Base–Fossil

The defining deck of 1999. Built around aggressive Basic Pokémon with cheap attacks, backed by the full Trainer engine. Hitmonchan's 20-for-1 Jab and Electabuzz's efficiency made evolved Pokémon irrelevant. Energy Removal kept opponents from ever attacking back. Widely considered the best deck of the format.

Wigglytuff's Do the Wave attack dealt 10 damage times the number of Pokémon on your Bench — up to 60 damage for a single Colorless Energy with a full bench. Paired with Hitmonchan and other efficient Basics to fill the bench quickly while maintaining early pressure.

A control deck that used Alakazam's Damage Swap Pokémon Power to move damage counters away from Mr. Mime, which blocked all attacks dealing 30 or more damage. With Pokémon Center to heal and Scoop Up to reset, the deck was nearly impossible to break through for opponents relying on heavy hitters.

Uses Blastoise's Rain Dance Pokémon Power to attach unlimited Water Energy per turn, powering up Articuno's Blizzard for 40 damage plus 10 to each benched Pokémon. Pokémon Breeder skips Wartortle to get Blastoise out as early as Turn 2. One of the most iconic decks in TCG history.

Aerodactyl's Prehistoric Power prevents both players from evolving Pokémon. Since this deck runs all Basics (Mewtwo, Scyther, Mr. Mime, Mew), it doesn't need evolution while locking opponents out of theirs. Devastating against Blastoise, Wigglytuff, and any evolution-dependent deck.

Fossil Gengar's Curse Pokémon Power moves damage counters between the opponent's Pokémon, picking off weakened targets without attacking. Fossil Haunter's Transparency makes it immune to attacks on a coin flip. Mr. Mime walls any attack dealing 30+ damage. A control-oriented Psychic deck that wins through attrition.

A pure defense deck. High-HP Basics (Lickitung, Chansey) wall while heavy energy denial (Energy Removal, Super Energy Removal) and Scoop Up keeps your board fresh. Mr. Mime blocks big attacks, and the goal is to grind the opponent out of resources or deck them out. The original stall archetype.

A dedicated mill deck. Moltres's Wildfire attack discards cards from the top of the opponent's deck, winning by deck-out. Lickitung, Chansey, and Mr. Mime wall while heavy energy denial prevents the opponent from attacking. Pokémon Center and Scoop Up keep defenders healthy indefinitely.

A fire aggro deck using Magmar's efficient single-energy attacks alongside Arcanine for heavy hits. Dodrio's Retreat Aid provides free retreat to swap between attackers, and Pokémon Center heals damage with Energy Retrieval recovering discarded energy. The premier Fire-type deck of the format.

Slowbro's Strange Behavior Pokémon Power absorbs all damage from your other Pokémon onto itself, making your bench invulnerable. Combined with Pokémon Center to wipe Slowbro's damage clean, and Defender to reduce incoming hits, this deck grinds opponents to a halt. Mr. Mime walls anything dealing 30+ damage.