The Dragapult Dusknoir deck is one of the best competitive decks in Pokemon TCG, using Dragapult as its main aggressor. This deck succeeded in multiple Pokemon metas, and it’s not going away anytime soon!
The list changed a bit post Rotation, but Dragapult Dusknoir remains on the top of the meta. If you’re participating in a tournament, you’ll more than likely bump into Dragapult during your run.
Decklist
Pokémon: 20
4 Dreepy TWM 128
4 Drakloak TWM 129
3 Dragapult ex TWM 130
2 Duskull PRE 35
1 Dusclops PRE 36
2 Dusknoir PRE 37
2 Budew PRE 4
1 Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex TWM 141
1 Fezandipiti ex SFA 38
Trainer: 34
4 Arven OBF 186
4 Iono PAL 185
1 Boss's Orders PAL 172
1 Crispin SCR 133
1 Brock's Scouting JTG 146
4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144
3 Counter Catcher PAR 160
3 Ultra Ball SVI 196
2 Rare Candy SVI 191
2 Night Stretcher SFA 61
1 Unfair Stamp TWM 165
1 Earthen Vessel PAR 163
1 Switch SVI 194
1 Rescue Board TEF 159
1 Defiance Band SVI 169
1 Technical Machine: Evolution PAR 178
1 Exp. Share SVI 174
2 Artazon PAL 171
Energy: 6
3 Fire Energy SVE 10
3 Psychic Energy SVE 13How to Play
Main Win Condition
This deck heavily relies on Dragapult ex as its main win condition and you’ll be working on getting it in play as early as possible. Jet Headbutt only deals 70 damage, so it doesn’t pose much of a threat. However, once you’ve attached 1 Fire and 1 Psychic Energy, you’ll have access to Phantom Dive, dealing 200 damage to the opponent’s Active Pokemon and putting 6 damage counters on your opponent’s Benched Pokemon in any way you like.
When playing a Dragapult deck, your strategy isn’t just about knocking out the opponent’s Active Pokemon. You’re also targeting their Benched Pokemon, which gives you the chance to disrupt key parts of their strategy by eliminating threats before they can turn into win conditions, or by taking out low-HP Pokemon for quick and easy Prize cards.
There are two ways to get Dragapult ex into play: the first is by evolving Dreepy into Drakloak and then evolving Drakloak into Dragapult ex. The second is using Rare Candy to bypass the Drakloak level-up, going from Dreepy to Dragapult immediately. Going with the Rare Candy route allows you to set up Dragapult ex in play faster, creating an aggressive start.
Drakloak‘s Recon Directive ability draws you a card, so you’re still gaining value through evolving Dreepy as you wait for the opportunity to get Dragapult ex in play.
Alternative Damage
Dusknoir is in the list for its Cursed Blast ability, allowing you to put 13 damage counters on one of the opponent’s Pokemon. This lets you knock out a low-health Pokemon on the Bench or help you knock out an Active Pokemon with Dragapult ex. However, activating Cursed Blast means you have to knock out Dusknoir in the process, giving your opponent a Prize card.
To get Dusknoir into play, you have to evolve Duskull to Dusclops and then evolve it to Dusknoir, or you can use Rare Candy to skip the Dusclops step and go directly from Duskull to Dusknoir.
Speaking of Dusclops, it has a weaker version of Cursed Blast ability, allowing you to put 5 damage counters on one of your opponent’s Pokemon before getting knocked out itself. This could come in useful if 50 damage is enough to knock out a target.
Budew Stall
Budew is a stall Pokemon, using Itchy Pokemon to prevent your opponent from playing any of their Items Cards from their hand. This can be a huge blow for the early game of certain decks, especially those that rely on Rare Candy to evolve into their Stage 2 Pokemon.
As they scurry to deal with Budew, you gain extra turns to get your Dragapult ready to attack, and since Budew has 0 retreat cost, it’s easy to switch it out of the Active spot and get your attacker in there.
Pokemon Draw Value
Fezandipti ex can sit on the bench and watch over your Active Pokémon, ready to use its Flip the Script ability when one of your Pokémon is knocked out, allowing you to draw three cards. Fezandipti ex doesn’t need to be on the bench when the knockout happens—you can play it from your hand afterward and still activate Flip the Script to draw cards.
Energy Value
Crispin is one of your strongest Supporter cards to get your Dragapult ex attacks starting. You can search your deck for 2 Basic Energy cards of different types, so Fire and Psychic Energy cards. Crispin puts one of those Energy cards in your hand and attaches the other to one of your Pokemon, which means you can immediately start using Dragapult ex‘s Phantom Dive.
Earthen Vessel is crucial in this deck to draw the Energy cards you need to get Dragapult ex‘s attack online. You don’t want to end up with a Dragapult in play but missing a Fire or a Psychic Energy to activate Phantom Dive.
Supporter Draw Cards
Arven is a great resource card cause it allows you to search and draw an Item and a Pokemon tool card. So cards like Rare Candy, Earthen Vessel, and Sparkling Crystal are options to draw.
As for Iono, both players will shuffle their hand and draw cards equal to the number of Prize cards they have left. So you could ruin the opponent’s plans if you shuffle important cards back into their deck. You’re also replenishing your hand, ideally, you want to play as many cards as possible before you use Iono.
Brock’s Scouting searches your deck for 2 Basic Pkemon and 1 Evolution to add to your hand, making sure you can get the pieces you’re missing as early as possible.
Battle Cards
You can also use Boss’s Order or Counter Catcher to move a low-health Pokemon to the Active spot, making it easier for you to get a Knock Out over a high-Pokemon or you can knock out a win condition hiding in the Bench.
Switch makes it easier for you to switch in Dragapult ex and start attacking the opponent’s Pokemon without having to rely on Retreat.
Other Cards to Include
- Hawluch‘s Flying Entry lets you put 1 damage Counter on two of the opponent’s Benched Pokemon, helping you knock out a Pokemon along with Dragapult‘s attack.
- Bravery Charm can increase a Pokemon’s HP by 50, making it even harder for the opposing player to knock it out. Best played on Dragapult to keep your win condition in play for as long as possible.
