Eternatus VMAX (TCG)
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Eternatus VMAX was a Pokémon Trading Card Game deck archetype played in the 2020-2021 and 2021-2023 seasons. The deck's strategy revolved around playing as many 
Pokémon to increase the damage of Eternatus VMAX's attack. Eternatus VMAX players have been featured at Top 8 in Players Cup and Players Cup III, as well other relevant spots at Regional events.
Strategy
Eternatus VMAX focused on playing the titular Pokémon, which attacked for 30 damage times the number of Pokémon in play. Its Ability also increased the number of Pokémon that could be put into play as long the player only used Pokémon. This deck benefited from Crobat V's card draw Ability and Galarian Zigzagoon putting damage counters when played from the hand. Other Basic Pokémon that preferably needed only one Energy to attack would be played as secondary attackers.
The archetype suffered from few options for Energy acceleration while the main attacker needed two Energy and gave the opponent three Prize cards when knocked out, less room for strategies other than damaging the active Pokémon, an unfavorable matchup against damage prevention decks such as Decidueye besides lists with Avery and not being able to deal against many TAG TEAM and Pokémon VMAX in one attack. Interest for the deck increased however with the release of Boost Shake, which made Galarian Weezing a more viable partner, and the reprint of Dark Patch. TAG TEAM Pokémon had left the Standard format and decks playing Pokémon VMAX got less common later as well.
An optimal play of this modern version would rely on being in the first turn of the game, have a Koffing in the Active Spot and use Boost Shake to put Galarian Weezing into play. This slowed the opponent's pace as their Pokémon's Abilities stopped working and could even win the game at some situations as long Galarian Weezing was not moved to the Bench. If the player was forced to go second, Shining Fates Koffing also had an attack that let it evolve to a Galarian Weezing from the player's deck.
Key cards
- Eternatus VMAX - Featuring 340 HP, Eternatus VMAX was a sturdy Pokémon. Dread End used two Energy and dealt 30 damage times the number of the player's Pokémon in play. Combined with its Infinity Zone Abilty that allowed to have up to 8 Pokémon in the Bench as long all were -type it could deal up to 270 damage, enough to knock out non-TAG TEAM Basic Pokémon in the format with one attack. For one Energy, its pre-evolution Eternatus V's Power Accelerator attack dealt 30 damage and allowed attaching a Energy from the discard pile to a benched Pokémon, helping to set up the player's board.
- Crobat V - When played from the hand and once per turn, the Dark Asset Ability let the player draw cards until they had 6 into the hand. As its attack needed two Energy and didn't do as much damage to common Pokémon at the time, it would only rarely be used as a backup attacker.
- Galarian Zigzagoon - The player could put a damage counter in one of the opponent's Pokémon when Galarian Zigzagoon was played from the hand, easing the required damage to knock out many Pokémon.
- Galarian Weezing - The Neutralizing Gas Ability stopped the opponent Pokémon's Abilities from working as long it remained in the Active Spot. For one Energy, the Severe Poison attack was also good at knocking out low HP Pokémon or making it easier for subsequent knockouts.
- Hoopa - Secondary attacker from before Galarian Weezing got more viable that dealt 90 damage for one Energy if moved from the Bench to the Active spot in the player's turn. This required Air Balloon or more switching cards as the deck could not afford to retreat most Pokémon and keep its consistency.
- Yveltal - Secondary attacker that had a free retreat cost and could discard a Special Energy from the active Pokémon while it was legal in the format.
- Drapion V - Counter to Mew VMAX decks, could also be used against Rapid Strike Urshifu.
- Radiant Hisuian Sneasler - Its Ability increased Galarian Weezing and rarely Crobat V's poison damage. More played as it was the only Radiant Pokémon, and others could not be put into the deck.
- Boost Shake - Let a Pokémon evolve to one from the deck at any time with the drawback of immediately ending the player's turn. Best used in the first turn of the game.
- Dark Patch - Attached a basic Energy from the discard pile to a Benched Pokémon. This synergized with playing cards that could discard resources from the hand such as Quick Ball as well reattaching Energy cards after a Pokémon was knocked out. Turbo Patch was used before its debut in the format but required a coin flip and only worked for Basic Pokémon.
- Forest Seal Stone - Allowed the Pokémon V it was attached to use an once per game VSTAR Power that searched the deck for any card and put it into the player's hand. As the Ability was not directly given to the Pokémon, effects such as from Path to the Peak or opposing Galarian Weezing did not prevent it from being used.
- Black Market ♢ - While legal in the format, made players take one less prize card by Pokémon knocked out from opposing damage. Other Stadium cards were noticeably common to counter it though, specially Chaotic Swell.
- Capture Energy - Put a Basic Pokémon from the deck into the Bench when played. Played until Galarian Weezing was part of the archetype, as the
Energy it provided could not be used for its attacks.
Typical decklist
Austin Lanham's decklist at Players Cup
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Aidan Khus's decklist at the 2023 Charlotte Regionals
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Possible tech cards
The following cards are often used in ADP in place of certain cards included in the above lists.
- Drapion VSTAR - As the deck already had Drapion V, it could be used for the Hazard Star Ability to paralyze and poison the opposing Pokémon at the drawback of being unable to use Forest Seal Stone.
- Scoop Up Net - Returned Basic Pokémon from awkward placements such as the Active spot to the player's hand and allowed the reuse of Galarian Zigzagoon's Ability.
- Crushing Hammer - Played for the chance to discard Energy cards from the opponent's Pokémon.
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This article is part of Project TCG, a Bulbapedia project that aims to report on every aspect of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. |