So you want to be a Water type Gym Leader, following in the footsteps of Nessa and Crasher Wake? You’ve come to the right place. Water type Pokémon have a wonderful history in the Pokémon TCG, after all, the Pokémon TCG’s very first Energy accelerator was Water type! If I have to pick a type, I may be a Water Gym Leader myself. Water Pokémon have some of the best support across any type, with access to multiple Energy accelerators, draw support, Energy recovery and search options! What can I say? I love me a good Rain Dance deck.

Support Pokémon

Blastoise (BCR), Frosmoth, and Baxcalibur have great synergy together, allowing you to attach as many Water Energy from your hand to your Pokémon in play as you like. Having three Rain Dancers gives Water some excellent protection against Prizing, as you can run a combination of either line and only need to set up one of them in order to get moving, which is really powerful in GLC. Alolan Vulpix and Hisuian Basculin are arguably the best leads in all of Gym Leader Challenge their no-energy Pokémon search attacks. Beacon combined with Octillery or the Inteleon line can allow for some explosive early turns! When a Water deck is set up, it feels like you have complete control over the board, with multiple powerful Abilities firing off per turn.

Attackers

What Water lacks in “low maintenance” attackers, it makes up for with substantive bulk and damage output. Wailord and Wishiwashi are two of the biggest fish in the sea with 200 and 180 HP respectively. Many Water attackers have Hydro Pump style attacks, which do more damage for each Water Energy attached to that Pokémon. These attackers thrive once Frosmoth, Blastoise, or Baxcalibur have hit the board! Water also has access to some of the best spread attackers in the game, with Cloyster, Shining Volcanion and Kyurem (NVI) on the roster.

Decklists

Hydro Pump

Credit: Joseph Novak

Water Pokémon have been Rain Dancing since Base Set and this list continues that decades old tradition with some of the best modern Water Pokémon. Both Frosmoth and Baxcalibur can rain Energy into play, while Wailord and Lapras deal more damage for each Water Energy attached to them. Inteleon makes set up simple with Shady Dealings and Octillery’s Abyssal Hand keeps your hand fresh as the game goes on. When it’s up and rolling, this deck feels like it has everything!

Last Update: April 2025

  • 1 Alolan Vulpix GRI 21

    1 Frigibax PAL 58

    1 Arctibax PAL 59

    1 Baxcalibur PAL 60

    1 Kyogre CRZ 36

    1 Lapras TEU 31

    1 Remoraid BKT 32

    1 Octillery BKT 33

    1 Snom TEF 45

    1 Frosmoth SHF 30

    1 Sobble CRE 41

    1 Drizzile SSH 56

    1 Inteleon SSH 58

    1 Wailmer VIV 31

    1 Wailord JTG 41

    1 Wishiwashi CEC 62

    1 Buddy-Buddy Poffin PRE 101

    1 Capacious Bucket RCL 156

    1 Dive Ball PRC 125

    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 PAF 84

    1 Professor's Letter BKT 146

    1 Quick Ball FST 237

    1 Rare Candy PAF 89

    1 Rescue Stretcher GRI 130

    1 Scoop Up Net RCL 165

    1 Superior Energy Retrieval PAL 189

    1 Ultra Ball PAF 91

    1 VS Seeker PHF 109

    1 Float Stone BKT 137

    1 Luxurious Cape PAR 166

    1 Pot Helmet BRS 146

    1 Brooklet Hill GRI 120

    1 Chaotic Swell CEC 187

    1 Acerola BUS 112

    1 Ball Guy SHF 65

    1 Colress PLS 118

    1 Guzma BUS 115

    1 Hex Maniac AOR 75

    1 Iono PAF 80

    1 Irida ASR 147

    1 Marnie CPA 56

    1 N FCO 105

    1 Nessa CRZ 136

    1 Tate & Liza CES 148

    1 Teammates PRC 141

    9 Basic Water Energy SVE 3

    1 Splash Energy BKP 113

Special Energy

Credit: Ben Morse

Description coming soon!

Last Update: August 2024

  • 1 Articuno TEU 32

    1 Cetoddle PAL 53

    1 Cetitan PAL 55

    1 Hisuian Basculin ASR 43

    1 Hisuian Basculegion ASR 44

    1 Mudkip CES 33

    1 Marshtomp CES 34

    1 Swampert CES 35

    1 Sobble SSH 55

    1 Drizzile SSH 56

    1 Inteleon SSH 58

    1 Wailmer JTG 40

    1 Wailord SIT 38

    1 Aqua Patch GRI 119

    1 Buddy-Buddy Poffin PRE 101

    1 Counter Catcher PAR 160

    1 Dive Ball PRC 125

    1 Evolution Incense SSH 163

    1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146

    1 Level Ball BST 129

    1 Nest Ball PAF 84

    1 Ordinary Rod SSH 171

    1 Professor's Letter BKT 146

    1 Quick Ball FST 237

    1 Rare Candy PAF 89

    1 Rescue Stretcher GRI 130

    1 Scoop Up Net RCL 165

    1 Switch Raft DRM 62

    1 Tag Call CEC 206

    1 Timer Ball SUM 134

    1 Ultra Ball PAF 91

    1 VS Seeker PHF 109

    1 Float Stone BKT 137

    1 Pot Helmet BRS 146

    1 Brooklet Hill GRI 120

    1 Parallel City BKT 145

    1 Rough Seas PRC 137

    1 Ball Guy SHF 57

    1 Colress's Tenacity SFA 57

    1 Gladion CIN 95

    1 Guzma BUS 115

    1 Guzma & Hala CEC 193

    1 Hex Maniac AOR 75

    1 Iono PAF 80

    1 Irida ASR 147

    1 Lusamine CIN 96

    1 Mallow & Lana CEC 198

    1 N FCO 105

    1 Professor's Research JTG 155

    1 Raihan CRZ 140

    1 Teammates PRC 141

    5 Basic Water Energy SVE 3

    1 Counter Energy CIN 100

    1 Reversal Energy PAL 192

    1 Splash Energy BKP 113

    1 Wash Water Energy VIV 165

Free Water

No Energy? No Problem! This unique deck is built to get Stadium cards in the Discard Pile quickly and come out of the gates swinging. Castform Rainy Forme and Snowy Forme both attack for no Energy when you have 8 or more Stadiums in the Discard, and you can get them back over and over again thanks to recovery cards like Rescue Stretcher and Rescue Carrier. Castform isn’t the only zero Energy attacker — Cramorant can attack with ease with the help of Colress’s Experiment and Lost Blender to get cards in the Lost Zone.

Last Update: February 2025

Tropical Beach Alternative: any other useful stadium

Credit: MickeyB313

  • 1 Articuno PGO 24

    1 Castform Rainy Form CRE 33

    1 Castform Snowy Form CRE 34

    1 Cramorant LOR 50

    1 Manaphy BRS 41

    1 Phione CEC 57

    1 Remoraid undefined 33

    1 Octillery BKT 33

    1 Sobble SSH 55

    1 Drizzile SSH 56

    1 Inteleon CRE 43

    1 Acro Bike CES 123

    1 Battle Compressor Team Flare Gear PHF 92

    1 Dive Ball PRC 125

    1 Escape Rope BST 125

    1 Field Blower GRI 125

    1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146

    1 Judge Whistle TEU 146

    1 Lana's Fishing Rod CEC 195

    1 Level Ball BST 129

    1 Lillie's Poké Doll CEC 197

    1 Lost Blender LOT 181

    1 Lost Vacuum CRZ 135

    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 Stadium Nav UNM 208

    1 Switch Raft DRM 62

    1 Trainers' Mail ROS 92

    1 Trekking Shoes CRZ 145

    1 Ultra Ball PAF 91

    1 VS Seeker PHF 109

    1 Float Stone BKT 137

    1 Muscle Band XY 121

    1 Stealthy Hood UNB 186

    1 Artazon undefined 171

    1 Brooklet Hill GRI 120

    1 Gravity Mountain SSP 177

    1 Jubilife Village ASR 148

    1 Mesagoza undefined 178

    1 Old Cemetery CRE 147

    1 PokéStop PGO 68

    1 Pokémon League Headquarters undefined 192

    1 Primordial Altar SIT 161

    1 Rose Tower DAA 169

    1 Rough Seas PRC 137

    1 Temple of Sinnoh ASR 155

    1 Tropical Beach PR-BLW BW50

    1 Allister VIV 146

    1 Clay CEC 188

    1 Colress's Experiment LOR 155

    1 Guzma BUS 115

    1 Irida ASR 147

    1 Judge undefined 176

    1 Lusamine CIN 96

    1 Milo RCL 161

    1 Nessa CRZ 136

    1 Professor's Research JTG 155

PalaToad

Though Rain Dance is often considered to be Water’s specialty, there are plenty of Water Pokémon that have low attack costs and don’t require extra acceleration to succeed! Seismitoad and Palafin all launch big attacks for just two Water Energy. Thanks to its ability and HP, Seismitoad is really tough to KO. Combine that with defensive and healing cards like Mallow & Lana and Pot Helmet and you’ll surely be able to make the most out of your precious Energy attachments.

Last Update: June 2024

Credit: Tricky Gym

  • 1 Castform Rainy Form CRE 33
    1 Finizen OBF 60
    1 Palafin OBF 62
    1 Hisuian Basculin ASR 43
    1 Hisuian Basculegion ASR 44
    1 Remoraid BST 36
    1 Octillery BKT 33
    1 Snorunt SIT 41
    1 Froslass UNM 38
    1 Sobble CRE 41
    1 Drizzile SSH 56
    1 Inteleon SSH 58
    1 Tympole OBF 50
    1 Palpitoad PLF 25
    1 Seismitoad OBF 52
    1 Aqua Patch GRI 119
    1 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144
    1 Dive Ball PRC 125
    1 Enhanced Hammer TWM 148
    1 Evolution Incense SSH 163
    1 Field Blower GRI 125
    1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
    1 Level Ball BST 129
    1 Nest Ball PAF 84
    1 Professor's Letter BKT 146
    1 Quick Ball FST 237
    1 Rare Candy PAF 89
    1 Rescue Stretcher GRI 130
    1 Scoop Up Net RCL 165
    1 Super Rod PAL 188
    1 Switch Raft DRM 62
    1 Town Map BKT 150
    1 Ultra Ball PAF 91
    1 VS Seeker PHF 109
    1 Float Stone BKT 137
    1 Muscle Band XY 121
    1 Pot Helmet BRS 146
    1 Brooklet Hill GRI 120
    1 Chaotic Swell CEC 187
    1 Ball Guy SHF 57
    1 Boss's Orders (Ghetsis) PAL 172
    1 Colress PLS 118
    1 Guzma BUS 115
    1 Hex Maniac AOR 75
    1 Iono PAF 80
    1 Irida ASR 147
    1 Mallow & Lana CEC 198
    1 Marnie CPA 56
    1 N FCO 105
    1 Professor's Research PAF 87
    1 Raihan EVS 152
    1 Tate & Liza CES 148
    7 Basic Water Energy SVE 3
    1 Splash Energy BKP 113

Water Control

Credit: Wheatr

If you enjoy having precise control over your deck and discard pile, playing through fun decision trees, and pushing your opponent into strange and unusual situations, this deck is for you! Inteleon, Floatzel, and Milotic give you access to your entire deck on demand while you build up a huge Wailord that you can heal relentlessly. The final nail in the coffin for your opponent? Lost Zone their most important Pokemon with Lost City and Counter Catcher. Should Wailord go down, no need to worry! Swampert and Inteleon are attacking threats in their own right.

Last Update: April 2025

  • 1 Alolan Vulpix GRI 21

    1 Buizel UPR 35

    1 Floatzel BRS 39

    1 Feebas DRM 28

    1 Milotic PRC 44

    1 Hisuian Basculin ASR 43

    1 Mudkip CES 33

    1 Marshtomp CES 34

    1 Swampert CES 35

    1 Sobble SSH 55

    1 Drizzile SSH 56

    1 Inteleon SSH 58

    1 Wailmer CRZ 31

    1 Wailord SIT 38

    1 Aqua Patch GRI 119

    1 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144

    1 Capacious Bucket RCL 156

    1 Counter Catcher PAR 160

    1 Devolution Spray EVO 76

    1 Dive Ball PRC 125

    1 Enhanced Hammer TWM 148

    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 PAF 84

    1 Pot Helmet BRS 146

    1 Rare Candy PAF 89

    1 Rescue Stretcher GRI 130

    1 Scoop Up Net RCL 165

    1 Ultra Ball PAF 91

    1 VS Seeker PHF 109

    1 Float Stone BKT 137

    1 Luxurious Cape PAR 166

    1 Brooklet Hill GRI 120

    1 Lost City LOR 161

    1 Parallel City BKT 145

    1 Rough Seas PRC 137

    1 Colress's Tenacity SFA 57

    1 Cynthia UPR 119

    1 Delinquent BKP 98

    1 Gladion CIN 95

    1 Guzma BUS 115

    1 Hex Maniac AOR 75

    1 Iono PAF 80

    1 Irida ASR 147

    1 Lusamine CIN 96

    1 Mallow & Lana CEC 198

    1 N FCO 105

    1 Raihan CRZ 140

    1 Teammates PRC 141

    3 Water Energy XY 134

    1 Counter Energy CIN 100

    1 Reversal Energy PAL 192

    1 Splash Energy BKP 113

    1 Wash Water Energy VIV 165

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!