Updated: 11th April (added some strategy guides around Shaymin starting, and how best to deal with fighting types).

With the current ranked rotation, I rebuilt a deck around one of my favorite new cards from the latest expansion.

Ideal Setup Your goal is to have a Sky Shaymin on the bench, enabling Pikachu and Pachirisu to retreat without discarding any Energy (Note: This also works for Magnemite, but not for Magneton or Magnezone). Finding your evolution line for Magnezone is also a strategic priority.

Key Decisions & Bench Management With only 3 bench spots, careful planning is everything. Use PComms and Iona strategically to decide your optimal bench setup.

• Sky Shaymin is only helpful if one of your benched Pokémon is taking advantage of its ability. If not, try not to bench it. When having to start Shaymin, prioritize having energy on it, so it can be retreated while you correct your lineup on the bench. Avoid giving the prize point away if possible. Against fighting Pokémon, this deck is at a massive disadvantage as everything is weak to it, except Shaymin. Use this Pokémon to take hits from Rioulu while you build Magnezone, which will be your primary win con against this type.

• Pachirisu: becomes less viable if the opponent has a Rocky Helmet attached, especially in Darkrai matchups. In those cases, it’s better used as a meat shield to absorb Darkrai’s ping damage while you power up Pikachu and search for Electezone pieces.

• Pikachu: Try not to leave in the active. This is the One Hit Nuker. So plan around the attack. Ideally, you want this card to be charged to take out an EX Pokémon to get the +2 points and take the win.

• Magnezone: We have this as the main stage 2 Pokémon line, and find consistency with comms, and Iona. Keep in mind our synergy with energy building, and Dawn. If Shaymin is on the board, keep in mind that it will lose free retreat if Magnemite is evolved, so retreat it before evolving on your turn.

• Iona: Many people aren't using this card to its full potential. You want to constantly thin your deck, however, this card does not do that. Sometimes, it's better to hold it for an extra turn and then use it to give you a +1 chance to find that exact piece you are looking for.

• Dawn: is super strong in situations that need Pikachu to attack early or twice.

• Red: Having two copies of Red allows us to make sure its in our hand when we use our Pikachu Blast, KO'ing every Meta relative EX card in the game at the moment (even with a cape on).

• Sabrina is super helpful in either slowing opponents down or getting into the backline to damage their charging Pokémon.

Use all the pieces of the deck as you find them. Try not to rely on what you are going to draw but rather, what's currently in your hand on the board situation, and there is almost always a line to win.

Have fun.