Only one Pokémon deck can prevail: the optimization of Tera Box
After testing the new format, one surprisingly weak and problematic card has emerged: Wellspring Mask Ogerpon ex. This card is essentially an early version of Radiant Greninja’s Moonlight Shuriken, but available already by turn two in an environment without Manaphy. There is practically no real countermeasure against this threat. If it goes first, it can easily shatter your strategy before you even have a chance to stabilize. And since you probably won’t have an immediate response, it can continue to attack using Crispin and Sparkling Crystal, creating ongoing pressure and maintaining a tight pace.
In Japan, some players have recognized the potential of this card and have brought Tera Box to Champions League tournaments. Fan Rotom, supported by Noctowl, has become the main consistency engine in this post-rotation meta, where cards like Lumineon V, Rotom V, and Forest Seal Stone are no longer available. The utility of Fan Rotom is unparalleled. Noctowl, in addition to supporting Wellspring by consistently finding Crispin and any other necessary pieces, also makes the synergy between Teal Mask Ogerpon ex and Energy Switch possible. And it doesn’t stop there: these energy acceleration tools can be used with any attacker, not just Wellspring. For example, Pikachu ex is a formidable tank that fits perfectly into the deck’s strategy, while Clefairy ex from Lylia is an efficient attacker that serves as a solid answer to dragons.
You don’t have to be an expert to understand that this deck is extremely competitive. The consensus is that it is the BDIF (Best Deck in Format). If you’re not playing it, you absolutely need to have a countermeasure ready. It’s literally dominating the format due to the offensive potential of Wellspring Ogerpon, capable of dealing devastating damage as early as turn two and sweeping through the opponent’s backline.
Currently, the format is still evolving, and there are no stable solutions to this threat. If you can perfect the list, you’ll have a solid advantage in these early stages, playing both the best deck and the best configuration. This is exactly what I want to talk about today. Tera Box is not invincible, but it stands out for its power, versatility, and reliability. It’s surprising that such a deck is even allowed, so now is the time to analyze it in depth and push it to its maximum potential.
I don’t think it’s necessary to reinvent the wheel with this deck. The goal is simply to optimize the 60 cards as best as possible. Wellspring is the central element of the strategy, usually the first attacker to come into play and often useful even in subsequent turns. Having two copies is, in my opinion, essential. Unfortunately, the absence of Hisuian Heavy Ball makes it harder for toolbox decks, full of situational cards, to manage Prize cards, so this aspect must also be considered. For this reason, it’s crucial to include two Ogerpon Green Water Mask, even though in most cases, one will suffice. It’s a key component to fully exploit the possibilities offered by Energy Switch. Fan Rotom is also too important to be played in just one copy. Otherwise, almost all cards can be included in a single copy. Yes, even Clefairy ex from Lylia. Although having just one copy is risky, in most cases, you can compensate by finding alternatives. And when Clefairy is truly indispensable in certain matchups, you can try to recover it through Prize cards. Moreover, it’s not always essential, so in several matches, it won’t be used at all. Sure, in some situations, you might miss it, but in this specific case, the trade-off between risk and benefit is more than acceptable.
Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex and Ditto are becoming increasingly common choices in the deck, and for good reasons. The strategy revolves around complex combos to gain time and Prize cards. Ursaluna is perfect as a closer, capable of gaining two Prize cards with little effort when the main resources have already been used to accelerate. This approach has already been seen with decks like Lugia VSTAR and Lost Box, and it continues to work excellently. Ditto, on the other hand, is a huge consistency resource: it provides Fan Rotom with the flexibility to search for anything, a massive advantage. In the past, Ditto wasn’t used much in Terapagos decks because it was hard to get it into the active position right away, but now that limitation no longer exists. It’s also ideal for ensuring a Tera Pokémon for Noctowl on turn two or saving a Nest Ball. Moreover, it can also transform into Latias ex or Budew, offering further adaptability. Let’s now take a look at the full list.
I choose to play four copies of Hoothoot with 70 HP because its low retreat cost and the ability to search it with Buddy-Buddy Poffin are elements that come up often enough to make me less inclined to use the version with 80 HP. It’s true that those extra 10 HP are useful, especially against Dragapult ex, but we can already counter it effectively with Wellspring Ogerpon and Clefairy from Lylia. The low retreat cost is particularly advantageous when trying to attack as early as turn one with Budew or Fan Rotom, or when Latias is an important resource.
This brings me to highlight another crucial card: the second copy of Buddy-Buddy Poffin. It is an extremely important card in this archetype. Not only because Fan Rotom is the cornerstone of the deck’s consistency, but also because being able to quickly recover a missing Hoothoot by turn two or three is a considerable advantage. Moreover, starting the game with a Poffin and managing to field an extra Hoothoot, Ditto, or Budew on the first turn can really change the course of the game. In short, if you open with Buddy-Buddy Poffin, your chances of winning increase significantly. If the rules allowed it, I would happily play more than two copies.
That said, I don’t understand why Budew has disappeared from recent lists: it’s a phenomenal card in this deck. The strategy aims to go first and apply pressure right away, trying to destabilize the opponent as early as turn 2. However, when you’re forced to go second, Budew is essential to not fall too far behind. Not only does it provide a solid option on the first turn, but it can also disrupt the opponent right from the start. For example, if the opponent hasn’t set up an active Wellspring Ogerpon on their first turn, it’s unlikely they can use Torrential Pump under the effect of the Item block.
Additionally, against decks that rely on Arven, starting with Budew can be devastating: by preventing them from using the Item they grabbed with Arven, you slow them down drastically. It’s also very strong against strategies revolving around Rare Candies, setting up the stage for Wellspring with a perfect alley-oop. It can even give you a precious turn in unexpected situations, when you miss an attack or find yourself in trouble. Even against Furiatonante ex, Budew can shine, protecting you from double KOs for two prizes. Furthermore, when you’re forced to go second, activating Itchy Pollen on the first turn is often quite easy.
Let’s now talk about Iron Bundle, a card often underrated in this archetype. Iron Bundle helps increase pressure on the opponent’s bench and works very well in combination with Wellspring Ogerpon and Pikachu. Any deck that relies on powerful attacks should consider using this card. If your opponent keeps a hard-to-deal-with Pokémon in the active position – such as Cornerstone Mask Ogerpon ex or Pikachu ex – Iron Bundle can allow you to take two Prizes in one turn. If a one-Prize Pokémon is moved, Wellspring Ogerpon can immediately punish it. If it’s a two-Prize Pokémon, Pikachu can step in and finish the job. Furthermore, Iron Bundle is easy to use: there are situations where Boss’s Orders is not available, or you can’t afford to play it alongside Crispin. The card is also useful against decks that play evolutions – like Gholdengo ex or Feraligatr – when they use Techno Machine: Evolution, leaving a base Pokémon with one Prize in the active position. Ultimately, Iron Bundle offers enormous utility with no real cost, making it, in my opinion, an essential addition.
As for the Supporters, the lineup is completely standard and there’s no reason to modify it. Professor Turo’s Scenario and Switch are not exceptional in this deck, but retreat block is common in the current format. Without tools to free up active Pokémon, the deck risks getting stuck. Turo, in addition to enabling the switch, is also useful for restoring a Noctowl, while Switch proves handy when Latias plays a key role in the match.
Night Stretcher is too important to be limited to just one copy. In most games, you end up using both. It’s the perfect card in critical moments because of its flexibility. Earthen Vessel is a good card, but since Crispin handles energy management, even a single copy might be enough. That said, in certain situations, you might miss having an extra Vessel.
At first glance, Counter Catcher might seem out of place in a deck designed to maintain control of the game, but the truth is things don’t always go according to plan. This is even more true in mirror matches or against other aggressive decks based on Fan Rotom. In those games where you find yourself at a disadvantage, Counter Catcher becomes incredibly useful to turn things around.
Two copies of Area Zero: Subdepths are perfectly acceptable, as the deck doesn’t rely heavily on it. Typically, having the first Area Zero well positioned on the bench at the start of the game is enough. Moreover, other decks will likely play it anyway, or at least won’t remove it aggressively.
Three Grass Energy is more than sufficient. The deck doesn’t need to repeatedly use Aqua Green Dance; one or two plays with Energy Switch are enough. Even though the number of Energies is low, Wellspring shuffles them back into the deck, allowing Crispin to recover them multiple times. Also, since the deck relies on Noctowl for searching rather than drawing, many Energies will remain available in the deck. It’s true that this low number can be a problem if you want to attack with Ogerpon’s Endless Leaf Rain, but it’s still possible to do so with the three Grass Energies or with the help of Sparkling Crystal.
Now we come to the critical point: the lack of Cornerstone Mask Ogerpon ex. Although Cornerstone has its uses, in practice, it often turns out to be underwhelming. This deck tends to have a crowded bench, and opponents can easily avoid it. For example, even though Cornerstone should be effective in mirror matches or against Gholdengo, it’s difficult to set it up well on its own. Also, the opponent can simply choose to attack the bench, ignoring it altogether. The truth is that most decks still have a way to handle it, making it unreliable without support. And even when it gets support, the opponent can target the support Pokémon themselves.
The real strength of Cornerstone is in matches against other Cornerstone decks, where it can help break barriers. If we face one, our strategy remains to avoid it by attacking the bench. With only 140 damage per hit, we can safely ignore it while clearing out everything else. If it’s an isolated Cornerstone, we can use Mew ex to knock it out in two turns, and Wellspring Ogerpon can replicate that attack if needed.
Cornerstone also has some utility against Farigiraf ex, which can be troublesome for this deck. However, I don’t think Farigiraf represents a real threat: it’s only used in Walls decks, which I don’t consider particularly strong. Against a single Farigiraf, we can respond well with Iron Bundle, as long as there aren’t any others. Sure, if we included Cornerstone, the match against Walls would go from difficult to favorable. But for now, I prefer simply avoiding those kinds of decks, as I don’t consider them relevant in the metagame. I’ll leave Cornerstone to others.
At present, this is – in my opinion – the best possible list for Tera Box. That said, everything can change. If Walls decks become more popular in the West, I’ll likely be forced to include Cornerstone. I’d like to be able to remove Turo and Switch, but I don’t know if the metagame will allow it. It’s a possibility I’m keeping an eye on.
Possible Matchups Against Other Decks
Mirror
When you go first, aim to use Wellspring as early as turn two to apply immediate pressure and minimize your opponent’s presence on the field. If this isn’t possible, try to at least secure a KO that gives you two Prizes. On the other hand, when you go second, Budew is a great resource to hinder your opponent: it can prevent them from easily accessing Latias or Wellspring, thereby blocking their setup for Torrential Pump on turn 2.
However, if it seems inevitable that they will still manage to make that play – for example, if Wellspring is already active or has an Energy assigned on the bench – try to bring Pikachu ex into the active. It’s unlikely they’ll be able to knock it out right away, and it could also be difficult for them to find Boss’s Orders to bypass it. Reducing Wellspring to a one-Prize KO is always advantageous.
Also, try to get Energy into play as soon as possible, using available tools or Turquoise Dance, as you’ll want access to plays with Boss without necessarily relying on Crispin.
In the late game, Clefairy of Lylia and Ursaluna are great for closing out the game, often in combination with Boss’s Orders. A well-timed play with Iron Bundle can also occasionally earn you two Prizes, especially if your opponent has Pikachu ex or Cornerstone Mask Ogerpon in the active position.
Dragapult
In this matchup, it’s crucial to play quickly and offensively. If you don’t gain a good advantage in terms of Prizes, your opponent will have an easy time recovering and sweeping your field, even if they have a reduced hand. It’s important to be ready to counter Budew.
If you go first, aim to get Wellspring into play with an Energy attached right away, so that one Noctowl will be enough to activate Torrential Pump, even if you’re under an Item lock.
When you go second, Budew becomes a valuable resource, as it prevents your opponent from using crucial tools like Poffin and Ultra Ball, hindering their setup. Alternatively, securing a KO with Fan Rotom on the first turn can be even more impactful if you have the right pieces available. In any case, your goal will still be to execute Torrential Pump on turn two.
Using Sparkling Crystal on Wellspring will help maintain the rhythm of your attacks, and it’s unlikely that you’ll need it for anything else later. Once your opponent has set up Dragapult, Lylia’s Clefairy can easily take it out.
The main way your opponent can win is through hand resets, followed by targeted KOs that turn the game around. Try to anticipate and manage these situations as efficiently as possible. For example, if you have both Clefairy and Fezandipiti in play, it will be difficult for them to eliminate both in one turn, leaving a double threat on the field that maintains the pressure.
Finally, if you find yourself low on Psychic Energy, remember that Mew ex can still take out Dragapult in one hit using Clefairy’s ability.
Raging Bolt
This is probably one of the most complicated matchups… for Raging Bolt. The top priority is to avoid conceding the first two Prizes easily. Budew can be a great resource for this, or you can simply avoid putting in play Pokémon that give up two Prizes until you’re ready to face the battle head-on.
Naturally, Clefairy is the main threat in this match. While it might seem unexpected, Wellspring Ogerpon is also very useful in this matchup, especially now that many versions of Raging Bolt include Noctowl in the list.
If Clefairy ends up in the Prizes, Pikachu becomes a good alternative to keep up the pressure, though you must consider the potential response with Slither Wings.
It’s quite common that, at some point, the opponent will try to start attacking with a single-Prize Pokémon. If they have other similar Pokémon on the bench, Wellspring can be the perfect response to capitalize on the situation.
Finally, Ursaluna is an excellent finisher for this matchup, often able to close out the game when you have the advantage.
Gholdengo
If you have the opportunity to take two Prizes with Wellspring, seize it right away. However, it’s likely that your opponent will try to evade the threat using Evolution Tech Machine. In this context, Iron Bundle becomes particularly valuable, as it can force Gholdengo to expose itself for a KO from Pikachu. If you can’t make the play with Iron Bundle, that means Wellspring is free to strike.
Carefully manage your Energy so you can keep Pikachu active for as long as possible. Using Sparkling Crystal to assign Energy to Pikachu is an ideal move. Unless the opponent plays Brutal Hat, they won’t be able to KO it in one shot. Some lists are starting to include this card, but unfortunately, there’s not much you can do to counter it directly. However, if they use Brutal Hat to self-poison, Ursaluna can take advantage of that and land a KO using the leftover damage.
Be very cautious of their bench: if they put down a fourth Pokémon, you can use Clefairy of Lylia to remove Gholdengo, an option that could turn the game around.
If you can’t take two Prizes right away, taking just one with Fan Rotom is still acceptable. It’s rare that they can immediately respond with a KO through Rapid Fire. However, if they manage to take the first two Prizes, avoid putting too many non-attacking two-Prize Pokémon into play. In these cases, Pikachu ex can be crucial to regain the advantage in the Prize trade.
