Progression Series
In Pokemon TCG, a Progression Series (or Evolution Series) is a format where group of people open booster boxes one set at a time and build a deck from cards they’ve pulled so far.
As the prices of physical card products has skyrocketed and the availability makes it really difficult to even buy booster boxes if you’d find them, me and my local gaming group decided to do one virtually with the Scarlet & Violet block, opening packs in Pack Sim and playing the games in Pokemon TCG Live.
Our Progression Series website for results and decklists.
Rules
- We open one set at a time, half a booster box and add cards to our collection. After each set, we build a deck from what we have opened and battle a best of 3 match against everyone else.
- You can use any printing of a card in Live, it doesn’t have to be the one you pull (this is to allow exchanging for a cheaper version or playing with a different art you enjoy more).
- After a set, players will receive extra packs from the set based on their placement:
- 1st place gets 1
- 2nd place gets 2
- 3rd place gets 4
- 4th place gets 6
- and 5th place gets 8 extra packs
Scarlet & Violet (SVI), 6.9.2025
Notable pulls
I had quite a good pack luck for the first set. I pulled some real nice supporting lines like 2 Miraidon ex for setting up lightning decks, 1-1 Spidops ex line for disruption and a 1-1 Revavroom line for draw. I also got a 5-1 line of Armarouge which is giving me hope for future if I pull a couple of Ceruledge exs when Surging Sparks rolls in.
I even got a nice set of trainers: a Professor’s Research, couple of Jacqs and Arven in the supporter side and two Nest Balls to search out Miraidon, some Potions and Picnic Baskets to heal and Energy Retrievals that work really well with Revavroom’s Rumbling Engine ability.
Deck
For my first deck, I decided to go with a lightning build with Kilowattrels and Toxtricitys, supported by Miraidon, Revavroom and Spidops. I also play a 1-1 Greedent line and a 1-1 Blissey line.
Pokémon: 13
2 Miraidon ex SVI 244
3 Toxel SVI 71
3 Toxtricity SVI 72
2 Wattrel SVI 78
2 Kilowattrel SVI 79
1 Varoom SVI 141
1 Revavroom SVI 142
2 Tarountula SVI 18
1 Spidops ex SVI 19
1 Skwovet SVI 151
1 Greedent SVI 152 PH
1 Chansey SVI 144
1 Blissey SVI 145
Trainer: 13
1 Arven SVI 166
1 Professor's Research SVI 189 PH
2 Jacq SVI 175
1 Katy SVI 177
1 Pal Pad SVI 182
2 Switch SVI 194 PH
2 Poké Ball SVI 185
2 Nest Ball SVI 181
2 Picnic Basket SVI 184
2 Potion SVI 188
2 Energy Retrieval SVI 171
1 Vitality Band SVI 197
1 Rocky Helmet SVI 193
Energy: 2
3 Basic {G} Energy SVE 9
16 Basic {L} Energy SVE 4
Total Cards: 60The first couple of decks in a progression series will always be a mixed bag of ragtag misfits but at least I got some lines that support each other. Eager to see how my deck will do in the first round.
Matches
Once everyone has their decks built, we battle.
I was rather happy with my first deck and how it performed. I went 3-1.
In this stage of the series, everyone’s deck is more of a “shake your binder and see what falls out” (with a bad binder…) so a massive part of success in a game is avoiding bricking.
Miraidon ex was a great setup Pokémon in my deck and I used it in every game I played. My biggest issue was that almost all of my attackers, other than Spidops ex, had their main attack cost 3 energy and there was no acceleration. So in many games, I tried to stall until I had a few attackers set up.
Kilowattrel’s Skill Dive ({C}{C} This attack does 50 damage to 1 of your opponent’s Pokémon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.)) attack was one of the MVPs as it helped put pressure on opponent’s bench if they tried the same strategy. I also won one game thanks to Toxtricity’s Yank Away attack ({C}{C} Choose 2 random cards from your opponent’s hand. Your opponent reveals those cards and shuffles them into their deck._) by emptying my opponents hand and gaining enough headway to pick up the win.
Revavroom was a lovely idea but I barely ever got it out and when I did, I didn’t get that much out of them because in this format, thinning hand is so hard that eventually I just had 6+ useless cards in my hand.
I had a lot of fun in the first set and can’t wait to see what I pull in the next set.
I finished 3-1 and took second place.
Paldea Evolved (PAL), 15.9.2025
Deck
Pokémon: 14
2 Kilowattrel SVI 79
1 Lucario SVI 114
1 Riolu SVI 112
1 Spidops ex SVI 19
1 Revavroom SVI 142
1 Varoom SVI 141
1 Nacli PAL 121
1 Garganacl PAL 123
1 Naclstack PAL 122
2 Wattrel SVI 78
1 Luxray PAL 71
2 Tarountula SVI 18
1 Squawkabilly ex PAL 169
3 Passimian PAL 118
Trainer: 19
1 Vitality Band SVI 197
1 Rocky Helmet SVI 193
2 Rare Candy SVI 191
1 Katy SVI 177
2 Jacq SVI 175
2 Energy Retrieval SVI 171
1 Professor's Research SVI 189 PH
2 Switch SVI 194 PH
2 Miriam SVI 179
2 Practice Studio PAL 186
1 Great Ball PAL 183
1 Artazon PAF 76
2 Poké Ball SVI 185
1 Pal Pad SVI 182
4 Nest Ball SVI 181
2 Clavell PAL 177
1 Bravery Charm PAL 173
1 Arven SVI 166
1 Boss's Orders PAL 172
Energy: 5
5 Basic {F} Energy SVE 14
2 Basic {L} Energy SVE 4
2 Basic {G} Energy SVE 9
1 Luminous Energy PAL 191
1 Reversal Energy PAL 192
Total Cards: 60
Matches
My first matchup was a comeback of the year. I lost first game handily, made a few mistakes but overall the matchup felt very unfavourable. In game two, I was basically defeatd but in the very end I found a Boss to Pelipper that I knew they can’t accelerate to with Gardevoir ex and won by deck out. Then the third game was going all the way to them until I managed to set up Gargnacl and Luxray and pulled my way to victory.
My second match was a wonderful back and forth. We had a good first round match as well and this time my meta decisions paid off. I once again lost the first match handily and felt like I had no chance but then won two tight games to pick up a 2-1 victory.
Third match was brick city. I had type advantage and everything but didn’t draw anything useful. It be like that sometimes.
Final match, I was so close to win the first game but had one turn too little and lost. Game 2, I got the miracle start: 3 Nest Balls and energy. All my stage 1s were in deck so I got my good bois up and Squawk’d into a perfect hand for turn 2 and eventually won in like 3 turns. Final game, it was close back and forth but I managed to pull a victory.
I’m so surprised with that because after I finished building my deck, I felt the deck got worse from first set. That feeling was incorrect though: cutting the more expensive attackers in favour of more streamlined fighting attackers, the deck got way better. I should have even cut Kilowattrel but I originally kept it because there’s so little gust and I wanted to be able to snipe the bench if my opponent retreated there. Turns out, there was no real need or spot for that. I should have cut lightning energy especially.
Obsidian Flames (OBF), 21.9.2025
Notable pulls
None. Absolutely bonkers none. I thought PAL was tough but this time I drew very good.
Deck
Since I didn’t pull any major new lines, I kept the base the same. I switched Kilowattrel to Toedscruel as it can stall in a pinch and hit hard against potential Charizard exs. I also pulled a Glimmora ex which I immediately put in as it’s an efficient attacker, has Ascension on Glimmet and limits opponent bench.
I added two Brassius for draw and Letter of Encouragements to find energies which is something I’ve struggled a lot in the first two sets. I also cleaned up the energy lines a bit.
All I can do now is hope others didn’t pull Charizard and Pidgeot lines.
Pokémon: 14
1 Toedscool OBF 118
1 Lucario SVI 114
1 Riolu SVI 112
1 Spidops ex SVI 19
2 Glimmet PAL 124
1 Glimmora ex OBF 123
1 Nacli PAL 121
1 Garganacl PAL 123
1 Naclstack PAL 122
1 Luxray PAL 71
2 Tarountula SVI 18
1 Squawkabilly ex PAL 169
2 Passimian PAL 118
1 Toedscruel SVI 26
Trainer: 20
1 Vitality Band SVI 197
1 Rocky Helmet SVI 193
2 Rare Candy SVI 191
2 Jacq SVI 175
2 Energy Retrieval SVI 171
1 Professor's Research SVI 189 PH
2 Switch SVI 194 PH
2 Miriam SVI 179
2 Practice Studio PAL 186
1 Great Ball PAL 183
1 Artazon PAF 76
2 Letter of Encouragement OBF 189
2 Brassius PRE 135
2 Poké Ball SVI 185
1 Pal Pad SVI 182
4 Nest Ball SVI 181
2 Clavell PAL 177
1 Bravery Charm PAL 173
1 Arven SVI 166
1 Boss's Orders PAL 172
Energy: 4
5 Basic {F} Energy SVE 14
3 Basic {G} Energy SVE 9
1 Luminous Energy PAL 191
1 Reversal Energy PAL 192
Total Cards: 60
Matches
My matches started as expected: getting absolutely destroyed.
This set had two massive pieces: Charizard ex and Pidgeot ex and I didn’t get a single line of either. I knew going into this set that if other players’ got even some of them, I’d be at a disadvantage.
For the second match, I lost again the first game (how does this always happen?) but then somehow miraculously clawed my way back to a 2-1 win. I had the type advantage which helped turn the tide here.
Third match, I managed to get a good start for game 1 and managed to manouver my Pokémon around in a way that helped me hit hard. I sacrificed a Passimian to get OHKO with Lucario and then retreated to Glimmora ex to hit big pressure and my opponent scooped. I then lost the two other, rather tight matches.
Fourth match didn’t happen this week so I finished 1-2 (+1 win for concession).
151 (MEW), 26.9.2025
Notable pulls
We are finally cooking! The 4 pity packs from Obsidian Flames were lit! I got myself a Pidgey and Charizard ex.
Then from 151, I got another Pidgey and couple of Pidgeottos so I can run 2-2-1 Pidgeot ex line. And the second to last pack gave me Charmander so I can play 1-1-1 Charizard ex.
Deck
I started from scratch after twice making small changes as now I feel like I have pieces for a good deck finally. I did entertain the idea of playing a birds deck with Pidgeot, Dodrio, Fearow, Delibird, Squawkabilly and Kilowattrel but ended up building a Pidgeot/Charizard/Arcanine/Dodrio deck.
Pokémon: 18
1 Doduo MEW 84
1 Dodrio MEW 85
1 Pidgey MEW 16
1 Pidgey OBF 162
2 Pidgeotto MEW 17
1 Pidgeot ex OBF 217
1 Growlithe SVI 30
1 Growlithe MEW 58
1 Arcanine MEW 59
1 Arcanine ex SVI 32
1 Charmander MEW 4
1 Charmeleon MEW 5
1 Charizard ex PAF 54
1 Cleffa OBF 80
1 Delibird PAL 46
1 Entei OBF 30
1 Mew ex MEW 151
1 Luxray PAL 71
Trainer: 18
1 Artazon PAL 171
1 Arven SVI 166
1 Boss's Orders MEG 114
2 Brassius PRE 135
2 Clavell PAL 177
2 Energy Retrieval SVI 171
1 Great Ball PAL 183
2 Jacq SVI 175
3 Letter of Encouragement OBF 189
2 Miriam SVI 179
4 Nest Ball PAF 84
1 Pal Pad SVI 182
1 Professor's Research CEL 24
2 Rare Candy MEG 125
1 Rocky Helmet VIV 159
3 Switch SVI 194
1 Vengeful Punch OBF 197
1 Vitality Band SVI 197
Energy: 2
1 Reversal Energy PAL 192
9 Basic {R} Energy SVE 10
Total Cards: 60
Matches
While I finally got a deck that could play well, so did my opponent. The first match I lost 2-1 as we had very similar decks but they had slightly better consistency cards. I lost first, won second and completely bricked in third.
I lost two more matches with no chance and the last match was a win by default as we didn’t play.
For the next set, I need to come up with something smart and unexpected if I wish to be able to pick up wins again.
Paradox Rift, 4.10.2025
Notable pulls
I didn’t get much from this set, at least not for now. I got the Garganacl that accelerates energy and a 0-2-2 line of Garchamp ex which I was looking to play but can’t. 3 Earthen Vessel were exactly what I needed as I’ve been struggling to find energies.
Deck
I’ve pretty much lost almost all my matches for the past few sets so I had to go into this with a new strategy. I decided to skip both Charizard and Pidgeot ex because my opponent’s just had better builds of those and I couldn’t keep up.
I decided to go back to my roots of fighting + Spidops and Dodrio. Spidops ex is mostly there to counter Charizard ex, Glimmora ex is my main attacker + limits their bench to 3. I now play two Garganacls: one that heals and another that accelerates fighting energy from discard. Lucario is efficient revenge attacker once the opponent KOs some of my fighting monsters. Dodrio is my draw engine and late game efficient attacker and Cleffa is there to save me from horrible hands.
I got two TM: Evolutions and decided to play one (I initially had 2 but had to cut one). Not very likely to draw it but it can help me get stuff up faster.
Pokémon: 14
1 Lucario SVI 114
1 Glimmora ex OBF 123
1 Riolu SVI 112
1 Spidops ex SVI 19
1 Doduo MEW 84
2 Glimmet PAL 124
1 Nacli PAL 121
1 Garganacl PAL 123
1 Naclstack PAL 122
1 Cleffa OBF 202
2 Tarountula PAL 16
1 Nacli PAR 101
1 Garganacl PAR 104
1 Dodrio MEW 85
Trainer: 24
3 Earthen Vessel PRE 106
2 Jacq SVI 175
1 Defiance Vest PAR 162
2 Counter Catcher PAR 160
2 Brassius PRE 135
2 Letter of Encouragement OBF 189
1 Mesagoza SVI 178
1 Miriam SVI 179
1 Practice Studio PAL 186
1 Boss's Orders MEG 114
1 Great Ball PAL 183
1 Rocky Helmet VIV 159
1 Super Rod PAL 188
1 Giovanni's Charisma MEW 161
1 Technical Machine: Evolution PAR 178
1 Cycling Road MEW 157
1 Rigid Band MEW 165
1 Vengeful Punch OBF 197
1 Professor's Research PRE 122
4 Nest Ball PAF 84
2 Clavell PAL 177
1 Artazon PAL 171
1 Arven SVI 166
2 Rare Candy MEG 125
Energy: 3
2 Basic {G} Energy MEE 1
6 Basic {F} Energy SVE 6
1 Reversal Energy PAL 192
Total Cards: 60
Matches
First game was relatively tight but I lost 2-1. I won game 1 and was one turn away from winning game two. Third game I lost clearly. I got trapped into active in both last two games and their Scream Tail did havoc against my bench.
Second match, again against Gardevoir and had little change. In game 3, I prized all my attackers: Dodrio, Spidops and Glimmora and they ended up being the last 3 prizes too so I lost.
Paldean Fates
I’ve been falling out of speed against other, more meta level decks. For Paldean Fates, I tried to put together something fun to enjoy fun deck building but lost all my games straight up.
Deck
Pokémon: 19
1 Pidgey MEW 16
2 Kadabra MEW 64
1 Gengar MEW 94
1 Cleffa OBF 202
1 Lechonk SVI 154
1 Haunter PAF 56
1 Oinkologne ex SVI 158
2 Abra MEW 63
1 Alakazam ex MEW 65
2 Houndstone PAF 43
1 Pidgeotto MEW 17
1 Cyclizar SVI 164
1 Fidough SVI 98
1 Dachsbun PAF 39
1 Pidgeot ex OBF 164
1 Gastly MEW 92
1 Houndstone ex OBF 102
3 Greavard PAF 42
1 Mewtwo ex PAR 58
Trainer: 14
1 Giovanni's Charisma MEW 161
4 Nest Ball PAF 84
2 Jacq SVI 175
2 Energy Retrieval SVI 171
2 Brassius PRE 135
2 Clavell PAL 177
1 Arven OBF 186
2 Iono PAL 185
2 Switch BCR 135
2 Technical Machine: Evolution PAR 178
2 Super Rod PAL 188
3 Rare Candy PAF 89
3 Earthen Vessel PRE 106
1 Boss's Orders MEG 114
Energy: 1
7 Basic {P} Energy SVE 13 PH
Total Cards: 60
Temporal Forces
Temporal Forces didn’t really make a difference in my available card pool so I reverted back to my Glimmora/Spidops deck with minor changes.
Pokémon: 13
1 Lucario SVI 114
1 Glimmora ex OBF 123
1 Riolu SVI 112
1 Spidops ex SVI 19
1 Doduo MEW 84
2 Glimmet PAL 124
1 Nacli PAL 121
1 Garganacl PAL 123
1 Naclstack PAL 122
1 Cleffa OBF 202
2 Tarountula PAL 16
1 Nacli PAR 101
1 Dodrio MEW 85
Trainer: 24
3 Earthen Vessel PRE 106
2 Jacq SVI 175
1 Defiance Vest PAR 162
2 Counter Catcher PAR 160
2 Brassius PRE 135
2 Letter of Encouragement OBF 189
1 Mesagoza SVI 178
1 Miriam SVI 179
1 Practice Studio PAL 186
1 Boss's Orders MEG 114
1 Buddy-Buddy Poffin PRE 101
1 Giovanni's Charisma MEW 161
1 Super Rod PAL 188
1 Technical Machine: Evolution PAR 178
1 Cycling Road MEW 157
1 Rigid Band MEW 165
1 Vengeful Punch OBF 197
1 Professor's Research PRE 122
3 Nest Ball PAF 84
2 Clavell PAL 177
1 Artazon PAL 171
1 Arven SVI 166
2 Rare Candy MEG 125
3 Ultra Ball MEG 131
Energy: 3
2 Basic {G} Energy MEE 1
6 Basic {F} Energy SVE 6
1 Reversal Energy PAL 192
Total Cards: 60
Games
First match went quite as expected: in game one after losing a few Pokémon, I went for Ascension on Glimmet only to find my only Glimmora ex was prized. At that point, my opponent had accelerated a dozen or so energies on the field and I scooped. Game two, I started with lone Riolu and got donked turn 2.