So you can read thoughts and bend spoons and now all of a sudden you think you got what it takes to be a Psychic type Gym Leader? Psychic Pokémon have a wide range of possibilities in Gym Leader Challenge, boasting Energy acceleration, Ability lock, draw power, Bench protection and more. They also have access to arguably the best spread game in all of Gym Leader challenge with multiple Pokémon that place damage counters with attacks and Abilities. Psychic is probably one of the more difficult types to play, but also a tricky type to play against since there are so many strategies available to it and no single Weakness across the type’s variety of attackers. As proof of its potential, Tricky Gym moderator Tre McCarden was able to pilot his Psychic deck to a stunning victory over JW “FlexDaddyRighteous” Kriewall’s Lightning deck in the finals of the first ever Gym Leader Challenge 1K hosted at Full Grip Games.
Support Pokémon
Psychic has great Ability lock options with access to both Wobbuffet and Garbodor. It also has the best Bench protection in the format with both Mew and Mr. Mime (PLF) sporting the Bench Barrier Ability. Malamar and Xatu are great options for getting additional Energy into play, which can be further supplemented by one of the best Stadium cards ever printed, Dimension Valley. Psychic has gained some powerful draw and search Pokémon in recent sets with Gallade and Kirlia, making it not only a versatile type, but also a consistent one.
Attackers
If you’re like me, then you love Dragapult from Rebel Clash. There are few greater feelings in Pokémon than flipping heads, denying your opponent’s attack, then proceeding to use Phantom Force multiple turns in a row. Players from the Sun and Moon era will also be pleased to see that Giratina from Lost Thunder is back in style with Gym Leader Challenge and stronger than ever. Shadow Impact hits the magic number in GLC, 130, and what’s better is that you don’t ever have to waste a recovery card to recover it thanks to its Distortion Door Ability. Dragapult and Giratina are strong, but one of the biggest menaces in Psychic’s arsenal is Blacephalon from Cosmic Eclipse. Blacephalon’s Fireworks Bomb attack places an incredible 12 damage counters on the opponent’s board if they have three Prizes remaining. BEWARE THE THREE PRIZE TURN! If your opponent fails to respond to Blacephalon immediately, Fireworks Bomb can sweep the rest of the game.
Decklists
Buddy Catch
Credit: Tricky Gym
There are many different routes to take when building a Psychic type Gym Leader Challenge deck. Choosing a path can be tough! This list focuses on the incredible draw power afforded to Psychic types with Kirlia and Tinkaton. With both in play, you’ll be able to draw up to 5 additional cards per turn! Gallade’s Buddy Catch Ability allows you to exercise complete control over the game once set up, fetching perfectly timed Boss’s Orders or Hex Maniac to shut the opponent down while you pummel them with your best attackers.
Last Update: December 2023
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1 Cleffa OBF 80
1 Inkay FLI 50
1 Malamar FLI 51
1 Marshadow SLG 45
1 Mew UNB 76
1 Mewtwo CRZ 59
1 Mimikyu GRI 58
1 Necrozma UNM 101
1 Ralts PLS 59
1 Kirlia SIT 68
1 Gallade ASR 62
1 Tinkatink PAL 101
1 Tinkatuff PAL 103
1 Tinkaton PAL 105
1 Wobbuffet GEN RC11
1 Enhanced Hammer GRI 124
1 Escape Rope BST 125
1 Evolution Incense SSH 163
1 Field Blower GRI 125
1 Fog Crystal CRE 140
1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
1 Level Ball BST 129
1 Mysterious Treasure FLI 113
1 Nest Ball SVI 181
1 Quick Ball FST 237
1 Rare Candy SVI 191
1 Rescue Stretcher GRI 130
1 Scoop Up Net RCL 165
1 Super Rod PAL 188
1 Timer Ball SUM 134
1 Town Map BKT 150
1 Ultra Ball SVI 196
1 VS Seeker PHF 109
1 Dimension Valley PHF 93
1 Parallel City BKT 145
1 Ball Guy SHF 65
1 Boss's Orders (Ghetsis) PAL 172
1 Clavell PAL 177
1 Colress PLS 118
1 Gloria BRS 141
1 Guzma BUS 115
1 Hex Maniac AOR 75
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 Tate & Liza CES 148
1 Teammates PRC 141
6 Psychic Energy CRZ 156
1 Counter Energy CIN 100
1 Horror Psychic Energy RCL 172
1 Mystery Energy PHF 112
1 Reversal Energy PAL 192
Ability Lock
Credit: Tricky Gym
Ability lock is one of the most powerful effects in the Pokémon TCG – most GLC decks rely heavily on abilities to set up and power up their Pokémon. So stopping your opponent from using these abilities they’ve built their decks around can allow you to decimate the game unopposed. As the name implies – this deck revolves around Garbodor’s Garbotoxin ability – attaching one of the deck’s five tools to Garbodor will turn off all abilities on the field. Because of this, the deck is built to rely on as few abilities as possible. You also have the option to go Item lock with Trevenant - and even with your own abilities turned off, Trevenant is a pretty decent attacker. Golurk and Necrozma hit incredibly hard, and can tear through opposing Pokémon who can’t rely on their abilities.
Last Update: December 2023
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1 Cleffa OBF 80
1 Golett CEC 89
1 Golurk CRE 66
1 Marshadow SLG 45
1 Mewtwo CRZ 59
1 Mimikyu GRI 58
1 Necrozma UNM 101
1 Nihilego LOT 106
1 Phantump BKP 64
1 Trevenant XY 55
1 Shining Mew SLG 40
1 Trubbish NVI 48
1 Garbodor BKP 57
1 Wobbuffet GEN RC11
1 Enhanced Hammer GRI 124
1 Evolution Incense SSH 163
1 Evosoda GEN 62
1 Field Blower GRI 125
1 Fog Crystal CRE 140
1 Heavy Ball BKT 140
1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
1 Nest Ball SVI 181
1 Ordinary Rod SSH 171
1 Quick Ball FST 237
1 Rescue Stretcher GRI 130
1 Town Map BKT 150
1 Ultra Ball SVI 196
1 VS Seeker PHF 109
1 Air Balloon SSH 156
1 Float Stone BKT 137
1 Luxurious Cape PAR 166
1 Technical Machine: Turbo Energize PAR 179
1 U-Turn Board UNM 211
1 Dimension Valley PHF 93
1 Parallel City BKT 145
1 Town Store OBF 196
1 Boss's Orders (Ghetsis) PAL 172
1 Clavell PAL 177
1 Colress's Experiment LOR 155
1 Cynthia UPR 119
1 Gloria BRS 141
1 Guzma BUS 115
1 Guzma & Hala CEC 193
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
5 Psychic Energy CRZ 156
1 Counter Energy CIN 100
1 Double Colorless Energy SLG 69
1 Horror Psychic Energy RCL 172
1 Mystery Energy PHF 112
1 Reversal Energy PAL 192
Lost Zone
No need to fear the Lost Zone when you are piloting this deck, it can be an interesting way to lead you to victory! Just like in Standard Format, Sableye can be a real menace that spreads 12 damage counters anywhere you want on the board. Banette and Meowstic work well together to help you get Colress’s Experiment out of the deck and reuse it to ensure you get to 10 in the Lost Zone as fast as possible. Once you have reached the magic number, this deck is built to bring Sableye back from this discard pile multiple turns in a row to apply an incredible amount of pressure and take huge multi-prize turns!
Last Update: November 2023
Credit: JD “Cheesewizz”
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1 Comfey LOR 79
1 Espurr UNB 79
1 Meowstic SIT 82
1 Marshadow SLG 45
1 Meloetta PR-XY XY120
1 Mew FCO 29
1 Mewtwo UNB 75
1 Mimikyu GRI 58
1 Mr. Mime PLF 47
1 Oricorio PR-SW SWSH210
1 Sableye LOR 70
1 Shuppet ROS 30
1 Banette LOR 73
1 Gengar LOR 66
1 Acro Bike CES 123
1 Battle Compressor Team Flare Gear PHF 92
1 Battle VIP Pass FST 225
1 Counter Catcher PAR 160
1 Echoing Horn CRE 136
1 Energy Retrieval SVI 171
1 Enhanced Hammer GRI 124
1 Escape Rope BST 125
1 Field Blower GRI 125
1 Fog Crystal CRE 140
1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
1 Level Ball BST 129
1 Lost Blender LOT 181
1 Lost Vacuum CRZ 135
1 Mysterious Treasure FLI 113
1 Nest Ball SVI 181
1 Pal Pad SVI 182
1 Quick Ball FST 237
1 Random Receiver FCO 109
1 Rescue Carrier CRZ 142
1 Rescue Stretcher GRI 130
1 Scoop Up Net RCL 165
1 Trainers' Mail ROS 92
1 Ultra Ball SVI 196
1 VS Seeker PHF 109
1 Float Stone BKT 137
1 Spell Tag LOT 190
1 U-Turn Board UNM 211
1 Vengeful Punch OBF 197
1 PokéStop PGO 68
1 Training Court RCL 169
1 Arven OBF 186
1 Colress's Experiment LOR 155
1 Gladion CIN 95
1 Guzma BUS 115
1 Hex Maniac AOR 75
1 Marnie CPA 56
1 Professor's Research (Professor Sada) SVI 189
1 Raihan CRZ 140
1 Tulip PAR 181
4 Psychic Energy XY 136
1 Horror Psychic Energy RCL 172
1 Mystery Energy PHF 112
Dusk Buddies
Okay so this deck uses Dusk Stone, which is objectively a really sweet card. It’s an Item card that allows you to instantly evolve Chandelure or Mismagius, even if their pre-evolution came into play this turn. Both Mismagius and Chandelure spread damage, so this deck leans into the spread potential of Psychic Pokémon, attempting to take multiple Prizes all at once. Try to get a turn one Mismagius and make the opponent think twice about how to knock it out!
Last Update: December 2023
Credit: Watto
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1 Azelf PR-XY XY142
1 Blacephalon CEC 104
1 Litwick PR-BLW BW27
1 Lampent NVI 59
1 Chandelure NVI 60
1 Marshadow SLG 45
1 Meloetta PR-XY XY120
1 Mew UNB 76
1 Misdreavus CIN 39
1 Mismagius SIT 64
1 Nihilego LOT 106
1 Ralts ASR 60
1 Kirlia SIT 68
1 Gallade ASR 62
1 Wobbuffet PHF 36
1 Dusk Stone UNB 167
1 Escape Rope BST 125
1 Evolution Incense SSH 163
1 Field Blower GRI 125
1 Fog Crystal CRE 140
1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
1 Level Ball BST 129
1 Mysterious Treasure FLI 113
1 Nest Ball SVI 181
1 Pal Pad SVI 182
1 Quick Ball FST 237
1 Rare Candy SVI 191
1 Rescue Stretcher GRI 130
1 Scoop Up Net RCL 165
1 Timer Ball SUM 134
1 Trainers' Mail ROS 92
1 Ultra Ball SVI 196
1 VS Seeker PHF 109
1 Air Balloon SSH 156
1 Float Stone BKT 137
1 Luxurious Cape PAR 166
1 Spell Tag LOT 190
1 Dimension Valley PHF 93
1 Apricorn Maker CES 124
1 Arven SVI 166
1 Ball Guy SHF 57
1 Colress PLS 118
1 Cynthia UPR 119
1 Gladion CIN 95
1 Guzma BUS 115
1 Iono PAL 185
1 Lusamine CIN 96
1 N FCO 105
1 Raihan EVS 152
1 Rosa CEC 204
1 Tulip PAR 181
7 Psychic Energy XY 136
1 Horror Psychic Energy RCL 172
1 Mystery Energy PHF 112
Combo Psychic
Credit: Jamie T. “runjaimerun”
Xatu and Malamar are the best Psychic type Energy accelerators, and this list uses them to power up hard-hitting attackers like Necrozma and Latios. While powering up attackers with Energy accelerators is pretty standard, this build flexes a couple of neat combos that are definitely worth trying out!
In this list you can use Giratina’s Shadow Impact attack to damage your own Scream Tail, powering up it’s Roaring Scream attack to deal 160 damage. You can also try using Giratina’s Distortion Door Ability to place a damage counter on the opponent’s benched Pokémon, then use Technical Machine: Blindside on Natu to finish it off and take a bonus prize!
Last Update: December 2023
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1 Giratina LOT 97
1 Inkay FLI 50
1 Malamar FLI 51
1 Latios PAR 73
1 Marshadow SLG 45
1 Mimikyu GRI 58
1 Natu ROS 28
1 Xatu PAR 72
1 Necrozma UNM 101
1 Ralts PLS 59
1 Kirlia SIT 68
1 Gallade ASR 62
1 Scream Tail PAR 86
1 Wobbuffet GEN RC11
1 Battle Compressor Team Flare Gear PHF 92
1 Battle VIP Pass FST 225
1 Devolution Spray FCO 95
1 Evolution Incense SSH 163
1 Field Blower GRI 125
1 Fog Crystal CRE 140
1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
1 Level Ball BST 129
1 Mysterious Treasure FLI 113
1 Nest Ball SVI 181
1 Quick Ball FST 237
1 Rescue Stretcher GRI 130
1 Scoop Up Net RCL 165
1 Ultra Ball SVI 196
1 VS Seeker PHF 109
1 Float Stone BKT 137
1 Technical Machine: Blindside PAR 176
1 U-Turn Board UNM 211
1 Artazon PAL 171
1 Dimension Valley PHF 93
1 Arven OBF 186
1 Ball Guy SHF 65
1 Boss's Orders (Ghetsis) PAL 172
1 Colress PLS 118
1 Gladion CIN 95
1 Guzma BUS 115
1 Guzma & Hala CEC 193
1 Hex Maniac AOR 75
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
1 Tulip PAR 181
7 Psychic Energy XY 136
1 Counter Energy CIN 100
1 Mystery Energy PHF 112
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!
