Hop is a Pokemon trainer who specializes mostly in Colorless type Pokemon, but this deck is anything but basic. Featuring several Metal-type Pokemon in addition to the rest, Hop’s cards in thePokemon TCGJourney Together expansion make up an impressively resilient set of cards that all have good synergy with each other.
The more of these cards you use at once, the more powerful they can each become. Many of Hop’s cards rely on manipulating your opponent’s benched cards, as well as mitigating damage. This allows for many different strategies to take form, with some surprising paths to victory opening up along the way.
8Hop’s Silicobra
HP: 80
When using the Turf Maker attack available with Hop’s Silicobra, you can select a Stadium card from your deck and place it directly into your hand. Stadium cards can alter many varied aspects of the game, assisting one or both players.
Some Stadium cards will have conditions that affect every Pokemon in play, and some will only affect those of certain types or Trainer affiliations. In this way, Stadium cards can help set up various strategies that can propel you to victory.
7Hop’s Cramorant
HP: 140
Hop’s Cramorant is a card that, depending on the circumstances, can either be extremely useless or extremely useful. If your opponent has three or four Prize cards remaining, Cramorant’s Fickle Spitting attack deals a whopping 120 damage.
In all other circumstances, this attack deals no damage at all. When used at the right time, Cramorant can be a surprisingly dangerous foe, but this relies entirely on the timing of when it is used. In every other situation, it’s only there to be a distraction.
6Hop’s Rookidee
HP: 60
Hop’s Rookidee is a simple Pokemon with a simple effect. The Intimidating Stare attack deals no damage, but will reduce your opponent’s next attack by 20 points. This can be used to stall for time while you build up stronger strategies on your bench or in your hand.
Rookidee can also attack with Peck, but this only deals twenty damage. Rookidee is only useful when used in combination with other cards, or if you are planning to evolve it into the more powerful Corvisquire form.
5Hop’s Dubwool
HP: 120
Hop’s Dubwool is an evolved form of Hop’s Wooloo. When Wooloo evolves into Dubwool, Dubwool’s Defiant Horn ability takes effect. When the Defiant Horn ability is used, you may force your opponent to switch out their active Pokemon for one on their bench of your choosing.
This can allow you to set up a more favorable match for Dubwool, or to disrupt your opponent’s strategy. Dubwool isn’t capable of dealing large amounts of damage, but when used on an unsuspecting opponent, it can turn the tide of battle in your favor.
4Hop’s Sandaconda
Hop’s Sandiconda is an evolved form of Hop’s Silicobra. It has multiple attacks with distinct outcomes. Firstly, the Rumble attack can trap your opponent’s active Pokemon in place, making it so they can’t retreat. This can shut your opponent down and prevent them from retaliating.
Secondly, the Break Ground attack deals 140 damage but also has a downside. When used, each of your benched Pokemon will receive 20 damage. The best case scenario for this attack is to use it without any benched Pokemon to avoid the damage.
3Hop’s Snorlax
HP: 150
Hop’s Snorlaxis the ideal support Pokemon. When it’s in play, the Extra Helpings ability takes effect and increases the attacks of all Hop’s Pokemon towards your opponents' active Pokemon by thirty points.
With high health, Snorlax can serve as a shield for the rest of your team, but this ability makes them valuable to keep around to boost the offensive capabilities of the rest of your deck. You won’t want to attack directly with Hop’s Snorlax in most circumstances, with each attack also damaging itself.
2Hop’s Corviknight
HP: 170
Hop’s Corviknight is an evolved form of Hop’s Corvisquire. This Pokemon is useful for dealing damage to your opponent’s backline Pokemon as well as deflecting damage away from itself. Shoot Through allows you to attack your opponent’s benched Pokemon directly, bypassing their active Pokemon.
Additionally, the Steel Wing attack will reduce any incoming damage during your opponent’s next turn by an impressive 60 damage. Corviknight is a stage two Pokemon, but if you may manage to play it, you’ll find a Pokemon skilled at both offense and defense.
1Hop’s Zacian EX
HP: 230
EX cards aresome of the most impactfulcards in the game, boasting high health and higher damage. Hop’s Zacian EX has both, enabling various strategies. Insta-Strike allows you to attack quickly, requiring only one colorless energy and also dealing 30 damage to one of your opponent’s benched Pokemon.
This attack can be used without having to set up too much before. Contrary to this is Brave Slash. Brave Slash requires four energy, but can also only be used once every other turn.
