High Voltage Strategy

Since the beginning of the Pokemon Trading Card Game there have been a variety of powerful Lightning Type Pokemon. The type has a strong emphasis on fast and powerful attackers to quickly knock out your opponent’s Pokemon.

Charging Up

You need strong support in order to have a strong deck and Energy acceleration is a key part of that plan. Eelektrik NVI has the powerful Ability, Dynamotor, allowing you to attach a Lightning Energy from your discard pile to one of your Benched Pokemon. This allows you to quickly power up your Pokemon without needing to use Rare Candy SSH or three turns to begin the energy acceleration. This is the reason why I consider Eelektrik NVI to be better than a card such as Magnezone FLI in this fast-paced deck.

Drawing Cards

Of course another part of a strong deck is a draw engine and Zebstrika LOT is the best candidate for this. This card is primarily used for its Ability, Sprint, allowing you to discard your hand and draw four cards. This consistency boost is extremely strong for allowing you to set up early and get all of your necessary Pokemon. When nearing the end of the game, Zebstrika LOT becomes even stronger because it allows you to dig for a game-winning gust effect, switch-out, or Energy. While discarding your hand may seem like a large price to pay every turn, it allows you to discard Lightning Energy to later accelerate with the aforementioned Eelektrik NVI. Just make sure to keep a lot of recovery cards in there if the game turns from a Sprint into a marathon!

Powerful Basic Attackers

Of course one of the most important parts of a powerful and consistent deck is attackers and this deck elects to play a good variety for every situation. One of the most powerful and versatile is Zekrom NXD. Its Bolt Strike attack does 120 damage with no restrictions--except doing 40 damage to Zekrom NXD in the process. This is no problem though because its Outrage attack will do more damage for each damage counter on it. This attack is useful as a quick poke for a cheap cost, an easier attack when Zekrom NXD is at low HP, or a powerful counter attack when your opponent fails to knock out this Pokemon.

The deck also has a variety of attackers that are usually weak, but when certain conditions are met, they become powerful for a low cost. Two of the strongest are Xurkitree UNM when your opponent has exactly three Prizes remaining and Zapdos TEU when moved into the Active Spot.

The final “Big Basic Pokemon” is Eelektross UNM. This may not seem like a Basic but all you have to do is put your mind to it and - poof! - it's on the board. Its Electric Swamp Ability allows it to be played directly from your hand onto your Bench if you have at least four Lightning Energy in play. It also allows you to move as many of those Energy cards onto Eelektross UNM as you want, keeping your precious Eelektrik NVI and powering up an extraordinarily strong attacker in one fell swoop.

Efficient Stage 1 Pokemon

When your Basic Pokemon aren’t strong enough to get the job done, there are some powerful evolutions. One of the best choices is Raichu CEC. It’s Powerful Spark attack does damage based on the amount of Energy you have in play. Later on in the game where your opponent has a massive Pokemon built up in the Active, Raichu can rush in and light it up.

Evolving from the same Basic Pokemon, Alolan Raichu UNM is also a strong option. With the use of its Electric Rain attack, it can discard Energy from itself to spread damage out on your opponent’s side of the field or snipe something of importance. Additionally, if you can power this Pokemon up over a few turns with the use of a card like Eelektrik NVI, you can take multiple knockouts in one turn to make a comeback and take the lead.

Shocking Stage 2 Pokemon

While most types use a stage 2 to accelerate Energy or do big damage, Lightning type already has this covered with cards such as Eelektrik NVI, Eelektross UNM, and Lanturn CES. This means that a Stage 2 Pokemon in this deck can fulfill a different role. The best choice for this spot is Ampharos LOT. Although it isn’t played in many Lightning decks at the moment, its ability to damage Benched Pokemon is extremely powerful, especially in a format where a large portion of decks play Pokemon with 50 or less HP. This attack also allows you to take multiple Prizes on your opponents Benched pokemon, something almost unheard of in a single-Prize format and also drastically swinging the Prize trade in your favor. Ampharos LOT’s high HP also allows it to survive a hit. This means that if your opponent can’t take it out quickly, their entire board will quickly be overrun by this Sheep-with-hands. Its Ability, Unseen Flash, is also powerful. It allows you to Lost Zone two Lightning Energy from your hand to Paralyze your opponent’s Active Pokemon buying you a turn to build up more damage and also powering up Raikou LOT’s attack.

Another great option in this deck is Luxray RCL. However the power of this evolutionary line is spread throughout. The Luxio UPR does damage and Item-locks your opponent for only one Energy. This can be used as soon as the first turn of the game going second due to the fact that Shinx UPR has the Evolutionary Advantage Ability allowing it to evolve early. However the Luxray RCL may be the star of the show. Its Raid attack does 160 damage the turn you evolve it and from there it can do 120 damage every turn for only one more attachment.

The Future of Lightning

Lightning Type clearly has a lot of options and they will only increase as time comes. In the next set, Flaaffy EVS will be released. This is identical in effect to Eelektrik NVI which is already a staple in the deck. It also evolves into Ampharos LOT, likely making that a staple as well. The future looks bright for this type and even if it isn’t the most played at the moment, there is more than a spark of hope for Lightning moving forward.

-10types

[expander_maker id="2" more="View Decklist" less="Hide Decklist"] ##Pokémon - 17* 1 Blitzle LOT 81* 1 Mareep LOT 75* 1 Pikachu SSH 65* 1 Shinx UPR 45* 1 Tynamo NVI 39* 1 Xurkitree UNM 70* 1 Zapdos TEU 40* 1 Zekrom NXD 50* 1 Alolan Raichu UNM 57* 1 Eelektrik NVI 40* 1 Flaaffy DAA 56* 1 Luxio UPR 47* 1 Raichu CEC 67* 1 Zebstrika LOT 82* 1 Ampharos LOT 78* 1 Eelektross UNM 66* 1 Luxray RCL 62##Trainer Cards - 31* 1 Ball Guy SHF 57* 1 Cynthia & Caitlin CEC 189* 1 Rescue Stretcher GRI 130* 1 Evolution Incense SSH 163* 1 Ordinary Rod SSH 171* 1 Timer Ball SUM 134* 1 Erika's Hospitality TEU 140* 1 Tate & Liza CES 148* 1 Reset Stamp UNM 206* 1 Nest Ball SUM 123* 1 Quick Ball SSH 179* 1 Evosoda XY 116* 1 Lysandre's Trump Card PHF 99* 1 Cynthia UPR 119* 1 Field Blower GRI 125* 1 Guzma BUS 115* 1 Colress PLS 118* 1 Fighting Fury Belt BKP 99* 1 Boss's Orders SHF 58* 1 Level Ball BST 129* 1 Float Stone PLF 99* 1 Scoop Up Net RCL 165* 1 Ultra Ball SUM 135* 1 N FCO 105* 1 Great Ball CPA 52* 1 Sonia RCL 167* 1 Professor's Research SSH 178* 1 Electropower LOT 172* 1 Marnie SSH 169* 1 Muscle Band XY 121* 1 VS Seeker PHF 109##Energy - 12* 1 Speed Lightning Energy RCL 173* 11 Lightning Energy SWSHEnergy 4Total Cards - 60 [/expander_maker]