4x Dunsparce 2x Magneton 2x Magnemite 2x Delcatty 2x Skitty |
4x Steven’s Advice 3x Copycat 3x Oracle 2x Professor Elm’s Training Method 1x Town Volunteers 1x Desert Shaman 2x Magnetic Storm 4x Rare Candy 2x Friend Ball 1x Warp Point |
8x Psychic Energy 2x Lightning Energy 4x Boost Energy |
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This deck often had quite a few variations, especially on counts of delcatty or magneton, but was able to win the 2004 US National Championships, piloted by Jacy Sturkie. Gardevoir ex alongside Gardevoir provided a lot of power which could be built up over the course of a game, and could eventually overwhelm opponents with such a high amount of hp. Boost energy meant you often could attack without commiting too many resources much to your main attacker, making it hard to deal with.
Magma:
| Pokémon (15) | Trainers (28) | Energy (17) |
| 4x Team Magma’s Groudon 4x Team Magma’s Zangoose 2x Team Magma’s Claydol 2x Team Magma’s Baltoy 2x Team Magma’s Camerupt 1x Team Magma’s Numel |
4x Team Magma Conspirator 3x TV Reporter 3x Steven’s Advice 3x Underground Expedition 2x Maxie 2x Copycat 2x Mr. Briney’s Compassion 3x Desert Ruins 3x Pokemon Reversal 2x Team Mama Ball 1x Switch |
6x Fighting Energy 4x Darkness Energy 4x Magma Energy 2x Rainbow Energy 1x Psychic Energy |
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Magma was Japan’s surprise deck which swept the World Championships in all 3 age divisions, with Yamato going undefeated in the masters division. Its engine provided a surprising amount of consistency, power and sustainability, all with 1 prize Pokemon which most decks weren’t able to overcome, especially when they weren’t prepared.
Metabyss:
| Pokémon (20) | Trainers (22) | Energy (18) |
| 4x Dunsparce 3x Metagross 2x Metang 1x Metang 4x Beldum 3x Gorebyss 3x Clamperl |
4x Professor Oak’s Research 3x Steven’s Advice 2x Tv Reporter 2x Professor Elm’s Training Method 2x Wally’s Training 4x Warp Point 3x Desert Ruins 2x ATM: Rock |
6x Psychic Energy 4x Metal Energy 4x Rainbow Energy 4x Double Rainbow Energy |
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This deck tried to make use of Metagross’s Metal Juncture Poke-power in conjunction with a variety of Special Energy and Metagross’s natural bulk. Warp point allows you to retreat into a new attacker while maintaining energy on board, meaning a constant stream of attackers is usually easy. The deck’s ability to keep energy in play makes Gorebyss a great partner, as well as covering the deck’s weakness to fire.
Mewtwo Gorebyss:
| Pokémon (18) | Trainers (26) | Energy (16) |
| 4x Mewtwo ex 3x Gorebyss 3x Clamperl 2x Magneton 2x Magnemite 2x Delcatty 2x Sktity |
4x Juggler 4x TV Reporter 3x Oracle 2x Professor Elm’s Training Method 1x Town Volunteers 4x Warp Point 3x Dual Ball 2x Crystal Shard 1x Strength Charm 2x Mystery Zone |
9x Psychic Energy 4x Double Rainbow Energy 3x Multi Energy |
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Also known as “Thundercatz”, this deck was created by Jimmy Ballard and placed Top 32 at the World Championships. This unique deck allowed you to swarm the board with as many energies as possible, as soon as possible with it’s Pokemon line and Trainer line, making Gorebyss’s Mystic Water attack more and more powerful.
MLB:
| Pokémon (20) | Trainers (25) | Energy (15) |
| 4x Dunsparce 3x Medicham 2x Meditite (#65) 1x Meditite (#66) 3x Lanturn 2x Chinchou (#56) 1x Chinchou (#57) 2x Banette 2x Shuppet |
4x Copycat 4x Steven’s Advice 3x Tv Reporter 1x Professor Oak’s Research 3x Desert Ruins 3x Strength Charm 2x Fast Ball 2x Warp Point 2x Pokemon Reversal 1x ATM: Rock |
4x Double Rainbow Energy 4x Multi Energy 4x Lightning Energy 3x Fighting Energy |
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Variations of this deck crept up at the World Championships, with the highest placing being a T32 finish by Adam Capriola. The idea was to swarm with the various powerful Stage 1 Pokemon and overwhelm your opponent with 1 Prize attackers and contious energy sustainment. It was designed to have a decent matchup against most of the metagame apart from Walrein.
Sceptile:
| Pokémon (21) | Trainers (22) | Energy (17) |
| 2x Sceptile ex 2x Sceptile 3x Grovyle 4x Treecko 3x Muk ex 3x Grimer 4x Dunsparce |
4x TV Reporter 3x Oracle 3x Professor Oak’s Research 3x Desert Shaman 2x Professor Elm’s Training Method 2x Pokemon Nurse 2x High Pressure Stadium 2x Switch 1x Warp Point |
15x Grass Energy 2x Boost Energy |
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This deck’s concept was created by Jared Spriggs, and saw mild success late in the 2004 season. The main strength of the deck was its surprise factor and ability to shut off Poke-Powers with Muk ex to cripple a format which relied heavily on them. However once people caught on to how to deal with it, it quickly became less popular.
Shiftry:
| Pokémon (23) | Trainers (21) | Energy (16) |
| 4x Dunsparce 4x Shiftry 2x Nuzleaf 1x Nuzleaf 4x Seedot 2x Delcatty 2x Skitty 1x Furret 1x Sentret 1x Magneton 1x Magnemite |
4x Copycat 3x Steven’s Advice 3x Oracle 2x Desert Shaman 1x Mr. Briney’s Compassion 3x Rare Candy 1x ATM: Rock 1x Warp Point 3x Desert Ruins |
5x Grass Energy 4x Darkness Energy 3x Double Rainbow Energy 3x Boost Energy 1x Warp Energy |
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This deck relies on Shiftry’s powerful attacks, which can be buffed with the format’s abundance of Special Energy cards like Boost Energy and Darkness Energy. Desert Shaman combined with Push Aside allows you to stunt your opponent’s setup while Supernatural Power provides a strong consistent attack throughout the game. The deck relies on the Magneton and Delcatty engine for consistency, but includes a Furret to search out key Special Energy on the turn you need it, but also match hand sizes with your opponent.
Swampert:
| Pokémon (24) | Trainers (23) | Energy (13) |
| 4x Dunsparce 2x Swampert ex 2x Swampert 2x Marshtomp 4x Mudkip 2x Delcatty 2x Skitty 2x Magneton 2x Magnemite 1x Wobbuffet 1x Suicune ex |
4x Steven’s Advice 3x Copycat 3x Oracle 2x Desert Shaman 2x Professor Elm’s Training Method 1x Town Volunteers 3x Rare Candy 2x Friend Ball 1x Warp Point 1x Switch 1x Crystal Shard |
9x Water Energy 2x Lightning Energy 2x Multi Energy |
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Rounding off the starter trio, Swampert gained a lot of popularity because of how well rounded it was. It had built in energy acceleration, had strong typing, and was given a very strong attacker for low energy costs in Swampert ex, allowing for quick high ramping damage against a relatively slow format. It’s energy acceleration allowed the support Pokemon to also double as attackers making it almost impossible for any deck to take a safe KO.
Team Aqua:
| Pokémon (16) | Trainers (25) | Energy (19) |
| 4x Team Aqua’s Kyogre 4x Team Aqua’s Manectric 4x Team Aqua’s Electrike 3x Team Aqua’s Seviper 1x Ditto |
4x Team Aqua Conspirator 4x Steven’s Advice 4x Copycat 4x Mr Briney’s Compassion 4x Fast Ball 2x Warp Point 1x Switch 2x Desert Ruins |
8x Water Energy 5x Lightning Energy 4x Darkness Energy 2x Grass Energy |
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Jacob Burt took this rogue deck to a T32 placement at the World Championships. Its speed, consistency and potential high damage output from Turn 2 with a combination of Electrike’s Self Charge and Fast Ball allowed the deck to take advantage of the relatively slow format. Meanwhile Kyogre in conjunction with Manectric’s Power Shift and Mr. Briney’s Compassion allowed it to keep up late game while tanking hits turn after turn.
Wailord:
| Pokémon (16) | Trainers (30) | Energy (14) |
| 3x Wailord ex 4x Wailmer 1x Vileplume 2x Bellossom 1x Gloom  2x Gloom  3x Oddish |
3x Copycat 3x Steven’s Advice 3x Oracle 2x Professor Elm’s Training Method 2x Professor Oak’s Research 4x Root Fossil 4x Claw Fossil 2x Mysterious Fossil 2x Switch 1x Desert Shaman 2x Mystery Zone 1x Island Cave 1x ATM: Rock |
12x Water Energy 2x Multi Energy |
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A rogue deck created at Worlds by Collin Moll, this powerhouse of a deck took a surprise finish of Top 8 at the World Championships. The idea was to set up Wailord behind fossils (which didn’t give up any prizes when KO’d), and sweep with Wailord’s Dwindling Wave attack. When it became too weak you would use Super Deep Dive to heal it and retreat to the bench. Bellossom provided more support to make Wailord even harder to knock out.
Walrein:
| Pokémon (18) | Trainers (26) | Energy (16) |
| 4x Walrein 3x Sealeo 4x Spheal 2x Milotic 2x Feebas 3x Dunsparce |
4x TV Reporter 3x Steven’s Advice 3x Copycat 3x Oracle 1x Town Volunteers 1x Mr. Briney’s Compassion 3x Desert Ruins 3x Rare Candy 2x Crystal Shard 1x ATM: Rock 1x Warp Point 1x Fast Ball |
14x Water Energy 2x Double Rainbow Energy |
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A deck piloted by Kyle “Pooka” Sucevich to both a 2nd place finish at US Nationals, and a top 16 finish at the World Championships. The deck relied on Walrein to accelerate energy using its Crush Draw Poke-Power, and then make opponents rely on coinflips to attack with Sheer Cold. Created primarily to have a strong Blaziken matchup, it infamously struggles a lot with a single Bellossom tech.
Pokemon TCG Archive 