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: Tricky Gym

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: June 2024

  • 1 Alolan Vulpix GRI 21
    1 Frigibax PAL 57
    1 Arctibax PAL 59
    1 Baxcalibur PAL 60
    1 Kyogre CRZ 36
    1 Lapras TEU 31
    1 Remoraid BST 36
    1 Octillery BKT 33
    1 Snom SSH 63
    1 Frosmoth SHF 30
    1 Sobble CRE 41
    1 Drizzile SSH 56
    1 Inteleon SSH 58
    1 Staryu BKP 25
    1 Starmie EVO 31
    1 Wailmer CRZ 31
    1 Wailord VIV 32
    1 Wishiwashi CEC 62
    1 Battle VIP Pass FST 225
    1 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144
    1 Capacious Bucket RCL 156
    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 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 Ultra Ball PAF 91
    1 VS Seeker PHF 109
    1 Float Stone BKT 137
    1 Brooklet Hill GRI 120
    1 Chaotic Swell CEC 187
    1 Ball Guy SHF 57
    1 Colress PLS 118
    1 Guzma BUS 115
    1 Hex Maniac AOR 75
    1 Iono PAF 80
    1 Irida ASR 147
    1 N FCO 105
    1 Nessa CRZ 136
    1 Professor's Research PAF 87
    1 Skyla RCL 166
    1 Tate & Liza CES 148
    1 Teammates PRC 141
    10 Basic Water Energy SVE 3
    1 Splash Energy BKP 113

Special Energy

Credit: Ben Morse

Blastoise from Pokémon GO is one of the most unique Energy accelerators in Gym Leader Challenge. Its Vitality Spring Ability allows you to search your deck for SIX Energy cards and attach them to your Pokémon in any way you like. Six Energy cards, including Special Energy! What’s the catch? Using this Ability ends your turn. That is a fine price to pay since you’ll usually only need to use Vitality Spring once a game. To make sure your behemoths don’t get switched into the Active Spot before they are ready to attack, this list runs Articuno to protect your Bench from gust with its Blizzard Veil Ability. Once your big dudes start attacking, healing cards like Mallow & Lana and Rough Seas can ensure that you make up for any time lost while setting up.

Last Update: August 2024

  • 1 Alolan Vulpix GRI 21

    1 Articuno TEU 32

    1 Cetoddle PAL 53

    1 Cetitan PAL 55

    1 Remoraid PAR 33

    1 Octillery BKT 33

    1 Snom SSH 63

    1 Frosmoth SHF 30

    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 Dive Ball PRC 125

    1 Escape Rope BST 125

    1 Evolution Incense SSH 163

    1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146

    1 Level Ball BST 129

    1 Nest Ball PAF 84

    1 Quick Ball FST 237

    1 Rescue Stretcher GRI 130

    1 Scoop Up Net RCL 165

    1 Super Rod PAL 188

    1 Switch Raft DRM 62

    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 Rough Seas PRC 137

    1 Acerola BUS 112

    1 Avery CRE 130

    1 Ball Guy SHF 65

    1 Boss's Orders (Ghetsis) PAL 172

    1 Colress's Tenacity SFA 57

    1 Cynthia UPR 119

    1 Guzma BUS 115

    1 Guzma & Hala CEC 193

    1 Iono PAF 80

    1 Irida ASR 147

    1 Lusamine CIN 96

    1 Mallow & Lana CEC 198

    1 Marnie CPA 56

    1 N FCO 105

    1 Nessa CRZ 136

    1 Raihan CRZ 140

    5 Basic Water Energy SVE 3

    1 Recycle Energy UNM 212

    1 Reversal Energy PAL 192

    1 Splash Energy BKP 113

    1 Wash Water Energy VIV 165

    1 Weakness Guard Energy UNM 213

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: August 2024

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 Canceling Cologne ASR 136

    1 Dive Ball PRC 125

    1 Escape Rope BST 125

    1 Field Blower GRI 125

    1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 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 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 Frozen City PLF 100

    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 Arven undefined 166

    1 Carmine TWM 145

    1 Clay CEC 188

    1 Colress's Experiment LOR 155

    1 Guzma BUS 115

    1 Iono undefined 185

    1 Irida ASR 147

    1 Lusamine CIN 96

    1 Nessa VIV 157

    1 Sophocles BUS 123

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: June 2024

  • 1 Alolan Vulpix GRI 21
    1 Buizel SHF 22
    1 Floatzel BRS 39
    1 Feebas DRM 28
    1 Milotic PRC 44
    1 Hisuian Basculin ASR 43
    1 Mudkip FST 62
    1 Marshtomp FST 63
    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 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 Professor's Letter BKT 146
    1 Quick Ball FST 237
    1 Rare Candy PAF 89
    1 Rescue Stretcher GRI 130
    1 Reset Stamp UNM 206
    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 Pot Helmet BRS 146
    1 Lost City LOR 161
    1 Rough Seas PRC 137
    1 Colress PLS 118
    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 Nessa CRZ 136
    1 Peonia CRE 149
    1 Raihan CRZ 140
    1 Teammates PRC 141
    3 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

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!