Kingler – Pokémon TCG Highlander

Sturdy with great accelerating momentum, offense, and defense, Kingler enters Highlander with a merit of strengths to help your team and fight well on its own.

Strategy Points:

• “Salt Water” accelerates at such a fast rate, that you’ll want prepare your deck accordingly to push the strengths of this attack even more. With the average Basic Energy count of Highlander decks being around 8-11, you can easily dial up to 14 or higher to push a highly favorable board as early as the first turn (with Wally or Broken Time-Space.)
  • You can attach to Kingler for a potential “Scissor Blow” the next turn, especially if it’s early in the game and the average HP on the board would get Knocked Out from 80 damage.
  • Regice – Level X’s “Crystal Spire Fort” makes all Basic Water Energy on your board a minus 10 defensive modifier for you Pokémon. Allowing for a ton of favorable momentum for your team throughout the game.
  • Walrein – Level X’s “Glacier Guild” grants it +10HP for every Water Energy on your board. The Energy in your hand can easily be attached with “Gather Ice”, allowing for an easy scenario to reach 200HP and beyond.
• “Guard Claw” is an efficient attack that presses good offense, defense, and protection to your bench, all while healing 10 damage from Kingler.
  • PlusPower and Defender are great modifiers here, while Rocky Helmet serves for great counter damage that could lead into a Knock Out with another “Guard Claw” on the next turn.
  • Glaceon and Auroras provide great defensive effects with their respective Poké-Bodies.
  • Splash Energy adds insult to injury, allowing you to instantly recover Kingler and re-use “Salt Water” or “Guard Claw” by your next turn.
• “Scissor Blow” does high damage for its Energy cost while granting a three card mill. The self-30 damage can be mitigated with all of the previous listed defensive modifiers above.
  • Playing more into offense bolstering with PlusPower, Vitality, or Choice Band can help you forward your momentum from “Salt Water” plays even more. Especially if you’re running EXP. Share and Lanturn to preserve and re-attach Kingler’s Energy to your board should it be Knocked Out.
• Krabby’s “Salt Water” can have Kingler ready to use “Scissor Blow” by the next turn. Alternatively, you can run Eviolite/Fighting Fury Belt and start using “Crabhammer” the next turn, waiting later to evolve and use “Scissor Blow” for a crucial Knock Out play.
• Kingler – Level X:
• “Hydro Jet Force” provides quick Energy acceleration from the hand and a plus 20 damage buff to the Pokémon the Energy is attached to. Professor’s Letter, Energy Retrieval, Superior Energy Retrieval, Starmie, Plusle, and Training Court are all great options to accumulate Energy to use with this Poké-Power.
  • Attackers like Clawitzer, Pelipper, Politoed, and Swanna appreciate the easy Energy cycling and damage buff from this Poké-Power.
• “Bombarding Bubbles” has a 75% chance of Paralyzing the Defending Pokémon. All while potentially dealing 100 damage.
  • You can run Victini, Will, Sandaconda, or Maractus to help your odds. Articuno is also a great option to increase your chances for Paralysis.