VileGar (TCG): Difference between revisions

The deck utilized a combination of drawing effects, such as {{TCG ID|Legends Awakened|Uxie|43}} and {{TCG|Professor Oak's New Theory}}, in combination with searching effects, such as {{TCG|Bebe's Search}} and {{TCG|Pokémon Collector}}, to get out at least one Vileplume and {{TCG ID|Stormfront|Gengar|18}} in play as soon as possible.  Vileplume kept the Trainer lock on with its ''Allergy Flower'' Poké-Body, while Gengar was the deck's main attacker.  Its synergy with Vileplume stemmed from its ''Poltergeist'' attack, which, for {{e|Psychic}}{{e|Colorless}}, did 30 damage to the Defending Pokémon for each Trainer, {{TCG|Supporter card|Supporter}}, and {{TCG|Stadium card}} in the opponent's hand.  Since ''Allergy Flower'' prevented the opponent from playing Trainers, they often were forced to hold them in hand, allowing ''Poltergeist'' to do a large amount of damage.

* '''{{TCG ID|Stormfront|Gengar|18}}''' - Gengar was the deck's main attacker.  Since Spiritomb and Vileplume caused the opponent to accumulate {{TCG|Trainer card}}s in his or her hand, Gengar's ''Poltergeist'' attack could do a tremendous amount of damage.  Additionally, Gengar was often able to take easy prizes off the opponent's bench with ''Shadow Room'' which, for {{e|Psychic}}, placed six damage counters on an opponent's Pokémon that had any Poké-Powers (or three damage counters on a Pokémon ''without'' Poké-Powers).  Gengar also possesses the ''Fainting Spell'' Poké-Power, which allows a 50% chance that an opponent's Pokémon knocking out Gengar will be knocked out as well.

* '''{{TCG ID|Undaunted|Vileplume|24}}''' - Vileplume slows the opponent by preventing him or her from playing Trainer cards.  It also allows for Gengar to do more damage with ''Poltergeist'' by forcing the opponent to build up Trainer cards in his or her hand.

* '''{{TCG ID|Arceus|Spiritomb|32}}''' - Spiritomb is the deck's ideal start, and, by preventing the opponent from playing Trainer cards with its ''Keystone Seal'' Poké-Body, provides the VileGar player with ample time to set up.  For no energy cost, Spiritomb can also use ''Darkness Grace'' to evolve one of the player's benched Pokémon.  In a deck running two large evolution lines, this is a very beneficial effect.  It allows the VileGar player to avoid devoting resources to getting a Vileplume up and running that could instead be devoted to Gengar.

* '''{{TCG|Pokémon Collector}}''' - Pokémon Collector is critical early in the game, since it allows the VileGar player to immediately search out several Basic Pokémon with which to either assist with set up or begin evolving immediately.  Often, a bad start will be rectified through Pokémon Collector by searching out {{TCG ID|Arceus|Spiritomb|32}}, {{TCG ID|Majestic Dawn|Unown Q|49}}, and either {{TCG ID|Stormfront|Gastly|62}} or {{TCG ID|Undaunted|Oddish|60}}.  If the VileGar player starts with Spiritomb, Pokémon Collector is generally used to search for {{TCG ID|Stormfront|Gastly|62}}, {{TCG ID|Undaunted|Oddish|60}}, and {{TCG ID|Legends Awakened|Uxie|43}}.  Pokémon Collector is arguably the deck's most important card for setting up.

* '''{{TCG|Broken Time-Space}}''' - Since the deck only runs two copies of {{TCG|Rare Candy}}, as Spiritomb and Vileplume ''also'' block the VileGar player from playing Trainers, Broken Time-Space is the deck's most reliable method of quick evolution.  This is why the deck runs 4-3-3 and 2-2-2 Gengar and Vileplume lines, respectively, instead of the 4-2-3 (or similar line) run in many stage-2-centric decks.

* '''{{TCG|Call Energy}}''' - Call Energy is critical in allowing the VileGar player to setup as quickly as possible.  Although it prevents the player from attacking with ''Darkness Grace'' or ''Pitch Dark'' early in the game, Call Energy provides a way to get benched Pokémon apart from Pokémon Collector.

''The following cards are often used in VileGar in place of certain cards included in the above list.''

* '''{{TCG ID|Legends Awakened|Mewtwo LV.X|144}}''' - Mewtwo LV.X is occasionally used as a tech in VileGar to provide a more certain way to win against {{TCG|LuxChomp}} and other {{TCG|Pokémon SP}}-based decks.  However, a Mewtwo LV.X tech is uncommon, as VileGar does not have a poor matchup against SP decks to begin with.

* '''{{TCG ID|Legends Awakened|Azelf|19}}''' - Although Azelf, like Mewtwo LV.X, is an uncommon tech, it is occasionally used in conservative builds to deal with the unlikely occurrence that all of a needed card are prized.

* '''{{TCG ID|Platinum|Crobat G|47}}''' - Since VileGar's premise is based on a Trainer lock, {{TCG|Team Galactic's Invention G-105 Poké Turn|Poké Turn}} is virtually never used in the deck.  Hence, Crobat G's usefulness plummets.  However, it is still sometimes used in the deck to put more Pokémon within the range of {{TCG ID|Stormfront|Gengar|18}}'s ''Shadow Room'' attack.