Hi, welcome back to another article on pokemoncard.io! Today I’m going to talk about a very interesting (and colorful) deck that is very fun to play. It’s Smeargle deck!
Here’s an example of the deck:
This is just an example, if the deck didn’t work for you, you can try to experiment with it yourself and get comfortable with it.
Deck Overview
You will attack with Smeargle and use Eldegoss to maximize your Smeargle’s attack effect by searching every single type of basic energy.
Smeargle
This is your main attacker. Smeargle has a fun way to maximize its attack, by revealing each type of basic energy. This is a very unique way to attack and with its full potential, you can knock a V Pokemon with a single attack.
But you need to remember, this is a single-prize pokemon, and it’s very easy to get sniped. So you may want to set up your board quickly or get a second/third Smeargle on the bench.
Eldegoss
This is your engine to maximize your Smeargle’s attack. You can search for 2 basic energy by using Eldegoss’s ability and putting it into your hand. This way you can maximize Smeargle’s damage in a single turn.
Eldegoss is the only stage 1 Pokemon in this deck so you may want to set at least 2 or 3 Gossifleur on the bench in case you’re getting sniped. You can also use Gossifleur’s attack as well to call up to 3 Basic Pokemon so you can call Smeargle, Celebi, and Gossifleur. It can really help your setup in the early turn as Smeargle is a Basic Pokemon.
Celebi
I try to play Celebi as you can search for 1 Energy card from the 6 cards from the top of your deck. This ability is very good because you can search for Twin Energy. But I only bring 2 copies of it because I’ve tried to play 4 copies of it and often times I can’t set up my Smeargle or Eldegoss because I’m stuck with Celebi in the active with no other Pokemon and can’t use Gossifleur’s ‘Call for Family’. I only play this card as a conditional searcher.
Trainers
In terms of searcher cards, I try to play 3 copies of Level Ball, 2 copies of Quick Ball, and 2 copies of Evolution Incense. Why not go all the way with 4 copies of Quick Ball? I already tried to play with 4 Quick Ball but in the end, I always need to choose what to discard whether it’s a Supporter or a Basic Energy. If I choose to discard a Supporter, I will lose my chance to get any decent draw. If I go with Basic Energy or other energy, I lose my chance to attach or maximize my damage output. I don’t mind if I discard any Pokemon because I can recycle it back again with Ordinary Rod and Rescue Carrier. But if I do it too much on the Basic Energy, it can cost me a game if I’m short on the damage. So in the end, I go with Level Ball because I can search every Pokemon in this deck with it.
I also go with Marnie and Korrina’s Focus because I don’t want to discard any important cards. Also with Korrina’s Focus, you are not shuffling your hand again so you can keep your hand.
Peonia is an optional card here, I find it amazing because sometimes my Basic Energy is prized and I can find it by playing Peonia.
Turffield Stadium is to help me find Eldegoss, you can cut it down to 1 if you want to play another card or it doesn’t suit you. Path to the Peak is to help me lock the opponent in case they are playing too many Rule Box Pokemon with ability.
Ordinary Rod and Rescue Carrier is to help me recycle my Pokemon. You can also use Energy Retrieval in case you want to recycle Basic Energy straight to your hand. But, you can just use Ordinary Rod and use Eldegoss’s ability to find it back.
Capture Energy is also played to help me set up the board faster. Powerful Colorless Energy is to help me max out my damage potential.
Other than that, you may want to look at Gloria in the upcoming set Brilliant Stars because it can really help you set up the board. Also, you want to play a bit careful when discarding your Basic Energy.
Matchup
Since this deck is a single-prize deck, you will likely be knocked every single turn. So, you want to at least finish setting up your board in turn 2. You want to play at least 2 Smeargle and 2 Eldegoss to maximize your early damage potential. Also, since Fairy Energy is already rotated out, you are not getting your maximum potential in the Standard format.
This deck is also easy to get sniped because of the low HP-based. Decks like Jolteon VMAX or Rapid Strike Urshifu VMAX can easily wipe your board. You may want to add Manaphy from the upcoming Brilliant Stars expansion to prevent you from getting sniped.
Disruption, in my opinion, is not having the biggest impact on your game. If you are getting disrupted in the early turn, all you have to find is at least a Gossifleur and energy to use ‘Call for Family’. If your hands are disrupted you can use Eldegoss to call out Basic Energy and also reduce the chances that you are drawing energy in your next draw.
But still, this is a fun deck, not a competitive deck. Yes, you can win in some of the games you’ve had, even in Japan, similar decks like this are winning in some local game stores. But you do not want to expect it to be all going your way. Because even I myself, have some pretty bad times if I don’t get any draw supporters in my early turn. You may want to add some Pokegear in this deck but that’s on you guys. You can try any combination to make this deck fun but still pack a punch.
Conclusion
So what do you guys think? This is a fun deck but can beat some decks if they don’t plan carefully. But as of now, I think this deck is on the rough side because you don’t have any Pokemon or Stadium that prevents any sniping. Try this deck yourself! I’m sure it will give you a very good time since it is a single-prize deck.
Comment down below to share your thoughts!
Stay safe and healthy! - Arelios
There may be some mistakes and missing points of review in this writing. Please kindly comment to share your correction and point of view too.
