How To Play The Arceus VSTAR Deck In The Pokemon TCG

Everyone will remember the Sword and Shield era of Pokémon Trading Card Game as the one who had the best decks of all time. However, what happens with all the best decks of this era, like The Lost Zone Toolbox, Mew VMAX or Urshifu Rapid Strike VMAX, is that they are very complicated and situational.

Related: Pokemon TCG: What Are VSTAR Cards?

But then, out of nowhere, The God of All Pokemon invaded the metagame. Thanks to its versatility, simple but effective mechanics, and ability to work like a charm with any decent offensive card strategy, Arceus VSTAR is a dangerous threat and everyone should be aware of them.

Updated May 22, 2023, by Jesus Cross: Every time the Pokemon enters a new generation, so does the TCG, changing the standard card rotation and removing many old cards and mechanics to swap them out with new ones. Most of the stuff you saw during the latter stages of the Sword and Shield era is still with us, but older cards like the entire Shady Dealings engine, Quick Ball, Scoop Up Net, and Evolution Incense are now out of use. rotation, which means that each deck has to change its strategy and resources. But don’t worry, the decks you know and love can still be used, but they will have a lot of changes and you will have to adapt a little bit to them.

Arceus VSTAR changes to Scarlet & Violet

The main companion of Arceus VSTAR, Inteleon, gone. This means that Arceus will again have to rely on other teammates, which changes this deck’s playstyle.

Although VSTAR Arceus is still the protagonist, and the main card of the deck, this time, it will need help to face the common problems of the Scarlet & Violet meta. This is why you will commonly see Arceus accompanied by Umbreon VMAX and Duraludon VMAX. They can cover almost any difficulty you might encounter out there.

Arceus VSTAR Decklist

Arceus VSTAR Deck Keycards

Let’s take a look at all the most important cards in this deck.

Arceus VSTAR

The face of this deck is Arceus VSTAR. The best thing about it is that you can mix it with almost every card and strategy available in the metagame. This time, Arceus VSTAR will be around top cards like Alolan Vulpix VSTAR and Duraludon VMAX, working as the main damage dealer in a standard situation.

Arceus will deal 200 damage each turn with its attack, Trinity Nova. This move is great because it allows you to choose and attach up to three Basic Energy to any other Pokemon V, which works to set up another Benched Arceus VSTAR during the attack.

Arceus VSTAR’s ability, Starbirth, will also help you set it up to attack on its second turn, as Starbirth allows you to search your deck for two cards. With this skill, you can search for a Double Turbo Energy and another card that can help you at the beginning of the game, such as Boss’s orders to start claiming reward cards as soon as possible.

Duraludon VMAX

Duraludon V and Duraludon VMAX are in this deck as they will be responsible for tanking damage from high damage decks and decks that use special energy cardslike Lugia VSTAR, Eternatus VMAX or a mirror match against Arceus.

Duraludon has an ability called skyscraperwhich prevents all damage done by Pokémon that have Special Energy cards attached to them.

Also, Duraludon VMAX can do a very decent 220 damage with its G-Max spray, which also ignores any extra effects that reduce damage on the target. Briefly, will always deal 220 damage or moredepending on whether you attach a Choice Belt to Duraludon.

Umbreon VMAX

At first sight, Umbreon VMAX doesn’t seem to be a reliable option to be the offensive powerhouse of this deck. Duraludon will be in charge of doing the dirty work, but Umbreon will enter very convenient in cases where you are playing against Gardevoir ex or Mew VMAX.

In addition to being a Dark-type, which gives it extra damage against these two decks, Umbreon VMAX has a great ability called Dark Signthat if you use Umbreon VMAX from your hand to evolve Umbreon V, you can force your opponent to switch out their active pokemon to anyone else in your bank.

Basically, you have a free boss orders when you want. It’s great if you want to focus on Benched Pokemon, or if you want to get rid of your opponent’s Active Pokemon.

Double Turbo Energy

Double Turbo Energy is vital to this strategy, as it gives two colorless Energy to the Pokémon attached to it. You must find and attach it to the Arceus VSTAR as soon as possible.

Clear, this card has a notorious drawbackas it causes Arceus to deal 180 damage instead of 200, but as a trade-off, you can potentially start attacking on your second turn, before your opponent has time to actually set up their board, which is priceless.

Colress and Lost City Experience

Even if you are not using Lost Zone in this deck, both Colress experiment and lost CitYou are very useful in this deck, and for many reasons.

The Colress Experiment will be an easy way to draw cards from your deck into your hand. This is very useful as you won’t have many options to keep cards flowing except for top deck and Lumineon V.

On the other hand, Lost City it’s a great stadium for deny any strategy with Miriam, a card that can revive the Pokémon that is defeated and goes to the discard pile. With Lost City, if a player defeats a Pokémon, it will go to the Lost Zone instead of the Discard Pile.

Judge

You will have to get used to seeing Judge in multiple decks, as it’s great for getting rid of those players with decks that involve having a lot of cards in hand.

With the Judge, each player have to send their cards to the deck and draw four cards. It’s ideal for when you’re stuck and your opponent has 10 or more cards in their hand.

Karen’s Conviction

With Karen’s Convictionduring a turn, all Single Strike cards (such as Duraludon and Umbreon) will be deal an additional 20 damage for each Prize Card your opponent has taken.

It’s very important to use this card when things are getting tough and your opponent has taken a lot of prize cards, so you can turn the game in your favor.

Arceus VSTAR Strategy

It’s important to always try to go first. Otherwise, it will be very difficult to win a match, as this deck relies heavily on attack in the first few turns.

The first round will focus on studying your opponent’s deck to draw the cards you need. If you are facing a Mew VMAX or a Gardevoir ex deck then you will have to focus on drawing Arceus and Umbreon. Otherwise, go to Arceus and Duraludon.

Since you found all the cards, the rest will be very simple; match them with energy cardsso they are ready to pounce and try to fit in Arceus VSTAR with Double Turbo Energy.

Don’t hesitate to use Lost City if your opponent is trying to take advantage of Stadium cards, and use Judge if you want to get rid of your opponent’s cards.

Setup is very simple, which is why you should be able to do this in a single turn to start attacking in turn two. Also, you have good resources to avoid being hit and heal your pokemon a littlethanks to Radiant Alakazam, Boss Orders, Escape Rope and Switch.

Common Arceus VSTAR Threats

This deck will have a lot of problems if it doesn’t start first., as it doesn’t have a very reliable way to counter strategies if it doesn’t outrun them. If you don’t attack from the second round, you will be left behind.

Other than that, this deck can take on most common threats out there like Lost Box, Lugia, or Gardevoir. It’s just a matter of setting up ASAP and then attacking. Even cards that focus on blocking abilities will have a bad time against this deck, as Duraludon is more than capable of sweeping. those Klefki cards and Galarian Weezing without sweating.

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