Table of Contents
The format's breakout champion combines explosive draw power with consistent pressure. A4a-020 A1-089 uses Legendary Pulse to rapidly set up while maintaining board control through versatile attackers.
This deck rewards smooth setups, powerful synergies, and adaptive gameplay. If you enjoy drawing through your deck and maintaining tempo throughout the match, A4a-020 A1-089 delivers the complete package.
Let's tackle one of the best decks in the game!
Strengths & Weaknesses
| Pros | Cons |
| + A4a-020 deals up to 120 damage for 2 energy. | - Struggles against high-HP, low basic decks. |
| + A1-089's ability lets you increase damage thresholds while also being able to pair with A2-150 | - Timely bench switching can slow the deck down since it often relies on a A4a-020 start |
| + A2b-035 used for higher HP one-shots. | |
| + Incredibly consistent with Legendary Pulse drawing through most of your deck with low basic count. | |
| + Huge HP pools making it hard to take down. | |
| + Has tools to deal with any matchup. |
How to Play Suicune ex Greninja Giratina ex
Using only Water energy since we want to reliably get energy for A4a-020 and A1-089, and A2b-035 can charge energy on its own. Start or tank with A4a-020 to abuse Legendary Pulse while evolving A1-087 to A1-089. A2b-035 serves as backup damage dealer, charging energy on its own.
Turn 1 Breakdown
If starting with A4a-020: Highest priority starter to make use of Legendary Pulse and begin drawing cards immediately. Also prioritized for energy since it's your main damage dealer with 2 energy to attack.
If starting with A1-087: Retreat into A4a-020 early to make use of A4a-020's ability right away. Only exception is if you can evolve into A1-089 right away and can attack, letting you take over the game, but still not usually recommended.
If starting with A2b-035: Usually okay to start with it as a tank while making use of its ability, then retreat into A4a-020 unless you can reliably reach 3 Psychic energy, making it an attacker.
Early Game
- Primary goal is to get A4a-020 into the active spot as much as you can to make use of its ability, letting you draw through your deck fast. Using A1a-068 to retreat a A2b-035 or A1-087 into A4a-020 can be important.
- Bench A1-087 immediately to begin evolving toward A1-089.
- If it's turn 1, finding A2b-035 is a priority to make use of its ability right away and have more time to build energy.
- Because of the early reliance on A4a-020 and A2b-035 on turn 1, it is generally better to play PROMO-007 first before PROMO-005 to maximize chances of finding more basics if you draw them from Research.
- Priority for energy is A4a-020 if you want to attack with it or have the energy to retreat just in case. If the active A4a-020 can easily be knocked out, charging the second A4a-020 is usually better.
- If you start with A2b-035 and looking to build up for its attack, prioritize one turn where you need to attach the Water energy so you don't have to attach for it later in case a bench swap happens, but it's still important that your active like A4a-020 has at least 1 water energy so it can retreat easily.
- While I do recommend benching to keep your hand size small and protect against PROMO-006 and A2-155, it's a bit harder in this deck due to just how fast you draw cards. As long as you have A4a-020 on board and bench at least 2 Pokemon with A1-087, try to make do. Playing A2-147 right away can also reduce hand size.
- As mentioned in my other guides: if you're planning to reset your hand, it's often smart to bait a PROMO-006, A2b-069, or A2-155. Keep your hand at four or more if you're fine with a reset, and below three if you want to avoid one.
Midgame Strategy
- Try to stall with the tank that you started with, either A4a-020 or A1-089 with A2a-072 to prevent knockouts.
- A3a-064 can be powerful to play in the early game to delay your opponent who is trying to gain energy while you're gaining energy yourself.
- Try to make energy allotments spread throughout most of your Pokemon so that in case the active one gets knocked out, the next one can easily attack.
- A2a-072 will help you stay on the board longer, so spreading Water energy especially to damaged Pokemon is something to consider. Holding A4a-020 in the active as long as possible can win you the game by just drawing into A1-089 easily.
Late Game
- A4a-020 should be ready to attack, but if you think it's going to get knocked out fast, it might be more worth it to invest in A2b-035 instead.
- Set up knockouts with A4a-020 by playing more Pokemon on the bench to increase damage and with the help of A1-089.
- A2-150 is an incredibly powerful card in the deck due to how you can just pick any target from your opponent, so set this up with the highest threat from your opponent and take it down.
Board Management
A key decision with this deck is figuring out which four Pokemon will make up your board. Since we have 5 Pokemon by default, we will have to decide which 4 Pokemon we should go for while also acknowledging reducing hand size and more damage from A4a-020's attack.
- 2 A1-089, 1 A4a-020, 1 A2b-035 – This is the most optimal setup since 2 A1-089, especially if you are able to get them fast, can be extremely game-winning with 40 damage per turn.
- 2 A4a-020, 1 A1-089, 1 A2b-035– If you don't draw into most of the A1-089 line early, usually just having 1 A1-089 will do and focus on 2 A4a-020 instead and charge them both.
- 2 A4a-020, 2 A1-089 – If you don't draw into A2b-035 early, it's usually better to not play A2b-035 anymore and just focus on having 2 copies of other Pokemon instead since you can easily transition into any of them.
Mirror Strategies
With the abundance of A4a-020 in the meta, this is how to win against another A4a-020 A1-089 deck.
- Finding A1-089 early is always the best plan against the mirror since if you already have access to A1-089, you can much more reliably take down their opposing tank by hitting the 140 damage range. You can also easily target a charging Pokémon on the bench such as A2b-035 with A2-150.
- Against the mirror, consider holding off on playing Pokémon on the bench to make it harder for them to take down your active. It's still recommended to play A1-087 early, especially if you know you can draw into A1-089 anytime.
- Being able to attack first is recommended most of the time with A4a-020 since you can easily set up to 2-shot their A4a-020 most of the time. This is why going second is an advantageous position, as it puts a lot of pressure on the opponent who may choose to charge energy on the bench instead. If they do that, assemble the A1-089 + A2-150 combo and take down an easier Pokémon.
- If you go first, you're at a disadvantage because your opponent can charge their A4a-020 faster. Charging up another A4a-020 on the bench instead is better and let the active one get knocked out so you can retaliate. You can also charge A2b-035 instead since going first gives you +1 more energy on A2b-035 already. It's also much easier to take down A4a-020 when paired with A1-089.
- If you truly want to have a more advantageous position against the mirror, playing A3a-064 is one of the best ways since you can swap their A4a-020 in the active, forcing them to delay being able to attack as they have to spend energy to retreat what they swapped with. This lets you attack earlier.
- Adding PROMO-006 is also really good since finding A1-089 is one of the ways to win the mirror, which means you have more chances to delay their setup.
How to Play Red Card & Mars
If You’re Going First
- Against non–Stage 2 decks:
Using Red Card right away is fine if you need to reduce your hand. Otherwise, wait for them to build a bigger hand or combo with Silver. - Against Stage 2 decks:
You can play it early, but since its since they can't evolve yet this turn it’s stronger on the next turn and they’re more likely to have Rare Candy or draw Supporters in hand.
If You’re Going Second
- Against non-Stage 2 decks:
Same logic—play early to limit their options. - Against non-Stage 2 decks:
Recommended to play since this is your best chance to stop them from finding Rare Candy or evolutions.
Mars Tips
A2-155 becomes stronger later in the game. You can be more conservative early on and play it once you know a Pokémon will get KO’d to increase its impact.
Card Choices
Core
Must-have cards the deck relies on to function.
- A4a-020 - Should be in the active to keep drawing. Prioritized for energy to attack. Stall and try to keep it alive.
- A1-087 - Usually will retreat into A4a-020 unless you can take knockouts or threaten damage threshold.
- A1-089 - Make it online as fast as possible. Should be on the bench to deal damage and setup knockouts.
- A2b-035 - Backup damage dealer if you need higher ceiling knockouts.
- A3-144 - Use to evolve A1-087 to A1-089.
- PROMO-007 - Core draw engine.
- PROMO-005 - Research before Pokeball is usually recommended, especially if you want to find A2b-035 and A4a-020.
- A2-150 - Lets you pick off any target paired with A1-089's ability.
Optional
Cards that can be cut without hurting core consistency.
- A2a-072 - Keeps anything in the active, especially A4a-020, on the board longer, letting you draw more into your deck and have more time to gain energy.
- A1a-068 - Lets you retreat A4a-020 or A2b-035 immediately. Can also be used to retreat into A4a-020 turn 1.
- A2-155 - Counter to A4a-020 meta, making it hard for them to find A1-089. Can also be used as a backup gameplan if you lose an EX early.
- A2-147 - Can make A4a-020 or A2b-035 survive the usual 140 damage threshold while also reducing hand size.
- A3a-064 - Delay your opponent who is trying to gain energy or setup surprise knockouts. Best used to counter the mirror since you can delay their attack or put A4a-020 on the bench.
Situational
Techs that only matter in specific matchups.
- A2b-035 - Another A2b-035 helps against matchups that A4a-020 is weak to, such as high HP low basic count like Guzzlord, since you are likely to start with it and gain energy right away. Recommended for higher level of play where counters are more prevalent.
- PROMO-006 - With how fast A4a-020 decks get their hands larger, PROMO-006 is a strong counter to limit them. Highly good in the mirror.
- A2b-071 - A2b-071 can be a good tech in the mirror for surprise reach up to 140 or 160 with A1-089's ability.
Final Thoughts
Suicune Greninja is looking to be the explosive deck to play and hope the guide packed you will all the info not just to reach Masterball but even the top as well. Goodluck!
You can also check out our other guides for more insights! With the ranked format here, now is the perfect time to master these strategies, climb the leaderboard, and dominate matchups!
