Thanks for sending in the deck, this is going to be my first PoJo deck fix! Trying to play multiple evolutions as well as multiple energy types is going to be far too difficult. You seem to have more of a focus on Lightning than Water in this deck. We’ll just cut the water altogether and make this a mono-lightning Raichu deck.

Pokemon: The deck focus will be on Raichu, while having other strong lightning basics back it up. Put in 3 American Promo Pikachu (AP #4) and 3 Base Raichu. This way, you can use Pikachu’s recharge attack to charge up Raichu quickly, enabling it to deal out damage much quicker. A must in this deck is 3 Cleffa. With it, you can get out Raichu much quicker. Use Eeeeeeek along with Lass to slow down your opponent as you build up your Raichu.

Two key backup pokemon in this deck are also 2 of the best basics in the game. Add 3 Rocket’s Zapdos and 2 Electabuzz to your deck. This way, if you are unable to get Raichu out, you have 2 VERY STRONG fallback options to deal with your opponent. Zapdos has the ability to get charged up very quickly and start dealing out lots of damage. This, combined with Electabuzz’s ability to give damage quickly with Thunderpunch makes for some lethal backups. Add in 2 Scyther to fight Lightning Resistant pokemon, and 2 Igglybuff to take care of any powers slowing you down, like Slowking. This gives us 18 pokemon, 15 of which are basics.

Trainers: Start out with 4 Professor Oak, 4 Computer Search, and 3 Item Finder for speed. Be sure to add 3 Lass to get that Eeeeeeek/Lass combo going to slow down your opponent as you build up. Also, a must in this deck is 3 Gold Berry. With Raichu’s Thunder attack and TR Zap’s Electroburn being self damaging attacks, you would have to include some sort of healing. This way, you can continue the beatdown for much longer =D. Every main hitter in this deck, except for Raichu, works well with Removals. Pikachu and Zapdos have attacks that bring back energy, while Buzz, Scyther, and Cleffa have low attack costs. These facts all point to YOU PLAYING REMOVALS. With Sneasel, Chansey, and Steelix out there, you need to find a way to slow down your opponent. Play 3 Energy Removal and 2 Super Energy Removal to disrupt your opponent’s plans. These, combined with Lass should be plenty of annoyance for whoever you’re playing!

Now, it’s time to add some of those ever important TECH Trainers. Add 2 Gust of Wind for yet more disruption, and to take out any threat loading up on the bench. Add 2 Sprout Tower, cause Clefable is dangerous, as well as Chanseys and Wigglytuffs. The Two Sprouts will slow them all down. Lastly, 2 Nightly Garbage run is a MUST to get back discarded Energy/Pokemon. An opening hand with 3 Raichu and a Professor Oak is not cool =/. This ends up as a total of 28 trainers.

Energy: 9 Lightning Is Plenty to get your Raichu charged up. Zapdos can recycle any discarded energy, and Electabuzz has very low attack costs, so a lot of Electric Energy isn’t necessary. Add three Double Colorless for Raichu’s Agility and Scyther’s Slash, and 2 Metal Energy. Metal will greatly help Thunder and Electroburn, decreasing the damage you dish out by 10, but taking 20 less in the process. 14 Energy.

Here’s a final deck count...

Pokemon: (18)

3 AP-4 Pikachu

3 Raichu

3 Rocket’s Zapdos

3 Cleffa

2 Electabuzz

2 Scyther

2 Igglybuff

Trainers: (28)

4 Professor Oak

4 Computer Search

3 Item Finder

3 Lass

3 Gold Berry

3 Energy Removal

2 Super Energy Removal

2 Gust of Wind

2 Nightly Garbage Run

2 Sprout Tower

Energy: (14)

9 Lightning Energy

3 Double Colorless Energy

2 Metal Energy

Strategy: Eeeeeeek/Lass to start off the game so that you can slow down your opponent while you charge up a Raichu on the bench. Once it’s ready, you can bring it out and start dishing out damage. Remove energy from your opponent when necessary.

Good Luck with this Deck! Raichu was underrated when Base came out, and I have liked it since then. With the strong backup pokemon, this should be a fairly competitive deck.

Moss

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