Lightning’s Nemesis – Brock’s Sandslash

Brock’s Sandslash (from Gym Challenge) is uniquely positioned in 15/3 as a Lightning-resisting, Fighting-Type Pokemon with a good 2-Energy attack that can surpass Fighting Resistance in a pinch and that “benefits” from both niche-use Brock’s Trainers (Brock’s Protection and Pewter City Gym). 

And while these two Brock-specific Trainers are reactive in nature (they do nothing if the opponent is not removing Energy or playing Fighting Resistance), both are incredibly painful against very commonly played tactics. Note though Brock’s Sandslash is interested in playing both the Protection and Gym, Brock’s Training Method seems to fall short of being included in the deck (due to its inability to find Doduo, Dodrio and other non-Brock Mon really diminishing its utility).

The color-intensive nature of Brock’s Mon make it difficult to play two Energy types and Full Heal Energy, and as such (and after one failed 3-Energy-Type deck not worth sharing), I’ve been mostly focused on only including Pokemon with Fighting- or Colorless-Energy attacks (though as you will see below, I have not settled on Fighting-only decks).

Playing Brock’s Sandslash

Brock’s Sandshrew (72) appears much stronger to me than the 40HP variant, and I cannot imagine many scenarios to try the 40HP variant. In some matches or game states, waiting as long as possible to evolving into Sandslash will allow Brock’s Sandshrew to do a lot of damage while trapping the opponent in the active.

Once Brock’s Sandslash and Sandshrew have been included with some number of Brock’s Trainers, it makes sense to add additional Brock’s Pokemon to leverage the Trainer inclusions. Unfortunately, the quality of attackers among Brock’s Pokemon appears to decrease dramatically (though there are hidden gems among the Gym Leader’s small Basics and some other Evolutions have roles to play):

• Brock’s Onix (21) – I was very surprised to find this to appear playable in deck versions playing two Pewter City Gym; flipping heads to inflict paralysis is as powerful as ever. The 70HP combination with a 20-damage attack with chance of paralysis lines up favorably against Electabuzz and Wigglytuff. And with two Dodrios (though one is still nice), the powerful Tunneling attack can used without drawback!
• Brock’s Onix (69) – A Basic with 100HP and a single-Energy attack (even though it’s lackluster) could have some application in decks with Scoop Up.
• Brock’s Diglett – Lightning-resistance and the ability to OHKO Wigglytuff is a strong combination in 15/3, though I think the 40-damage Mankey is most likely better in most decks.
• Brock’s Mankey (67) – Prior to the assumption that the majority of 15/3 decks play Dodrio, this Mankey looked to be a key card in the format. Now, I believe it is a strong roleplayer (but probably would only ever be a single copy in this style of deck).
• Brock’s Mankey (68) – Recently, I would not imagine playing less than two of these in any Brock’s Sandslash deck due to the prevalence of Fighting-weakness Pokemon in the metagame (and the ability to dish out 40-damage for two Energy against anything with Pewter City Gym assisting).
• Brock’s Primeape – With the increase of Mankeys being played, there could be some application to play a single Primeape for a very-high damage capability that can sometimes deny a prize (though blowing up your own Stadium is anti-synergy).
• Brock’s Rhyhorn (22) – One of the few Brock’s Mon to get usage from Double Colorless Energy, I am unsure if Rhyhorn offers enough to play in a Sandslash deck (with an expensive Retreat Cost, the Horn Toss attack possibly giving the opponent a free Retreat and 60HP being vulnerable to Wigglytuff).
• Brock’s Zubat (24) – Dodrio (or Doduo) and Team Rocket Diglett are both great Pokemon to switch into after an Alert attack. I think most decks looking to play Zubat will also play some number of Kangaskhan, but it isn’t mandatory.
• Brock’s Golbat – The Golbat’s main purpose is to give the deck an attacker for a single Energy that doesn’t get walled by a Fighting-Resistance Pokemon when already playing Zubat. Spiral Dive can give the deck flexibility to take Bench Knock Outs without Gust of Wind, but I find it isn’t a reliable attack over time.
• Brock’s Lickitung – Honestly, this card looks pretty bad unless being played in tandem with Brock’s Protection against Psychic Pokemon. This is one of the few Brock’s Mon that can use Double Colorless Energy effectively.

The previously mentioned cards are as follows:

Dodrio, Kangaskhan, Team Rocket Diglett and Hitmonchan appear to be the other usual suspects to accompany Brock’s Sandslash (as you’ll see below) as a combination of Trainer-like functions and efficient attackers/retreaters. Since Brock’s Sandshrew, Sandslash and Onix are all very color-intensive with their Fighting Energy requirements; I assume that decks will only be able to support five-to-seven Energy of a second type (and have a somewhat successful deck featuring Electabuzz below). 

Ideas In Testing

Fighting-Lightning Brock’s Sandslash / Brock’s Golbat / Dodrio (Chaos Gym)

UPDATED (2025.02.07)

In an attempt to recreate Jason’s Wigglytuff / Blaine’s Rapidash Chaos Gym style, this deck overloads on card drawing Pokemon (five between Zubat and Kangaskhan) to force the opponent to take risks under Chaos Gym while it draws two cards a turn. Whenever the opponent threatens with an attacking Pokemon in the active, Electabuzz, Team Rocket Diglett, Brock’s Mankey (68) and Gym Challenge Brock’s Sandslash can come from the bench to counter. The most exciting part of this Chaos Gym style is the ability to clear the Chaos Gym with Pewter City Gym for an explosive turn of Trainers, with Gust of Wind to support OHKO (and followed by replaying Chaos Gym if prudent).

This deck has been able to win games against Fire-Fighting Dodrio Charizard and Lightning-Fighting Dodrio Wigglytuff, so I think it has real promise in the 15/3 metagame. Compared to the previous versions, Electabuzz gives another Pokemon beyond Sandslash to prevent the deck from being stalled by Fighting-resistance Pokemon while Chaos Gym can completely win a game with a little luck. For a few short months due to Slowpoke Lock playing 2 Stadiums, it seemed like Chaos

I am toying with trying to include a 2nd Pewter City Gym and/or Item Finder; Pokemon Trader is a potential cut. Also, it feels like the deck may want the third Dodrio or Koga’s Pidgey (49) might also be necessary. Lastly, it is likely the Energy counts are incorrect (but they are likely within 1-2 correct); I’d love to fit a few Full Heal Energy.

Fighting Brock’s Sandslash / Clefable / Dodrio

UNTESTED (2025.02.01)

Initially built to compete with Psychic Slowpoke / Brock’s Mankey / Muk Lock, this iteration adds Clefable and an assortment of 1-of Pokemon to combat Lightning-Fighting decks. I want to test Erika’s Jigglypuff as a way to utilize Double Colorless Energy in decks otherwise not optimized to use the Energy boost.

It may be that Wigglytuff is a better secondary Evolution inclusion than Clefable in a deck similar to this.

Lists Deemed Uncompetitive

The following decks had trouble competing or are historic in nature. 

Fighting Brock’s Sandslash / Dodrio / Koga’s Pidgey Box

UPDATED (2025.01.17)

One of my original lists, this deck struggled managing its active and had too little interaction against more aggressive decks like Lightning-Fighting Dodrio Wigglytuff. Kangaskhan and Koga’s Pidgey (49) looked to replace consistency Trainers, but the deck was still missing key pieces like more Gusts of Wind and Brock’s Mankey (68). Lastly, with 2 Pewter City Gym, it is difficult to also fit in Brock’s Protection and play other nearly mandatory Trainers in the correct quantities.

Fighting-Fire Brock’s Sandslash / Clefable 

HISTORIC, RETRIEVED (2024.12.18)

Achieving Top 4 in the Seniors Division of the 2000 East Coast Super Trainer Showdown, this list is operating under WotC rulings, making Clefable (doesn’t discard energy when copying attacks that do with Metronome) stronger than when playing with TCGOne / Japanese errata. I assume that the lack of Dodrios (as well as the Fire-Weakness of Scyther) in the year 2000 helped this deck on its road to a top finish!