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New Decks from Twilight Masquerade


Learn more about our sixth Scarlet & Violet set by visiting the articles below.

Set List | Card Translations | Visual Set List | Selected Proxies | New Decks

With the arrival of Twilight Masquerade in May, we’ll have a handful of new deck joining the fray. As always, some decks are better than others—some are meme tier and some are merely playable, fun decks without much competitive promise. Lists below are very rough drafts and are intended as a starting place for testing, not as tournament-ready deck lists. Consider creating and using proxies to test cards you don’t already own prior to making any purchases.


Sinistcha

Illus. Kouki Saitou

BASIC STRATEGY

Set up your board by getting Poltchageist in play alongside several Teal Mask Ogerpon ex. Evolve Poltchageist into Sinistcha and attach a Grass Energy to it to power up its Spill the Tea attack, which does 70 damage for each Basic [G] Energy card you discard from your Pokémon in play (up to three). Get additional Basic [G] Energy into play with Teal Mask Ogerpon ex’s Teal Dance Ability, which lets you attach a Basic [G] Energy card to that Teal Mask Ogerpon ex from your hand once each turn.

KEY CARDS

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

  • Sinistcha ex TWM 23 as a late game attacker that shuffles your Basic Grass Energy back into the deck.

  • Salvatore to increase the odds of a turn one knockout with Sinistcha’s Spill the Tea.

  • Additional copies of Earthen Vessel to further ease the difficulty of having energy in hand for Teal Mask Ogerpon ex’s Teal Dance Ability.

EXAMPLE DECK LIST

Pokémon - 18

  • 4 Poltchageist TWM 20
  • 4 Sinistcha TWM 22
  • 3 Teal Mask Ogerpon ex TWM 25
  • 2 Bibarel BRS 121
  • 2 Bidoof CRZ 111
  • 1 Jirachi PAR 126
  • 1 Lumineon V BRS 40
  • 1 Radiant Greninja ASR 46

Trainer Cards - 33

  • 3 Iono PAF 80
  • 3 Professor's Research PAF 88
  • 2 Boss's Orders PAL 172
  • 1 Arven OBF 186
  • 1 Ciphermaniac's Codebreaking TEF 145
  • 4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144
  • 4 Bug Catching Set TWM 143
  • 3 Nest Ball PAF 84
  • 2 Counter Catcher PAR 160
  • 2 Super Rod PAL 188
  • 2 Ultra Ball PAF 91
  • 1 Earthen Vessel PAR 163
  • 1 Lost Vacuum CRZ 135
  • 1 Prime Catcher TEF 157
  • 1 Defiance Band SVI 169
  • 1 Forest Seal Stone SIT 156
  • 1 Artazon PAF 76

Energy - 9

  • 9 Basic Grass Energy SVE 1

Testing Streams

Festival Grounds

Illus. MARINA Chikazawa

BASIC STRATEGY

Play down and evolve Grookey and Applin into Thwackey and Dipplin, respectively. With the Festival Grounds stadium card in play, attack with Dipplin’s Do the Wave attack, which does 20 damage for each of your Benched Pokémon. Then, because of the effect of Dipplin’s Festival Lead Ability, attack once again before your opponent starts their turn. With Dipplin in the Active Spot, make use of Thwackey’s Boom Boom Groove Ability, which lets you search your deck for any 1 card if your Active Pokémon has the Festival Lead Ability.

KEY CARDS

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

  • Goldeen TWM 44 and/or Swirlix TWM 89 to be present as Basic Pokémon with the Festival Lead Ability, making it easier to take advantage of Thwackey’s Boom Boom Groove Ability.

EXAMPLE DECK LIST

Pokémon - 17

  • 4 Applin TWM 17
  • 4 Dipplin TWM 18
  • 3 Grookey TWM 14
  • 3 Thwackey TWM 15
  • 2 Tatsugiri TWM 131
  • 1 Manaphy BRS 41

Trainer Cards - 37

  • 4 Arven OBF 186
  • 3 Iono PAF 80
  • 2 Boss's Orders PAL 172
  • 1 Arezu LOR 153
  • 1 Kieran TWM 154
  • 1 Lana's Aid TWM 155
  • 4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144
  • 4 Bug Catching Set TWM 143
  • 2 Counter Catcher PAR 160
  • 2 Super Rod PAL 188
  • 2 Ultra Ball PAF 91
  • 1 Switch SVI 194
  • 2 Rescue Board TEF 159
  • 1 Defiance Band SVI 169
  • 1 Maximum Belt TEF 154
  • 1 Technical Machine: Evolution PAR 178
  • 1 Vitality Band SVI 197
  • 4 Festival Grounds TWM 149

Energy - 6

  • 6 Basic Grass Energy SVE 1

Testing Streams

Magcargo ex

Illus. PLANETA Mochizuki

BASIC STRATEGY

Evolve Slugma into Magcargo and, with the aid of cards like Ciphermaniac’s Codebreaking, Team Star Grunt, and Morpeko TWM 72, manipulate the top card of your or your opponent’s deck. Then, attack with Magcargo ex’s Ground Burn, which does 140 damage plus 140 more damage for each Energy card discarded in this way.

KEY CARDS

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

  • Pairing Magcargo ex with the Lost Engine and Magcargo LOR 22, which, as a single Prize Pokémon, does 220 damage for three Energy with its Lost Volcano attack.

EXAMPLE DECK LIST

Pokémon - 16

  • 4 Slugma LOR 21
  • 3 Magcargo ex TWM 29
  • 2 Bibarel BRS 121
  • 2 Bidoof CRZ 111
  • 2 Entei V BRS 22
  • 1 Manaphy BRS 41
  • 1 Morpeko TWM 72
  • 1 Radiant Charizard CRZ 20

Trainer Cards - 32

  • 3 Iono PAF 80
  • 2 Boss's Orders PAL 172
  • 2 Ciphermaniac's Codebreaking TEF 145
  • 2 Team Star Grunt OBF 195
  • 1 Mela PAR 167
  • 4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144
  • 4 Ultra Ball PAF 91
  • 2 Nest Ball PAF 84
  • 2 Switch SVI 194
  • 1 Counter Catcher PAR 160
  • 1 Lost Vacuum CRZ 135
  • 1 Pal Pad SVI 182
  • 1 Super Rod PAL 188
  • 1 Forest Seal Stone SIT 156
  • 1 Maximum Belt TEF 154
  • 1 Rescue Board TEF 159
  • 3 Magma Basin BRS 144

Energy - 12

  • 12 Basic Fire Energy SVE 2

Testing Streams

Infernape

Illus. Takumi Wada

BASIC STRATEGY

Evolve Chimchar into Infernape with Rare Candy. With Infernape’s Pyro Dance Ability, which lets you attach a Basic [R] and a Basic [F] Energy from your hand to your Pokémon in any way you like, power up Koraidon ex’s Kaiser Tackle attack, which does 280 damage to your opponent’s Active Pokémon in exchange for doing 60 damage to itself.

KEY CARDS

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

EXAMPLE DECK LIST

Pokémon - 16

  • 4 Chimchar BRS 24
  • 3 Infernape TWM 33
  • 3 Koraidon ex TEF 120
  • 2 Bibarel BRS 121
  • 2 Bidoof CRZ 111
  • 1 Entei V BRS 22
  • 1 Radiant Charizard CRZ 20

Trainer Cards - 33

  • 4 Arven OBF 186
  • 3 Iono PAF 80
  • 2 Boss's Orders PAL 172
  • 4 Rare Candy PAF 89
  • 4 Ultra Ball PAF 91
  • 3 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144
  • 3 Nest Ball PAF 84
  • 2 Earthen Vessel PAR 163
  • 2 Super Rod PAL 188
  • 1 Prime Catcher TEF 157
  • 1 Switch SVI 194
  • 2 Ancient Booster Energy Capsule TEF 140
  • 1 Forest Seal Stone SIT 156
  • 1 Rescue Board TEF 159

Energy - 11

  • 6 Basic Fighting Energy SVE 6
  • 5 Basic Fire Energy SVE 2

Testing Streams

Froslass / Brute Bonnet

Illus. Makura Tami

BASIC STRATEGY

On early turns, use Absol and its Swirling Disaster attack to spread damage on your opponent’s Pokémon. As early as possible, evolve Snorunt into Froslass so that its Freezing Shroud Ability starts to put a damage counter on each Pokémon with an Ability during each Pokémon Checkup. Using Professor Sada’s Vitality and Dark Patch, power up Brute Bonnet’s Relentless Power attack which does 50 damage plus 50 more damage for each damage counter on your opponent’s Active Pokémon.

KEY CARDS

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

  • Run Froslass as a partner for Greninja ex.

EXAMPLE DECK LIST

Pokémon - 15

  • 4 Brute Bonnet TWM 118
  • 4 Froslass TWM 53
  • 4 Snorunt SIT 41
  • 2 Absol ASR 97
  • 1 Cleffa OBF 80

Trainer Cards - 35

  • 4 Professor Sada's Vitality PAR 170
  • 1 Boss's Orders PAL 172
  • 1 Iono PAF 80
  • 4 Dark Patch ASR 139
  • 4 Ultra Ball PAF 91
  • 3 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144
  • 3 Earthen Vessel PAR 163
  • 3 Nest Ball PAF 84
  • 3 Pokégear 3.0 SVI 186
  • 2 Counter Catcher PAR 160
  • 2 Super Rod PAL 188
  • 2 Switch SVI 194
  • 1 Pal Pad SVI 182
  • 1 Unfair Stamp TWM 165
  • 1 Artazon PAF 76

Energy - 10

  • 10 Basic Darkness Energy SVE 7

Testing Streams

Palafin ex

Illus. PLANETA Mochizuki

BASIC STRATEGY

Evolve Finizen up into the Palafin into the Palafin from Twilight Masquerade. Use its Zero to Hero Ability to then swap it into a Palafin ex from the deck. Attack with Palafin ex’s Giga Impact attack, which does 250 damage but prevents you from attacking with that same Palafin ex on the following turn.

KEY CARDS

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

  • Finding Palafin ex a nice, cozy home somewhere in your collection binder.

EXAMPLE DECK LIST

Pokémon - 16

  • 4 Finizen OBF 60
  • 3 Palafin TWM 60
  • 3 Palafin ex TWM 61
  • 2 Bibarel BRS 121
  • 2 Bidoof CRZ 111
  • 1 Palafin OBF 62
  • 1 Skwovet SVI 151

Trainer Cards - 37

  • 4 Iono PAF 80
  • 3 Irida ASR 147
  • 2 Boss's Orders PAL 172
  • 2 Kieran TWM 154
  • 1 Arven OBF 186
  • 1 Professor Turo's Scenario PAR 171
  • 4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144
  • 4 Ultra Ball PAF 91
  • 3 Nest Ball PAF 84
  • 2 Super Rod PAL 188
  • 2 Switch SVI 194
  • 1 Counter Catcher PAR 160
  • 1 Earthen Vessel PAR 163
  • 1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
  • 2 Rescue Board TEF 159
  • 1 Choice Belt PAL 176
  • 1 Maximum Belt TEF 154
  • 2 Artazon PAF 76

Energy - 7

  • 7 Basic Water Energy SVE 3

Testing Streams

Luxray ex

Illus. PLANETA Yamashita

BASIC STRATEGY

Using Miraidon ex’s Tandem Unit, get Shinx into play and then use Rare Candy to evolve it up into Luxray ex. Attack with Luxray ex’s Piercing Gaze attack, which does 120 damage and forces your opponent to reveal their hand and lets you discard one of the cards you find there. Alternatively, attack with Iron Hands ex and its Amp You Very Much attack to take an additional Prize card when taking a knockout, with Iron Thorns ex, or with Miraidon ex itself.

KEY CARDS

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

  • Heavy Baton to more easily preserve Energy attached to Iron Hands ex when it is Knocked Out.

  • Rescue Board as a pivot option.

EXAMPLE DECK LIST

Pokémon - 14

  • 3 Luxray ex TWM 68
  • 3 Shinx PAL 69
  • 2 Miraidon ex SVI 81
  • 1 Iron Hands ex PAR 70
  • 1 Iron Thorns ex TWM 77
  • 1 Luxio CRZ 42
  • 1 Raikou V BRS 48
  • 1 Rotom V CRZ 45
  • 1 Shinx BRS 49

Trainer Cards - 30

  • 4 Arven OBF 186
  • 2 Boss's Orders PAL 172
  • 2 Professor's Research PAF 88
  • 1 Iono PAF 80
  • 4 Electric Generator PAF 79
  • 4 Nest Ball PAF 84
  • 4 Rare Candy PAF 89
  • 2 Ultra Ball PAF 91
  • 1 Lost Vacuum CRZ 135
  • 1 Prime Catcher TEF 157
  • 1 Super Rod PAL 188
  • 1 Switch SVI 194
  • 1 Bravery Charm PAL 173
  • 1 Forest Seal Stone SIT 156
  • 1 Rescue Board TEF 159

Energy - 16

  • 14 Basic Lightning Energy SVE 4
  • 2 Double Turbo Energy BRS 151

Testing Streams

Iron Thorns ex (Future Box)

Illus. PLANETA Mochizuki & 5ban Graphics

BASIC STRATEGY

Going second, power up your Pokémon with Miraidon’s Peak Acceleration attack, which does 40 damage and lets you search your deck for 2 Basic Energy cards and attach them to your Future Pokémon in any way you like. Attack with Miraidon’s Sparking Strike, which does 160 damage, or with Miraidon ex’s Repulsion Bolt or Cyber Drive attacks. Boost the attacks of your Future Pokémon with Iron Crown ex’s Cobalt Command Ability, which reads, “Attacks used by your Future Pokémon, except any Iron Crown ex, do 20 more damage to your opponent’s Active Pokémon (before applying Weakness and Resistance).” To assist in swinging the Prize trade, attack with Iron Hands ex and its Amp You Very Much attack, which does 120 damage and lets you take an additional Prize card when you take a knockout with that attack.

KEY CARDS

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

  • Town Store as an out to Future Booster Energy Capsule.

EXAMPLE DECK LIST

Pokémon - 10

  • 3 Iron Crown ex TEF 81
  • 3 Iron Thorns ex TWM 77
  • 2 Iron Hands ex PAR 70
  • 2 Miraidon TEF 121

Trainer Cards - 35

  • 4 Arven OBF 186
  • 3 Professor's Research PAF 88
  • 2 Iono PAF 80
  • 1 Boss's Orders PAL 172
  • 1 Ciphermaniac's Codebreaking TEF 145
  • 1 Eri TEF 146
  • 4 Crushing Hammer SVI 168
  • 4 Electric Generator PAF 79
  • 4 Techno Radar PAR 180
  • 1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
  • 1 Lost Vacuum CRZ 135
  • 1 Prime Catcher TEF 157
  • 1 Super Rod PAL 188
  • 4 Future Booster Energy Capsule TEF 149
  • 2 Heavy Baton TEF 151
  • 1 Lost City LOR 161

Energy - 15

  • 14 Basic Lightning Energy SVE 4
  • 1 Double Turbo Energy BRS 151

Testing Streams

Iron Thorns ex (Quad)

Illus. PLANETA Mochizuki

BASIC STRATEGY

Slam down Iron Thorns ex and use its Initialization Ability to cripple your opponent’s setup. Use the decks other disruption options, including Crushing Hammer, Eri, and Technical Machine: Devolution to destroy your opponent’s setup as you slowly whittle away at their Pokémon with Iron Thorns ex’s Volt Cyclone attack, which does 140 damage and makes you move an Energy from Iron Thorns ex to one of your Benched Pokémon.

KEY CARDS

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

EXAMPLE DECK LIST

Pokémon - 4

  • 4 Iron Thorns ex TWM 77

Trainer Cards - 45

  • 4 Arven OBF 186
  • 4 Boss's Orders PAL 172
  • 4 Colress's Experiment LOR 155
  • 3 Eri TEF 146
  • 3 Penny SVI 183
  • 2 Iono PAF 80
  • 2 Judge SVI 176
  • 4 Crushing Hammer SVI 168
  • 4 Energy Loto ASR 140
  • 4 Pokégear 3.0 SVI 186
  • 2 Canceling Cologne ASR 136
  • 2 Techno Radar PAR 180
  • 1 Earthen Vessel PAR 163
  • 1 Lost Vacuum CRZ 135
  • 1 Prime Catcher TEF 157
  • 2 Future Booster Energy Capsule TEF 149
  • 1 Technical Machine: Devolution PAR 177
  • 1 Technical Machine: Turbo Energize PAR 179

Energy - 11

  • 7 Basic Lightning Energy SVE 4
  • 4 Double Turbo Energy BRS 151

Testing Streams

Conkeldurr

Illus. Takeshi Nakamura

BASIC STRATEGY

Evolve Timburr into Conkeldurr with Rare Candy. Use Brute Bonnet’s Toxic Powder Ability, which leaves both Active Pokémon Poisoned if there is an Ancient Booster Energy Capsule attached to Brute Bonnet. Attack with Conkeldurr’s Gutsy Swing attack which does 250 damage and can be used for free when Conkeldurr is affected by a Special Condition, liked Poisoned.

KEY CARDS

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

EXAMPLE DECK LIST

Pokémon - 19

  • 4 Conkeldurr TWM 105
  • 4 Timburr TWM 103
  • 3 Brute Bonnet PAR 123
  • 2 Bibarel BRS 121
  • 2 Bidoof CRZ 111
  • 1 Gurdurr TWM 104
  • 1 Manaphy BRS 41
  • 1 Radiant Hisuian Sneasler LOR 123
  • 1 Rotom V CRZ 45

Trainer Cards - 41

  • 4 Arven OBF 186
  • 3 Iono PAF 80
  • 2 Boss's Orders PAL 172
  • 4 Nest Ball PAF 84
  • 4 Rare Candy PAF 89
  • 4 Ultra Ball PAF 91
  • 3 Switch SVI 194
  • 2 Counter Catcher PAR 160
  • 2 Super Rod PAL 188
  • 1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
  • 1 Pal Pad SVI 182
  • 4 Ancient Booster Energy Capsule TEF 140
  • 1 Forest Seal Stone SIT 156
  • 1 Maximum Belt TEF 154
  • 1 Rescue Board TEF 159
  • 3 Artazon PAF 76
  • 1 Collapsed Stadium BRS 137

Energy - 0

Greninja ex

Illus. 5ban Graphics

BASIC STRATEGY

Evolve Pidgey into Pidgeotto and Froakie into Greninja ex with Rare Candy. Attack with Greninja ex’s Shinobi Blade attack, which does 170 damage and lets you search your deck for any 1 card you like. Alternatively, attack with Greninja ex’s Mirage Barrage, which does 120 damage to 2 of your opponent’s Pokémon.

KEY CARDS

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

  • [Pidgeot ex Version] Earthen Vessel to help find Basic Energy, as needed.

  • [Pidgeot ex Version] Unfair Stamp to cripple your opponent and boost your own setup after your opponent takes a knockout.