The Pokemon TCG Regionals in Sacramento took place this weekend on the 23rd of November. 1705 players participated in this tournament, fighting tooth and nail to make it into the top cut. This is our first Pokemon TCG Regional tournament in the Surging Sparks meta, so players are still experimenting with the new cards and trying to find the best competitive decks out there.
We knew Regidrago would be a strong deck in the Surging Sparks meta, but we still saw underdog decks make it far in this tournament, even beating the popular Regidrago. Let’s take a look at the top 8 decks in the Sacramento Regionals!
1st Miraidon – Landen Kaetler
Pokémon: 15
2 Miraidon ex SVI 81
2 Iron Hands ex PAR 70
1 Raikou V BRS 48
1 Raichu V BRS 45
1 Magnemite PAL 65
1 Magneton SSP 59
1 Pikachu ex SSP 57
1 Latias ex SSP 76
1 Mew ex MEW 151
1 Fezandipiti ex SFA 38
1 Squawkabilly ex PAL 169
1 Lumineon V BRS 40
1 Iron Bundle PAR 56
Trainer: 28
4 Arven OBF 186
4 Boss's Orders PAL 172
4 Electric Generator SVI 170
4 Nest Ball SVI 181
3 Ultra Ball SVI 196
1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
1 Counter Catcher PAR 160
1 Night Stretcher SFA 61
1 Secret Box TWM 163
1 Bravery Charm PAL 173
1 Rescue Board TEF 159
1 Forest Seal Stone SIT 156
2 Area Zero Underdepths SCR 131
Energy: 17
16 Lightning Energy SVE 12
1 Double Turbo Energy BRS 151The Sacramento Regionals had two Miraidon players in the finals, battling it out for the first place! This deck is heavy on Ligthing-type Pokemon, mainly because of Miraidon’s ability, Tandem Unit. Tandem Unit lets you search your deck for 2 Lightning Pokemon and put them on the Bench, helping you find the cards you need and thin out your deck.
Magneton’s Overvolt Discharge plays an important role in making use of discarded Lightning Energy, helping you set up one of your attackers immediately. Keep in mind that activating Overvolt Discharge will knock out Magneton and give the opponent 1 Prize card.
Miraidon deals 220 damage with Photon Blaster, but you can’t activate it again on the upcoming turn, which means you need to have another attacker take its place. Raikou V and Raichu V are great damage dealers to switch in Miraidon’s place and keep the damage going. We’ll use Latias ex’s Skyliner to switch out Pokemon, removing the retreat cost and making things easier.
2nd Miraidon – Kenneth Gilman
Pokémon: 19
2 Miraidon ex SVI 81
2 Iron Hands ex PAR 70
2 Raikou V BRS 48
1 Raichu V BRS 45
1 Magnemite SVI 63
1 Magneton SSP 59
1 Pikachu ex SSP 57
1 Rotom V LOR 58
1 Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex TWM 141
1 Latias ex SSP 76
1 Mew ex MEW 151
1 Fezandipiti ex SFA 38
1 Squawkabilly ex PAL 169
1 Lumineon V BRS 40
1 Radiant Greninja ASR 46
1 Iron Bundle PAR 56
Trainer: 25
3 Boss's Orders PAL 172
3 Irida ASR 147
1 Arven OBF 186
4 Electric Generator SVI 170
4 Nest Ball SVI 181
2 Ultra Ball SVI 196
1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
1 Secret Box TWM 163
1 Switch Cart ASR 154
1 Super Rod PAL 188
1 Bravery Charm PAL 173
1 Forest Seal Stone SIT 156
2 Area Zero Underdepths SCR 131
Energy: 16
15 Lightning Energy SVE 12
1 Double Turbo Energy BRS 151The second place Miraidon list. This one has Greninja and Rotom V as draw options and adds Irida. It also has a Switch Cart and an extra 1 Lightning Energy.
3rd Gholdengo Victor de Velasco
Pokémon: 14
4 Gimmighoul SSP 97
4 Gholdengo ex PAR 139
1 Togepi SSP 70
1 Togekiss SSP 72
1 Fezandipiti ex SFA 38
1 Radiant Greninja ASR 46
1 Manaphy BRS 41
1 Iron Bundle PAR 56
Trainer: 36
3 Ciphermaniac's Codebreaking TEF 145
3 Irida ASR 147
1 Boss's Orders PAL 172
1 Thorton LOR 167
4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144
4 Superior Energy Retrieval PAL 189
4 Night Stretcher SFA 61
3 Nest Ball SVI 181
2 Rare Candy SVI 191
2 Ultra Ball SVI 196
1 Energy Search Pro SSP 176
1 Earthen Vessel PAR 163
1 Lost Vacuum LOR 162
1 Counter Catcher PAR 160
1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
1 Canceling Cologne ASR 136
3 PokéStop PGO 68
Energy: 10
3 Metal Energy SVE 16
1 Grass Energy SVE 9
1 Water Energy SVE 11
1 Fire Energy SVE 10
1 Lightning Energy SVE 12
1 Psychic Energy SVE 13
1 Fighting Energy SVE 14
1 Darkness Energy SVE 15Gholdengo ex decks focus on its “Make It Rain” attack, which deals 50 damage per Basic Energy discarded from your hand, making Energy retrieval and draw power essential. Its “Coin Bonus” ability helps sustain resources, while cards like Superior Energy Retrieval and Earthen Vessel ensure Energy flow. Radiant Greninja and other draw engines accelerate setup, and the deck’s simplicity as a Stage 1 evolution offers consistency. Success relies on managing resources to maintain high-damage output.
4th Regidrago Grant Shen
Pokémon: 19
3 Regidrago V SIT 135
3 Regidrago VSTAR SIT 136
3 Teal Mask Ogerpon ex TWM 25
1 Dragapult ex TWM 130
1 Giratina VSTAR LOR 131
1 Hisuian Goodra VSTAR LOR 136
1 Alolan Exeggutor ex SSP 133
1 Kyurem SFA 47
1 Squawkabilly ex PAL 169
1 Fezandipiti ex SFA 38
1 Mew ex MEW 151
1 Cleffa OBF 80
1 Radiant Charizard CRZ 20
Trainer: 32
4 Professor's Research SVI 189
2 Iono PAL 185
2 Boss's Orders PAL 172
4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
4 Nest Ball SVI 181
4 Energy Switch SVI 173
4 Earthen Vessel PAR 163
2 Super Rod PAL 188
1 Superior Energy Retrieval PAL 189
1 Tera Orb SSP 189
1 Canceling Cologne ASR 136
1 Switch SVI 194
1 Prime Catcher TEF 157
1 PokéStop PGO 68
Energy: 9
7 Grass Energy SVE 9
2 Fire Energy SVE 104th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th places are all Regidrago, proving that it’s the most consistent deck in the format. Players will have to keep Regidrago in mind going forward when picking their deck. The deck you bring has to have a fighting chance against Regidrago since you’ll likely face off against it multiple times.
Regidrago VSTAR is the main damage dealer in this deck, using Apex Dragon to copy one of your Dragon Pokemon’s attacks. Those Dragon Pokemon need to be in the Discard Pile for Regidrago to copy, so we have multiple cards that can discard them.
Giratina VSTAR’s Lost Impact is the strongest single target attack to knock out a Pokemon, dealing 280 damage to the opponent’s Active Pokemon. Dragapult’s Phantom Dive is another strong option, capable of dealing 220 damage to the opponent’s Active Pokemon and 60 damage to their Bench. As for Kyurem’s Trifrost, it deals 110 damage to three of the opponent’s Pokemon.
The attack you choose will depend on the state of the game. Giratina VSTAR’s Lost Impact is great for knocking out the Active Pokemon, Kyurem’s Trifrost to get multiple knockouts on low-health Pokemon, and Dragapult’s Phantom Dive is the best of both of worlds, dealing a lot of damage to a single target and still chipping at the opponent’s Bench.
5th Regidrago Brent Tonisson
Pokémon: 20
3 Regidrago V SIT 135
3 Regidrago VSTAR SIT 136
3 Teal Mask Ogerpon ex TWM 25
2 Dragapult ex TWM 130
1 Giratina VSTAR LOR 131
1 Kyurem SFA 47
1 Hoothoot SCR 114
1 Noctowl SCR 115
1 Squawkabilly ex PAL 169
1 Fezandipiti ex SFA 38
1 Mew ex MEW 151
1 Cleffa OBF 80
1 Radiant Charizard CRZ 20
Trainer: 30
4 Professor's Research SVI 189
2 Iono PAL 185
2 Boss's Orders PAL 172
4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
4 Nest Ball SVI 181
4 Energy Switch SVI 173
3 Earthen Vessel PAR 163
2 Super Rod PAL 188
1 Canceling Cologne ASR 136
1 Switch SVI 194
1 Prime Catcher TEF 157
1 Jamming Tower TWM 153
1 Temple of Sinnoh ASR 155
Energy: 10
7 Grass Energy SVE 9
3 Fire Energy SVE 106th Regidrago Jon Eng
Pokémon: 19
3 Regidrago V SIT 135
3 Regidrago VSTAR SIT 136
3 Teal Mask Ogerpon ex TWM 25
1 Dragapult ex TWM 130
1 Giratina VSTAR LOR 131
1 Hisuian Goodra VSTAR LOR 136
1 Alolan Exeggutor ex SSP 133
1 Kyurem SFA 47
1 Squawkabilly ex PAL 169
1 Fezandipiti ex SFA 38
1 Mew ex MEW 151
1 Cleffa OBF 80
1 Radiant Charizard CRZ 20
Trainer: 32
4 Professor's Research SVI 189
2 Iono PAL 185
2 Boss's Orders PAL 172
4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
4 Nest Ball SVI 181
4 Energy Switch SVI 173
4 Earthen Vessel PAR 163
2 Superior Energy Retrieval PAL 189
1 Super Rod PAL 188
1 Tera Orb SSP 189
1 Canceling Cologne ASR 136
1 Switch SVI 194
1 Prime Catcher TEF 157
1 PokéStop PGO 68
Energy: 9
7 Grass Energy SVE 9
2 Fire Energy SVE 107th Regidrago Noah Sakadjian
Pokémon: 19
3 Regidrago V SIT 135
3 Regidrago VSTAR SIT 136
3 Teal Mask Ogerpon ex TWM 25
2 Dragapult ex TWM 130
1 Giratina VSTAR LOR 131
1 Kyurem SFA 47
1 Squawkabilly ex PAL 169
1 Fezandipiti ex SFA 38
1 Mew ex MEW 151
1 Cleffa OBF 80
1 Radiant Charizard CRZ 20
1 Hawlucha SVI 118
Trainer: 32
4 Professor's Research SVI 189
3 Iono PAL 185
2 Boss's Orders PAL 172
4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
4 Nest Ball SVI 181
4 Energy Switch SVI 173
4 Earthen Vessel PAR 163
2 Super Rod PAL 188
1 Superior Energy Retrieval PAL 189
1 Switch SVI 194
1 Prime Catcher TEF 157
1 Temple of Sinnoh ASR 155
1 Jamming Tower TWM 153
Energy: 9
7 Grass Energy SVE 9
2 Fire Energy SVE 108th Regidrago Isaiah Williams
