Evocon Tier 1 Stage 2 Control Item Lock

Evocon, short for Evolution Control, is a powerful archetype that aims to set up Vileplume on turn 1 to deny the use of Items to both players throughout the game.

The core combo is this: going second, use Guzma & Hala to search for Artazon, Technical Machine: Evolution, and Capture Energy or Jet Energy depending on your hand. Get Bunnelby Active with an Energy, and Oddish and Pidgey on the Bench (Fan Rotom can help by grabbing Bunnelby and Pidgey). Then, attach TM Evolution to Bunnelby, which can attack twice thanks to its Omega Barrier Ancient Trait. This lets you use Evolution on Oddish and Pidgey, then again on Gloom and Pidgeotto, ending the turn with Vileplume and Pidgeot ex in play. From there on, Vileplume severely limits the opponent's options, while Pidgeot ex can search for any card each turn, usually a Supporter.

Pure Control versions of the deck have existed and, even won CL Aichi in 2024. However, with the advent of various forms of counterplay, especially in Regidrago, Evocon decks tend to win by taking Prizes with an attacker (many options exist) rather than simply deck out the opponent. It should be noted, though, that the threat of milling always exists, thanks to Bunnelby's Burrow which can discard two cards per turn (since Bunnelby attacks twice).

Evocon is extremely powerful when it sets up, but will struggle if it can't do its turn 1 play. To help with this, lists tend to play multiple outs to Guzma & Hala, most notably Tag Call and sometimes Call Bell.

Although Vileplume is a very dangerous card, many decks have counterplay against it, notably Wobbuffet which can shut off Irritating Pollen (and Quick Search) and give the player their Items back. On the other hand, Evocon can counter this by playing Stealthy Hood on Vileplume to protect it against Bide Barricade.

Another development in the metagame is that, in the past year, many decks have started running a second copy of Guzma rather than relying too much on VS Seeker, which can help to KO Vileplume and get rid of the lock.

Despite that, Evocon should definitely not be underestimated. It is one of the format's most iconic decks and exemplifies what Control can be in Expanded.