Pokemon TCG: Zoroark Box Deck Guide

For many decks in the Pokemon TCG, achieving multiple Stage 1 Pokemon in a game can be difficult. This is because you’ll need both the Basic and the Stage 1 Pokemon available, with no Items such as Rare Candy to help speed up the process. However, imagine having a single Stage 1 Pokemon that could become any Stage 1 Pokemon that you need.

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This is the idea behind the Zoroark Box Deck. This card’s unique Ability essentially allows it to transform into any Stage 1 Pokemon in your discard pile, permanently replacing your Zoroark on the field. To learn how to build the Zoroark Box Deck, or what to expect if you stumble across it on Pokemon TCG Live, continue reading.

Zoroark Box Deck List

The Zoroark Box Deck highlights an invaluable feature in the Pokemon TCG: flexibility. Very few decks are capable of completely tailoring their gameplay to the opposing deck like the Zoroark Box Deck, especially as a single Prize deck.

The only essential Pokemon components in this list are Zoroark and Kirlia/Gardevoir, with your attackers flexible enough to be substituted based on what you wish to accomplish. However, there are some cards that have performed best.

Pokemon Cards

Zorua EVS (x4)

Zoroark EVS (x4)

Ralts ASR (x3)

Kirlia SIT (x3)

Gardevoir SIT (x1)

Aerodactyl MEW (x1)

Flapple EVS (x1)

Cetitan PAL (x1)

Scovillain SVI (x1)

Jirachi PAR (x1)

Slowbro PGO (x1)

Jolteon MEW (x1)

Hisuian Basculin ASR (x1)

Hisuian Braviary SIT (x1)

Manaphy BRS (x1)

Electivire (x1)

Trainer Cards

Iono (x3)

Boss's Orders (x2)

Arezu (x1)

Professor's Research (x3)

Professor Turo's Scenario (x1)

Ultra Ball (x4)

Level Ball (x3)

Super Rod (x2)

Rescue Carrier (x1)

Counter Catcher (x2)

Roxanne (x1)

Artazon (x2)

Energy Cards

Reversal Energy (x4)

Double Turbo Energy (x4)

Basic Water Energy (x1)

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Zoroark Box Deck Key Cards

With so much flexibility in its decklist, the Zoroark Box Deck can function with various different Stage 1 Pokemon. However, there are some key cards that are either required or preferred for functionality purposes.

Zoroark

There is no Zoroark Box Deck with Zoroark. Emerging from Evolving Skies, Zoroark is a Stage 1 Pokemon with no Rule Box. However, it offers the unique ability of “transforming” into other Pokemon through Phantom Transformation, an Ability reminiscent of the Illusion Fox Pokemon’s personality shown in video games and shows.

Using Zoroark’s Ability, once during your turn, you may choose to discard Zoroark (and all cards attached) in favor of placing a Stage 1 Pokemon from your discard pile onto the field in Zoroark’s place. This allows for you to play various Pokemon without the need for their Basic forms, or going through the process of evolving them.

Phantom Transformation will discard all cards attached to Zoroark, including Tools and Energies. As a result, prior to using this Ability, think wisely before attaching anything valuable to Zoroark that you may need to succeed later on. Super Rod cannot return Special Energies to your deck.

Kirlia/Gardevoir

Kirlia and Gardevoir are both key cards that help increase the functionality of the Zoroark Box Deck. Using their Ability, Refinement, they act as both a draw engine for this deck and a method of discarding Stage 1 Pokemon.

Although used for the purpose of drawing and discarding, Gardevoir can also act as an unconventional attacker in this deck when needed. If behind on Prize Cards, you could potentially attach a Reversal Energy to Gardevoir in order to use its attack, Magical Shot. When you are applying Weakness, this attack can do up to 240 damage, allowing it to Knock Out Pokemon like Koraidon ex.

Zoroark Box Deck Strategy

In order to achieve the ideal gameplay with the Zoroark Box Deck, you’ll need to do two important things in your first turn: understand what Pokemon would be best suited against your opponent’s deck and begin discarding as many Stage 1 Pokemon as needed in order to active Zoroark’s Ability.

The Zoroark Box Deck does better going first. This is because it plays Stage 1 Pokemon, which requires at least one turn to evolve. Although going first will allow decks that prefer going second, like Tera Charizard ex, to thrive, it is one of the best ways to prepare your own Bench for the duration of the game.

This deck can also do well going second, although it is more likely to lose a Prize Card going into turn three. However, going second will allow you to use important Supporter cards and attacks. For example, on your second turn, you can use Hisuian Basculin's Gather the Crew attack for no Energy cost in order to place two Basic Pokemon on your Bench.

The ideal first turn will allow you to have at least one Zorua and one Ralts on the field. Unless you are going against a deck like Lost Box, having Zorua in the Active Spot going into your opponent’s first turn is usually safe. However, regardless, having two Zorua is often preferred.

This allows for one as a backup, as well as a second Zoroark available for Phantom Transformation. Manaphy and Jirachi can be added to the Bench as needed depending on the opposing deck. Ralts is key, as you would like to have Kirlia as soon as possible in order to use Refinement to discard Stage 1 Pokemon.

This deck can progress without Kirlia or Gardevoir, although they make it much easier to discard Pokemon. Regardless, going into your next turn, if you are able to, evolve Zorua into Zoroark. From there, you can you Phantom Transformation in order to choose a Stage 1 Pokemon from your discard pile that is best suited for the deck you are up against.

Supporter card Arezu can help you search your deck for non-Rule Box Evolution Pokemon to put in your hand. These can then be discarded using Refinement, Professor's Research, or Ultra Ball.

Aerodactyl can be a helpful counter into Tera Charizard ex using its Devolution Ray attack. This allows it to do 100 damage (or 80, if a Double Turbo Energy is attached) while also returning the highest Stage Evolution card to your opponent’s hand.

This means that if you attack a Charizard ex or Pidgeot ex, you will be able to knock them out, as both Basic forms have less HP. This will also help to waste your opponent’s Rare Candies, as they will need to locate another one within their deck to evolve their Pokemon once more.

Flapple can help against Lost Box decks, including the Charizard Lost Box deck (SableZard) and Giratina Lost Box (Lost ‘Tina). Its Acidic Mucus attack allows it to do 50 damage for each opposing Pokemon in play with an Ability. Most Lost Box decks will have at least one Comfey, one Cramorant, and even Manaphy and Jirachi on their bench.

This alone allows for Flapple to hit for 200 damage. With your opponent’s field filled with Pokemon with Abilities (up to six), this attack can do as much as 300 damage for a single colorless Energy cost.

This deck includes many other strong attackers as well that exceed in both damage and disruption. As a result, the Zoroark Box Deck acts as a viable counter for many opposing decks.

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Zoroark Box Deck Common Threats

One of the biggest threats for the Zoroark Box Deck isn’t any other deck — it is Prize Cards. This deck plays only one of each Stage 1 Pokemon aside from Zoroark and Kirlia. As a result, if any necessary Pokemon were to be prized, there would be no way to receive them without securing at least one Knock Out.

This is especially true given that the only way to guarantee obtaining a Pokemon from the Prize Cards is Hisuian Heavy Ball, and that will only allow you to take a Basic Pokemon.

As far as other decks go, because the Zoroark Box Deck is designed in such a way to counter meta decks, it has a strong matchup for many decks. However, it can often struggle against other rouge-style decks where the exact strategy is not well-known. This deck also struggles against Snorlax Stall.

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