Mantine- Pokémon TCG Highlander

Mantine soars to the board with healing and a devastating high tide your opponents will want to avoid at all costs. With both instant and long term effectiveness in its options, you’d be surprised what decks Mantine wins games with, Water or not.

Strategy Points:

• “Ripples” is simple in effect, complex in its combo potential. Being able to use Flamigo, Nest Ball or Quick Ball for healing on demand is strong on its own. Tapu Fini and Seaking will appreciate the bonus damage granted by Mantine for the respective attacks each turn.
• “Healing Wave” provides a counter strategy to spread attackers and strategies in general. Give Mantine an Eviolite or Defender with Cloyster on the bench for mass protection while creating an opportunity for momentum gain on your side. Swampert and Golduck BREAK provide an easy way to move Water Energy around while Slowbro can move over 50 damage from a Benched Pokémon that doesn’t have one.
• “Hard Crush” caters to a “go big or go home” playstyle. There are methods to guarantee reliable damage though, Delcatty and Mantine (with Mantyke) allow for Energy cycling to lock-in at least 100 damage a turn. Reckless decks with Pokemon like Infernape and Typhlosion will love the discarded Fire energy from this attack, all while taking fast Prize Cards.
• “Dwindling Wave” keeps experienced players aware of the ever present threat of a potential knockout as they try to make sure that Mantine has less Energy and more damage counters on it. Not only are the previously mentioned Swampert and Golduck BREAK great options to mass attach the required Water Energy, but you can use Articuno and Ninja Boy to quickly attach and rotate into this attack for max damage.
• With Mantyke
• “Jumpo Fin” opens up a lot momentum for your Water and Colorless Pokémon. Boufallant becomes a free retreating pivot after using “Revenge” or “Gold Breaker” while Arctovish can freely reset “Giga Impact” after using a Switch or Escape Rope afterwards.
• “Power Circulation” serves as a strong recovery option while allowing Pokemon like Blastoise and Togekiss a means to reliably attach more Energy cards to your Pokémon. It also allows for Octillery, Darmanitan and Rhyperior – Level X a way to guarantee Energy being revealed from the top of your deck for their attacks.
• With Mantine – Level X
• “Kite Rescue” provides a streamlined cycle for attackers. From getting back Ditto with a Rainbow Energy to your Walrein ready to bat next turn thanks to Broken Time-Space, this Poké-Body greatly increased the longevity of your deck combos.
• “Hydro Slash” offers great damage that will bypass any Defensive effects on the Defending Pokémon. Being able to negate them out of an attack is also a great bonus while you continue to Heal your Pokémon. The spread damage criteria can easily be met with Pokemon like Floatzel and Quaquaval.