Eelektrik

What Eelektrik looks like when you open the box

Across the 51 lists we counted, this deck runs 10 to 25 Pokémon, 22 to 36 Trainers and 8 to 15 Energy. Its attacks are paid for in Lightning.

On results pages and on stream you will see it written « eelektrik-blk ». Every card named in that label turns up in the tables below, which is what makes it a fair name for the deck.

The bit they tack on the end, « BLK », is a set code: Black Bolt. They spell it out because several cards share that name, and this deck plays that particular printing.

Look at the Energy: 8 to 15 out of 60, when half the 132 decks we track run 11 or fewer. This one carries more than most, and you feel it at the table — it wants to load up a big Pokémon and swing hard, even if that means drawing a spare Energy now and then.

It sets up fast. Eelektrik is a Stage 1 Pokémon: a Basic, one evolution on top, and you are attacking. Two cards instead of three. You lose fewer turns building, and you rebuild much more easily when an early knockout lands on you.

Look at the Trainers: 22 to 36 cards out of 60, against a median of 31 across the 132 decks we track. Inside that, 8 to 17 Supporters, and the rule there is strict — one a turn, even if you are holding three. The 6 to 19 Items you can play all of in the same turn. It also brings up to 4 Stadiums, and 91 of the 132 decks we track bring that many or more. Only one Stadium sits on the table at a time: the one you play sends the one already there to the discard pile.

What Tools and Stadiums do — the two Trainer families we skipped here — and why the Energy count says so much: how to read a deck list.

What the card in this deck's name actually does

Eelektrik gives this deck its name. Here is what is written on it.

Eelektrik is in all 51 lists, 3 copies of it. Its Ability is called Dynamotor, and here is what is printed on it, word for word: « Once during your turn, you may attach a Basic {L} Energy card from your discard pile to 1 of your Benched Pokémon. »

How Eelektrik actually wins

Eelektrik attacks with Electric Ball for 50. It needs 3 Energy, 2 Lightning and 1 Colorless attached, and it has 90 HP.

The cost of Electric Ball decides your first few turns. You only get to attach one Energy a turn, and that attack asks for 3. On your own attachments alone, your first real swing lands on turn 3. Except it charges itself. Eelektrik, which the list runs 3 of, has an Ability called Dynamotor: it digs Energy out of your discard pile and puts it back on one of your Pokémon. An Ability costs you nothing: not your attack, not your card for the turn. That is where this deck buys its turns, and it is the first thing to look for in your opening hand.

Here is the detail that quietly loses games. To pull Eelektrik back to the Bench you have to discard 2 Energy attached to it. Retreating does not cost you your turn, you can step back and still swing right after. What it costs you is the 2 Energy you spent 2 turns attaching, and you start that climb again from nothing. Pack a card that moves it for free, or send it up knowing it stays up.

Not one ex Pokémon in the core, and only 30 of the 132 decks we track are in that position. It is a hidden advantage: every knockout your opponent takes is worth a single Prize, so they need 6, where 3 would do against a deck stuffed with ex cards.

The attackers in the deck's core, with their best attack, its cost and their Weakness

Pokémon	HP	Attack	Damage	Cost	Weakness	Retreat
Close EelektrikStage 1	90	Electric Ball	50		Fighting ×2	2

The core: the 5 cards every list runs

These 5 cards appear in all 51 lists, without a single exception. That is 20 of the 60 slots. The other 40 are decided player by player.

Look at how those 20 slots break down: 7 Trainers, 6 Pokémon, 7 Energy. Nothing stands out in that split. What sets this deck apart is how thick its core is: 20 of the 60 slots are the same for everybody, when half the 132 decks we track fix 26 or more. This one leaves more room than most, and two players can build it very differently.

5 of those 5 cards do not sit at the same count from list to list: Eelektrik (3 to 4), Tynamo (3 to 4) and Lillie's Determination (2 to 4), plus 2 more. Add those spreads up and you get 15 copies the 51 lists do not agree on, inside the core itself.

What "3 to 4" means in the copies column, what the "TWM 130" code under each name is for, and why we count dozens of lists instead of one: how to read a deck list.

The cards present in every list counted, with the number of copies

Copies	Card	Printing	Kind
3–4	Close Eelektrik	ASC 60	Pokémon
3–4	Close Tynamo	ASC 59	Pokémon
2–4	Close Lillie's Determination	MEG 119	Trainer
1–4	Close Boss's Orders	MEG 114	Trainer
4–12	Lightning Energy	MEE 4	Energy

The 145 cards that change from list to list

145 cards fight over the 40 slots that are left: 4 above three lists in four, 120 below one in four, and the percentage on each row says how many players took it.

The most agreed on first: Ultra Ball at 94 %, Buddy-Buddy Poffin at 82 % and Night Stretcher at 78 %, plus 1 more above 75 %. Add those to the core and you have the common build.

The dividing line runs through Special Red Card, at 49 %: 25 of 51 players took it, 26 put something else there. The ones who run it bring 1 copy. Right at the bottom of the table, Iono's Kilowattrel (13 lists out of 51) and Iono's Wattrel (13 lists out of 51).

Why a card at 45 % is not a bad card, and what order to buy all this in: how to read a deck list.

The cards some lists run and others don't, most common first

Lists running it	Card	Copies	Printing	Kind
94 %48/51	Close Ultra Ball	1–4	MEG 131	Trainer
82 %42/51	Close Buddy-Buddy Poffin	1–4	TEF 144	Trainer
78 %40/51	Close Night Stretcher	1–4	ASC 196	Trainer
76 %39/51	Close Poké Pad	1–4	POR 81	Trainer
67 %34/51	Close Air Balloon	1–3	ASC 181	Trainer
67 %34/51	Close Canari	1–4	ASC 185	Trainer
57 %29/51	Close Mega Eelektross ex	1–3	ASC 61	Pokémon
57 %29/51	Close Battle Cage	1–3	PFL 85	Trainer
57 %29/51	Close Voltaic Lightning Energy	1–4	PBL 84	Energy
49 %25/51	Close Special Red Card	1	CRI 82	Trainer
47 %24/51	Close Rare Candy	1–3	MEG 125	Trainer
45 %23/51	Close Shaymin	1	DRI 10	Pokémon
39 %20/51	Close Mega Zeraora ex	1–4	PBL 27	Pokémon
37 %19/51	Close Fezandipiti ex	1	ASC 142	Pokémon
35 %18/51	Close Team Rocket's Petrel	1–4	DRI 176	Trainer
33 %17/51	Water Energy	1–5	MEE 3	Energy
31 %16/51	Close Dragonair	2–3	ASC 151	Pokémon
31 %16/51	Close Dratini	3–4	ASC 150	Pokémon
31 %16/51	Close Mega Dragonite ex	2–4	ASC 152	Pokémon
31 %16/51	Close Wally's Compassion	1–3	MEG 132	Trainer
31 %16/51	Close Xerosic's Machinations	1	SFA 64	Trainer
29 %15/51	Close Crispin	1–4	SCR 133	Trainer
29 %15/51	Close Switch	1–3	MEG 130	Trainer
29 %15/51	Close Hero's Cape	1	TEF 152	Trainer
27 %14/51	Close Cinderace	3–4	MEG 28	Pokémon
25 %13/51	Close Iono's Kilowattrel	1–2	JTG 55	Pokémon
25 %13/51	Close Iono's Wattrel	1–2	JTG 54	Pokémon
24 %12/51	Close Meowth ex	1	POR 62	Pokémon
24 %12/51	Close Zeraora	1	DRI 78	Pokémon
24 %12/51	Close Powerglass	1–2	SFA 63	Trainer
22 %11/51	Close Gwynn	2	PBL 78	Trainer
20 %10/51	Close Budew	1–2	ASC 16	Pokémon
20 %10/51	Close Stunfisk	1–2	ASC 62	Pokémon
20 %10/51	Close Unfair Stamp	1	TWM 165	Trainer
20 %10/51	Psychic Energy	2–3	MEE 5	Energy
18 %9/51	Close Eevee	2–3	TWM 135	Pokémon
18 %9/51	Close Sylveon	2	PRE 40	Pokémon
18 %9/51	Close Prism Tower	2–3	CRI 80	Trainer
16 %8/51	Close Mega Manectric ex	1	MEG 50	Pokémon
16 %8/51	Close Psyduck	1	ASC 39	Pokémon
16 %8/51	Close Hilda	1–3	WHT 84	Trainer
16 %8/51	Close Pokégear 3.0	1–4	SVI 186	Trainer
16 %8/51	Close Sacred Ash	1–2	DRI 168	Trainer
14 %7/51	Close Tatsugiri	1–2	TWM 131	Pokémon
14 %7/51	Close Carmine	3–4	TWM 145	Trainer
14 %7/51	Close Dawn	1–3	PFL 87	Trainer
12 %6/51	Close Electrike	1–2	MEG 49	Pokémon
12 %6/51	Close Joltik	1–2	SCR 50	Pokémon
12 %6/51	Close Energy Switch	2	MEG 115	Trainer
12 %6/51	Close Judge	1	POR 76	Trainer
12 %6/51	Close Secret Box	1	TWM 163	Trainer
10 %5/51	Close Electrike	1–2	PBL 23	Pokémon
10 %5/51	Close Mega Kangaskhan ex	1–2	MEG 104	Pokémon
10 %5/51	Close Zekrom ex	1–2	BLK 34	Pokémon
10 %5/51	Close Explorer's Guidance	2–3	TEF 147	Trainer
10 %5/51	Close Jumbo Ice Cream	1–2	PFL 91	Trainer
10 %5/51	Close Precious Trolley	1	SSP 185	Trainer
8 %4/51	Close Mew ex	3	30C 66	Pokémon
8 %4/51	Close Shinx	2–3	POR 26	Pokémon
8 %4/51	Close Luxio	2	POR 27	Pokémon
8 %4/51	Close Luxray ex	2	TWM 68	Pokémon
8 %4/51	Close Emolga	1	CRI 30	Pokémon
8 %4/51	Close Lillie's Clefairy ex	1	JTG 56	Pokémon
8 %4/51	Close Manectric	1	PBL 24	Pokémon
8 %4/51	Close Rayquaza	1	ASC 153	Pokémon
8 %4/51	Close Wellspring Mask Ogerpon ex	1	TWM 64	Pokémon
8 %4/51	Close AZ's Tranquility	1–2	CRI 76	Trainer
8 %4/51	Close Levincia	2	JTG 150	Trainer
8 %4/51	Close Enhanced Hammer	1	TWM 148	Trainer
8 %4/51	Close Mega Signal	1–3	MEG 121	Trainer
6 %3/51	Close Dudunsparce	2–3	TEF 129	Pokémon
6 %3/51	Close Vikavolt	2–3	PBL 26	Pokémon
6 %3/51	Close Espeon ex	1	PRE 34	Pokémon
6 %3/51	Close Latias ex	1–2	SSP 76	Pokémon
6 %3/51	Close Miraidon	1	PBL 28	Pokémon
6 %3/51	Close Scorbunny	1–2	MEG 26	Pokémon
6 %3/51	Close Naveen	4	POR 79	Trainer
6 %3/51	Close Energy Search	1–3	POR 72	Trainer
6 %3/51	Close Morty's Conviction	1–2	TEF 155	Trainer
6 %3/51	Close Team Rocket's Watchtower	1–2	DRI 180	Trainer
6 %3/51	Close Black Belt's Training	1	JTG 143	Trainer
6 %3/51	Close Brilliant Blender	1	SSP 164	Trainer
6 %3/51	Close Brock's Scouting	1–2	JTG 146	Trainer
6 %3/51	Close Colress's Tenacity	1	SFA 57	Trainer
6 %3/51	Close Counter Gain	1	SSP 169	Trainer
6 %3/51	Close Scramble Switch	1	SSP 186	Trainer
4 %2/51	Close Charjabug	4	SCR 52	Pokémon
4 %2/51	Close Dunsparce	2–3	JTG 120	Pokémon
4 %2/51	Close Grubbin	3	TEF 18	Pokémon
4 %2/51	Close Delibird	2	MEG 105	Pokémon
4 %2/51	Close Flutter Mane	1	TEF 78	Pokémon
4 %2/51	Close Iron Thorns ex	1	TWM 77	Pokémon
4 %2/51	Close Luxray	1	POR 28	Pokémon
4 %2/51	Close Victini	1	TEF 30	Pokémon
4 %2/51	Close Zapdos	1	TWM 65	Pokémon
4 %2/51	Close Acerola's Mischief	3–4	MEG 113	Trainer
4 %2/51	Close Iris's Fighting Spirit	1–2	JTG 149	Trainer
4 %2/51	Close Lucky Helmet	2	TWM 158	Trainer
4 %2/51	Close Lumiose City	1–2	POR 77	Trainer
4 %2/51	Close Cheren	1	WHT 81	Trainer
4 %2/51	Close Crushing Hammer	1	POR 71	Trainer
4 %2/51	Close Dusk Ball	1	SSP 175	Trainer
4 %2/51	Close Hassel	1	TWM 151	Trainer
4 %2/51	Close Kofu	1	SCR 138	Trainer
4 %2/51	Close Lana's Aid	1	TWM 155	Trainer
4 %2/51	Close Maximum Belt	1	TEF 154	Trainer
4 %2/51	Fire Energy	2	MEE 2	Energy
2 %1/51	Close Dunsparce	3	TEF 128	Pokémon
2 %1/51	Close Electabuzz	3	TEF 53	Pokémon
2 %1/51	Close Electivire ex	3	DRI 69	Pokémon
2 %1/51	Close Grubbin	3	PBL 2	Pokémon
2 %1/51	Close Boltund	2	TEF 59	Pokémon
2 %1/51	Close Charjabug	2	TEF 55	Pokémon
2 %1/51	Close Drakloak	2	TWM 129	Pokémon
2 %1/51	Close Dreepy	2	TWM 128	Pokémon
2 %1/51	Close N's Zoroark ex	2	JTG 98	Pokémon
2 %1/51	Close N's Zorua	2	JTG 97	Pokémon
2 %1/51	Close Raboot	2	MEG 27	Pokémon
2 %1/51	Close Yamper	2	TEF 58	Pokémon
2 %1/51	Close Zeraora	2	SCR 55	Pokémon
2 %1/51	Close Cramorant	1	TWM 58	Pokémon
2 %1/51	Close Dudunsparce ex	1	JTG 121	Pokémon
2 %1/51	Close Miraidon ex	1	ASC 73	Pokémon
2 %1/51	Close Morpeko	1	TWM 72	Pokémon
2 %1/51	Close Patrat	1	CRI 70	Pokémon
2 %1/51	Close Regigigas	1	PRE 86	Pokémon
2 %1/51	Close Snorlax	1	POR 63	Pokémon
2 %1/51	Close Sylveon ex	1	SSP 86	Pokémon
2 %1/51	Close Tapu Koko	1	SSP 65	Pokémon
2 %1/51	Close Tapu Koko	1	ASC 67	Pokémon
2 %1/51	Close Volcanion ex	1	JTG 31	Pokémon
2 %1/51	Close Clemont's Quick Wit	2	SSP 167	Trainer
2 %1/51	Close Kieran	2	TWM 154	Trainer
2 %1/51	Close Larry's Skill	2	PRE 115	Trainer
2 %1/51	Close Amulet of Hope	1	SSP 162	Trainer
2 %1/51	Close Cyrano	1	SSP 170	Trainer
2 %1/51	Close Eri	1	TEF 146	Trainer
2 %1/51	Close Grand Tree	1	SCR 136	Trainer
2 %1/51	Close Gravity Mountain	1	SSP 177	Trainer
2 %1/51	Close Hyper Aroma	1	TWM 152	Trainer
2 %1/51	Close Jacinthe	1	POR 75	Trainer
2 %1/51	Close Prime Catcher	1	TEF 157	Trainer
2 %1/51	Close Sacred Charm	1	PFL 93	Trainer
2 %1/51	Close Team Rocket's Transceiver	1	DRI 178	Trainer
2 %1/51	Close Legacy Energy	1	TWM 167	Energy

The most common Eelektrik list, all 60 cards

Here they are in full, ready to build. 20 slots come from the core, the cards all 51 lists run. The remaining 40 come from the table just above, working down it: the cards the most players chose, each at its most common copy count, until the total lands on 60.

This list is nobody's list in particular. It takes, slot by slot, what the most people played, under the guardrails a judge would hold you to: never more than four copies of a card, and one ACE SPEC. Behind the core it took 19 more cards to reach 60. The whole thing comes to 19 Pokémon, 26 Trainers and 15 Energy.

One thing to know before you build it: the 51 lists we counted are all from players who came in the top twenty of their tournament. Nobody publishes the lists of the players who lost. So what you have in front of you is what the players finishing near the top bring most often.

One thing to fix before you play: there is no ACE SPEC card in these 60. Players split that slot so many ways that none of their cards climbed high enough to get in, and 49 of the 51 lists carry one. Take Hero's Cape, the most chosen, and drop a card from the bottom of the table to make room.

The text under the table is the one the game expects: copy it, paste it into the deck manager, and the list builds itself.

Why we only read lists from players who came in the top twenty of their tournament, and what that changes about every percentage on this page: how to read a deck list.

Pokémon: 19
3 Eelektrik ASC 60
3 Tynamo ASC 59
1 Mega Eelektross ex ASC 61
1 Shaymin DRI 10
4 Mega Zeraora ex PBL 27
1 Fezandipiti ex ASC 142
3 Dragonair ASC 151
3 Dratini ASC 150

Trainer: 26
4 Lillie's Determination MEG 119
3 Boss's Orders MEG 114
2 Ultra Ball MEG 131
2 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144
2 Night Stretcher ASC 196
4 Poké Pad POR 81
2 Air Balloon ASC 181
1 Canari ASC 185
2 Battle Cage PFL 85
1 Special Red Card CRI 82
1 Rare Candy MEG 125
1 Team Rocket's Petrel DRI 176
1 Wally's Compassion MEG 132

Energy: 15
7 Lightning Energy MEE 4
4 Voltaic Lightning Energy PBL 84
4 Water Energy MEE 3

Total Cards: 60

How many different cards Eelektrik needs, and how long it will last

You need 150 different cards to cover every version of this deck, 5 of which nobody argues about. The rest is where lists differ from one another, and that is where you have room to choose.

49 of these 51 lists bring an ACE SPEC, and that is where they part ways: 15 took Hero's Cape, 10 took Unfair Stamp and 6 took Secret Box. The flex table shows you all 12. You are allowed ONE ACE SPEC card in your whole deck, so a single copy covers it whatever it costs. New to this deck? Take Hero's Cape and watch what the others do with theirs before you switch.

Then there is time, and the answer is a good one: not one of the 5 core cards carries the letter H, the one that goes at the next rotation. This deck walks through the change whole.

What Eelektrik struggles against

The attackers in this deck are Weak to Fighting, so they take DOUBLE damage from that type. 13 of the 132 decks we track attack in exactly that type.

Concretely, here is what is waiting for you: Mega Lucario ex / Hariyama, Cynthia's Garchomp ex and Mega Lucario ex, plus 10 more decks. The table below takes them one at a time, and those are the lists you practise against first before an event.

This table counts one thing, Weakness, and that comes to 13 decks out of the 132 we track. The other 119 do not attack into yours, and this table says nothing about them. You will still run into them.

Going the other way, your attackers are Lightning, and 24 of the decks we track have an attacker Weak to one of those: Latias ex / Mega Kangaskhan ex, Mega Greninja ex and Team Rocket's Honchkrow, among others. That is you doubling, for once. Second half of the table.