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, Amazing Rare Raikou, 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
Special Energy
Credit: Tricky Gym
This list embodies all the most powerful qualities of Lightning Pokémon in Gym Leader Challenge. Quick aggro with Thundurus and Zapdos combined with the mid-late game potential of Amazing Rare Raikou and Regieleki make this deck a monster to deal with on the battle field! Luxray and Counter Energy allow this deck to make explosive plays even when playing from behind. I’ve been working on this list for years and it has consistently been one of my favorites to play!
Last Update: December 2023
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1 Blitzle NVI 35
1 Zebstrika LOT 82
1 Mareep LOT 75
1 Flaaffy EVS 55
1 Raikou VIV 50
1 Regieleki EVS 60
1 Tapu Koko PR-SM SM30
1 Thundurus OBF 70
1 Tynamo NVI 38
1 Eelektrik NVI 40
1 Zapdos TEU 40
1 Buddy-Buddy Rescue BKT 135
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 Professor's Letter BKT 146
1 Quick Ball FST 237
1 Rescue Stretcher GRI 130
1 Scoop Up Net RCL 165
1 Special Charge STS 105
1 Super Rod PAL 188
1 Switch SVI 194
1 Timer Ball SUM 134
1 Town Map BKT 150
1 Ultra Ball SVI 196
1 VS Seeker PHF 109
1 Float Stone BKT 137
1 Muscle Band XY 121
1 U-Turn Board UNM 211
1 Parallel City BKT 145
1 Silent Lab PRC 140
1 Ball Guy SHF 65
1 Boss's Orders (Ghetsis) PAL 172
1 Brigette BKT 134
1 Colress PLS 118
1 Cynthia UPR 119
1 Gloria BRS 141
1 Guzma BUS 115
1 Iono PAL 185
1 Lusamine CIN 96
1 Marnie CPA 56
1 N FCO 105
1 Professor's Research (Professor Sada) SVI 189
1 Raihan CRZ 140
1 Teammates PRC 141
4 Lightning Energy CRZ 155
1 Grass Energy CRZ 152
1 Aurora Energy SSH 186
1 Counter Energy CIN 100
1 Prism Energy NXD 93
1 Speed Lightning Energy RCL 173
1 Unit Energy LightningPsychicMetal UPR 138
Spread
Credit: Alex P. “Plopal”
Electivire has one of the best spread attacks in all of Gym Leader Challenge, dealing 50 damage to each of the opponent’s Pokémon with its High-Voltage Current attack. Paired up with Tapu Koko, Elekid, and Regieleki, this deck can easily wipe the opponent’s board in a single turn.
Last Update: December 2023
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1 Blitzle NVI 35
1 Zebstrika LOT 82
1 Electabuzz BST 44
1 Electivire BRS 47
1 Elekid PAR 59
1 Mareep TEU 41
1 Flaaffy EVS 55
1 Morpeko RCL 73
1 Regieleki EVS 60
1 Tapu Koko PR-SM SM30a
1 Tynamo NVI 39
1 Eelektrik NVI 40
1 Zapdos TEU 40
1 Battle VIP Pass FST 225
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 SSH 179
1 Rescue Stretcher GRI 130
1 Super Rod PAL 188
1 Switch SVI 194
1 Town Map BKT 150
1 Ultra Ball SVI 196
1 VS Seeker PHF 109
1 Counter Gain LOT 170
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 Cyllene ASR 138
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 Lusamine CIN 96
1 Marnie SSH 169
1 Professor's Research (Professor Sada) SVI 189
1 Raihan EVS 152
1 Teammates PRC 141
1 Volkner UPR 135
6 Lightning Energy XY 135
1 Counter Energy CIN 100
1 Speed Lightning Energy RCL 173
Shock Lock
Be prepared to leave your opponent SHOCKED with how well this electrifying list keeps their game LOCKED in your control. Zebstrika and Manectric’s abilities allow you to churn through your deck with lightning speed. Thanks to Lanturn, you don’t need to worry too much about losing your resources. Raichu’s powerful Evoshock ability in combination with scoop up net keeps your opponents Pokémon stuck in the active with paralysis while you use Bellelba & Brycen-Man to mill through their important resources every turn. Dare to try out this powerful control list? Come check out the Discord thread to delve deeper into how the deck works!
Last Update: December 2023
Credit: Jacob “Schlinky”
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1 Blitzle NVI 35
1 Zebstrika LOT 82
1 Chinchou LOT 73
1 Lanturn LOT 74
1 Electrike PRC 60
1 Manectric VIV 52
1 Pikachu GEN 26
1 Raichu BUS 41
1 Tapu Koko DAA 61
1 Voltorb ROS 21
1 Electrode PLF 33
1 Acro Bike CES 123
1 Battle Compressor Team Flare Gear PHF 92
1 Bicycle PLS 117
1 Capturing Aroma SIT 153
1 Counter Catcher PAR 160
1 Cram-o-matic FST 229
1 Devolution Spray EVO 76
1 Devolution Spray Z UNB 166
1 Enhanced Hammer GRI 124
1 Escape Rope BST 125
1 Evolution Incense SSH 163
1 Evosoda GEN 62
1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
1 Level Ball BST 129
1 Lillie's Poké Doll CEC 197
1 Nest Ball SVI 181
1 Pal Pad SVI 182
1 Pokégear 3.0 SVI 186
1 Quick Ball FST 237
1 Rescue Carrier CRZ 142
1 Rescue Stretcher GRI 130
1 Robo Substitute Team Flare Gear PHF 102
1 Roller Skates PHF 103
1 Scoop Up Net RCL 165
1 Super Rod PAL 188
1 Timer Ball SUM 134
1 Trainers' Mail ROS 92
1 Trekking Shoes CRZ 145
1 Ultra Ball SVI 196
1 VS Seeker PHF 109
1 PokéStop PGO 68
1 Stormy Mountains EVS 161
1 Arezu LOR 153
1 Ball Guy SHF 65
1 Bellelba & Brycen-Man CEC 186
1 Clavell PAL 177
1 Gladion CIN 95
1 Gloria BRS 141
1 Hapu UNM 200
1 Ingo & Emmet TEU 144
1 Iono PAL 185
1 Lt. Surge's Strategy HIF 60
1 Lusamine CIN 96
1 Peonia CRE 149
1 Professor's Research (Professor Sada) SVI 189
1 Thorton LOR 167
1 Lightning Energy CRZ 155
1 Capture Energy RCL 171
1 Recycle Energy UNM 212
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!
