Tag Team cards were a great idea when you look at it from a business perspective. You have multiple Pokemon in one card. It doesn’t require the game to keep coming up with new regular GX Pokemon. It’s easy to create good-looking cards when there are multiple Pokemon on it.
There’s a card with Mewtwo and Mew, and one with the three legendary birds. Theoretically, these cards should be unbeatable, because the Pokemon are so strong. The creators behind Pokemon TCG Online made a sensible decision and balanced these cards to prevent the meta from getting one-sided, and things were looking good. Then, suddenly, around came a card called Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX, that has single-handedly broken the entire Pokemon TCG Online meta.
The ADP/Z is powered by two cards: Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX, and Zacian V. This deck barely requires you to think at all, and still manages to be one of the top decks in the format.
Before I get to the ADP/Z deck build, I’d like to take you through where this deck really stands in the meta.
ADP/Z deck: how good (or bad) is it?
Honestly, it’s getting a little out of hand. 112 players battled at the Hegster Season 3 – #1 tournament this week, and here are the results, with ADP/Z decks circled in red:
You’ll also see four uncircled Lucametal Decks which use Zacian V but not ADP), and that should give you an idea of how much even Zacian V is dominating Pokemon TCG Online tournaments.
Just to be clear, this is an exception and not the norm. Centiskorch VMAX, Eternatus VMAX, Psychic Mewtwo, and Blacephalon have all had great standings in other recent tournaments. In fact, Centiskorch has a type advantage against three of the four main Pokemon in the deck. The above image is just to show what the deck is capable of if enough players play it.
The ADP/Z deck cards list
Here’s what my ADP/Z list contains:
##Pokémon – 13
* 1 Crobat V DAA 104
* 2 Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX CEC 156
* 1 Eldegoss V CPA 5
* 2 Dedenne-GX UNB 195
* 1 Mawile-GX UNM 141
* 4 Zacian V PR-SW 18
* 1 Zamazenta V PR-SW 19
* 1 Milotic V RCL 43
##Trainer Cards – 36
* 1 Vitality Band SSH 185
* 2 Cherish Ball UNM 191
* 4 Metal Saucer SSH 170
* 2 Viridian Forest TEU 156
* 2 Marnie SSH 169
* 2 Reset Stamp UNM 206
* 4 Quick Ball SSH 179
* 2 Big Charm SSH 158
* 2 Air Balloon SSH 156
* 3 Switch SSH 183
* 3 Professor’s Research CPA 62
* 1 Great Catcher CEC 192
* 3 Energy Switch SSH 162
* 1 Tool Scrapper DRX 116
* 2 Boss’s Orders RCL 154
* 2 Energy Search BLW 93
##Energy – 11
* 3 Water Energy Energy 3
* 8 Metal Energy Energy 8
Total Cards – 60
You can switch around with energies and go 3:9 or 2:9 if you want. The Milotic V isn’t useful in most matches, but I do run into the occasional Centiskorch that can be quite problematic, since fire is super effective against steel. Zacian V, Mawile V, and Zamazenta V all have a hard time fighting Centiskorch VMAX in Pokemon TCG Online once it gets going.
Mawile-GX is really only there for its ability that allows you to waste your opponent’s Crobat or Dedenne, which can be very disadvantageous for most decks. Mawile also allows you to check your opponent’s hand and then decide if you want to Marnie or not.
Setting off ADP’s Altered Creation
An ADP/Z player’s top priority is getting their Altered Creation GX attack off as early as possible. Here’s how the attack works:
Altered Creation-GX – For the rest of this game, your Pokémon’s attacks do 30 more damage to your opponent’s Active Pokémon (before applying Weakness and Resistance). If this Pokémon has at least 1 extra Water Energy attached to it (in addition to this attack’s cost), when your opponent’s Active Pokémon is Knocked Out by damage from those attacks, take 1 more Prize card. (You can’t use more than 1 GX attack in a game.)
Your goal is to get a Steel and Water Energy onto ADP within two turns, and activate your GX attack. The turn after that would have you attaching another energy on ADP and using its Ultimate Ray attack.
Ultimate Ray (150 damage) – Search your deck for up to 3 basic Energy cards and attach them to your Pokémon in any way you like. Then, shuffle your deck.
You will have either Zacian or Zamazenta on your Bench at this point. Once you’ve used Ultimate Ray (that now deals 180 damage, due to Altered Creation GX), you’ll be setting up your other Pokemon to go in once ADP is knocked out.
Trainer cards and managing Energy
You will want as many of these four cards in your hand as early as possible.
Even these four cards are a tad excessive. A lot of players would either use Energy Search or Viridian Forest, but I prefer using both because it allows me to get an early GX attack.If you discard a Steel Energy, Metal Saucer it to your benched Zacian, Energy Switch it onto your active ADP, and then attach a water Energy onto it, you can even use your Altered Creation on turn one if you’re going second.
The rest of the Trainer cards in the deck are the usual list. Almost every card in the deck has multiple copies in it, which allows you to use early Sycamores without a second thought. Eldegoss can fetch lost supporters, Metal Saucer can fetch lost Energy, and all of the main Pokemon have multiple copies in the deck.
After the GX move
The rest of the game is pretty much all about your stealing prize cards with your Steel type Pokemon.
Zacian V is now dealing 260 damage (270 with a Vitality Band), which is sufficient to take out any Tag Team card in Pokemon TCG Online. Zamazenta V is the perfect counter for Centiskorch VMAX and Eternatus VMAX, and really puts those decks in a tough spot.
Watch out for your opponent’s benched Volcanions or Heatran-GX’s surprise attacks, they’re pretty hard to dodge even for Zamazenta. Make sure you have your Milotic ready in that case, because even ADP can’t save you if a Centiskorch VMAX gets going.
You often won’t even need the Vitality Band. Using Air Balloon and switching between your Zacians can quickly get overwhelming for your opponent. Use Boss’s Orders to switch to their strongest cards if possible. Remember, eliminating VMAX and Tag Team cards will now reward you with four instead of three Prizes.
Here’s a Pokemon TCG Online match of the ADP/Z deck going against an Eternatus VMAX deck:
ADP Zacian VS Eternatus VMAX | Pokemon TCG Online
The future of the ADP/Z deck
The only real counters this deck has in the meta are Centiskorch (due to type advantage) and Decidueye (due to its invulnerability from V/GX Pokemon’s attacks). A lot of players were expecting a third hard-counter to ADP/Z, with the upcoming Vivid Voltage Pokemon TCG Online expansion.
Remember how I said earlier in the article that ADP/Z getting a bunch of high rankings in tournaments is just an exception and not the norm? Well, it’s about to become the norm. Instead of getting a third hard-counter, we’re losing one of our previous counters to ADP. The upcoming Aegislash V can bypass Decidueye’s ability, making ADP even stronger.
It’s not the best move by TPC, since a lot of people were already asking for ADP to be banned. With Aegislash coming in and the Zacian V League Battle Deck featuring both Zacian and ADP in it, the card is only going to get cheaper, and thus more common in the meta.
We definitely won’t be seeing a ban on this card anytime soon, and Pokemon TCG Online Standard is just about to get twice as chaotic.
FAQs
What does ADP mean in Pokémon TCG? ›
The key cards in this deck are Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX (sm12-156) (most commonly referred to as ADP) and Zacian V (swsh1-138) (there's the Z). These two cards could also be considered to be the most polarizing cards in the Standard format right now because of their sheer power and aggression.
What is the best Pokémon TCG Online theme decks 2023? ›Lugia VSTAR Takes the Title for Best Deck in Pokemon TCG Standard 2023. The star of Silver Tempest, Sword and Shield's final expansion, Lugia VSTAR packs a lot of power from the start. As important to this deck's ability to win, however, is the powerful combo of Lugia VSTAR and Archeops's ability.
How many fusion strike energies can you have in a deck? ›There's no limit to how many of these can be played in the same turn, so using all four of them results in an additional 120 damage. They're always playable and can help Mew VMAX achieve one-hit Knock Outs on opposing Pokémon VMAX.
What is the best Pokemon deck to buy? ›- Pokemon TCG: Inteleon Theme Deck.
- Pokemon TCG: Zacian Theme Deck.
- Pokemon TCG: Zamazenta Theme Deck.
- Pokemon TCG: Charizard Theme Deck.
- Pokemon TCG: Galarian Darmanitan Theme Deck.
ADP was a Pokémon Trading Card Game deck archetype played in the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 seasons.
What does red mean in ADP? ›• A solid red field for missed in punches or out punches. • A red rectangle ( ) for an unexcused exception, such as an absence or a late or early punch. It also indicates a cancelled meal deduction. • A blue rectangle ( ) for an excused exception, such as vacation.
Is Pokémon TCG Online being discontinued? ›The Pokemon Company announced Pokemon TCG Online is officially shutting down before the launch of Pokemon TCG Live, which is the next game in the Pokemon TCG series. The Pokemon TCG Online app will be removed from the App Store, Google Play, and Pokemon.com, and the game's servers will be shut down permanently.
Will Pokémon TCG Online end? ›The Pokémon Company announces that Pokémon TCG Online will no longer receive new card sets after March 1, 2023, in a switch to the Live version.
What is the most active TCG? ›The top Collectible Card game over the last 7 days has been Hearthstone garnering 3,833,069 viewer hours across 41,267 streams by 18,171 streamers. SolaryHS was the top Collectible Card streamer playing Hearthstone and generating 332,091 viewer hours.
What is the rarest card in Fusion Strike? ›Add in that Gengar VMAX could be Single Strike's best chance at relevance in the Standard metagame, and it's easy to understand why alternate-art Gengar VMAX is the most valuable card in Fusion Strike.
Is mew vmax rare? ›
Mew VMAX - 114/264 - Ultra Rare.
What is the rarest Pokémon deck? ›1996 Pokémon Japanese Base Set Holo Venusaur
Like many other first-edition cards from the 1990s, this Venusuar is one of the rarest and most valuable cards out there today.
The answer to "What's the rarest Pokémon card of all time?" With only seven copies believed to be in existence, the Super Secret Battle No. 1 Trainer is easily one of the rarest Pokémon cards ever made.
What is ADP turned into? ›ADP is converted into ATP by the enzyme ATP synthase.
Who is ADP owned by? ›ADP is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Automatic Data Processing Inc., a United States-based human resource management services and software provider.
Why is it called ADP? ›ATP (Adenosine tri-phosphate) is an important molecule found in all living things. Think of it as the “energy currency” of the cell. If a cell needs to spend energy to accomplish a task, the ATP molecule splits off one of its three phosphates, becoming ADP (Adenosine di-phosphate) + phosphate.
How do you fix a punch on ADP? ›- Access the employee's timecard.
- Click Quick Actions, and then click Add Missing Punch.
- 3 Click the field with the missing punch, which is indicated by solid red.
- To turn off the Missing Punch action, click Add Missing Punch.
- Click Save.
For non-exempt (hourly) staff: Enter your “in and out” times for each day you work or the number of hours you take time off (sick, vacation, jury duty, etc.). For exempt (salaried) staff: Enter only full 8-hour “absent” leave, indicating the type of leave. After completing the timecard, you approve it.
What is ADP Cobra? ›ADP Cobra Services, Inc. provides professional services. The Company offers accounting,financial, payment solutions, payroll, insurance, retirement plans, and outsourcing services.
Is TCG going to be permanent? ›Much like the Serenitea Pot, Genius Invokation TCG is now a permanent mainstay in Genshin Impact's endgame.
Why was Pokemon TCG deleted? ›
The Pokémon TCG Online will be sunsetted prior to the official launch of Pokémon TCG Live so that saved content in players' Pokémon TCG Online accounts can be migrated to Pokémon TCG Live, helping to ensure a more seamless transition for players.
Why are Pokemon cards not selling? ›The intense demand for Pokémon trading cards, which steadily rose in recent years then rocketed up even more during the pandemic, has caused Target to temporarily suspend sales of the cards, citing a threat to the safety of customers and workers.
Is it too late to start Pokemon TCG? ›Is it Too Late to Start Collecting Pokemon Cards? Absolutely not. There is always an entry point, even with vintage Pokemon cards.
Do Pokémon cards get outdated? ›However, players with old, powerful Pokémon TCG cards should not fret, as Unlimited Format and casual play allow their use. Unlimited Format is usually found outside Championship matches and is often reserved for special occasions (like promotional or charity events).
Will Pokémon cards be gone? ›With the upcoming sunsetting of the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online, no further card set development will be supported in the game as of March 1, 2023.
Which TCG sells the most? ›| # | Card | Top Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pokemon Psa 7 Near Mint 1998 Pikachu 1st Place Trophy Card Charizard Tournament | $128,900 |
| 2 | Pokemon Card “slowpoke” Extremely Rare Double Error | $99,000 |
| 3 | Pokemon Psa 10 Gem Mint Blastoise 1st Edition Shadowless Base Set 1999 Card #2 | $95,000 |
| # | Name | All-Time Peak |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel | 262,689 |
| 2. | Tabletop Simulator | 37,198 |
| 3. | Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links | 21,520 |
| 4. | Shadowverse | 24,167 |
Mew V - 113/264 - Ultra Rare.
What is the most expensive card in evolving skies? ›The most expensive Pokémon card in Evolving Skies is also the most expensive Pokémon card of 2021 in general: Umbreon VMAX (swsh7-215). If price is a good proxy for popularity, then Umbreon is far and away the most popular Eeveelution.
What are the odds of pulling AV card? ›
However, they usually aren't the rarest cards in the set. You're actually more likely to open than you are to open the . Odds of opening a full-art Pokémon V card: 1 in 135. Average odds of opening a specific full-art Pokémon V card: 1 in 810.
Why was Kadabra banned? ›The famed Israeli-British illusionist/magician and self-proclaimed psychic took legal action claiming the use of his likeness for the Psychic-type Pokémon in the year 2000, leading to the card being banned from being included in the original Pokémon TCG 151 card set.
What's the rarest Pokémon card 2023? ›Arcanine ex Legend Maker is a highly desirable card from the golden era of the Pokémon trading card game. It's considered Ultra Rare, with average value currently around $86. Comparable cards sold from a low of $4, but a PSA 10 reached a high of $1,775.
What does the F mean on a Pokémon card? ›F: Fighting Energy symbol. C: Colorless Energy symbol. D: Darkness Energy symbol. M: Metal Energy symbol.
What is the rarest shiny Vmax? ›1 Shiny Charizard VMAX ($105)
It should come as no surprise that the most expensive and sought-after card in the Pokemon Shining Fates expansion set is a Charizard card.
Star Birth also includes two secret rare versions of Arceus VMAX. The first features a "rainbow rare" holofoil, while the second has the "gold rare" holofoil reserved for some of the rarest cards in modern Pokémon sets.
How much is No 1 trainer worth? ›1 Trainer” Trainer Promo Holo — $90,000.
Are gold Pokémon cards real? ›Gold Pokémon cards are not actually gold, unless you happen to find a limited edition one created by The Pokémon Company themselves. For example, they released a 24k gold card that comes with an acrylic stand and box in 2016. It sold for $2,000. Most gold-plated Pokémon cards refer to the 1999 Burger King release.
Why is Umbreon VMAX so expensive? ›With an incredibly low pull rate, alternate-art Umbreon VMAX is the most valuable Pokémon card you can open in the modern era and pushed Evolving Skies to become the most-opened set from Sword & Shield, which led to all of its sealed product prices rising as well.
What is the rarest Charizard? ›- 8 Shining Charizard 1st Edition (107/105)
- 7 Charizard Prerelease Staff (11/108)
- 6 Charizard (146/144)
- 5 Charizard National Championship (100/97)
- 4 Charizard (006)
- 3 Charizard (89/88)
- 2 Shining Charizard (006)
- 1 Charizard 1st Edition (4/102)
What is the weakest Pokémon? ›
Bug-Type Pokemon are arguably the worst Pokemon in the game, and Parasect is both Bug- and Grass-Type - unfortunately, not that great of a combination. None of its moves or abilities stand out in any way, and anything that it can do, there will always be a Pokemon that can do it better than them.
Who is the most overpowered Pokémon? ›Arceus is, without a doubt, the most powerful Legendary Pokémon. This Normal type Mythical Pokémon is the creator of the universe and thus the closest that the Pokémon world has to a god.
Who owns the most expensive Pokémon card? ›As of August 2022, the most expensive Pokémon card is a Professional Sports Authenticator grade 10 Pikachu Illustrator card that social media personality and boxer Logan Paul purchased for $5.275 million, according to Guinness World Records.
What do ADP numbers mean? ›One of the more prevalent fantasy acronyms is ADP, which stands for Average Draft Position. ADP is the average number pick that a certain player is being drafted across the combined results of multiple drafts conducted on a specific platform.
What does DPP mean in Pokémon? ›(fandom slang) Initialism of Pokémon Diamond, Pearl and Platinum.
What does AA mean in Pokémon cards? ›AA > Alternative art: An alternate draw, looking usually like a painting. Usually next number after FA in a set.
What does DP mean on Pokémon cards? ›From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia. DP is a common abbreviation for Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Versions.
Is a low ADP good? ›Adding someone you believe will perform well, such as a talented rookie, that has a low ADP can provide a boost for your team and a surprise for your opponents. ADP is also a great way for new owners to understand basic player popularity.
What does D stand for in ADP? ›ADP® Automatic Data Processing.
How do I know my ADP? ›If your employer has provided you with online access, you can access your pay statements and W-2s at login.adp.com. If you have not previously logged in to the portal, you will need a registration code from your employer. Only your employer can provide you with this code.
What does SS mean in Pokémon? ›
SS= SoulSilver. BW= Black, White.
What does SB mean in Pokémon? ›RML. Raise Max Level. An item that raises a Pokemon's level limit from 10 to however many can be fed to said Pokemon. SB. Skill Booster.
What does EP stand for in Pokémon? ›The Emerging Powers expansion of the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
What does an F mean on a Pokemon card? ›F: Fighting Energy symbol. C: Colorless Energy symbol. D: Darkness Energy symbol. M: Metal Energy symbol.
What is the rarest symbol on a Pokemon card? ›Common cards have a black circle. Uncommon cards have a black diamond. Rare cards have a black star. Rare Holo cards have a black star and a “shiny” (foil) illustration.
What is a black star Pokemon card? ›The Black Star Promo cards are a series of exclusive cards that Wizards of the Coast produced for promotional events, tournaments, or Pokemon-related merchandise. The company produced 53 numbered promotional cards during their reign. Most of the cards are believed to have been released in Jamboree.
What does V mean in Pokémon cards? ›The Pokemon TCG has several unique types of monster cards with unique rules that change the game. The current generation version of this is Pokemon V. These cards usually depict fully evolved pokemon, but they still count as basic Pokemon, meaning you can summon them right away without the need for evolution.
What does MP stand for in Pokémon cards? ›Cards in Moderately Played (MP) condition can have border wear, corner wear, scratching or scuffing, creases or whitening or any combination of mild examples of these marks.
What does RC mean on a Pokemon card? ›Radiant collection is the equivalent of Japan's Shiny Collection, except it was bundled with Legendary Treasures (which was EX Battle Boost) Cards 25. Released Nov 6th 2013.