Dusknoir Spread Aggro Spread

Until early 2026, there used to be a strong archetype in the format spreading damage on the opponent's board by using a combination of Dusknoir and Roxie + Koffing. By moving the damage counters carefully with Radiant Alakazam, the deck could get KOs with Medicham V's Yoga Loop. In some situations, it was possible to take, effectively, four turns in a row (counting Gengar & Mimikyu GX's Horror House GX attack as giving an extra turn), which could destroy whole boards of Pokémon while leaving very little counterplay. This led to Medicham V's ban from the format.

Despite losing its key piece, the engine of Roxie, Koffing, Unown and Rescue Carrier remains format and still has potential. A new version of the deck made top 32 at CL Aichi 2026, which could indicate a new beginning for this archetype. Time will tell whether it can become a lasting part of the Expanded format, or if it was just a flash in the pan.