Gyarados archetype (TCG): Difference between revisions

The '''Gyarados archetype''' is a popular deck in the [[Pokémon Trading Card Game]].  After appearing sometime shortly after the release of {{TCG|Stormfront}}, the deck gained recognition and was played heavily during the 2009-2010 [[Play! Pokémon|Pokémon Organized Play]] season.  It placed well in numerous tournaments but saw a decline in use as {{TCG|LuxChomp}} grew in popularity.  Although its merits were frequently discussed, many players moved away from Gyarados as a competitive archetype in favor of decks requiring more finesse, such as {{TCG|Sablelock}} and the aforementioned LuxChomp.  However, after the release of the {{TCG|Triumphant}} expansion late in 2010, Gyarados was seen as more viable than ever due to the inclusion of {{TCG|Junk Arm}} in the new set.  

To get multiple Magikarp in the discard pile, the deck employs {{TCG ID|Legends Awakened|Regice|36}}, {{TCG|Junk Arm}}, and {{TCG|Volkner's Philosophy}}.  Regice's ''Regi Move'' {{TCG|Poké-Power}} forces the opponent to switch out his or her active {{TCG|Basic Pokémon}} with a benched Pokémon, and makes the Gyarados player discard two cards from his or her hand.

Once the Gyarados player has one Gyarados on the field along with as many Magikarp as possible in the discard pile, the deck's strategy is simply to keep Gyarados alive while taking as many prizes as possible.  With {{TCG|Expert Belt}}, Gyarados's ''Tail Revenge'' can do 110 damage, enough to knock out many Pokémon and enough to severely damage all others.  Since ''Tail Revenge'' has no {{TCG|Energy card|Energy cost}}, the deck can afford much more room to situation Trainer and Supporter cards such as {{TCG|Warp Point}}, {{TCG|Seeker}}, and {{TCG|Pokémon Rescue}}.  The deck can afford to use multiple {{TCG|Luxury Ball}}, since Junk Arm's ability to retrieve it allows it to be used again once discarded.  Combinations such as Warp Point and Seeker, which effectively allows the player to return a damage Gyarados to his or her hand, along with Pokémon Rescue and {{TCG|Rescue Energy}} make sure that the Gyarados player can almost always maintain an attacking Pokémon with several Magikarp in the discard pile, allowing for a continous high damage output.

* '''{{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'''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|Legends Awakened|Regice|36}}''' - Regice's {{TCG|Poké-Power}}, ''Regi Move'', allows the Gyarados player to discard two cards from his or her hand to force the opponent to switch out his or her active Basic Pokémon.  In addition to allowing easy discard of multiple {{TCG ID|Stormfront|Magikarp|65}}, ''Regi Move'' can disrupt decks based around {{TCG|Pokémon SP}}, as well as those using a {{TCG ID|Arceus|Spiritomb|32}} {{TCG|Trainer card|Trainer}} lock.

* '''{{TCG|Pokémon Collector}}''' - Pokémon Collector is used to search whatever Basic Pokémon the decks needs at a given time out of the deck.  It can be used with Sableye's ''Impersonate'' and searched with {{TCG|Cyrus's Conspiracy}}, making it a fairly easy card to access.  Early in the game, Pokémon Collector can search for one Regice and two Magikarp, allowing for their immediate discard with ''Regi Move''.  It is a very versatile card that is absolutely crucial in modern Gyarados builds.

* '''{{TCG|Junk Arm}}''' - Although many may not consider Junk Arm a key card, as Gyarados thrived even before its release in the {{TCG|Triumphant}} expansion, it certainly helps the deck.

* '''{{TCG|Pokémon Rescue}}''' -

* '''{{TCG|Rescue Energy}}''' -  

{{decklist/entry|3|{{TCG|Professor Oak's New Theory}}|Supporter||Uncommon}}

{{decklist/entry|2|{{TCG|Team Galactic's Invention G-105 Poké Turn|Poké Turn}}|Trainer||Uncommon}}

{{decklist/entry|3|{{TCG|Pokémon Communication}}|Trainer||Uncommon}}

{{decklist/entry|2|{{TCG|Pokémon Rescue}}|Trainer||Uncommon}}

{{decklist/entry|2|{{TCG|Double Colorless Energy}}|Energy|Colorless|Uncommon}}

{{decklist/entry|1|{{TCG|Warp Energy}}|Energy|Colorless|Uncommon}}

* '''{{TCG ID|Platinum|Dialga G LV.X|122}}''' -  

* '''{{TCG|Poké Blower +}}''' -  

* '''{{TCG|Poké Healer +}}''' -  

* '''{{TCG|Majestic Dawn|Chatot|55}}''' -  

* '''{{TCG|Water Energy}}''' -  

* '''{{TCG|Call Energy}}''' -  

* '''[[Darkness Energy (Special)|Special Darkness Energy]]''' -