Dark decks have always been big in the Expanded format because of the Turbo Dark deck. Two of the best Dark Pokemon – Zoroark-GX and Darkrai-GX – have been top-tier in Expanded for years now, and the former actually has some great synergy with Eternatus VMAX, a card that has done exceptionally well in the Standard format. Paired together, Eternatus VMAX and Zoroark-GX create one of the most consistent and hard-hitting Expanded decks in Pokemon TCG Online.
In this guide, I’ll be taking you through the Eternatus VMAX and Zoroark-GX deck, the synergies that make the deck work, and the role of each card in this deck.
Eternatus VMAX and Zoroark-GX deck list (Expanded) – Pokemon TCG Online
Here’s the Pokemon TCG Online deck list for the Eternatus VMAX and Zoroark-GX deck, with optional cards underlined:
****** Pokémon Trading Card Game Deck List ******
##Pokémon – 19
* 4 Crobat V DAA 104
* 1 Darkrai-EX DEX 63
* 2 Darkrai-GX BUS 88
* 3 Eternatus V DAA 116
* 1 Zorua LTR 89
* 2 Zorua BKT 89
* 3 Zoroark-GX SLG 53
* 3 Eternatus VMAX DAA 117
##Trainer Cards – 32
* 1 Computer Search BCR 137
* 1 Rescue Stretcher GRI 130
* 1 Acerola BUS 112
* 1 Piers CPA 58
* 2 Hypnotoxic Laser PLS 123
* 3 Quick Ball SSH 179
* 2 Battle Compressor Team Flare Gear PHF 92
* 1 Cynthia UPR 119
* 1 Field Blower GRI 125
* 1 Guzma BUS 115
* 4 Ultra Ball SLG 68
* 2 Parallel City BKT 145
* 2 Professor’s Research CPA 62
* 4 Dark Patch DEX 93
* 2 Float Stone BKT 137
* 4 VS Seeker PHF 109
##Energy – 9
* 9 Darkness Energy Energy 7
Total Cards – 60
Among the popular Expanded staples, this deck does not run Dedenne-GX and Tapu Lele-GX, because of Eternatus VMAX’s attack that needs you to have as many Dark Pokemon in play as possible. For drawing cards, you have Crobat V, Cynthia, Professsor’s Research, and even Zoroark-GX’s ability.
A big Bench without Sky Field
Eternatus VMAX has a built-in ability called Eternal Zone, that functions just like the Sky Field stadium card.
(Ability) Eternal Zone: If all of your Pokémon in play are Darkness type, you can have up to 8 Pokémon on your Bench, and you can’t put non-Darkness Pokémon into play. (If this Ability stops working, discard Pokémon from your Bench until you have 5.)
Eternatus VMAX is the main attacker of this deck, and you’ll rarely have matches in which you have to use Zoroark-GX as an attacker instead. Eternatus VMAX’s attack works in synergy with its Ability, and can do up to 270 damage with just two Energy attachments.
Dread End (30×): This attack does 30 damage for each of your Darkness Pokémon in play.
This attack is pretty easy to set up. The deck consistently lets you deal 200+ damage within your first three turns, something that other Dark decks struggle with. The Turbo Dark deck is on par, but relies on having Energy attachments instead.
Zoroark-GX and Crobat V help you draw cards faster
Zoroark-GX has been known for its ability that lets you draw cards each turn. This, along with Crobat V, will be your main sources of drawing cards for this deck. This helps you fill out your Bench faster and power Eternatus VMAX’s attacks.
Zoroark-GX also has its own attack:
Riotous Beating (20×):This attack does 20 damage for each of your Pokémon in play.
This works in synergy with Eternatus VMAX’s ability, although it caps at 180 damage (20 for each of your 9 Pokemon).
The Darkrai-GX toolbox
This deck also utilizes core cards from the Turbo Dark deck.
Battle Compressor lets you discard your Darkrai-GX and Dark Energies from your deck. You can then use Darkrai-GX’s ability to restore those directly to your Bench:
Restoration: Once during your turn (before your attack), if this Pokémon is in your discard pile, you may put it onto your Bench. Then, attach a Darkness Energy card from your discard pile to this Pokémon.
Darkrai-GX’s 130 damage attack is pretty underwhelming in this deck, but its GX attack instantly KO’s your opposing Pokemon if it has any status effect. Here’s where Hypnotoxic Laser comes in, by instanly Poisoning your opposing Pokemon.
Another great use for Battle Compressor is discarding cards (other than Darkrai-GX and Energy cards), and retrieving them using VS Seeker or Rescue Stretcher.
The Turbo Dark aspect of the deck
After using the Turbo Dark deck for a while, I found it quite convenient to have an equally powerful deck that does not rely on Dark Patch as much.
Instead, Dark Patch (and Darkrai-EX, with its free retreat) are just utility cards in this deck. You can choose to entirely skip Darkrai-EX in this deck, and use Dark City instead of Parallel City, that’s only in this deck to reduce your opponent’s Bench space.
Piers is one of the most overlooked cards in the game, and is extremely useful in the early game for pulling out Eternatus VMAX/Crobat V, and an Energy.
How does the Eternatus VMAX and Zoroark-GX deck compare to other Dark decks in Pokemon TCG Online?
Among all of the Expanded Dark decks in Pokemon TCG Online, the Eternatus VMAX and Zoroark-GX deck has the least number of weak points. It doesn’t rely on Special Energy or Stadium cards, only requires two Energies to do up to 270 damage, and has excellent backup attackers in Darkrai-GX and Zoroark-GX. Unless Fighting-type decks suddenly become top-tier in Expanded, this deck will continue to dominate.
You can find more Dark decks for Pokemon TCG Online in our PTCGO resource library.
