Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket’s latest expansion, Secluded Springs, is here, and it’s carrying in a wave of brand-new cards to collect and battle with. Dive into this deck strategy featuring the new Suicune ex, Greninja, and Energy acceleration support from the adorable Mantyke.
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2× Suicune ex (Secluded Springs) |
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2× Froakie (Genetic Apex: Charizard) |
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2× Greninja (Genetic Apex: Charizard) |
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2× Mantyke (Secluded Springs) |
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2× Professor’s Research (Promo) |
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2× Cyrus (Space-Time Smackdown: Palkia) |
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1× Silver (Wisdom of Sea and Sky: Ho-Oh) |
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2× Poké Ball (Promo) |
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2× Rare Candy (Celestial Guardians) |
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2× Giant Cape (Space-Time Smackdown: Dialga) |
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1× Pokémon Flute (Mythical Island) |
Game plan: It’s ideal to get Mantyke and Suicune ex in your opening hand. Place Mantyke in the Active Spot and Suicune ex on the Bench so Mantyke can provide 
Energy acceleration for Suicune ex with its Splashy Toss attack. Mantyke’s 30 HP makes it vulnerable to being easily Knocked Out—the Giant Cape will certainly come in handy by boosting Mantyke’s HP from 30 to 50. Since Mantyke has no Retreat Cost, it’s easy to swap in Suicune ex when it has enough Energy to strike with Crystal Waltz.
Once Suicune ex is in the Active Spot, you can take full advantage of its Legendary Pulse Ability, which allows you to draw a card at the end of your turn if Suicune ex is your Active Pokémon. This boosts the chance of you getting the cards you need to fill out your Bench.
Of course, it’s impossible to predict how your opponent will react to seeing an opposing Suicune ex in the Active Spot—they might try to limit the damage potential of Crystal Waltz by holding their cards in hand instead of putting Pokémon onto their Bench. This is where Greninja makes a splash—with its Water Shuriken Ability, Greninja can do 20 damage to one of your opponent’s Pokémon, even from the Bench. If you target one of your opponent’s Benched Pokémon, you can then use Cyrus to drag that Pokémon into the Active Spot, where you can knock it out swiftly with a follow-up attack from Suicune ex.
Need to fill your opponent’s Bench? The Pokémon Flute Item card puts a Basic Pokémon from your opponent’s discard pile onto their Bench, immediately boosting the potential for Crystal Waltz’s damage.
The Silver Supporter card offers another way to exert control over your opponent’s strategy, by revealing their hand and allowing you to discard a Supporter you find there. If you prefer a more defensive play style, you might consider swapping in a different Supporter, such as Irida from Triumphant Light, who heals 40 damage from each of your Pokémon with Energy attached. Keep a careful eye on the battlefield so you know exactly when to turn the tide on your opponent.
Have fun exploring new possibilities from the Secluded Springs expansion, Trainers!
