1. Pokemon Collector- Lets you search out 3 basic Pokemon. THREE! Why this is important will be explained later on.

2. All HGSS Pokemon have a x2 weakness.

3. Professor Oak’s New Theory and Fisherman

The main focus of an Arceus deck is to get 6 different types of Arceus out in play. This allows normal type Arceus to use it’s  “Ripple Swell” attack. This attack allows you to search 6 different types of Energy and attach them to all your Arceus. There aren’t very many energy accelerators that can even match that. However, a problem Arceus decks faced a lot is not being able to get all the Arceus out by turn 2-3. At that point, you are losing your Arceus quickly and the game is going to end quite soon. However, with Pokemon Collector, you are 1 Call Energy and 1 Pokemon Collector away from having a full bench of Arceus. Easily done in Turn 1 -2.

Next, with all the energy in play, the time to attack finally comes. First, use Ultimate Zone Stadium which allows you to ” As Often as you like, move an energy from a Benched Pokemon to an active Arceus.” You may notice that Arceus’s attacks really are NOT impressive. In fact, they are borderline terrible. However, a good Arceus deck must ALWAYS hit for weakness. +30 or x2 will skyrocket your attack power. Luckily, all Arceus Lv. X have a Poke-body called “Multitype” which lets it stay the same time as the Arceus it leveled up from. So a Dark Arceus will remain dark type.

Their are 3 Arceus Lv.X in print at the moment. The one that should be used is one that has the Poke-Body “Omniscient”. This body allows you to use any attacks from any Arceus you have in play. This means maximum flexibility. The Arceus with Psychic Bolt may be considered as a tech for extra damage that Arceus needs. For LPC, this attack does 120 damage at the cost of discarding two energies. “Omniscient, can copy this as well.”

Lastly, the most fatal weakness an Arceus deck has is the lack of a good draw engine. Uxies, Claydol, etc CANNOT be played due to them taking up precious bench space an Arceus deck needs. Volkner’s Philosophy has always done an OK job, but getting them out at the right time is far too hard. With Professor Oak’s New Theory, however, a reliable draw card is here. With Fisherman out, the energy count in an Arceus deck can be dropped, allowing for other cards to speed up the deck.

Below is a deck list I’ve came up with. Extensive testing has not been done on this new list due to the fact that the cards are new, but so far they have been working quite nicely.

Arceus, A Viable Deck? is an article featured on SixPrizes - Pokemon TCG Tips and Strategy.

Sadly, the fact that the power only works DURING your opponent’s turn is a big downfall. No auto burn? :S His power “Unlucky Wind” states, As long as Shiftry is your active Pokemon, whenever your opponent flips a coin during his or her turn, treat it as tails. This means, no Pokeballs for your opponent; a bummer considering the article describing how it might be better than Dusk/Quick ball.

Shiftry has two main attack. One being “Conform” for DC. It does a not too shabby 40 damage and possible confusion if your opponent has the same amount of cards in their hands as you do. This can be raised from Special Darkness Energies. As you may have already realized, Confusion would mean no attacking for your opponent’s Defending Pokemon unless they manage to retreat or switch.

His second attack is “Seal Off” that does 60 for DCC.When used, the Defending Pokemon cannot use any Poke-power or Poke-bodies during their next turn. It has limited use, but it is extra damage and it can be useful. Sometimes.

As for its basic frame, it has a not so spectacular 130 HP for a Stage 2, 1 retreat cost. +30 to fire, -20 to psychic. If I had to choose the average stats for a Stage 2 Pokemon, I don’t think this can fit any better. Although +30 to fire can hurt as Infernape 4 LV.X can OHKO this. Resistance is always welcome, and Psychic is super nice.

I do know that this is a deck analysis, so it is time to talk about the strategy with this deck. (Blame Soul on the long analysis since I tried to format my article towards his.)

Your main attacker will be Shiftry (obviously). Do your best to match your hand with your opponents with Claydol’s “Cosmic Power”, Looker’s Investigation, or even Cynthia’s feelings. Next use “Conform” to confuse your opponent and now they can’t attack. Simple, right?

Well, of course they can retreat! This is where Ariados MT comes in. It’s Poke-Body, “Sticky”, adds 1 retreat cost to all Pokemon, excluding Ariados. If you can get around 2 in play, then retreating will be a heavy cost for any Pokemon not under the influence of Flygon’s power “Rainbow Float”.

Claydol is there for draw support. Bench Shield could be added in to protect it. If you wanted to do so, – 1 Memory Berry for it. Sableye is a good starter in this deck and you may even get a lucky donk. Spiritomb is a tech that will always be useful with “Keystone Seal” to shut of trainers. It also has an attack to evolve your Pokemon.

As for my favorite, Speed Stadium no longer helps your opponent out. :)

Finally, to point out a major weakness to this deck, it is the Dreaded Dialga G LV.X. Shutting down powers means, well the whole deck isn’t working properly. Although, Shiftry can still do a mean 80 damage with Expert Belt, or even 110 with 3 Special Darkness Energy and Expert Belt so it is by no means a helpless Pokemon.

While Flygon may prove to be troublesome with it’s Rainbow Float, it is normally the main attacker of the deck so Flygon itself won’t have free retreat. Mind you, they will run out of Poke Turns or Warp Points eventually and there are plenty more Shiftry to come.

I hope this article will help Shiftry see a little bit more play. (It is close to nothing at the moment.) This is a deck list that I made.

Shiftry – Tails, You Lose is an article featured on SixPrizes - Pokemon TCG Tips and Strategy.