The Master of all Dragons

What’s up Ultimate Guard readers? We are at a point in our Surging Sparks format where there is a clearcut best deck in format, and that deck happens to be Regidrago VSTAR [Silver Tempest]. In this article, I’ll be sharing the backstory of Regidrago VSTAR, my most recently updated list since it won Toronto Regionals in mid-December, and more! Whether you are planning on playing this deck or not, it is a worthwhile read on one of the most played Pokémon TCG decks in our Standard format! Sit back, grab a beverage, and let’s dive into Regidrago VSTAR together!

The Backstory of Regidrago VSTAR

When the card was first released, it didn’t have the means to power itself up, but that all changed thanks to Teal Mask Ogerpon ex [Twilight Masquerade] being released right before the 2024 North American International Championships! Being able to accelerate Energy to Teal Mask Ogerpon ex, use Energy Switch [Scarlet and Violet] to move that Energy to a Regidrago V [Silver Tempest], and then have a Regidrago VSTAR ready to attack! So what have we been powering up? Well, Regidrago VSTAR can copy any Dragon Pokémon to attack with out of your discard pile, and it doesn’t care about the Energy Cost! In our current format, that usually means Dragapult ex [Twilight Masquerade] is the typical go-to choice, but you can swing for massive OHKOs with Giratina VSTAR [Lost Origin] too! In most tournaments, Alolan Exeggutor ex [Surging Sparks] has been popping up in winning lists for its Swinging Sphene attack! Even though it's a coin flip, you often get to OHKO a powerful basic Pokémon ex (or Pokémon V) without any drawback - what's not to love! This archetype has grown from the depths of rogue plays to the absolute stand-out best deck in format in about two years of competitive play - the glow-up is unreal! And as we approach Prismatic Evolutions, the deck seems like a strong play in that format, despite the scariness of Budew [Prismatic Evolutions] being able to Item lock Energy Switch, so you can still get some life out of this deck before it rotates out of Standard in March or April (our 2025 Standard Rotation is still waiting on its official announcement). 

Regidrago VSTAR Deck and Card Explanation

My list is almost exactly the same as Calvin Connor’s winning list from Toronto Regionals, and that is largely because the archetype is pretty much solved now! It's arguably been the best deck in format since July, so we are nearly half a year of this deck ruling the metagame - most lists are at least 57 cards the same! While most lists are similar, the Dragon Pokémon choices should be explained! Let’s check them out!

Alolan Exeggutor ex

This card is going to mostly be using Swinging Sphene because Tropical Frenzy is rarely going to OHKO any two Prize Card Pokémon! Only use this card when your opponent has two Prize Card basic Pokémon in the Active Spot, and at least one other on the Bench! That guarantees you two Prize Cards, and can keep up pace with any opposing deck for a 2-2-2 Prize Card strategy (often the quickest race to drawing all six Prize Cards). Don’t let the coin-flip scare you, sometimes it doesn’t matter which Pokémon you KO, it often matters more to just draw two Prize Cards per turn!

Dragapult ex

I find it hilarious that Dragapult ex decks are less successful than this “Dragapult ex” deck, and we’re merely copying Phantom Dive. If that doesn’t showcase why Regidrago VSTAR is overpowered, I don’t know what will. We get to turn a Stage 2 Pokémon ex deck into a single copying option, and somehow do it better. And that's just one component of this deck, not the whole strategy! Phantom Dive is great to KO Pokémon with 200 HP or less, and set up future Knock Outs on your opponents Pokémon! Some key Pokémon in our format only have 60 HP, like Duskull [Shrouded Fable], which can be an easy multi Prize Card KO! Some lists also tech Hawlucha [Scarlet and Violet] which can place additional damage counters to OHKO 70 HP Pokémon on the Bench, like Charmander [Obsidian Flames].

Giratina VSTAR

If a Pokémon has 210 HP to 280 HP, you’re likely going to swing for an OHKO with Lost Impact to do 280 damage. Double check to make sure you can’t use Alolan Exeggutor ex for a KO if your opponent has a few basic two Prize Card Pokémon in play, just so you don’t have to Lost Zone any Energy in play! This card is great to OHKO opposing Regidrago VSTAR, or even a Lugia VSTAR [Silver Tempest] as long as it doesn’t have a V Guard Energy [Silver Tempest] attached to it!

Hisuian Goodra VSTAR

Hisuian Goodra VSTAR [Lost Origin] offers a unique attack amongst a plethora of heavy hitters, but it might be the most impactful overall! Using Rolling Iron allows you to control the pace of the game by swinging for a solid 200 damage, and reducing damage taken in by 80! That can often force a Prime Catcher [Temporal Forces] or Boss’s Orders [Paldea Evolved] to be played, and then you can plan your next move! Its even better if you can score an OHKO with Rolling Iron because you’re able to continuously control your opponent’s damage output!

Kyurem

Kyurem [Shrouded Fable] might be the most explosive out of all of the Dragon attacks you can choose from, and that's because you discard all of the Energy attached to the Regidrago VSTAR that is attacking, and you can hit for 110 damage to three of your opponent’s Pokémon! That can easily wipe a Charmander, another Charmander, and a Pidgey [Obsidian Flames] off of your opponent’s board! Watch out for Manaphy [Brilliant Stars] that can block Bench damage (Tera Pokémon block Bench damage to themselves too), but you can always use Cancelling Cologne [Astral Radiance] to turn off Manaphy’s Ability in a pinch! If your opponent has played any “Colress” Card, like Colress’s Experiment [Lost Origin] or Colress’s Tenacity [Shrouded Fable], you can use Kyurem without Regidrago VSTAR for a single Energy card! 

With all of these attacking options in mind, I’m sure you wanna see what my list looks like! Let’s check it out!

Anytime I build a deck in-real-life, I always sleeve them up using Ultimate Guard’s Katana Sleeves! I’ve played through hundreds of rounds of Pokémon TCG at the top stages in this game, and haven’t been failed by these sleeves yet! I would recommend the Jade Garden Katana Sleeves to match the Grass Energy featured in this deck! Learn more about them here.

Continued Dominance

With a handful of Surging Sparks major events left, Regidrago VSTAR looks like it will remain as the best deck in format until we see the release of Prismatic Evolutions which should be legal for the 2025 European International Championships. Even though the early Japanese metagame isn’t favouring Regidrago VSTAR right now, I’m sure many players will continue to see success with Regidrago VSTAR until it rotates out of the format in March / April of this year!  I hope that you’ve learned a thing or two about Regidrago VSTAR, and maybe you’ll even give it a try! I’ll be back with another article soon, so be sure to keep looking for more Pokémon TCG content right here at Ultimate Guard! Thanks for reading! - Zach Lesage