Deck archetype (TCG): Difference between revisions

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A deck archetype is a deck, built by players of the Trading Card Game, that utilizes one set structure, although various players may have slight differences between their own decks of the same archetype.

An example of a now-defunct archetype is Haymaker, which commonly used Base Set Hitmonchan and Electabuzz, and Fossil Magmar. While these cards are usually a staple of the Haymaker archetype, they are not required to make a Haymaker deck. For example, instead of using the Fossil Magmar, a player may choose to instead focus on the Fighting-type in the deck, and utilize Fossil Hitmonlee. The exact number and kinds of Trainers used with an archetype may also differ, with some users of Haymaker preferring the drawing power of Professor Oak despite its disadvantage of discarding the entire hand, while others would choose Bill instead.

Deckbuilding guidelines

These guidelines apply to building any tournament legal deck of Pokémon cards.

In a standard deck, only four cards of the same name may be included, except for Basic Energy cards, of which there can be as many as a player desires to fill the deck to 60. This four-card rule includes cards with the same name but different effects: a player may have three Stormfront Pikachu and one Majestic Dawn Pikachu, but only four which have the name "Pikachu". Cards that have a different name (Dark Crobat and Crobat, for example) count differently, and thus players may have four of each in their deck. δ Delta Species Pokémon count as the same as their non-δ counterparts.

List of well-known archetypes

Note that variants of some archetypes may have been played in multiple seasons of play. These will be listed during the most recent format in which they were viable.

Base Set-onward

• Haymaker
• Raindance
• Wigglytuff archetype

Team Rocket-onward

• Rocket

Neo Genesis-onward

• Babyporter
• Beat Up
• Beedrill/Retro Energy/Lure Ball
• Conductivity
• EnteiCargo
• Feraligatr/Parasect
• Mindgames
• Riptide
• SMF

Expedition-onward

• Niniken
• Team Magma
• Gardevoir variants
• Blaziken variants

EX Ruby & Sapphire-onward

• BombTar
• DragTrode
• Healix
• LudiCargo
• RockLock
• T2 Medicham
• ZRE

EX Hidden Legends-onward

• LBS
• Metanite
• Mewtrick
• Queendom
• Raieggs

EX Deoxys-onward

• BanDoom
• Metanite
• Raieggs
• Flariados
• Absolutions

EX Holon Phantoms-onward

• BanBliss
• Speedkrow
• Infercatty
• Magdol
• Skittles
• RockBand
• Quicketune
• Torterra/Sceptile

Diamond & Pearl-onward

• AmphyTrick
• AMU
• BlazeRay
• BlastCatty
• CurseGar
• Dark Flygon
• FlyChamp
• Gardevoir/Gallade
• Gliscor Lock
• Kingdra
• Leafeon/Magmortar
• LuxApe
• LuxPluff
• Mother Flygon
• Mother Gengar
• Scizor/Cherrim
• Shuppet Donk
• Speedrill
• Torterra/Sceptile
• Toxitank

Majestic Dawn-onward

• DialgaChomp
• Donkphan
• Gyarados
• LostGar
• LuxChomp
• Machamp
• MagneRock
• MewPerior
• Palkia Lock
• Regigigas
• Sablelock
• Speed Flare
• VileGar

HeartGold & SoulSilver-onward

• CaKE
• Chindra
• CMT
• Darkrai-EX/Mewtwo-EX
• Darkrai-EX/Terrakion
• DonDragons
• Durant Mill
• EelZone
• Gothitelle
• Kingdra/Yanmega
• Klingklang/EXs
• MagneBoar
• MegaZone
• MewLuxe
• Party of Five
• Quad Entei
• Quad Terrakion
• ReshiBoar
• Six Corners
• Speed Darkrai-EX
• Stage Ones
• Thunder Fish
• The Truth
• TyRam
• VVV
• ZekEels
• ZPST

Black & White-onward

• Garchomp/Altaria
• Hydreigon/Darkrai-EX
• RayEels
• ZekEels

Unlimited

• Porydonk
• Muk ex
• Super Donk