Here’s an interesting fact: All 100% of my 2,400 Championship Points (CSP) were earned with Lugia VSTAR-based decks.
With its remarkable versatility and strategic potential, Lugia VSTAR has remained a dominant force in the Pokemon TCG competitive scene since its release. With the new Paldea Evolved set, there are new Special Energy cards, and a new variant of the deck has emerged: Colorless-type Lugia. But I’m here to tell you that Single Strike Lugia VSTAR outshines the new Colorless-type variant.
Why is Single Strike better than the new Colorless-type variant?
Colorless-type Lugia VSTAR emphasizes trade values, for example, using single Prize Pokemon such as Snorlax and Luxray to trade Prizes with the opponent while also having a higher HP cap for your single Prize Pokemon. This makes matches against Lost Box decks much more favourable.
However, it’s not easy to trade Prizes with other important decks in the Standard format, such as Arceus VSTAR-based decks or Pokemon V and Pokemon ex-based decks that have higher HP, as your potential damage cap is not high enough.
Looking at the meta from the recent North American International Championships (NAIC), Colorless-type Lugia may not be best suited to the meta, especially when there are prevalent Duradulon VMAX-based decks. That deck does not have an answer to it.
Single Strike Lugia VSTAR variants, though not favourable either, have at least an answer to the rise of this now popular version of Arceus VSTAR.
Key things to note with Lugia VSTAR
The most important thing to note when piloting Lugia VSTAR is that it’s a very consistent deck with multiple attackers, with the ability to use both heavy hitters as well as Basic non-Pokemon V/Pokemon ex for an effective Prize trade against your opponent.
The entire deck composition or gameplay needs to focus on pulling off a turn 2 Lugia VSTAR Ability, to bring out two Archeops to be put in play from the discard pile as its main engine. Failure to do so will be catastrophic. Hence, the biggest weakness of the deck is also that you are not able to fit/play many tech cards because of deck space limitations.
Remember, the entire focus of the deck should be on setting up turn 2 and not teching specifically for a matchup (this means playing cards that would be a dead card in other matchups). I wouldn’t agree that Lugia VSTAR is the best deck at the moment, but its ability to be consistent is a valuable consideration for Lugia VSTAR as a deck choice for the upcoming Pokemon TCG Asia Open Summer in Malaysia, as well as the Pokemon World Championships next month.
Deck Matchups
VS Arceus VSTAR / Duraludon VMAX / Umbreon VSTAR
This is an unfavourable matchup, but it’s not unplayable. The direct matchup strategy is to be able to set up Single Strike Urshifu V early, together with a Lugia V on the Bench. The goal is to take a KO on your opponent’s Arceus VSTAR with Single Strike Urshifu VMAX during the next turn with its first attack, then using its second attack against your opponent’s Duradulon V. Having said that, it’s extremely difficult to set this up while not being disrupted by your opponent’s Judge or Path to the Peak. Also, as you’re playing only a 1-1 line of Single Strike Urshifu, having any of its components Prized, especially in a BO1 format, means there’s no way to deal with a Duradulon VMAX if your opponent manages to set it up.
Key cards in matchup: Single Strike Urshifu V
Potential tech cards: Echoing Horn
VS Arceus VSTAR / Giratina VSTAR
Closer to a 50/50 matchup, but heavily dependent on whether the Lugia VSTAR player is able to remove the Path to the Peak Stadium card on the turn they need to use their VSTAR Power. The match is easily approachable if you are able to do so with effective Prize trades – use Stonejourner against Arceus VSTAR and Tyranitar V against Giratina VSTAR as effective trade-offs. Heavy stadium removal counts (usually three Stadium cards + 1 Pumpkaboo) are required to improve the favorability of this matchup.
Key cards in matchup: Stonejourner / Tyranitar V / Stadium removals
Potential tech cards: Lost Vacuum
VS Gardevoir ex
This matchup is simply about effective Prize trades. It is not exactly favored for either deck, but having a Yveltal means you are able to trade off against your opponent’s Gardevoir ex by using a single Prize Pokemon. Depending on the board state, Tyranitar V’s first attack is very effective as Gardevoir decks draw heavily, so take note of how many cards your opponent has left. Consider decking out your opponent as an alternative win condition. Collapse Stadium is also useful in this matchup.
Key cards in matchup: Tyranitar V, Yveltal, Collapse Stadium
Potential tech cards: Lost Vacuum (against Drifloon variants), Panic Mask, Box of Disaster
VS Mew VMAX (both Fusion Strike & DTE Path to the Peak variant)
With plenty of Darkness-type Pokemon, most players will consider Mew VMAX to be easy to play against. But this matchup can be difficult as Mew VMAX is designed to be a very aggressive deck meant to disrupt using Path to the Peak or Judge. Against Fusion Strike variants, having a lone Lugia V on the Bench would mean that it can be easily KO-ed (using a combination of Escape Rope, Elesa’s Sparkle on a Meloetta + Power Tablet). The first turn set up is extremely important in this matchup, and the addition of Squawkabilly ex can help in this match to get you set up for the remainder of the game. Against heavy Path to the Peak Mew VMAX variants, it’s mostly about being able to recover from the Path to the Peak + Judge.
Key cards in matchup: Yveltal, Tyranitar V, Stadium counters
Potential tech cards: Drapion V, Spiritomb
VS Rapid Strike Inteleon / Rapid Strike Urshifu VMAX
This is a favourable matchup as you are able to take two to three Prizes from the trade-off utilizing Tyranitar V/Single Strike Urshifu VMAX. Just a note of caution: Be careful of your opponent’s Medicham V’s Yoga Loop attack, which they can use to take advantage of an additional turn. Look out for your opponent’s damage spread as they set up for a potential surprise Yoga Loop with Radiant Alakazam.
Key cards in matchup: Single Strike Urshifu VMAX, Tyranitar V, Collapse Stadium, and Radiant Tsareena (for damage removal)
Potential tech cards: Drapion V, Spiritomb
VS Lost Box
Not particularly in any player’s favour. The advantage of Lugia VSTAR-based decks is the availability of single Prize Pokemon with HP above the magic 110 number (such as Stonejourner and Yveltal) as well as Radiant Tsareena to heal up any damage your Pokemon takes. The issue when facing a Lost Box deck is trying to guess which variant your opponent is playing (with Raikou V/Dragonite V/Sky Seal Stone or other variants such as Giratina VSTAR/Kyogre). In the case of the BO3 matchup, the first game is important to ensure how you correctly approach the second/third matches thereafter.
Key cards in matchup: Yveltal, Stonejourner, Radiant Tsareena, Collapse Stadium, V Guard Energy
Potential tech cards: Thorton, Radiant Charizard (both for additional single Prize attackers for effective Prize trades)
VS Chien Pao ex / Baxcalibur
This matchup tends to favour the Lugia VSTAR deck as you’re effectively taking two Prizes (from Chien Pao ex and Palkia V). As usual, you just need to ensure that you manage to set up your Archeops and Tyranitar V as soon as possible.
Key cards in matchup: Tyranitar V
Potential tech cards: N/A – make sure you can set up Archeops.
How I am preparing for Worlds
Currently, I am practicing to be fully familiar with my approach against all matchups to understand the line of plays to make against each deck. Also, I’m not forgetting to buy my “Luck is a Skill” T-Shirts from The Southern Islands 😉
The Southern Islands 