Running Wild with Tapu Bulu-GX/Vikavolt

Ever since its initial release Tapu Bulu-GX has been a fan favorite with Lurantis-GX/Tapu Bulu-GX seeing mild success initially and Vikavolt/Tapu Bulu-GX seeing continued success all the way into the current standard format. Recently VikaBulu has seen a large resurgence in play and it's not hard to see why. When set up, VikaBulu can easily stream energy and with Choice Band one shot things like Zoroark-GX, Golisopod-GX, Lycanroc-GX, Buzzwole-GX, etc. With a Professor Kukui it can even one shot Gardevoir-GX.

The Lists

This list is my version of VikaBulu. It is very straight forward. Your goal is to get a turn 2 Vikavolt every game to start hitting hard with Tapu Bulu.

Mew is a great tech in this deck since it can force an uneven prize trade and hit things like Buzzwole-GX for weakness. It also gives the deck some mobility when you play a card like Guzma because it has no retreat cost.

The only changes I made in this list were to add four Puzzle of Time.

While this version seems less consistent especially with just one Professor Sycamore, this version allows for more recovery throughout the game. Especially for grabbing important cards like Grubbin, Rare Candy, Switch, or Energy Recycler. Realistically you only expect to use double Puzzle of Time once per game but often that can be enough.

Your ideal set up on the first turn is to use Brigette on the first turn to make sure you have two Grubbin on your bench, then Tapu Bulu-GX and Oranguru are your next targets. Next your priority on the second turn is getting out Vikavolt with a combination of Vikavolt, Rare Candy, Skyla, and Heavy Ball. Then as you get into the mid game if you don't need to extend to be continuously taking knockouts with Tapu Bulu where you want to then you should try to set up your second Vikavolt to be safe. Finally manage your energy properly and always be checking how many of each type you have left so you aren't left with no attackers or something stuck in the active that you can't power up.

Other Card Choices

Nest Ball

5th Grass Energy

Fighting Fury Belt

Pheromosa-GX

3rd Tapu Lele-GX

Xurkitree-GX

Tapu Koko-GX

Super Rod

Rescue Stretcher

Charjabug

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths

• Tapu Bulu-GX is likely the hardest hitting basic Pokemon currently.

• Can do 180-230 damage every turn.

• Once set up is hard to stop.

• In a favorable meta full of decks that are trying to take two shots against your one shots.

• Tapu Bulu-GX has no weakness.

Weaknesses

• Ability Reliant.

• Inconsistent and prone to bricking.

• Not a lot of mobility.

• No way to recover crucial pieces without using space on Rescue Stretcher, Super Rod, Puzzle of Time, etc.

Matchups

Gardevoir-GX

Max Potions makes this matchup a lot harder because it makes it easier for Gardevoir-GX to sit there with its massive 230 HP and bleed you dry of resources. The only way to combat this deck is well timed combinations of Choice Band and Professor Kukui to take one hit knockouts on your opponent. If you don't have the numbers try dealing chip damage with Tapu Koko or Horn Attack and hope they don't hit the Max Potion when they need it. Make sure to get out two Vikavolt if you can since Gallade can one shot it. Overall this is a winnable matchup but you need to draw the right pieces at the right time.

Zoroark-GX/Golisopod-GX

This should be one of your easiest matchups because you can one shot and they almost always can't. Make sure you always have two Grubbin in play until you have Vikavolt out because they will constantly be trying to knock those out to hinder your set up. If you can limit your bench then for Breakthrough Zoroark then all you need to do is steamroll their attackers.

Volcanion-EX

This may seem easy on paper but it can be fairly difficult to navigate. try to Guzma up and one shot their attackers while they are still being set up so that they can't take return one hit knockouts on you. Also two Vikavolt can be crucial in this matchup since Vikavolt is able to take one hit knockouts in the matchup and so is a viable attacker but they do have the number to knock it out in one hit. Finally you need to be conservative with Field Blowers since a Fighting Fury Belt can ruin your day.

Zoroark-GX/Decidueye-GX

This matchup is another one that can seem easy but isn't usually. If they set up a couple Decidueye they can take one hit knockouts on your Tapu Bulu-GX with Zoroarks and they can try to win by devolving your Vikavolt(s) with Espeon-EX when it has enough damage on it that Grubbin will be knocked out.

Conclusion

Overall Vikavolt/Tapu Bulu-GX is a hard hitting deck that can keep toe to toe with most of the popular decks in the meta if it sets up. A consistent build of this deck is definitely one of the strongest picks in the current standard format. This deck is also very easy to play and doesn't require as much skill or practice as some of the other top decks since its strategy is very linear. Anyways, thanks for reading and let me know what you all think.

Team Stats