The Pokemon TCG Pocket metagame has traditionally viewed sleep decks as unreliable, despite their potential to disrupt the opponent’s strategy. However, the introduction of Promo-A Jigglypuff during the Venusaur ex Drop Event has provided a new opportunity for players interested in this archetype. Encouragingly, win rates within sleep decks are on the rise, yet they still lack the appeal necessary to draw in a larger player base.
If you’re looking to break away from the monotony of the prevailing decks and explore fresh options, consider these four intriguing sleep deck configurations. Although they may face difficulties against the dominant Pikachu ex and Mewtwo ex META, they promise unique gameplay experiences, strategic synergies, and the potential to frustrate your opponents.
Best for Toxicity: Wigglytuff ex & Arbok
Wigglytuff ex Puts the Enemy to Sleep while Arbok Chips Its HP Away
| Card | Quantity | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Ekans | 2 | Evolves into Arbok |
| Arbok | 2 | Traps the enemy’s Active Pokémon |
| Koffin | 2 | Evolves into Weezing |
| Weezing | 2 | Can Poison the enemy |
| Jigglypuff (PA) | 1 | Applies Asleep |
| Wigglytuff ex | 1 | Deals 80 DMG and applies Asleep |
| Sabrina | 2 | Sends enemy’s Active Pokémon to Bench |
| Professor’s Research | 2 | Draws two cards |
| Whom | 2 | Puts Active Weezing back in hand |
| X Speed | 2 | Discounts Retreat Cost |
| Poke Ball | 2 | Draws a Basic card |
This Wigglytuff ex & Arbok deck stands out for its ability to utilize both Poison and Sleep effects, gradually depleting your opponent’s HP while maintaining low Energy expenditure. The general tactic involves immobilizing the foe’s Active Spot while they succumb to status effects, resulting in passive damage accumulation. Additionally, the inclusion of Koga offers the flexibility of retreating your Weezing without additional Energy costs.
However, this strategy has its limitations; despite dealing considerable damage, the deck may struggle to efficiently eliminate enemy Pokémon compared to more aggressive META strategies.
Best for Extended Sleep: Jigglypuff (PA) & Hypno
Promo-A Jigglypuff Guarantees Sleep and Hypno Extends It
| Card | Quantity | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Clefairy | 2 | Evolves into Clefable |
| Clefable | 2 | Serves as a tank |
| Drowzee | 2 | Evolves into Hypno |
| Hypno | 2 | 50 DMG, applies Asleep from Bench (coin toss required) |
| Jigglypuff (PA) | 2 | Applies Asleep |
| Wigglytuff ex | 2 | Deals 80 DMG and applies Asleep |
| X Speed | 2 | Discounts Retreat Cost |
| Poke Ball | 2 | Draws a Basic card |
| Sabrina | 2 | Sends enemy’s Active Pokémon to Bench |
| Professor’s Research | 2 | Draws two cards |
Historically, Hypno played a pivotal role in sleep decks prior to the introduction of Promo-A Jigglypuff. With this recent addition, Hypno’s effectiveness has increased, allowing you to utilize enhanced strategies within this archetype.
Combining Jigglypuff’s Sing attack with Hypno’s Sleep Pendulum ability extends the Asleep effect significantly. Sleep Pendulum is noteworthy because it allows Hypno to apply Sleep status from the Bench, offering a strategic advantage that can alter the course of the match.
On the downside, this deck can inadvertently prolong battles, giving the opponent opportunities to secure advantageous plays, especially if they employ a slow-build strategy that allows them to set up powerful cards while your sleep effects take their course.
Best for Sleep and Damage: Vileplume & Lilligant
Vileplume Disrupts the Enemy’s Strategy while Lilligant Deals Damage
| Card | Quantity | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Oddish | 2 | Evolves into Gloom |
| Gloom | 2 | Evolves into Vileplume |
| Vileplume | 2 | Deals 80 DMG and applies Asleep |
| Petilil | 1 | Evolves into Lilligant |
| Lilligant | 1 | 50 DMG, 100 HP |
| Wigglytuff ex | 2 | Deals 80 DMG and applies Asleep |
| Jigglypuff (PA) | 2 | Applies Asleep |
| X Speed | 2 | Discounts Retreat Cost |
| Poke Ball | 2 | Draws a Basic card |
| Professor’s Research | 2 | Draws two cards |
| Sabrina | 2 | Sends enemy’s Active Pokémon to Bench |
This configuration excels at inflicting damage throughout the game. Deploying Lilligant first allows you to establish a resilient presence on the battlefield, while Wigglytuff ex and Vileplume can inflict significant sleep effects alongside their damage outputs of 80 to 100.
The main challenge is that Vileplume is a Stage 2 Pokémon, requiring careful evolution which can slow down your aggressive approach. The deck heavily relies on the luck with Promo-A Jigglypuff to extend its viability, but if you can gain extra time through this card, you are likely to realize the deck’s full potential.
Best for Late-Game Attacks: Frosmoth & Articuno
Articuno and Frosmoth Absorb DMG, while Wigglytuff ex Is Building Up
| Card | Quantity | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Articuno | 2 | Deals 60 DMG and applies Paralysis (coin toss required) |
| A dream | 2 | Evolves into Frosmoth |
| Frosmoth | 2 | Deals 40 DMG and applies Asleep |
| Wigglytuff ex | 2 | Deals 80 DMG and applies Asleep |
| Jigglypuff (PA) | 2 | Applies Asleep |
| Misty | 2 | Provides extra Water Energy to one Pokémon |
| Sabrina | 2 | Sends enemy’s Active Pokémon to Bench |
| X Speed | 2 | Discounts Retreat Cost |
| Professor’s Research | 2 | Draws two cards |
| Poke Ball | 2 | Draws a Basic card |
Employing this deck requires caution due to its slow build, featuring Articuno’s energy-intensive attack and Frosmoth’s two-Energy requirement. Equally, Wigglytuff ex needs time to fully charge. However, Promo-A Jigglypuff can ease this transition, potentially creating opportunities for critical late-game moves if luck is on your side.
Sleep Decks’ Position in the Current Metagame
While the release of Promo-A Jigglypuff has certainly improved the standing of sleep decks in the current metagame, these archetypes still face challenges in becoming standard options. Presently, most decks that incorporate sleep effects lean heavily toward disruption and toxicity, contrasting sharply with the speed and damage-focus of top-performing META decks. This indicates that sleep decks may struggle to ascend to the upper echelon of competitive play, at least in the foreseeable future.
A significant hurdle for many sleep decks is their comparatively low damage output. Future releases featuring high-damage cards that synergize with existing archetypes—the likes of Promo-A Jigglypuff, Wigglytuff, and Hypno—could alter their standings dramatically.
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