EX Holon Phantoms: The Dangers of Deoxys

The expansion EX Holon Phantoms brought back another rare Pokémon to be placed neatly in your deck: Deoxys δ. But why does it appear four times in one set? Surely those crazy people at Pokémon made a mistake? No, because this Pokémon has four different forms in this set, just like in the Pokémon video game.

Each Deoxys has its own special attributes, but all share the same Poké-Power Form Change. Once a turn, it allows you to search your deck for another Deoxys and replace the Deoxys you currently have in play with the new Deoxys. Everything currently on the Deoxys—i.e. Energy, Trainer cards, damage counters, etc.—goes into the new Deoxys. You have to pay attention, though, because some of the Deoxys δ have different HPs. So, Form Change the wrong one, and that combo that would have worked before ends up giving your opponent the advantage.

All four forms also share the same Weakness to Psychic-type Pokémon, and a lot of decks are starting to bring back Psychic Pokémon, such as Wobbuffet (EX Legend Maker, 28/92) or Mew ex (EX Legend Maker, 88/92). However, there are ways to get around this. We'll come back to this particular nuisance later.

Normal Deoxys (5/110)

It has a low Retreat Cost (1 Energy), 70 HP, and an attack for only 2 of any energy that can attack for up to 60 damage per turn as long as it attacked the previous turn. This makes it a lot easier to destroy Pokémon that have a weakness to Colorless, such as Rayquaza ex (EX Deoxys, 102/107) or Dragonite δ (EX Delta Species, 3/113).

Defense Deoxys (4/110)

It has the highest defense of them all with 80 HP, but with a higher Retreat Cost of 2 Energy. Its attack does 30 and reduces damage done to it the next turn by 30 before Weakness and Resistance is even applied! Additionally, if you have Metal Energy attached to this form, it further reduces the damage done to it next turn by 10 for each Metal Energy! Up to 70 damage prevented if you have 4 Metal Energy attached, countering all damage done by most Pokémon currently in the format!

Speed Deoxys (6/110)

This form has the lowest HP of the bunch with only 60 HP, but it also has the fastest attack: for only 1 Lightning Energy, it does 20 damage, and you switch it with one of your Benched Pokémon. While this is fast, the forced switch effect may not be so desirable.

Attack Deoxys (3/110)

This form is like the Normal Deoxys, but is Darkness-type instead (which can counter Psychic Pokémon with Weakness to Darkness like Banette ex (Legend Maker, 85/92), and it has a powerful attack, Energy Loop, that does 60 damage and returns 2 Energy to your hand. With Darkness Energy attached, you can do even more damage.

So which are the best of the four? Probably Normal Deoxys (only 2 Energy needed for a constant 60 damage), or Defense Deoxys, with its ability to prevent a lot of damage. Whichever you pick, your decks become a whole lot more dangerous with Deoxys δ!