Hello everyone! This is Elena from Gaia Storm TCG and it is a pleasure to be here once again. In today’s article I want to go through one of the best decks than can be found in the metagame in terms of quality/cost: Necrozma GX Malamar.

It is true that at this current point of the format there is no player who doesn’t know what Malamar decks do. The capacity of charging energies turn after turn is simply amazing since it gives the possibility of streaming powerful attacks without stopping. This strategy can take several directions depending on the chosen attackers and the player’s preferences because of the wide range of psychic Pokémon that are available.

For me, a great version is straight psychic Malamar for all the benefits it has: high consistency, powerful devastating attacks and low price to build. It is, without question, an ideal option for new players that want to compete at high level straight away.

One great thing about this build is that most of the Pokémon it runs are quite cheap. A typical skeleton of the list will include something like 4-4 Malamar, 2 Necrozma GX, 2 Dawn Wings, 1 non GX psychic attacker, 1-2 Tapu Lele and optionally “teches” like Mewtwo GX or Marshadow GX, depending on  the player's expected metagame.

Now, bear in mind that Necrozma GX, Dawn Wings Necrozma GX and Marshadow GX (in case it is included) all have tin promo versions, which means their price is not high at all. The non GX attacker spot is usually completed with SM77 Mewtwo, Steam Siege Hoopa or anti Breaks' Giratina, which are also very economic options. The only expensive card is the always played Tapu Lele GX but thanks to the consistency of Mysterious Treasure the deck can work perfectly fine with just one copy. Another good possibility to include in the list is Sun and Moon Oranguru, a Pokémon that provides draw power and can become an interesting attacker at some points of the game.

Overall, the deck performance in the metagame is very favorable. Many players have opted to play a pure psychic version over the mixed metal one with Ultra Necrozma and the results in large tournaments have been positive. Malamar Necrozma decks have a solid match up against Buzzwole and can hold the ground against Zoroark variants when several Malamars are on the field.

So, in conclusion, if you are looking for an economic, consistent option to play at high level, Malamar and friends are the ideal response!