Volkner deck

Lightning decks in TCG Pocket have traditionally relied on efficient basic EX Pokemon such as Zapdos EX and Pikachu EX. Volkner looks to change the equation, threatening huge damage with his Luxray! The name of the game is point-efficient damage, trying to get favorable point trades by attacking for big numbers without exposing ourselves to losing more than one point at a time.

One of the strongest strategies in Pokemon TCG Pocket has been to build up a finisher behind high-HP Basic Pokemon – think Moltres EX building a Charizard, or Druddigon sitting in the frontline while Magnezone or Gyarados EX prepare to sweep your team. Luxray throws that out the window, hitting anything on the field with its Volt Bolt attack for a massive 120 damage. This is by far the highest anywhere-hit in the game – at the cost of losing all energy attached.

This is where Volkner comes in; two of the energy you discarded can be reattached to Luxray, enabling a second 120 damage anywhere-hit instantly! If we need to pivot away after Volt Bolt, Luxray’s 0 retreat cost allows us to bring in a supplementary threat! The final major benefit to Volkner is the ability to reuse energy from a KO’d Pokemon or one forced to retreat, meaning we don’t fall incredibly behind on tempo in either event.

Luxray Oricorio

This archetype got a second breath of life with the release of Luxray in Mega Rising, as its Flash Impact deals an impressive 110 damage from turn 4, capable to take down a Mega Pokémon ex in just two hits, and often from turn 3 with Elemental Switch and Zeraora's Thunderclap Flash. This all-one-point deck still runs one-of Luxray from Space-Time Smackdown with two Volkners for the deadly bench hits.

"Default" Electivire Variant

The most straightforward way to run Volkner, this includes Electivire as a consistent finisher. Volkner can easily push Electivire to his soft 4-energy requirement for Exciting Voltage, sending 120 damage swings at the opponent for the rest of the game. Pokemon Communication is a must to enable running multiple evolution lines. Mythical Island Electabuzz synergizes directly with Luxray as an additional source of anywhere damage. Both Electivire and Luxray hit the 120 breakpoint, getting one-shot KO’s on Pachirisu EX, Pikachu EX, Yanmega EX, and the Legendary Birds with weakness; careful with the latter few, as weakness does not apply on the bench!

Magnezone Variant

This variant eschews Electivire in favor of a second Stage 2 line in Magnezone. With an ideal draw, Magnezone’s Thunder Blast can shred frontlines constantly after ramping itself with its pre-evolution Magneton’s Volt Charge ability. The energy discarded from Thunder Blast can then be re-allocated to Luxray to finish off our target of choice.

Weaknesses

• Volkner decks rely on, well, Volkner himself to get consistent pressure. Any draws that don’t find him in time can easily fall flat quickly after just one big attack.
• 120 damage falls in the category of “big, but not big enough” against opposing decks with heavy bulk. Notably, any Pokemon that clears the 130-or-greater benchmark – or runs Giant Cape – can be hard to get a KO on. doesn't offer much in the way of good options to fix up this weakness.
• A heavy focus on bench damage means we can’t meaningfully run something like Giovanni to help crest breakpoints that are missed naturally.
• Luxray is a Stage 2, and all of its relevant one-point support also require evolving to hit full potential. This leads to more variance between draws that evolve quickly compared to those that don’t; this is exacerbated by Luxio being a horrible on-rate attacker and Shinx's complete inability to damage anything.