Gyarados archetype (TCG): Difference between revisions

==Strategy==

Although versions including certain tech cards will be more complex, Gyarados has one of the most straightforward strategies of any archetype today.  {{TCG ID|Stormfront|Sableye|48}} is the deck's ideal starter, as its ''Impersonate'' attack can be used to give the player an additional {{TCG|Supporter card}} play on the first turn.  When used to utilize the effect of {{TCG|Pokémon Collector}}, {{TCG|Cyrus's Conspiracy}}, or any other of the deck's numerous searching or drawing Supporter cards, Sableye's ''Impersonate'' can give Gyarados a remarkably fast setup.  After two or three turns, the deck aims to have one {{TCG ID|Stormfront|Gyarados|19}} on the field with three {{TCG ID|Stormfront|Magikarp|65}} in the discard pile.  This allows Gyarados to do maximum damage with its ''Tail Revenge'' attack, which does 30 damage for each Magikarp in the player's discard.

==Key Cards==

* '''{{TCG ID|Stormfront|Gyarados|19}}''' - Gyarados is the deck's main attacker.  Since many builds do not run {{e|Water}} energy, Gyarados attacks only with ''Tail Revenge''.  ''Tail Revenge''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s damage output is completely dependent on how many {{TCG ID|Stormfront|Magikarp|65}} are in the player's discard pile.  With three Magikarp discarded, ''Tail Revenge'' does 90 damage for no energy cost.  With Gyarados's 130HP, which is far above average for a Stage 1 evolved Pokémon, along with {{TCG|Expert Belt}}, Gyarados can prove to be a strong, bulky attacker.

* '''{{TCG ID|Stormfront|Sableye|48}}''' - Sableye is Gyarados's ideal start.  With ''Impersonate'', Sableye can use any {{TCG|Supporter card}} from the player's deck, allowing Gyarados to set up much faster.  ''Impersonate'' is often used to grab {{TCG|Pokémon Collector}}, giving the player access to {{TCG ID|Legends Awakened|Regice|36}}, {{TCG ID|Stormfront|Magikarp|65}}, {{TCG ID|Legends Awakened|Uxie|43}}, and a variety of other Basic Pokémon on their second turn.

==Possible Tech Cards==

* '''{{TCG ID|Platinum|Dialga G LV.X|122}}''' - Dialga G LV.X is a fairly common tech in Gyarados.  When on the Bench, it nullifies all {{TCG|Poké-Body|Poké-Bodies}} in play.  Since Gyarados does not rely on Poké-Bodies, Dialga G LV.X can be a powerful deck against metagame decks that do, such as {{TCG|VileGar}}.

* '''{{TCG|Poké Blower +}}''' - Poké Blower + is used in some Gyarados decks as a means to knock out the opponent's support Pokémon by forcing them up from the Bench and attacking them with {{TCG ID|Stormfront|Gyarados|19}}.  {{TCG|Pokémon Reversal}} is used in some builds as a more luck-based method of doing this. Some players may wish to use {{TCG ID|Rising Rivals|Luxray GL LV.X|109}}; its ''Bright Look'' Poké-Power has the same effect as playing 2 Poké Blower +.