Festival Lead Rillaboom

Update from previous version:
-2 Bug Catching Set
-1 Tool Scrap
+2 Pokégear 3.0
+1 Poké Pad

This build is designed to go first and dictate the pace early. The goal is to establish pressure by turn two with Dipplin as the primary attacker and snowball from there. Getting Thwackey’s Boom Boom Groove online quickly is essential because once that engine is active, the deck can continuously chain Dipplins and maintain tempo or just grab whatever you need. While Dipplin handles most matchups, Rillaboom is

Update from previous version:
-2 Bug Catching Set
-1 Tool Scrap
+2 Pokégear 3.0
+1 Poké Pad

This build is designed to go first and dictate the pace early. The goal is to establish pressure by turn two with Dipplin as the primary attacker and snowball from there. Getting Thwackey’s Boom Boom Groove online quickly is essential because once that engine is active, the deck can continuously chain Dipplins and maintain tempo or just grab whatever you need. While Dipplin handles most matchups, Rillaboom is included specifically for the Cornerstone Mask matchup, since Pokémon with Abilities can struggle to deal damage into Cornerstone’s effect. Rillaboom provides a clean answer by attacking through that restriction and hitting for weakness. In my opinion rillaboom is better than Mega Lopbunny I just see it as too big of a prize liability in a single prizer deck. This build favors Maximum Belt to secure big knockouts on ex Pokémon. Preferring Kieran over Black Belt, acting as both a flexible damage modifier and a pivot option alongside manual retreat and Air Balloon. The double Super Rod keeps the Dipplin loop intact by recycling attackers and energy without having to use a Supporter for the turn, and the 4–3 Lillie’s Determination / Iono split backed by 2 Pokégear 3.0 and 4 Poké Pad improves consistency and reduces early bricks.

In the current meta, the deck has a solid game plan into most major matchups. Against Dragapult, going first is huge — you often get set up first and can take early prizes on Budew, Dreepy, or Duskull before they stabilize. If they attach Neo Upper Energy to a Drakloak early, knocking it out immediately slows their tempo significantly. Attaching to Thwackey early for the Rillaboom option also matters here, since Drum Beating can force them to find an extra Energy attachment and disrupt their sequencing. The Gardevoir matchup is more technical, you want to limit their setup as much as possible, use Shaymin to reduce pressure from Drifloon and Scream Tail, and avoid swinging into something if multiple Munkidori are online. Versus Gholdengo, the key is taking knockouts in one attack and preventing them from using Turo to reset damaged Pokémon, since Dipplin loses 30 damage per swing, pairing Kieran with Brave Bangle or Maximum Belt is often necessary to secure clean KOs. Charizard ex is generally manageable since it’s weak to grass, making prize trades favorable. Into Mega Absol Box, especially if they run Cornerstone, prioritizing multiple Thwackeys to access Rillaboom is important. Drum Beating hits for Weakness and, with modifiers, can take a one-shot. If Rillaboom is prized, targeting Munkidori can still keep you in the game. In the Grimmsnarl matchup, patience matters and you should avoid over-evolving into Dipplin and Thwackey unless necessary. Keeping one of each in play and targeting Munkidori while evolving as needed helps manage their spread pressure.