At Just Press Play, we just announced the debut of a new format for the Pokémon Trading Card Game, Single Gen Showdown! This is a spin on Standard. While all typical Standard deckbuilding rules supply, SGS requires you to make all your Pokémon come from the same original generation! Whether you want to battle with Kanto classics or venture to Paldea, this format unlocks a ton of new creative ways to play!
Click here for complete format tournament rules: SINGLE GEN SHOWDOWN RULES
If people are looking for deckbuilding ideas, look no further! I have created a deck idea for all 9 generations. Try these exact lists, or make some changes for our first SGS Tournament on July 18th! This tournament features the largest Pokemon prize pool we've ever had at Just Press Play, so don't miss it! Here's a link to sign up for the tournament: Single Gen Showdown Debut Tournament
Gen 1 (Kanto): Eevee Box / Lillie's Clefairy
Pokémon: 14
2 Eevee ex PRE 75
2 Eevee PRE 74
1 Eevee SCR 113
1 Eevee TWM 135
2 Flareon ex PRE 14
1 Vaporeon ex PRE 23
2 Jolteon ex PRE 30
2 Lillie's Clefairy ex ASC 76
1 Meowth ex POR 62
Trainer: 34
4 Crispin PRE 105
3 Boss's Orders ASC 183
1 Black Belt's Training JTG 143
3 Lillie's Determination ASC 192
4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin ASC 184
2 Tera Orb SSP 189
4 Ultra Ball ASC 213
1 Energy Switch MEG 115
2 Switch MEG 130
1 Glass Trumpet ASC 189
2 Night Stretcher ASC 196
1 Sparkling Crystal PRE 129
1 Battle Cage PFL 85
2 Air Balloon ASC 181
3 Area Zero Underdepths PRE 94
Energy: 12
4 Fire Energy MEE 2
3 Lightning Energy MEE 4
3 Water Energy MEE 3
2 Psychic Energy MEE 5
As someone who enjoys "box" style decks, where you have a ton of different types of attackers based on your matchup, this has been my favorite way to play Gen 1. Evolve Eevee into the correct eeveelution for the job, or fill up your bench and swing with Lillie's Clefairy ex! Remember that in SGS, Owner's Pokémon still count as the generation that the Pokémon originally came from, so Lillie's Clefairy is still considered Gen 1!
Gen 2 (Johto): Ethan
Pokémon: 15
1 Ethan's Pichu DRI 71
3 Ethan's Cyndaquil DRI 32
3 Ethan's Quilava DRI 33
2 Ethan's Typhlosion DRI 34
2 Ethan's Slugma ASC 23
2 Ethan's Magcargo ASC 24
2 Ethan's Ho-Oh ex ASC 26
Trainer: 35
4 Ethan's Adventure DRI 165
3 Lillie's Determination ASC 192
2 Boss's Orders ASC 183
2 Energy Recycler DRI 164
3 Night Stretcher ASC 196
3 Pokégear 3.0 BLK 84
3 Buddy-Buddy Poffin ASC 184
4 Poké Pad POR 81
4 Ultra Ball ASC 213
1 Redeemable Ticket JTG 156
1 Secret Box TWM 163
1 Sacred Ash DRI 168
2 Battle Cage PFL 85
2 Brave Bangle WHT 80
Energy: 10
10 Fire Energy MEE 2
The first of three "Trainer's Pokémon" decks in this article, I think the best way to play Gen 2 (which admittedly has a really small card pool) is the Ethan's package. You have decent energy acceleration with Ho-Oh, A good search engine with Quilava / Ethan's Adventure, and the ability to knock out Megas with Ethan's Magcargo. I can definitely see this deck doing well in the format, especially since Grass will likely be just as popular as it is in Standard.
Gen 3 (Hoenn): Crustle
Pokémon: 8
4 Dwebble DRI 11
4 Crustle DRI 12
Trainer: 38
4 Lillie's Determination ASC 192
4 Team Rocket's Petrel ASC 207
4 Boss's Orders ASC 183
2 Hilda WHT 84
2 Colress's Tenacity SFA 57
1 Xerosic's Machinations SFA 64
1 Pokémon Center Lady MEG 123
4 Pokégear 3.0 BLK 84
4 Jumbo Ice Cream PFL 91
4 Ultra Ball ASC 213
3 Buddy-Buddy Poffin ASC 184
1 Tool Scrapper ASC 212
1 Switch MEG 130
1 Hero's Cape TEF 152
1 Community Center TWM 146
1 Team Rocket's Factory ASC 203
Energy: 14
3 Grass Energy MEE 1
3 Spiky Energy JTG 159
4 Growing Grass Energy POR 86
4 Mist Energy TEF 161
While I could also see the Wailord from Pitch Black doing well in this format, I think the best way to play Gen 3 right now is Crustle. Crustle is decently strong in Standard, especially when it isn't teched for, and while there's definitely an okay amount of Shredders or Single-Prize attackers in the format, if someone doesn't include them in their deck, it could potentially be an auto-lose if someone brings Gen 3 / Crustle. Definitely one to watch out for.
Gen 4 (Sinnoh): Cynthia's Garchomp / Mega Lopunny
Pokémon: 16
4 Cynthia's Gible ASC 109
4 Cynthia's Gabite ASC 110
2 Cynthia's Garchomp ex ASC 111
1 Cynthia's Spiritomb ASC 133
2 Buneary PFL 83
2 Mega Lopunny ex PFL 84
1 Shaymin DRI 10
Trainer: 36
4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin ASC 184
3 Fighting Gong ASC 187
4 Poké Pad POR 81
2 Ultra Ball ASC 213
4 Premium Power Pro ASC 199
2 Night Stretcher ASC 196
1 Mega Signal ASC 193
2 Pokégear 3.0 BLK 84
4 Cynthia's Power Weight DRI 162
1 Hero's Cape TEF 152
3 Boss's Orders ASC 183
1 Tarragon POR 85
3 Lillie's Determination ASC 192
2 Hilda WHT 84
Energy: 8
4 Rocky Fighting Energy POR 87
4 Fighting Energy MEE 6
One of my favorite decks in Standard, Mega Lopunny, finds a new way to play! Remember that Mega Pokémon count as the Generation where that Pokemon originated, so Mega Lopunny is considered Gen 4. I think this deck has a little bit of everything: a shredding attack, a way to knock out Megas thanks to Premium Power Pro, and weakness coverage with 2 different types. It even has Shaymin to protect against bench attackers, and Garchomp's free retreat pairs well with Lopunny's Gale Thrust. This deck is so good that this generation features the only current ban in the format, Budew from Prismatic Evolutions. Even without Budew, this has still been one of my favorites decks to playtest, and I expect it to do very well in the early days of SGS.
Gen 5 (Unova): N's Zoroark
Pokémon: 14
4 N's Zorua JTG 97
4 N's Zoroark ex JTG 98
2 N's Darumaka JTG 26
1 N's Darmanitan JTG 27
1 N's Reshiram JTG 116
1 N's Zekrom ASC 155
1 Maractus JTG 8
Trainer: 38
4 Lillie's Determination ASC 192
4 Boss's Orders ASC 183
2 Cyrano SSP 170
2 Ciphermaniac's Codebreaking PRE 104
1 Black Belt's Training JTG 143
1 Janine's Secret Art PRE 112
1 Xerosic's Machinations SFA 64
4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin ASC 184
4 N's PP Up ASC 195
3 Ultra Ball ASC 213
2 Poké Pad POR 81
2 Night Stretcher ASC 196
2 Air Balloon ASC 181
1 Powerglass SFA 63
1 Binding Mochi PRE 95
1 Hero's Cape TEF 152
3 N's Castle JTG 152
Energy: 8
8 Darkness Energy MEE 7
For those who don't want to go too crazy developing a new deck, N's Zoroark is likely the closest archetype in SGS to it's standard equivalent. While it does lose Munkidori and Pecharunt, I still expect this deck to perform very well, especially with the good Dragapult matchup. Not really much else to add here. It's good in Standard, and it should be good in SGS.
Gen 6 (Kalos): Mega Greninja ex
Pokémon: 12
4 Froakie CRI 20
4 Frogadier CRI 21
2 Greninja ex TWM 106
2 Mega Greninja ex CRI 22
Trainer: 37
4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin ASC 184
4 Poké Pad POR 81
2 Night Stretcher ASC 196
4 Ultra Ball ASC 213
2 Rare Candy MEG 125
2 Mega Signal ASC 193
1 Tool Scrapper ASC 212
1 Special Red Card CRI 82
2 Pokégear 3.0 BLK 84
2 Boss's Orders ASC 183
4 Lillie's Determination ASC 192
2 Colress's Tenacity SFA 57
1 Surfer ASC 200
1 Wally's Compassion MEG 132
2 Hilda WHT 84
1 Grand Tree SCR 136
2 Jamming Tower TWM 153
Energy: 11
9 Water Energy MEE 3
2 Ignition Energy WHT 86
While I was originally drawn to Mega Delphox from Pitch Black, I thik Mega Greninja might be the move for Kalos fans. You have a decent search engine with Tera Greninja, and you have the typing coverage with Mega Greninja as well. Combine that with Grand Tree to get your Stage 2's out quickly, and with the spread damage options with Mega Greninja, and you have a pretty strong deck to contend with the others. Definitely has the potenital to be a sleeper pick.
Gen 7 (Alola): Incineroar
Pokémon: 13
4 Litten TEF 32
1 Torracat TEF 33
3 Incineroar ex TEF 34
2 Salandit POR 15
2 Salazzle ex POR 16
1 Team Rocket's Mimikyu ASC 97
Trainer: 39
4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin ASC 184
4 Poké Pad POR 81
4 Ultra Ball ASC 213
4 Rare Candy MEG 125
4 Lillie's Determination ASC 192
4 Boss's Orders ASC 183
3 Crispin PRE 105
2 Team Rocket's Petrel ASC 207
1 Black Belt's Training JTG 143
2 Pokégear 3.0 BLK 84
2 Battle Cage PFL 85
2 Team Rocket's Factory ASC 203
2 Night Stretcher ASC 196
1 Maximum Belt PRE 117
Energy: 8
6 Fire Energy MEE 2
1 Psychic Energy MEE 5
1 Team Rocket's Energy ASC 217
If you know my story from the 2024 Baltimore Regionals, then you know that Incineroar ex from Temporal Forces has my heart. The idea of this deck is to start with Salazzle's "Nasty Plot" attack to search for the setup cards you need, and then start swinging with Incineroar ex, burning your opponent's in the process. I think the fire typing gives this deck a decent amount of potential, due to the inevitable grass popularity of Gen 9. I think the Rocket's Mimikyu also gives you some spicy single-prize attack shenanigans. Fans of Alola could also try the new Decidueye ex from Perfect Order. That combined with Judge also has the potential to do well.
Gen 8 (Galar): Dragapult / Hop
Pokémon: 17
4 Dreepy ASC 158
4 Drakloak ASC 159
3 Dragapult ex ASC 160
2 Hop's Cramorant ASC 177
2 Hop's Wooloo JTG 135
2 Hop's Dubwool JTG 136
Trainer: 35
4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin ASC 184
4 Poké Pad POR 81
1 Hop's Bag JTG 147
1 Hop's Choice Band JTG 148
2 Postwick JTG 154
3 Night Stretcher ASC 196
1 Special Red Card CRI 82
1 Unfair Stamp TWM 165
4 Crispin PRE 105
4 Lillie's Determination ASC 192
2 Judge POR 76
2 Boss's Orders ASC 183
4 Ultra Ball ASC 213
2 Pokégear 3.0 BLK 84
Energy: 8
4 Fire Energy MEE 2
4 Psychic Energy MEE 5
The star of Standard, Dragapult, features a new supporting cast with Hop's Pokémon! I've been able to pull off a ton of 4 prize turns with the gusting effect of Hop's dubwool, and if you fall behind early, you can use Hop's Cramorant to do some single-prize damage as you set up a Dragapult. This deck will definitely be strong, but potentially not as strong as Dragapult in standard without budew, noctowl, or its other typical support Pokémon. Fans of Galar can also try to due a pure Hop's deck, potentially putting a spin on the Trevanent deck that just won in Turin!
Gen 9 (Paldea): Raging Bolt / Ogerpon
Pokémon: 15
4 Raging Bolt ex TEF 123
4 Teal Mask Ogerpon ex TWM 25
2 Wellspring Mask Ogerpon ex PRE 27
1 Raging Bolt SCR 111
1 Cornerstone Mask Ogerpon ex PRE 58
1 Terapagos ex ASC 179
1 Iron Leaves ex TEF 25
1 Fezandipiti ex ASC 142
Trainer: 29
3 Cyrano SSP 170
4 Crispin PRE 105
3 Lillie's Determination ASC 192
3 Boss's Orders ASC 183
1 Ciphermaniac's Codebreaking PRE 104
2 Night Stretcher ASC 196
2 Air Balloon ASC 181
4 Energy Switch MEG 115
2 Switch MEG 130
1 Glass Trumpet ASC 189
1 Sparkling Crystal PRE 129
3 Area Zero Underdepths PRE 94
Energy: 16
3 Lightning Energy MEE 4
3 Fighting Energy MEE 6
2 Water Energy MEE 3
8 Grass Energy MEE 1
When first deciding on the rules for this format, I considered including the G block instead of just Standard. I quickly decided against it when I realized that Professor Sada's Vitality would still be a legal card, and that would completely break Gen 9. Even without Sada, this deck still should perform very well in the format. You have multiple Ogerpons for different uses, and Wellspring Mask Ogerpon has proven to be very dangerous. While the deck won't be as turbo as current Raging Bolt / Tera Box lists due to the lack of Latias, Mega Kangaskhan, and Noctowl, I still expect this to be a very popular deck that has a ton of different attacking options. Fans of Gen 9 can also try to build Arboliva, as the list would be very similar to the standard list, just without Meganium.
And there you have it, at least one deck idea for every single generation! Sleeve up those decks, get playtesting, and we'll see you at the first ever Single Gen Showdown tournament on July 18th at Just Press Play!