The Return of Eternatus!

ムゲンダイナVMAX (Darkness Ablaze) has been one of the best Pokémon Online deck ever since it was first released. It has placed highly at many large PTCGO events, including the Players Cup, and is a simple Pokémon deck to pick up! With the release of Rapid Strike Urshifu VMAX (Battle Styles), many players were expecting ムゲンダイナVMAX to take a fall due to increased competition! The funny thing about PTCG Online events is that nothing lasts forever. ムゲンダイナVMAX is now viable again because Fire-type decks are all the rage, which means it has some favorable matchups in the metagame. I’m trying to say that Eternatus VMAX is a great play right now, and I’m stoked to share my awesome new list!

Most Eternatus VMAX Pokémon Online デッキ run Crushing Hammer (Sword and Shield PTCGO codes), but I went with a different strategy. I went with a Galarian Zigzagoon (Sword and Shield) and Scoop Up Net (Rebel Clash) strategy to help combat the new Victini VMAX (Battle Styles Pokémon TCG Online codes) / Galarian Rapidash V(Promo) Pokémon deck. This new side strategy within the deck gives you a much better matchup spread in our immediate metagame because you can now turn Dread End into a 310 damage attack (instead of 270). Let’s look at the deck:

4 Crobat V SHF 44

4 Eternatus V PR-SW 64

4 Galarian Zigzagoon SHF 151

2 Yveltal TEU 95

4 ムゲンダイナVMAX PR-SW 45

1 Pal Pad SSH 172

2 Energy Spinner UNB 170

1 Phoebe BST 130

4 Quick Ball SSH 179　

3 Pokémon Communication TEU 152

3 Boss's Orders SHF 58

3 Scoop Up Net RCL 165　

4 Professor's Research SHF 60

4 Great Ball CPA 52

4 Marnie SSH 169　

4 Switch SSH 183

9 Darkness Energy SWSHEnergy 7

The goal of ムゲンダイナVMAX is to use Eternal Zone to Bench a bunch of Darkness-type Pokémon and hit for large amounts of damage with Dread End. Luckily for us, this Pokémon Online deck only plays Darkness-type Pokémon, which means we only need to focus on hitting the correct numbers with Dread End. Some of my hot tips include using Crobat V (Shining Fates PTCGO codes) to draw cards every turn with Dark Asset and making sure that you maximize the amount of Pokémon you can play each game. It should be noted it’s usually better to go second with this Pokémon deck, which allows you to use Power Accelerator early in the game to attach extra Energy, but sometimes you want to go first. I’ll explain a bit more of that in the matchups. This PTCGO deck is great for newer players because it’s easy to play, and it’s great for competitive players because it’s a mighty deck! Here are a few other side strategies within the deck.

Every game played with this Pokémon Online deck doesn’t necessarily come down to only using Dread End. There are other strategies that can be used in this deck. It usually does come down to Dread End, but these following techs can help you squeak out a few more wins.

If you’re ever against a “wall” type Pokémon, such as Zamazenta V (Sword and Shield) and Altaria (Champions Path), you can use Phoebe (Battle Styles) to attack through their Ability. If you ever need to attack through two Pokémon with an Ability that stops VMAX Pokémon, you can always use Pal Pad (Sword and Shield) to get back Phoebe.

While this one is more or less grasping at straws, you might find it useful. You can always use Yveltal (Team Up) to discard Special Energy from your opponent's Pokémon, and that could set them back a turn or two. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but setting your opponent behind a turn can be super rewarding.

The following are popular matchups in our current PTCGO metagame, and you’re likely going to hit them at your next event.

This one is difficult because they can use Zamazenta V to wall your ムゲンダイナVMAX, but you can always hit their other Pokémon in play for OHKOs. The end goal is to use Phoebe to OHKO Zamazenta V. Watch out for Cape of Toughness (Darkness Ablaze) because you might need to ping damage with Galarian Zigzagoon, and you can win the game.

This is a newer deck, but it’s the reason why we play the whole Galarian Zigzagoon and Scoop Up Net combo. The goal is to use Headbutt Tantrum four times on a Victini VMAX to bring their HP down to 270. Once their HP is at 270, you can safely use Dread End with a boosted full Bench. It is noted that you should go first in this match to avoid facing a turn two Max Victory on your Eternatus V (Darkness Ablaze) for 220 damage.

I’ll admit it, this matchup sucks, but there is some hope. You can always tech Weakness Guard Energy (Unified Minds) by cutting up to three Darkness Energy, but let’s try and develop a strategy with the list I’ve provided. It’s much better to start the game by going first so that you can try and target down Rapid Strike Urshifu V (Battle Styles) before it Evolves. If you can isolate all of their Fighting-type Pokémon, you might not have to worry about Weakness. Avoid getting OHKOed, but sometimes things happen. It’s a tough matchup, and that's ok.

ムゲンダイナVMAX continues to see success, and this PTCGO list seems like the best version to play in our current Pokémon TCG Online metagame. If you’re looking to pick up any of the PTCGO code cards 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 Pokémon Online deck and offer updates to the archetype as they come along. As I said, right now, this version is hot so give it a whirl.