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: December 2023
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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 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 SVI 181
1 Professor's Letter BKT 146
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 Ultra Ball SVI 196
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 Brigette BKT 134
1 Colress PLS 118
1 Gloria BRS 141
1 Guzma BUS 115
1 Hex Maniac AOR 75
1 Iono PAL 185
1 Irida ASR 147
1 N FCO 105
1 Nessa CRZ 136
1 Professor's Research (Professor Sada) SVI 189
1 Teammates PRC 141
10 Water Energy CRZ 154
1 Splash Energy BKP 113
Special Energy
Credit: Tricky Gym
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: December 2023
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1 Alolan Vulpix GRI 21
1 Articuno TEU 32
1 Cetoddle PAL 54
1 Cetitan PAL 55
1 Remoraid BST 36
1 Octillery BKT 33
1 Sobble CRE 41
1 Drizzile SSH 56
1 Inteleon SSH 58
1 Squirtle BCR 29
1 Wartortle PLB 15
1 Blastoise PGO 17
1 Wailmer CRZ 31
1 Wailord SIT 38
1 Dive Ball PRC 125
1 Escape Rope BST 125
1 Evolution Incense SSH 163
1 Heavy Ball BKT 140
1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
1 Level Ball BST 129
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 Special Charge STS 105
1 Super Rod PAL 188
1 Tag Call CEC 206
1 Town Map BKT 150
1 Ultra Ball SVI 196
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 Tropical Beach PR-BLW BW50
1 Ball Guy SHF 65
1 Brock's Grit HIF 53
1 Cynthia UPR 119
1 Guzma BUS 115
1 Guzma & Hala CEC 193
1 Hex Maniac AOR 75
1 Iono PAL 185
1 Irida ASR 147
1 Lusamine CIN 96
1 Mallow & Lana CEC 198
1 Marnie CPA 56
1 N FCO 105
1 Raihan CRZ 140
5 Water Energy CRZ 154
1 Capture Energy RCL 171
1 Counter Energy CIN 100
1 Reversal Energy PAL 192
1 Splash Energy BKP 113
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: December 2023
Credit: MickeyB313
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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 PAR 33
1 Octillery BKT 33
1 Sobble SSH 55
1 Drizzile SSH 56
1 Inteleon PR-SW SWSH279
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 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 SSH 172
1 Quick Ball SSH 179
1 Random Receiver DEX 99
1 Rescue Carrier CRZ 142
1 Rescue Stretcher GRI 130
1 Revive EVO 85
1 Stadium Nav UNM 208
1 Switch Raft DRM 62
1 Trainers' Mail ROS 92
1 Trekking Shoes CRZ 145
1 Ultra Ball CRZ 146
1 VS Seeker PHF 109
1 Float Stone PLF 99
1 Muscle Band XY 121
1 Stealthy Hood UNB 186
1 Artazon PAL 171
1 Brooklet Hill GRI 120
1 Frozen City PLF 100
1 Jubilife Village ASR 148
1 Mesagoza SVI 178
1 Old Cemetery CRE 147
1 PokéStop PGO 68
1 Pokémon League Headquarters OBF 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 SVI 166
1 Clay CEC 188
1 Colress's Experiment LOR 155
1 Guzma BUS 115
1 Iono PAL 185
1 Lusamine CIN 96
1 Nessa VIV 157
1 Professor's Research (Professor Sada) SVI 189
1 Zinnia's Resolve EVS 164
Frog & Toad
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, Palafin and Greninja all launch big attacks for just two Water Energy. Thanks to their respective Abilities, Seismitoad and Greninja are both really tough to KO. Combine that with defensive tools like Luxurious Cape and Pot Helmet and you’ll surely be able to make the most out of your precious Energy attachments.
Last Update: December 2023
Credit: Jon P.
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1 Articuno TEU 32
1 Castform Rainy Form CRE 33
1 Finizen OBF 60
1 Palafin OBF 62
1 Froakie FLI 21
1 Frogadier FLI 23
1 Greninja DET 9
1 Hisuian Basculin ASR 43
1 Hisuian Basculegion ASR 44
1 Manaphy BRS 41
1 Remoraid BST 36
1 Octillery BKT 33
1 Sobble CRE 41
1 Drizzile SSH 56
1 Inteleon SSH 58
1 Tympole OBF 50
1 Palpitoad RCL 45
1 Seismitoad OBF 52
1 Aqua Patch GRI 119
1 Capacious Bucket RCL 156
1 Dive Ball PRC 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 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 Switch SVI 194
1 Ultra Ball SVI 196
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 Ball Guy SHF 65
1 Bird Keeper DAA 159
1 Boss's Orders (Ghetsis) PAL 172
1 Colress PLS 118
1 Cynthia UPR 119
1 Gloria BRS 141
1 Guzma BUS 115
1 Iono PAL 185
1 Irida ASR 147
1 N FCO 105
1 Nessa CRZ 136
1 Professor's Research (Professor Sada) SVI 189
1 Raihan CRZ 140
1 Teammates PRC 141
7 Water Energy CRZ 154
1 Splash Energy BKP 113
Water Control
Credit: jebityjebjebjeb
In Gym Leader Challenge you are limited to playing just one copy of each card in your deck. The key to a great control deck in GLC is looping the most disruptive cards to be used over and over again. With Floatzel and Azumarill, Water decks can do just that. Access to Inteleon and Octillery is also a huge boon for Water control, offering the deck the draw power and consistency it needs to lock the opponent out of the game.
Last Update: December 2023
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1 Alolan Vulpix GRI 21
1 Buizel OBF 48
1 Floatzel BRS 39
1 Marill BUS 34
1 Azumarill FST 59
1 Remoraid PAR 33
1 Octillery BKT 33
1 Slowpoke PGO 19
1 Slowking LOT 55
1 Sobble SSH 55
1 Drizzile SSH 56
1 Inteleon SSH 58
1 Acro Bike CES 123
1 Battle Compressor Team Flare Gear PHF 92
1 Counter Catcher PAR 160
1 Dive Ball PRC 125
1 Enhanced Hammer GRI 124
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 Lillie's Poké Doll CEC 197
1 Nest Ball SVI 181
1 Pal Pad SVI 182
1 Reset Stamp UNM 206
1 Robo Substitute Team Flare Gear PHF 102
1 Scoop Up Net RCL 165
1 Snorlax Doll PAR 175
1 Super Rod PAL 188
1 Tag Call CEC 206
1 Trekking Shoes CRZ 145
1 Ultra Ball SVI 196
1 VS Seeker PHF 109
1 Technical Machine: Evolution PAR 178
1 Chaotic Swell CEC 187
1 Galar Mine RCL 160
1 Parallel City BKT 145
1 Bellelba & Brycen-Man CEC 186
1 Boss's Orders (Ghetsis) PAL 172
1 Colress PLS 118
1 Cynthia & Caitlin CEC 189
1 Delinquent BKP 98
1 Gladion CIN 95
1 Guzma BUS 115
1 Guzma & Hala CEC 193
1 Iono PAL 185
1 Irida ASR 147
1 Lt. Surge's Strategy HIF 60
1 Lusamine CIN 96
1 Miss Fortune Sisters LOR 164
1 Peonia CRE 149
1 Steven's Resolve CES 145
1 Team Flare Grunt GEN 73
1 Team Rocket's Handiwork FCO 112
1 Teammates PRC 141
2 Water Energy XY 134
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!
