In Standard format, Colorless Pokémon are known for their ability to be splashed in any deck, often fulfilling a supporting role. Not in Gym Leader Challenge! Colorless is its own type, with its own identity and its own set of strengths that make it unlike any other type in Gym Leader Challenge. With some of the best draw Support, recovery and the unique ability to accelerate Special Energy into play, Colorless can easily play into aggressive or control style strategies, depending on your preferred play style.
Support Pokémon
Cinccino and Pidgeotto are two of the best draw support Pokémon in Gym Leader Challenge. The newly released Bibarel from Brilliant Stars adds an impressive third draw option for Colorless, allowing you to fill your hand to 5 every turn. When they are both set up, you can see four additional cards off the top of your deck per turn! Delcatty is essential for control builds, allowing you to recover resources from your discard pile, while Porygon-Z fulfills the role of Energy accelerator in attacking lists with its fantastic Crazy Code Ability!
Attackers
The best thing about Colorless attackers is that they all attack for any type of Energy, making it so that they can all take advantage of the amazing Special Energy printed over the years. Three Energy attacks can almost always be used for just a couple Energy attachments thanks to Twin Energy and Double Colorless Energy. With Triple Acceleration Energy, even massive attacks like Aerodactyl‘s Fossil Fangs or Slaking‘s Critical Move are just an Energy attachment away. The most interesting member of this group is Ditto from Pokémon GO, who can copy the attack of another one of your Basic Pokémon!
Decklists
Turbo Energize
Credit: PhoenixFire7127
Snorlax has haters, and for good reason! This card has some HEFTY stats, boasting 150 hit points and an attack that does 180 damage for three Colorless Energy. This list aims to get Snorlax rolling as quickly as possible using Technical Machine: Turbo Energize, then keeps momentum with Mela and Raihan. With Oranguru and Skwovet, you can cycle through your deck three cards at a time until you find Bibarel. When you do, you’ll be drawing through your deck and blasting your opponent with huge Thumping Snores!
Last Update: December 2023
-
1 Bidoof CRZ 111
1 Bibarel BRS 121
1 Cyclizar PAR 157
1 Kangaskhan DAA 133
1 Lugia CEL 22
1 Oranguru SUM 113
1 Skwovet SVI 151
1 Snorlax LOR 143
1 Adventure Bag LOT 167
1 Battle Compressor Team Flare Gear PHF 92
1 Battle VIP Pass FST 225
1 Escape Rope BST 125
1 Field Blower GRI 125
1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
1 Nest Ball SVI 181
1 Pal Pad SVI 182
1 Pokégear 3.0 SVI 186
1 Quick Ball FST 237
1 Rescue Stretcher GRI 130
1 Reset Stamp UNM 206
1 Revive ROS 88
1 Rotom Phone CPA 64
1 Scoop Up Net RCL 165
1 Special Charge STS 105
1 Tag Call CEC 206
1 Town Map BKT 150
1 Trainers' Mail ROS 92
1 Ultra Ball SVI 196
1 VS Seeker PHF 109
1 Fighting Fury Belt BKP 99
1 Luxurious Cape PAR 166
1 Muscle Band XY 121
1 Technical Machine: Turbo Energize PAR 179
1 U-Turn Board UNM 211
1 Artazon PAL 171
1 Parallel City BKT 145
1 Arven SVI 166
1 Bird Keeper DAA 159
1 Boss's Orders (Ghetsis) PAL 172
1 Cynthia & Caitlin CEC 189
1 Guzma BUS 115
1 Guzma & Hala CEC 193
1 Hex Maniac AOR 75
1 Iono PAL 185
1 Mallow GRI 127
1 Mallow & Lana CEC 198
1 Mela PAR 167
1 Peony CRE 150
1 Raihan CRZ 140
1 Gift Energy LOR 171
4 Fire Energy CRZ 153
1 Capture Energy RCL 171
1 Double Colorless Energy SLG 69
1 Double Turbo Energy BRS 151
1 Powerful Colorless Energy DAA 176
1 Therapeutic Energy PAL 193
1 Twin Energy RCL 174
Slaking
This list takes inspiration from the Turbo Energize Snorlax deck but features Slaking from Celestial Storm! Slaking is a total beast of a Pokémon card, rocking 160 HP and doing 160 damage for three Colorless Energy. What makes this card worth setting up though, is it’s Lazy Ability. Lazy turns off the opponent’s Abilities so long as Slaking is in the Active spot. Use Slaking to take a well timed KO and there’s a good chance your opponent will have no response!
Last Update: December 2023
Credit: Tricky Gym
-
1 Bidoof CRZ 111
1 Bibarel BRS 121
1 Cyclizar PAR 157
1 Lugia CEL 22
1 Oranguru SUM 113
1 Skwovet SVI 151
1 Slakoth CES 113
1 Vigoroth EVS 130
1 Slaking CES 115
1 Snorlax LOR 143
1 Tauros CRE 115
1 Battle VIP Pass FST 225
1 Energy Loto ASR 140
1 Escape Rope BST 125
1 Evolution Incense SSH 163
1 Evosoda GEN 62
1 Field Blower GRI 125
1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
1 Lana's Fishing Rod CEC 195
1 Nest Ball SVI 181
1 Pokégear 3.0 SVI 186
1 Quick Ball FST 237
1 Rare Candy SVI 191
1 Rescue Stretcher GRI 130
1 Special Charge STS 105
1 Tag Call CEC 206
1 Timer Ball SUM 134
1 Town Map BKT 150
1 Trainers' Mail ROS 92
1 Ultra Ball SVI 196
1 VS Seeker PHF 109
1 Bravery Charm PAL 173
1 Float Stone BKT 137
1 Luxurious Cape PAR 166
1 Technical Machine: Turbo Energize PAR 179
1 Artazon PAL 171
1 Parallel City BKT 145
1 Arven OBF 186
1 Boss's Orders (Ghetsis) PAL 172
1 Cynthia & Caitlin CEC 189
1 Gloria BRS 141
1 Guzma BUS 115
1 Guzma & Hala CEC 193
1 Iono PAL 185
1 Mela PAR 167
1 N FCO 105
1 Professor's Research (Professor Sada) SVI 189
1 Raihan CRZ 140
1 Tate & Liza CES 148
1 Winona ROS 96
4 Fire Energy CRZ 153
1 Capture Energy RCL 171
1 Double Colorless Energy SLG 69
1 Double Turbo Energy BRS 151
1 Powerful Colorless Energy DAA 176
1 Therapeutic Energy PAL 193
1 Twin Energy RCL 174
Double Devolution
Credit: Castela
Technical Machine: Devolution is a powerful card, allowing you to devolve your opponent’s Pokémon by placing the highest evolution card into their hand. With Bunnelby from Primal Clash, you can devolve your opponent’s Pokémon twice in the same turn thanks to its Omega Barrage Ancient Trait. That means you can reduce a fully evolved Torterra with 190 HP to a lowly Turtwig in a single turn! Spread damage with Spinda, Hisuian Braviary and Iron Jugulis until you are ready to devolve your opponent’s Pokémon. Then double devolve your way to victory!
Last Update: December 2023
-
1 Bidoof CRZ 111
1 Bibarel BRS 121
1 Bunnelby PRC 121
1 Ditto CRZ 107
1 Iron Jugulis PAR 158
1 Oranguru SUM 113
1 Rufflet DRX 111
1 Hisuian Braviary SIT 149
1 Skwovet SVI 151
1 Snorlax LOR 143
1 Spinda SIT 141
1 Battle VIP Pass FST 225
1 Counter Catcher PAR 160
1 Escape Rope BST 125
1 Evolution Incense SSH 163
1 Field Blower GRI 125
1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
1 Lana's Fishing Rod CEC 195
1 Level Ball BST 129
1 Nest Ball SVI 181
1 Pokégear 3.0 SVI 186
1 Professor's Letter BKT 146
1 Quick Ball FST 237
1 Rescue Stretcher GRI 130
1 Trainers' Mail ROS 92
1 Ultra Ball SVI 196
1 VS Seeker PHF 109
1 Counter Gain LOT 170
1 Float Stone BKT 137
1 Technical Machine: Blindside PAR 176
1 Technical Machine: Devolution PAR 177
1 U-Turn Board UNM 211
1 Artazon PAL 171
1 Silent Lab PRC 140
1 Arven OBF 186
1 Colress PLS 118
1 Cynthia UPR 119
1 Guzma BUS 115
1 Guzma & Hala CEC 193
1 Hex Maniac AOR 75
1 Iono PAL 185
1 Klara CRE 145
1 Lt. Surge's Strategy HIF 60
1 Marnie CPA 56
1 Mela PAR 167
1 N FCO 105
1 Raihan CRZ 140
1 Welder UNB 189
1 Winona ROS 96
4 Fire Energy XY 133
1 Capture Energy RCL 171
1 Counter Energy CIN 100
1 Double Colorless Energy SLG 69
1 Gift Energy LOR 171
1 Jet Energy PAL 190
1 Powerful Colorless Energy DAA 176
1 Twin Energy RCL 174
Looking for more ideas or feedback on your deck?
Head over to Tricky Gym Discord’s glc-decklists channel for threads on every archetype to discuss strategy, get suggestions, and browse decklists!
Some brave Gym Leaders like to try and create thematic decks within their specific type. While Porygon, Lugia and Tornadus are not exactly birds, they really help this bird-focused deck to take flight! Try using Pelliper’s Hearsay Ability to search out Bird Keeper so that you can use Swanna’s Feather Slice attack for free!
Last Update: December 2023
-
1 Doduo MEW 84
1 Dodrio MEW 85
1 Ducklett DAA 148
1 Swanna DAA 149
1 Farfetch'd TEU 127
1 Lugia CEL 22
1 Pidgey MEW 16
1 Pidgeotto TEU 123
1 Porygon PAR 142
1 Porygon2 CRE 117
1 Porygon-Z UNB 157
1 Tornadus VIV 142
1 Wingull PAL 158
1 Pelipper PAL 159
1 Battle VIP Pass FST 225
1 Escape Rope BST 125
1 Evolution Incense SSH 163
1 Field Blower GRI 125
1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
1 Level Ball BST 129
1 Nest Ball SVI 181
1 Rare Candy SVI 191
1 Rescue Stretcher GRI 130
1 Scoop Up Net RCL 165
1 Special Charge STS 105
1 Super Rod PAL 188
1 Tag Call CEC 206
1 Timer Ball SUM 134
1 Trainers' Mail ROS 92
1 VS Seeker PHF 109
1 Flyinium Z: Air Slash UNM 195
1 Muscle Band XY 121
1 Technical Machine: Evolution PAR 178
1 U-Turn Board UNM 211
1 Chaotic Swell CEC 187
1 Parallel City BKT 145
1 Arven OBF 186
1 Bird Keeper DAA 159
1 Boss's Orders (Ghetsis) PAL 172
1 Colress PLS 118
1 Cynthia & Caitlin CEC 189
1 Guzma BUS 115
1 Guzma & Hala CEC 193
1 Hex Maniac AOR 75
1 Iono PAL 185
1 N FCO 105
1 Teammates PRC 141
1 Winona ROS 96
1 Gift Energy LOR 171
1 Capture Energy RCL 171
1 Counter Energy CIN 100
1 Double Colorless Energy SLG 69
1 Double Turbo Energy BRS 151
1 Jet Energy PAL 190
1 Powerful Colorless Energy DAA 176
1 Rainbow Energy CES 151
1 Recycle Energy UNM 212
1 Reversal Energy PAL 192
1 Triple Acceleration Energy UNB 190
1 Twin Energy RCL 174
Colorless Birds
Credit: birdkeepermatthew