Whether you’re a battle worn veteran like Lt. Surge or a supermodel like Elesa, Lightning type Pokémon are sure to serve you well in your Gym Leader Challenge adventures! True to their speedy form, Lightning Pokémon have access to some of the fastest attacks and strongest draw support Abilities available in Gym Leader Challenge. With multiple ways to accelerate Energy into play as well, you’ll be sprinting through your deck and launching powerful attacks that are sure to leave your opponents shocked before they have a chance to set up!
Support Pokémon
Something that sets Lightning apart from other types is that it has many amazing Stage 1 support Pokémon, which makes it a generally low maintenance and quick archetype. Both Flaaffy and Eelektrik rock the Dynamotor Ability, allowing them to charge Energy from the discard to your various attackers. Electrode and Zebstrika both have Abilities that draw cards, and since they are easy to set up early, Lightning is a type that can reach the bottom of the deck with relative ease. Since Zebstrika‘s Sprint will have you discarding your hand multiple times a game, recovery cards are generally important in most Lightning type builds.
Attackers
Of any type in Gym Leader Challenge, Lightning is most notorious for ending games quickly. Zapdos is one of the best leads in the format, threatening an easy 80 damage on the first turn of the game with its Thunderous Assault attack. Even if Zapdos doesn’t take a KO, it can help set up numbers for Regieleki, Raichu, or Electivire (BRS), all of which have phenomenal but pricey spread attacks. Since Zapdos is so low maintenance, a common strategy is to lead Zapdos while you build up more powerful attacks on the Bench with Dynamotor.
Decklists
Spread
Source: Alex Carpenter
FGG Lightning Badge 2026 Season - 07/2025
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1 Blitzle SSP 62
1 Zebstrika LOT 82
1 Electabuzz EVO 41
1 Electivire BRS 47
1 Mareep TEU 41
1 Flaaffy EVS 55
1 Morpeko RCL 73
1 Regieleki EVS 60
1 Tapu Koko PR-SM SM30
1 Tynamo BLK 30
1 Eelektrik BLK 31
1 Zapdos TEU 40
1 Battle VIP Pass FST 225
1 Buddy-Buddy Poffin PRE 101
1 Counter Catcher PAR 160
1 Electropower LOT 172
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 Level Ball BST 129
1 Nest Ball SVI 181
1 Ordinary Rod SSH 171
1 Pal Pad SVI 182
1 Professor's Letter XY 123
1 Quick Ball FST 237
1 Rescue Stretcher GRI 130
1 Super Rod PAL 188
1 Trainers' Mail ROS 92
1 Ultra Ball SVI 196
1 VS Seeker PHF 109
1 Counter Gain SSP 169
1 Float Stone BKT 137
1 Muscle Band XY 121
1 U-Turn Board UNM 211
1 Silent Lab PRC 140
1 Stormy Mountains EVS 161
1 Arven SVI 166
1 Green's Exploration UNB 175
1 Guzma BUS 115
1 Guzma & Hala CEC 193
1 Hex Maniac AOR 75
1 Iono PAL 185
1 Lillie's Determination MEG 119
1 Lusamine CIN 96
1 Marnie SSH 169
1 N FCO 105
1 Raihan CRZ 140
1 Tate & Liza CES 148
1 Teammates PRC 141
1 Volkner UPR 135
6 Basic Lightning Energy SVE 12
1 Counter Energy CIN 100
1 Speed Lightning Energy RCL 173
Control
Source: theelvenespio
09/2025
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1 Blitzle SSP 62
1 Zebstrika LOT 82
1 Magnemite MEG 45
1 Magneton CEC 69
1 Magnezone PLS 46
1 Morpeko RCL 73
1 Regieleki ASR 51
1 Rotom SVI 70
1 Luxray PAL 71
1 Counter Catcher PAR 160
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 Level Ball BST 129
1 Nest Ball PAF 84
1 Pal Pad SVI 182
1 Pokégear 3.0 SVI 186
1 Quick Ball FST 237
1 Rare Candy PAF 89
1 Rescue Stretcher GRI 130
1 Super Rod PAL 188
1 Tag Call CEC 206
1 Timer Ball SUM 134
1 Trainers' Mail ROS 92
1 Ultra Ball PAF 91
1 VS Seeker PHF 109
1 Defiance Vest PAR 162
1 Luxurious Cape PAR 166
1 Technical Machine: Evolution PAR 178
1 U-Turn Board UNM 211
1 Parallel City BKT 145
1 Rough Seas PRC 137
1 Stormy Mountains EVS 161
1 Team Rocket's Watchtower DRI 180
1 Acerola BUS 112
1 Arven OBF 186
1 Ball Guy SHF 57
1 Bellelba & Brycen-Man CEC 186
1 Colress's Tenacity SFA 57
1 Cynthia & Caitlin CEC 189
1 Delinquent BKP 98
1 Faba LOT 173
1 Gladion CIN 95
1 Guzma BUS 115
1 Guzma & Hala CEC 193
1 Iono PAF 80
1 Lillie's Determination MEG 119
1 Lt. Surge's Strategy UNB 178
1 Lusamine CIN 96
1 Peonia CRE 149
1 Roseanne's Backup BRS 148
1 Team Flare Grunt GEN 73
1 Xerosic's Machinations SFA 64
1 Basic Lightning Energy SVE 4
1 Capture Energy RCL 171
1 Recycle Energy UNM 212
1 Reversal Energy PAL 192
1 Speed Lightning Energy RCL 173
Electro Rain
Source: burndad
09/2025
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1 Blitzle SSP 62
1 Zebstrika LOT 82
1 Electabuzz EVO 41
1 Electivire BRS 47
1 Magnemite UNM 58
1 Magneton SSP 59
1 Pikachu CEC 66
1 Alolan Raichu UNM 57
1 Regieleki EVS 60
1 Tapu Koko SSP 65
1 Tynamo BLK 30
1 Eelektrik BLK 31
1 Voltorb PAL 66
1 Electrode VIV 46
1 Battle Compressor Team Flare Gear PHF 92
1 Battle VIP Pass FST 225
1 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144
1 Electropower LOT 172
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 Level Ball BST 129
1 Nest Ball SVI 181
1 Night Stretcher SFA 61
1 Pokégear 3.0 SVI 186
1 Redeemable Ticket JTG 156
1 Rescue Stretcher GRI 130
1 Timer Ball SUM 134
1 Trainers' Mail ROS 92
1 Ultra Ball SVI 196
1 VS Seeker PHF 109
1 Float Stone BKT 137
1 Luxurious Cape PAR 166
1 U-Turn Board UNM 211
1 Wishful Baton BUS 128
1 Artazon PAF 76
1 Silent Lab PRC 140
1 Stormy Mountains EVS 161
1 Arven OBF 186
1 Ball Guy SHF 57
1 Colress's Tenacity SFA 57
1 Green's Exploration UNB 175
1 Guzma & Hala CEC 193
1 Iono PAF 80
1 Lana's Aid TWM 155
1 Lillie's Determination MEG 119
1 Marnie CPA 56
1 Professor's Research BLK 85
6 Basic Lightning Energy SVE 4
1 Counter Energy CIN 100
1 Jet Energy PAL 190
1 Reversal Energy PAL 192
1 Speed Lightning Energy RCL 173
Looking for more ideas or feedback on your deck?
Check out the Tricky Gym Discord’s #glc-decklists channel and Cardboard Warriors Community Decks page for more inspiration!
