Queendom (TCG)

Queendom
NidoqueenEXFireRedLeafGreen9.jpg
PidgeotEXFireRedLeafGreen10.jpg
Nidoqueen and Pidgeot
Types used FightingColorlessGrassWater
Major cards Nidoqueen, Pidgeot
Era 2004-2006

Queendom was a popular competitive deck in the Pokémon Trading Card Game during the 2004/2005 season. The deck was widely accepted as one of, if not the, best decks in the game, and even won a World Championship title, the highest possible honor for a player and their deck. Although the deck is now banned from Play! Pokémon, due to the Rotation of the deck's key cards, it still remains a staple deck in the history of competitive Pokémon TCG playing.

History

The deck is presumed to have been created some time in 2004, chiefly developed by Pablo Meza, Jeremy Maron, and Adam Capriola, three of the top players in the world at the time. Especially notable is Maron, who won Worlds with Queendom that year and finished with a Premier Rating of 2001.00, fifth in the world at the time. Meza also placed third in Worlds that year, also with Queendom.

After coming up with the idea for the deck, Meza, Maron, and Capriola playtested the deck intensely for months against almost every possible archetype of the time, so as to assure that Queendom had no unforeseen weaknesses. This clearly paid off, as the deck took two of the top three spots at the World Championships that season.

Strategy

Like many of the best decks in the game's history, the strategy of Queendom is fairly straightforward. Pidgey is the ideal start so that the player can get a Pidgeot out as soon as possible. Pidgeot's Quick Search Pokémon Power reads that "Once during your turn (before your attack), you may choose any 1 card from your deck and put it into your hand." As can be assumed, this was chiefly used for setting up in the early game, and for getting any other cards needed in the late game. Quick Search in this deck was mainly meant to be used to set up at least one Nidoqueen as quickly as possible.

Nidoqueen is the deck's main attacker and cornerstone. In fact, the deck's name is clearly derived from Nidoqueen. Nidoqueen has two powerful attacks, Toxic and Power Lariat. Toxic Poisons the Defending Pokémon for only one   energy. However, Toxic was especially good because instead of placing one damage counter on the Defending Pokémon between turns, like typical poison, it placed two damage counters. This was extremely good for the time. Power Lariat did more damage based on the number of Evolved Pokémon the Queendom player had in play. For an energy cost of only    , it could do up to 90 damage. Again, this was spectacular for the time. Since Pidgeot's Quick Search helps the Queendom player evolve their Pokémon quickly, Power Lariat was an especially effective combo with Pidgeot.

In essence, the basic strategy of the deck is to use Quick Search and other effects to get out a Nidoqueen and other evolutions attacking as quickly as possible.

Cards

Key Cards

  • Nidoqueen is, as mentioned above, the main attacking Pokémon in the deck.
  • Pidgeot can use its Quick Search Pokémon Power to set up a Nidoqueen and supporting Pokémon, such as additional Nidoqueen or Pidgeot.
  • Milotic uses its Healing Shower Pokémon Power to heal damage off both players' Pokémon. This was extremely helpful in certain matchups of the day, including RockLock.

Other Pokémon

  • Pidgey is chiefly there to evolve into Pidgeot at some point. If necessary, Pidgey can also stall in the early game with its Corner attack, which prevents the Defending Pokémon from retreating.
  • Pidgeotto also functions solely to evolve into Pidgeot.
  • Nidoran♀ is, again, there to evolve into Nidoqueen. Its Call For Friends attack also makes it a viable starting Pokémon, since Basic Pokémon are a significant part of the deck's success.
  • Nidorina actually has a purpose other than evolving. Its Fast Evolution attack allows the player to search their deck for up to two evolution cards and add them to their hand. This is especially useful in Queendom because a centerpiece of the deck is, in fact, the concept of "fast evolution" so as to power up Nidoqueen's Power Lariat attack.
  • Feebas is there for the sole purpose of evolving into Milotic.

Other Trainers/Supporters

Energy Cards

  • Grass Energy is used to power Nidoqueen's Toxic attack.
  • Double Rainbow Energy speeds up the deck by decreasing the number of energy cards needed by Nidoqueen to attack, since it's basically two energy for the price of one.
  • Heal Energy simply is useful for healing 10 damage off a Pokémon. Since 10 damage can make the difference between another turn to live or a knockout, this is a helpful card.
  • Fighting Energy simply provides the energy needed for Nidoqueen's Lariat attack.

2005 World Championships Queendom Deck

Queendom
 
Box art
Types used   
Major cards Nidoqueen, Pidgeot, Milotic

Queendom is also the name of the deck used by Jeremy Maron, Fifteen and Over Division Champion in the 2005 World Championships. It is one of the four 2005 World Championships Decks, released on October 31st, 2005. Each deck comes packaged with a 2005 World Championships Booklet. Each card features a silver border, Maron's signature, and limited edition 2005 World Championships back. None of the cards are tournament legal.

Description

Jeremy Maron built a powerhouse of a deck! Nidoqueen for power, Pidgeot for card drawing, and Milotic for surprises. Nidoqueen's Power Lariat Knock Out your opponent's Pokémon, drawing strength from your Evolved Pokémon on the Bench and warming your Bench up for the battle!

Deck list

The deck list below is based on Maron's deck from the World Championships. A player may wish to change any part of this deck when building his or her own version.

Quantity Card Type Rarity
Nidoran♀    
Nidorina    
Nidoqueen    
Pidgey    
Pidgeotto    
Pidgeot    
Feebas    
Milotic    
Celio's Network T [Su]  
Copycat T [Su]  
Desert Ruins T [St]  
Great Ball T  
Mr. Briney's Compassion T [Su]  
Rare Candy T  
Rocket's Admin. T [Su]  
Steven's Advice T [Su]  
Heal Energy   E  
Double Rainbow Energy   E  
Fighting Energy   E
Grass Energy   E


Restriction

Since literally all the cards in the deck have been rotated out since the height of the deck's popularity, the deck is unplayable in sanctioned tournaments. Various "new-age" versions of the deck have been tried, centered around other Nidoqueen cards, but none have been quite so successful as the deck that won the 2005 World Championships.

See also

Internal

External



Pokémon World Championships
Pokémon Trading Card Game only 2004-2008; TCG and Video Games 2009-on
2004: Blaziken TechMagma SpiritRocky BeachTeam Rushdown
2005: Bright AuraDark TyranitarKing of the WestQueendom
2006: B-L-SEeveelutionsMewtrickSuns & Moons
2007: FlyveesLegendary AscentRamboltSwift Empoleon
2008: Bliss ControlEmpotechIntimidationPsychic Lock
2009: StallgonCrowned TigerQueengarLuxdrill
2010: LuxChomp of the SpiritHappy LuckPower CottonweedBoltevoir
2011: MegazoneReshiphlosionThe TruthTwinboar
2012: Pesadelo PrismTerraki-MewtwoEeltwoCMT
2013: Anguille Sous RocheAmerican GothicDarkraiUltimate Team Plasma
2014: Plasma PowerTrevgorEmerald KingCrazy Punch
2015: The Flying HammerPunches 'n' BitesHonorStoisePrimal Groudon
2016: Black DragonBebe DeckMagical SymphonyNinja Blitz
2017: Infinite ForceGolisodorIce Path FTWSamurai Sniper
2018: Victory MapDragones y SombrasGarbanetteBuzzroc
2019: Pikarom JudgeFire BoxMind BlownPerfection
2022: ADPThe Shape of MewCheryl AgainIce Rider Palkia
2023: Mew's RevengePsychic EleganceColorless LugiaLost Box Kyogre
2024:
Champions Jason KlaczynskiJun HasebeRay Rizzo



  This article is part of Project TCG, a Bulbapedia project that aims to report on every aspect of the Pokémon Trading Card Game.