How to create a Golem deck in Pokemon TCG Pocket

Six weeks after the Genetic Apex meta, Pokémon TCG Pocket's Mythical Island expansion introduced a variety of new deck archetypes. While the former Serperior/Celebi decks get a lot of attention, the new version of Golem is a dark horse deck with a surprisingly strong presence.

Fighting decks haven't had much success and, as a result, poor Brock is among the least used Supporter cards. But the Golem and a few extra tools allow Fighting-type fans to bury their opponents with a landslide victory. Force!

Example deck list

The Geodude used for this decklist comes from Genetic Apex (Pikachu), because its Action attack only requires one Fighting Energy, so you can attack immediately if it is your active Pokemon and you will be second.

Graveler and Golem come from Mythic Isle: Graveler's Lunge Out attack is less costly than the Genetic Apex version's Rollout, while Golem's Guard Press is an incredibly strong attack that also decreases the damage it takes in the next turn.

Which Geodude and Graveler you use doesn't make a huge difference since you will almost never attack with either.

The versions in the decklist are much betterbut if you don't have them, you will hardly miss them.

Geodude deck strategy

Since your ace Pokemon, Golem, is at Stage 2, you'll need a couple of turns to prepare. If possible, Druddigon should be your first active Pokemon: it has 100 HP, so it can withstand some early-game attacks, and its Rough Skin Ability will soften up your opponent's Pokemon.

Adding Druddigon to your deck will add two extra types of Energy to your Energy Zone. Make sure to turn off those energies in the deck builder.

While Druddigon absorbs damage, evolve Geodude into a Graveler, then into a Golem, attacking Energy as you go. If you put Marshadow on your Bench, make sure to attack an Energy so you can attack another one e use Vengeance for 100 damage once Druddigon is KO'd.

Once you have Golem in play, you can do this use Brock to attack the last Energy you need, or use Leaf to retreat Druddigon safely and start using Guard Press.

A according to Druddigon on the bench can be useful if you also have an extra Leaf and haven't finished setting up the Golem. Retiring a Druddigon with low HP and replacing it with one with full HP will frustrate your opponent and force him to start over.

Guard Press deals 120 damage, with the added effect of preventing 30 damage to the Golem on your next turn, giving him over 190 effective HP. But that doesn't make it invincible, so don't be afraid to retreat, using Leaf to reduce the cost or Brock to reattach Energy when needed.

Hitmonlee is an important piece in the toolbox as it allows you to get KOs off your opponent's bench. If your opponent retreats a Pokemon with 30 HP or lower, you can do so switch Hitmonlee to hit him.

Hitmonlee can also soften up bulkier Pokemon: A Stretch Kick to your opponent's former Arcanine knocks him down enough for Golem to get the KO with a Guard Press. Finally he can eliminate the basic Pokemon your opponent needs evolve to execute your strategy, especially Magikarp.

Golem encounters

All Pokemon in former Pikachu decks are weak to fightingwith the exception of the Zapdos variants. As a result, Golem and Marshadow with a Vengeance boost can OHKO every Pokemon in the deck. Even with Zapdos ex, Golem can still OHKO him with Giovanni.

Avoid Hitmonlee in this encounter as the weakness does not apply when the defending Pokemon is benched. Giovanni should be retained for the former Zapdos, unless he is conspicuously absent.

Arcanine ex can set up faster than Golem with lucky coin flips and can OHKO everything in the deck except Golem. Luckily, Golem can OHKO Arcanine ex after using Inferno Overdrive on your Druddigonand Marshadow can do the same to Giovanni.

This deck becomes a race to set up faster than Arcanine ex. You have favorable KO operationssince both Arcanine ex and Moltres ex are double prize Pokemon while all of yours are only worth one prize point, but if your opponent starts KOing your Pokemon before you can evolve a Golem, you'll have a hard time catching up.

The Celebi ex/Serperior archetype is fast and deals a lot of damage, e.g the entire Golem line is weak against grass. While Celebi's attack relies on lucky casts, Serperior can give it so many casts that luck becomes almost irrelevant.

Your best approach is to soften up Celebi ex with a sacrificial Druddigon or Hitmonlee if he is on the bench. If you can quickly set up the Golem, you can OHKO Celebi ex with a Giovanni-boosted Guard Pressforcing your opponent to start over by attaching Energy to a second former Celebi.