Is Lugia VSTAR Still Worth Playing in Expanded (2026)? My Slightly Biased Take

If you’ve got a Lugia VSTAR deck sitting in a box like a retired celebrity (still gorgeous, still dramatic, just not booked for gigs anymore), you’re probably wondering: is this thing actually worth sleeving up in 2026… or am I just being nostalgic?

Here’s where I land: Lugia VSTAR is still a real deck but only in Expanded. And when Expanded slows down even a little, Lugia has this annoying habit of kicking the door in and yelling, “I attach four Special Energy per turn, do you mind?”

It even snagged 13th at Champions League Aichi (May 2025), which is basically the Pokémon equivalent of spotting your ex thriving without you. Rude, but informative.

So let’s talk about where it’s legal, why the Archeops engine is still the whole scam I mean strategy and how to tell if you should actually register it or just admire it like a museum piece.

First: Can You Even Play It?

This is the part where I save you from building a whole list and then realizing you can’t bring it anywhere (ask me how I know).

• Standard: Nope. Rotation nuked regulation mark F in early 2025, and Lugia VSTAR + Archeops live in that world. No amount of “maybe if I swap three cards?” fixes it.
• Expanded (TCG Live / some locals / side events): Yes. Expanded on TCG Live is Sun & Moon forward, and Lugia slides right in like it never left.

So the real question is: does your scene actually play Expanded? If your locals are Standard only forever and always, Lugia is a “kitchen table and vibes” deck, not a tournament deck.

The Whole Deck Is Basically One Magic Trick (And It Still Works)

Lugia’s game plan hasn’t changed, and honestly, that’s part of the appeal. It’s comforting. Like ordering the same thing at your favorite restaurant because you can’t emotionally handle disappointment.

Your dream line:

1. Turn 1: Bench Lugia V and discard two Archeops (Ultra Ball is doing the Lord’s work here).
2. Turn 2: Evolve to Lugia VSTAR and use Summoning Star to pull both Archeops straight from the discard onto your Bench.
3. Now your Archeops use Primal Turbo to attach two Special Energy each from the deck every turn.

That’s four Special Energy attachments per turn, which is absolutely unhinged in the best way.

The catch (because of course there’s a catch)

Summoning Star is your one VSTAR Power for the entire game. If you miss the Turn 2 setup because your hand gets wrecked or you just brick like you’re building a patio, the comeback is… not cute.

This is why Lugia players get a little feral about discarding both Archeops on Turn 1. It’s not “nice to have.” It’s the difference between “I’m a speed deck” and “I’m a sad bird holding seven Energy and no plan.”

“But Can It Still Hit Big Numbers?” (Yes. That’s Literally the Point.)

If you get rolling, Lugia does what Lugia does: it puts on a jetpack and starts taking prizes like it’s being paid per knockout.

The big benchmark people care about is 330 damage, because that’s the “delete a lot of chunky ex/VSTAR threats” number.

In Expanded, Lugia can reach that kind of range by stacking damage boosting Special Energy (hello, Powerful Colorless Energy) and using tools like Choice Belt when you need to bully Pokémon V. The exact math depends on your attachments and board state, but the headline is:

If you’re set up, you can absolutely keep pace with big, bulky decks.

The question is whether your opponent lets you set up without making your first two turns feel like a personal attack.

Before You Register It: Do a Quick “Is This Meta Trying to Ruin My Life?” Test

I am begging you not to play two games, brick once, and then dramatically declare the deck “dead.” (I’ve done it. It’s not my proudest hobby moment.)

Here’s how I test Lugia when I’m deciding if it’s worth my time:

1. Play 3 games first. This is a vibe check. Are you instantly running into nightmares, or does the deck at least get to do the thing?
2. Then play 10-15 games. Now you’re collecting real info: how often do you hit Turn 2 Archeops, what matchups keep showing up, and are you losing because of decisions or because the deck opened with six Energy and emotional damage?
3. My “hard counter” rule: If you see a miserable matchup 2+ times in 10 games, that’s not a fluke. That’s a warning label.
4. Adjust 1-2 flex slots and retest. Don’t rebuild the entire deck because of one cursed night. Lugia is already dramatic don’t join it.

Matchups: The Ones That Feel Great… and the Ones That Feel Like Stepping on a Lego

Expanded is a wild place. People bring everything from “honest prize racing” to “I will trap you Active for six turns while I sip tea.”

Here’s the quick and useful watchlist.

The matchups that can be perfectly fine (when you set up)

• Regidrago VSTAR if you get online, you can often win the prize race.
• Bulky setup decks (like Palkia style builds) Lugia punishes slow starts.
• A lot of big ex/VSTAR piles if they need time, Lugia tends to take it personally.

The matchups that make me squint at my deck like it betrayed me

• Iron Thorns ex (ability pressure/denial) this can turn your “clean Turn 2” into a whole soap opera.
• Lightning attackers Lugia VSTAR has Lightning weakness, and yes, your opponent absolutely knows that. Decks that can reliably swing into that weakness can turn Lugia into a two prize piñata.

If your local/expected field is heavy on Iron Thorns ex or Lightning decks, Lugia becomes more of a gamble than a plan.

Deck Building: What’s “Core” vs What You Can Actually Mess With

Most Lugia lists have a big chunk that’s basically locked in especially the pieces from the Silver Tempest set breakdown. You’re not reinventing the wheel here you’re choosing which tires won’t explode in your meta.

The “don’t get cute” core

• Lugia V / Lugia VSTAR line (counts vary, but you need enough to not cry)
• 4 Archeops
• Search to make Turn 1 discards happen (stuff like Ultra Ball, Capturing Aroma, plus your preferred support Pokémon/searchers)

The Special Energy pile (aka: why the deck works)

You’ll see some combination of:

• Gift Energy (the “fine, KO me, I’ll draw back up” energy)
• Jet Energy (mobility matters more than you think)
• Double Turbo Energy (speed, even with the damage reduction)
• Mist Energy (protection from annoying effects)
• Legacy Energy (prize manipulation can straight up steal games)
• V Guard Energy (optional, meta dependent)

And yes running a ton of Energy means you’ll sometimes draw hands that look like a gas station display. That’s the deal you’re making.

My favorite flex slot techs (pick based on what you face)

• Dunsparce: if Lightning decks are common, this is the “stop bullying me” button.
• Regigigas: if your meta is Tera heavy, Jewel Breaker is a very satisfying answer.
• Iron Hands ex: if you want to steal extra prizes off small Basics (and you enjoy being a little bit evil).
• Random narrow counters (Drapion V, etc.): only if their targets are actually showing up. Otherwise they’re just dead weight with ambitions.

Expanded also has a bunch of spicy one offs you can experiment with, but I’d rather you start with the boring, proven stuff and get fancy later.

A Quick Pep Talk About Variance (Because Lugia Is a Drama Queen)

Lugia is boom or bust by design.

You’re flipping coins with stuff like Capturing Aroma and Mesagoza and thinking about Lugia V alt art odds. You’re relying on one once per game Power to function at full strength. Sometimes you’ll open a hand that’s basically: “Energy, Energy, Energy, regrets.”

But annoyingly for the “it’s all luck” crowd skill still matters a lot:

• sequencing your search
• choosing what to discard (and when)
• planning attachments so you don’t strand yourself
• knowing when to commit vs hold back

The deck will betray you sometimes. Your job is to make sure it’s not betraying you because you punted Turn 1.

So… Should You Actually Register Lugia VSTAR?

I’d play it if:

• you’re playing Expanded (obviously)
• your meta is more “bulky setup” than “ability lock and Lightning violence”
• you enjoy explosive turns and prize racing
• you’re willing to test enough to learn the deck’s weird little moods

I’d skip it if:

• Iron Thorns ex is everywhere in your expected field
• Lightning attackers are common and you don’t have a solid plan for them
• you want a calm, consistent deck that doesn’t occasionally open like a prank
• you’re trying to build for Standard (don’t do that to yourself)

If Expanded is alive in your area and the meta isn’t stacked with Lugia hate, yes Lugia VSTAR is still worth playing. Just go in with your eyes open, your flex slots ready, and your Turn 1 discard plan locked in like your life depends on it (because, spiritually, it kind of does).