Budget Kingler V Decks That Pack Real Power

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Kingler V card art from Brilliant Stars (SWSh9-028)

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Kingler V on a Budget: Real Power in Budget Builds

In the crowded field of Water-type attackers, Kingler V rises as a surprisingly potent centerpiece for budget decks — especially within Expanded play where its full toolkit can shine. This Basic Water-type V from Brilliant Stars (SWSh9) carries a lofty 220 HP and a pair of attacks that can turn a lean, budget-friendly list into a momentum-shifting engine. With a holo rarity to catch the eye and a move-set designed for deck-thinning and knockouts, Kingler V embodies the “go big or go home” energy that keeps players coming back for more ⚡.

The card sits in the Brilliant Stars era as a holo Rare V, a mark of both collectibility and competitive intent. Kingler V’s 220 HP is sturdy enough to weather early trades, and its Water typing gives it natural synergy with many classic draw and energy acceleration tools that players often pack in Expanded lists. While its retreat cost sits at 3, that’s a trade-off worth accepting when you have a plan to flood the board with water energy and deploy your heavy hitters at the perfect moment. The card’s Weakness to Grass and its Expanded legality signal a player to tailor the strategy toward formats where Energy acceleration and tempo matter most.

Two Attacks, Two Paths to Power

  • Falling Bubbles (Water): This first attack is a strategic engine in disguise. Pay the Water energy cost and flip a coin. If heads, you can search your deck for up to five Water Energy cards and attach them to your Pokémon in any way you like, then shuffle your deck. This ability to accelerate multiple energies in a single action is the kind of tempo-gain that makes a budget deck feel premium. In practice, you can load Kingler V or bench attackers with the crucial energy they need to threaten big turns later in the match.
  • Raging Pincer (Water, Water, Colorless): The big payoff comes with this attack, dealing a whopping 200 damage. The catch? Kingler V also shoots 30 damage back onto itself, a self-imposed recoil that requires careful timing and board-state awareness. If you can engineer a clean knockout or set up a finisher while your bench is humming with Water Energy, Raging Pincer becomes a devastating finisher in the right matchup — especially against mid- to late-game targets that have been primed by Falling Bubbles.

In a budget-focused list, the pairing is simple in theory but exact in execution: you accelerate a tide of Water Energy using Falling Bubbles, position Kingler V to threaten with Raging Pincer, and rely on strong draw and disruption to keep your head above water. The self-damage on the second attack is a reminder to plan resets and bench protection into your draw engines and Stadiums or Tools that sustain your squad across multiple turns. It’s a healthy dynamic that rewards players who balance risk and tempo rather than chasing a single big swing every turn 🔄.

Budget Deck Skeleton: How to maximize value

Kingler V truly shines when you build around a tight energy economy and reliable card draw. Here’s a practical way to structure a budget build that feels premium without breaking the bank:

  • Kingler V x4 as the engine and primary finisher on mega turns. Its high HP and the energy-accelerating Falling Bubbles make it a dependable centerpiece in Expanded.
  • Water Energy in the 12–14 range to ensure you can fuel Falling Bubbles consistently and set up Raging Pincer for knockout bursts.
  • Draw & support cards such as Professor’s Research and Marnie to keep your hand fresh and prevent energy-droughts during long games. A couple of disruption options like Boss’s Orders can help you target key threats and protect your own attackers as the match unfolds.
  • Supporting Water options that remain accessible in Expanded, enabling you to pressure while you build your energy bank. Think of it as a “tempo-y” synergy between acceleration and pressure, rather than a single-blast approach.

Pricing-wise, Kingler V sits at a sensible crossroads. CardMarket shows a low entry point around €0.10 and a current average near €0.87, while the holo variant on TCGPlayer can range significantly higher (roughly from a few dollars to well into the single digits depending on condition and stock). For players chasing a thrill without a heavy wallet, this is a compelling value proposition — a card that matters on the table without demanding a premium price tag. The budget mindset here is not “cheap power” but “efficient power.”

Strategic considerations and tournament-ready ideas

Beyond the raw numbers, the real beauty of Kingler V is its tempo potential. Because Falling Bubbles can dramatically accelerate your energy cushion, you can often threaten with Raging Pincer a turn sooner than your opponent anticipates. However, the key to staying ahead is discipline: avoid overextending the bench, manage the self-damage of Pincer, and keep your energy pool alive for the next, even bigger attack. In Expanded, you’ll find a broader ecosystem of energy accelerators and draw engines that can be woven into a lean Kingler V shell, giving you a consistent path to victory even on a budget. For collectors, the holo V copy represents a distinctive centerpiece that nods to the Brilliant Stars era. The card’s artwork evokes a churning sea and a determined Kingler ready to rake through an opponent’s lines — a strong storytelling moment for any Water-focused collection. The card’s HP 220 and its status as a Basic V help explain why players gravitate toward it for both playability and display value. Collectors often consider the premium of the holo variant, but the real value is in how often it appears on the tabletop and how often it helps turn the tide in actual matches.

As you assemble your deck, remember that Kingler V’s strength lies in the rhythm between acceleration and aggression. The budget-friendly nature of its core mechanic means you can experiment with multiple lines of play, refine your sequencing, and outpace the field through superior energy management and tactical targeting. And when executed well, a well-timed Falling Bubbles can cascade into a devastating Raging Pincer finish that leaves your opponent with little recourse.

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