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Lost Box is not a new mechanic in thePokemon TCG, first emerging in the Platinum Era, but is a popular and widely used one in the current meta. Many decks include a variety of cards in a standard archetype, creating diverse decks, including those such as the Dialga Lost Box deck.
The Dialga Lost Box deck is a powerful deck that combines turn-changing disruption, counter-attacks, and damage in a single deck powered by the Lost Zone engine. With a focus on Dialga VSTAR, you’ll be able to rapidly power up your Pokemon using the Lost Zone and attack with strong attacks and Abilities. To learn how to build this deck, or what to do onPokemon TCG Live, continue reading below
Iono (x2)
Raihan (x1)
Switch (x3)
Pokegear 3.0 (x1)
Path to the Peak (x2)
Jet Energy (x2)
Pokemon TCG: Dialga Lost Box Deck Key Cards
As a Lost Box variant, the Dialga Lost Box plays many of the cards essential to this archetype. However, there are some cards that are unique to this deck alone, as well as others that are so essential to gameplay that the deck wouldn’t function as effectively without them.
Diagla V and VSTAR
Both Diagla V and Diagla VSTAR have powerful attacks. For both of these cards, though there is a high Energy cost that can make it difficult to set up and utilize in many decks. However, in the Diagla Lost Box deck, you’ll be able to accelerate Energy with Mirage Gate, allowing you to quickly set up Diagla V/VSTAR for high-damage attacks.
Diagla VSTAR also has a unique VSTAR Power that allows you to deal up to 220 damage while taking an additional turn. This means that you will draw for your turn, perform any actions, use Diagla VSTAR’s Time Chronos, skip Pokemon Checkup, and draw again to begin another turn.
This is a beneficial disruption that allows you toprevent your opponent from performing any actionsby effectively skipping their turn.
Path to the Peak does not block VSTAR Powers, only Abilities.
Since it has such a high damage impact as well, you could Knock Out a two-Prize Pokemon using this VSTAR Power and then take up to two or three more Prize Cards in your next turn. If paired with Radiant Greninja’s and Sableye’s attacks, which will allow you to distribute damage across the board,in a perfect game setting, you could even take three Prize Cards back to back, ending the game!
Comfey
Because the Diagla Lost Box deck falls into the Lost Box archetype,Comfey is an essential card for gameplay.Comfey’s Flower Selecting Ability acts both as a powerful draw engine and as a way to stock your Lost Zone to utilize Pokemon like Cramorant and Sableye or Items like Mirage Gate.
When you use this Ability, you’ll be able to draw two cards. However, you can only keep one: the other you must place into the Lost Zone. Although this can lead to some tough, game-altering decisions, it can also help ensure that you have the cards you need in hand.
Remember, cards that go into the Lost Zone become unusable for the rest of the game, as there is no way to retrieve cards from here, unlike your discard pile.
Radiant Greninja
Like Comfey,Radiant Greninja serves several different purposes in your deck. First, by discarding an Energy, once per turn, you’ll be able to Radiant Greninja’s Concealed Cards Ability to draw two cards. This can be vital when you are searching for a switching card or other options.
Unlike Comfey, however, Radiant Greninja’s attack is highly effective in many matchups. With it, you’ll be able to attack any two of your opponent’s Pokemon, regardless of if they are in the Active Spot or on the Bench. It is important to note, however, that this deck does not play a Canceling Cologne.As a result, if your opponent has Manaphy, you will not be able to attack the Bench. However, you can still deal 90 damage to your opponent’s Active Pokemon, who will not be protected by Manaphy.
Radiant Greninja is a Rule Box Pokemon. Because of this Path to the Peak will deactivate its Ability. As a result, plan in advance for when you will Path to the Peak.
Zamazenta
Its attack can be set up in a single turn, so long as you have Mirage Gate and a single Basic Metal Energy for attachment. Alone, Zamazenta’s attack, Retaliate, does 100 damage. However, if one of your Pokemon was Knocked Out in the turn before, it’ll do an extra 120 damage for 220 total.This will allow it to Knock Out many Pokemon in the format, including two Prize Pokemon like Miraidon ex. You can use this attack tocounter any Knock Outs done to you in the turn prior,be it losing a Diagla VSTAR or a Comfey.
Pokemon TCG: Dialga Lost Box Deck Strategy
For the majority of a game with the Diagla Lost Box deck, you will play just as you would with any other Lost Box variant.Going second is preferred for this deck. This is because you will be able to use both Comfey and Supporter cards like Colress’s Experiment on your first turn. Going second will also let you disrupt other decks that rely on going second to get set up, like Charizard ex.
On an ideal first turn going second, you’ll be able to have enough cards in the Lost Zone to attack with Cramorant. For many decks early game, this will often secure you one Prize Card.
After the first initial turn,you’ll want to focus on getting ten cards in your Lost Zonewhile drawing the cards you need to succeed and spreading damage around whenever possible. Early on,Cramorant can be a valuable card for taking Knock Outs.
Sableye and Radiant Greninja will allow you to spread damage across the board, so long as Jirachi and Manaphy aren’t in play. While doing this,it is important that you have Dialga V on your Bench, as it takes at least one turn in play before you’re able to evolve it into Diagla VSTAR. You’ll also need to be attaching Energies to Diagla when possible, helping to ensure it is ready to attack when the right time comes.
If you will be able to set up Zamazenta in a single turn, you may not need to keep it on your Bnech until your opponent starts taking Prize Cards.
However, if you cannot ensure that you will have both a Mirage Gate and a Basic Metal Energy for attachment in one turn, you may wish to Bench Zamazenta sooner rather than later to make sure it meets its Energy requirements for attacking. Using the switching options in this deck, if your opponent Knocks Out any of your Pokemon,you’ll be able to easily rotate in Zamazenta to counter with a boosted attack.
Pokemon TCG: Dialga Lost Box Deck Common Threats
Unlike many other Lost Box variants, the Dialga Lost Box deck does not play Manaphy or Jirachi.As a result, your Pokemon will be highly vulnerable to cards that can easily hit the Bench.This includes opposing Radiant Greninjas, Inteleon VMAX, Medicham V, and similar Pokemon. Because many of the Pokemon in the Dialga Lost Box deck sport low HPs, this could allow your opponent to take multiple Prize Cards.
Iron Hands ex can also pose a large threat to this deck. This is because Iron Hands ex’s attack, Amp You Very Much, allows for it to take an extra Prize Card if a Pokemon is Knocked Out by that attack. This attack deals 120 damage, which isn’t much for some of the stronger Pokemon like Zamazenta or Diagla, but it can Knock Out most other Pokemon in this deck.
