Dashing to Victory: Victini Rapidash

Victini VMAX (Battle Styles) is a newer archetype, and it has already had its highs and lows, but it seems to be back on top. Nobody was really expecting this, but it happened after Koichi Kimura was able to win the massive Chill TCG event with a new version of the deck. That new version played ガラルギャロップ V (Promo), which was recently released because it can utilize Libra Horn to target OHKOs. Most members of the community are currently playing this new exciting Pokémon deck. First, let’s look at Kimura’s winning deck.

This is the deck that started the whole Victini VMAX trend! I think Kimura originally played this Pokémon deck at a smaller event before winning Chill TCG and recently placed second at the Sunday Open. So yeah, the deck is that good! Quite a few players have taken this deck into their own hands, but let’s look at the original list that started it all.

1 Crobat V SHF 44

1 Heatran-GX UNM 25

1 Reshiram & Charizard-GX UNB 20

3 Victini V SSH 25

3 Victini VMAX BST 22

1 Eldegoss V CPA 5

2 Dedenne-GX UNB 57

4 Jirachi PR-SM 161

2 ガラルギャロップ V PR-SW 111

1 Giratina UNM 86

4 Welder UNB 189

3 Boss's Orders SHF 58

4 Pokémon Communication TEU 152

4 Switch SSH 183

4 Quick Ball SSH 179　

4 Scoop Up Net RCL 165　

2 Reset Stamp UNM 206

2 Air Balloon SSH 156　

3 Giant Hearth UNM 197

11 Fire Energy Energy 2

The strategy of this Pokémon deck is to use Libra Horn to bring down the HP of Pokémon that can’t get OHKOed by Victini VMAX’s Max Victory attack. I tend to use Libra Horn against Tag Team attackers, such as Pikachu & Zekrom-GX (Team Up), because that allows Max Victory to hit an OHKO. The rest of the deck focuses on using Max Victory against V Pokémon for OHKOs because most V Pokémon get OHKOed by Max Victory. This strategy is simple, but Libra Horn can make this deck have more decisions than most other Victini players are used to. Other notable attacking Pokémon in this deck include Reshiram & Charizard-GX (Unbroken Bonds) and Heatran-GX (Unified Minds). Reshiram & Charizard-GX is a great attacker against Zamazenta V (Sword and Shield) because you can get through Dauntless Shield, and Heatran-GX can score a quick OHKO out of nowhere. Giratina (Unified Minds) is a great way to remove Coating Metal Energy (Vivid Voltage) from Metal-type Pokémon, and the Jirachi (Team Up) engine seems to be the best way to run this deck. After playing around with this deck for a little bit, there are a few cards that I want to add to the deck myself. Let’s check out my updated list.

1 Crobat V SHF 44

1 Heatran-GX UNM 25

1 Reshiram & Charizard-GX PR-SM 201

3 Victini V SSH 25

3 Victini VMAX BST 22

1 Eldegoss V CPA 5

2 Dedenne-GX UNB 195

4 Jirachi PR-SM 161

2 ガラルギャロップ V PR-SW 111

1 Giratina UNM 86

1 Mew PR-SM 215

3 Giant Hearth UNM 197

4 Welder UNB 189

4 Quick Ball SSH 179　

1 Tool Jammer BST 136

4 Pokémon Communication TEU 152

3 Boss's Orders SHF 58

1 Fire Crystal UNB 173

4 Scoop Up Net RCL 165　

1 Reset Stamp UNM 206

4 Switch SSH 183

11 Fire Energy SWSH Energy 2

There are a few notable differences between the list that Kimura won with and the updated list that I’ve provided. I’ve included a copy of Tool Jammer (Battle Styles) to help get around pesky Pokémon Tool cards, like Big Charm (Sword and Shield), that can mess with Max Victory math. I’ve also taken the idea of adding Mew (Unbroken Bonds) in this deck from Kimura’s Sunday Open Finalist list because that can improve the Rapid Strike Urshifu VMAX (Battle Styles) matchup by preventing G Max Rapid Flow to your Benched Pokémon. The last card that I added to the deck is Fire Crystal (Unbroken Bonds), which helped me utilize Welder (Unbroken Bonds) even more. The changes I��ve made are minimal, but they bring the deck closer to perfection. Like I stated earlier, this deck is an emerging archetype, and the perfect lists are still getting formed. I’ve been debating on adding in a Cramorant V(Sword and Shield) to help snipe Pokémon like Dedenne-GX (Unbroken Bonds), but I still need more time to test this deck.

Victini VMAX / ガラルギャロップ V is one of the newest Pokémon Online decks in our PTCGO metagame, and it seems to be doing amazing at Pokémon events! If you’re looking to pick up any of the PTCGO codes for this deck, use code zlesage5 at PTCGO Store to save 5% on all of your Pokémon needs. I will continue to play with this deck and offer updates to the archetype as they come along. Like I said, right now, this version looks great, so feel free to give it a try!