Prop 15/3 (Base-Gym) - My Active Paper Decks!

Update 2024.10.10: This blog has migrated to https://retrotcgs.com/wotc-retro-pokemon/ .

Please find my most up-to-date Prop 15/3 lists in the metagame page and my active lists page. Thanks!

I maintain approximately sixteen Prop 15/3 decks, and this page is to share the current lists! I love trying new cards/decks, so expect new decks to come in bursts. My favorite way to play is the Pokemon 1999 Discord Webcam leagues; join the fun: https://play.limitlesstcg.com/organizer/1141 ! 

Decks have been rated by my level of confidence in (1) their ability to win and (2) the card inclusions for ideal deck list: Maximum, High, Moderate, Low, Untested, Rough Idea or as Retired.

  • Maximum Confidence: deck appears to have advantage against most decks; assume 0-3 cards from ideal list
  • High Confidence: deck appears to have advantage against many decks; assume 1-6 cards from ideal list
  • Moderate Confidence: deck appears to have at a chance against many decks; assume 5-10 cards from ideal list (or unable to beat some opponents without luck)
  • Low Confidence: decks appears to lose a lot; will update as many cards as it takes to get to moderate confidence
  • Untested: I am desperately building decks to feel something
  • Rough Idea:  I am desperately building decks to feel something (but too lazy to develop a coherent list)
  • Retired: Most likely, the deck was low-to-moderate confidence and rotated out; will include last confidence rating

Please note that many of my games have been played with open deck lists and as Best of 3 games.

Maximum:

  • Dodrio Wigglymaker [Lightning / Fighting / (Grass)]
  • StepIn Clefablemaker [Lightning / Fighting]
High:
  • Bug Catcher [Grass / Psychic]
  • Turbo Aerodactyl [Lightning / (Grass)]
Moderate
  • MistyDuck Medicate [Psychic / Water]
  • Super Turbo Rain Dance [Water]
  • Scyther Stall [Grass]
  • VenuCenter Box [Grass / (Psychic)]
  • Dark Vileplume VenuBox [Grass]
  • Double Dragon [Fire]  {credit: Nnstalgic}
  • Wigglymaker [Lightning] {credit: Niteodeath}
  • Blaine's Rapi/Wiggly/Muk [Fire / (Grass)] {credit: JasonKlaczynski}
  • Brock's Bats/Gengar Stall [Psychic / (Grass)] {credit: JasonKlaczynski}
Low
  • None currently
Untested
  • Dark Raichu Box [Lightning]
  • Erika Stall [Grass]
  • SwapShift Box [Psychic / (Water)]
Rough Ideas
  • Misty's Poliwhirl (as it did well at the 15/3 Mega Battle and I liked as an attacker it in Rain Dance)
  • Dark Slowbro 
  • Buzzap Imposter Oak Revenge
  • Buzzap Dark Vileplume
  • Brock's Ninetales Box
Retired
  • To be added as decks rotate out (or I dig up new lists)

Dodrio Wigglymaker (Haymaker Style) - Last Updated 2024.09.28

Note: a similar build did well at the 15/3 Mega Battle

Slow and steady. I thought this deck without Dodrio might have been near the best decks, but with Dodrio, it is so much more resilient against stalling tactics. Not convinced that the Scyther or Fighting/Lightning Energy counts are correct. Special thanks to TCGOne user Baiy000r for assistance tuning the deck to the current state! (General thoughts on Haymaker-style decks.)

Clefable DarkDragonmaker - Last Updated 2024.09.28

Dragonite's Step In combines with Dodrio and Clefable / Rocket's Zapdos / Hitmonchan to create a very-low energy requirement variant of Haymaker. Not convinced that Fighting/Lightning Energy counts are correct, and trying Brock's Diglett as a silver bullet against Wiggly/Clefable/Electabuzz. (General thoughts on Haymaker-style decks.)

Bug Catcher - Last Updated 2024.09.28

Note: I feel this deck would perform well against the top 15/3 Mega Battle decks

Looking to leverage high-impact, low-energy attacks with cheap-to-free retreats (that also happens to use Bug and Bat Pokemon)! The goal of the deck is to punish Haymaker style decks playing Big Basics with 2-energy retreat costs (so knock out Dodrios where possible). Consider minorly editing Pokemon and Trainers to respect the metagame. (Full thoughts on Bug Catcher.)

Turbo Aerodactyl - Last Updated 2024.09.28

Use 10 consistency trainers and Erika's Clefairy to set-up turn 1 or 2 Aerodactyl. This deck feels very tough to tune and play; a single, seemingly low-impact decision could be the difference between winning and losing. The non-consistency Trainers and lower-HP Basics are candidates for being swapped. (General thoughts on Haymaker-style decks.)

MistyDuck Medicate - Last Updated 2024.09.28

Note: to be updated (at least want Mew, unsure on Rat line); the deck has been performing pretty poorly when Misty's Golduck flips tails on its first attack (either option)

Mr. Mime and Lt. Surge's Raticate (and Dodrio) "combo" to 2-attack knock out Pokemon that do not resist Psychic. Misty's Ducks offering low-energy, high-impact attacks (but come with some uncertainty). I feel this deck could use a non-Psychic Pokemon to contend with Wigglytuff, etc., but I am unsure what fits; Ditto feels quite risky (which is thematic, I suppose).

Super Turbo Rain Dance - Last Updated 2024.09.28

I am struggling to find a Rain Dance build that I feel is competitive; this version is very aggressive in spending its resources (but has been fun to play). This deck could consider: changing Misty's Horsea to Lapras or another Basic (or a 1-1 line of a Stage 1), increasing Dragonite line, adding Dark Blastoise and/or changing 1-2 Trainers (Gust is missed but probably not as valuable as set-up oriented Trainers). (Exploration into Rain Dance variants.)

Scyther Stall - Last Updated 2024.09.28

Note: most likely will retire this for Jason's Slowpoke Stall deck but will consider updates and testing first

This deck felt strong toward Spring 2024, but I am not sure how it fares against a field dominated by Dodrio-based decks. The notion when I built it was that Grass Energy would make Muk less of a liability. It might be that Fire Stall is a better approach (or non-Muk-based Grass Stall, like the Erika Stall below). Use Koga's Pidgey and Gambler to extend the game to deck-out if unable to take 6 prizes. (The extreme numbers of Energy Removal can exhaust the opponent's ability to attack, so taking prizes is within reason.)

Scyther Stall

VenuCenter Box - Last Updated 2024.09.28

Note: still considering slight changes and exploring other VenuCenter options. The "Combo" and Energy Trans are quite powerful if the deck can survive the early game.

This deck list is the result of many games and conversations with TCGOne user Baiy000r, starting in February 2024. This deck fully explores a toolbox approach to 15/3, rooted in the classic Kangaskhan / Dodrio / Venusaur / Pokemon Center strategy, and looks to have paths to victory against disruptive Pokemon like Mr. Mime and Muk. Venusaur's Energy Trans allows the deck to get away with a low Energy count (but sneaking in 1-2 more Energy cards would be nice).

Dark Vileplume VenuBox - Last Updated 2024.09.28

Originally, I'd hope to find a Buzzap home with Dark Vileplume and Venusaur, but this deck has morphed to play more like VenuCenter Box with Dark Vileplume lock available. It's fun to play, but like many Venusaur-based decks that I've worked with in 15/3, the wide array of evolution lines, low count of Energy and high count of consistency Trainers lead to difficult deck-building and gameplay decisions.

Double Dragon (One-Two-Dragon-Firespin-Punch) - Last Updated 2024.09.28

Note: to update (add another Charmander, Kangaskhan; considering Narrow Gym or No Removal Gym)

It's my understanding that this deck has been developed by TCGOne user Nnstalgic. The dynamic duo of Dragonite and Dodrio gives Charizard the mobility it needs to swoop in for important KOs and then return safely to the bench. I am currently trying a Dark Dragon version to supporting setting up the multiple evolutions. Try to use Magmar and other, non-Zard Pokemon to take prizes whenever possible!

Dodrio Wigglymaker (Electric Slide) - Last Updated 2024.09.28

Note: may update deck or convert deck based on Lightning-only 15/3 Mega Battle decks

It's my understanding that this deck has been developed by TCGOne user Niteodeath (initially for the Milwaukee Brew City Old-School Showdown in August 2024). This variant of Dodrio Wigglymaker sacrifices some of the power of the Haymaker Style for extra consistency: it looks to setup Pokemon and keep them in the active with extra consistency Trainers and two Defenders. (General thoughts on Haymaker-style decks.)

Blaine's Rapidash/Wigglytuff (or is it Muk/Chaos Gym, discuss.) - Last Updated 2024.09.28

Note: deck needs updates

Showcased by Jason Klaczynski, this has been the most successful pre-TCGOne-Showdown-era Prop 15/3 deck. I believe it to be a Chaos Gym/Muk at its core, with Kangaskhan/Magmar to aid in slowing the initial turns to develop and Blaine's Rapidash and Wigglytuff offering some of the best damage-dealing attacks for Stage 1s. I am excited to see its next iteration(s)! (Jason's information on the deck.)

Fire Wiggly Muk

Gengar/Brock's Golbat (Stall) - Last Updated 2024.09.28

Note: deck needs updates; Slowpoke Stall may replace this (and then will look at other Gengar lists)

Also showcased by Jason, this deck's core strategy is incredibly powerful (though it seems difficult to play competitively). I aim to explore the Dark Dragon engine in tandem with the deck's approach. (Jason's information on the deck.)

Gengar Brock's Bat

Dark Raichu Box - Last Updated 2024.09.28

Note: needs more testing and tuning

Dark Dragons give some speed to attacking turn 2 with Dark Raichu and setting up secondary attackers with good retreat options. There are a lot of different directions that this deck can be altered to go.

Erika Dark Golbat Stall - Last Updated 2024.09.28

Note: this deck will most likely be retired as it doesn't play well. Considering Erika's Vileplume/Gloom-based deck.

This deck probably has too much going on (Dark Golbat and Erika's Clefable), but it's an attempt at making an Erika's Victreebel Stall deck that doesn't need a lot of energy to deal damage. I will continue trying Erika's Maids decks until one looks competitive! Also, I am completely unsure which Erika's Bellspouts are the best to play, and if the 60HP Victreebel has application, so all are included for now.

SwapShift Box - Last Updated 2024.09.28

Note: needs more testing and tuning

Alakazam-based decks have not worked out for me in 15/3, but I am going to keep trying variations! The Sabrina's-Golduck-powered approach seems to be one of the strongest ways to utilize Damage Swap, so this deck looks to leverage the errata'd Sabrina's Drowzee (energy is attached to a benched Pokemon instead of going to hand), Dodrio and Dragonite to prevent the wrong Pokemon from getting stuck in the active. Some experimental choices include: Bill to slightly change the percentages of raw resources drawn and Chaos Gym to be played after the deck is done using Trainers to setup.

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