Standard Deck Tech: League Deck - Charizard ex

After we got a few leaks at the end of August 2024, the Pokémon Company finally decided to officially announce the release of the League Deck: Charizard ex, set for November 15th, 2024.

This product will include:

- An instruction guide about the "starter deck" and a strategy sheet that includes a few suggestions if you want to upgrade it.

- 7 Dice (one coin toss die and six damage counter dice)

- 2 Coin condition markers.

- 1 Deck box.

- 1 Accessory box.

- 1 Pokémon TCG Live code card to play this product online.

In some countries, like Brazil, this product will not include the special themed dice, the damage counters, nor the deck box (which was adapted into a simple cardboard box). This product also hasn't received a release date yet in these countries.

In the west, this product will cost around US$29.99.

Three incredibly strong cards that are quite popular this season will be included in this league deck: Charizard ex sv4pt5 54 (whose attack deals more damage according to each Prize card your opponent has taken), Pidgeot ex sv3 164 (whose ability lets you get one specific card from your deck and add it to your hand, and is great if you need to set up specific plays), and, finally, one of the most expensive ACE SPEC cards right now, Prime Catcher TEF 157, which works, as the name suggests, like a catcher.

Decklist

Charizard ex Review

With this Pokémon, you'll basically use your disadvantages to your favor and deal even more damage. If your opponent has taken four Prize cards, you'll deal 120 extra damage plus 180 base damage. This adds up to a total of 300 damage, which is great.

If you're already behind in the Prize card race, you can use Defiance Band sv1 169 to deal an extra 30 damage. However, keep in mind that you can only use this card if you have more Prize cards remaining than your opponent!

And, of course, if your opponent has taken 5 Prize cards, your Charizard ex sv4pt5 54 will deal 330 damage!

Charmeleon

This Pokémon was released in Paldean Fates, the special set, and it is known for its ability, which prevents all effects of attacks used by your opponent.

One of the biggest issues in the current format is Dragapult ex TWM 130 because of its second attack, Phantom Dive. As it gives you damage counters to put on enemy Pokémon, it can easily take down "baby" Pokémon in just two turns, and delay you considerably if you're trying to evolve Charmander. Charmeleon's ability will be great to deal with that.

Moltres

Before we go through this Pokémon, I'd like to clarify an important detail: to this moment, I haven't been able to get images of all the cards included in this product, and Moltres is precisely the Pokémon I haven't been able to look at. However, I do have two guesses about which Moltres this product will include:

> Moltres BRS 21 from Sword/Shield: Brilliant Stars and its attack, Inferno Wings: for just one Fire energy, it deals 20 + 70 damage if there are any damage counters on it (without applying weakness). It is a fast way to deal damage to the opponent, and is easy to set up.

> Moltres sv3pt5 146 from Scarlet/Violet: 151. It is useful because its ability zeroes Moltres own retreat cost if it has any Fire energies attached, but its attack, Blazing Flight, a great "sniper" attack, is not that great because it requires three pure Fire energies. This means you'll have to use Charizard ex sv4pt5 54's ability just to use this attack.

If this is the Moltres included in this product, I highly recommend you add Canceling Cologne ASR 136 to the list to deal with opponents that play Manaphy BRS 41.

Pidgeot ex: This Deck's Recursive Pokémon

With its ability, Quick Search, Pidgeot ex sv3 164 is practically the "heart of this deck", and can get you any essential card.

However, you can only use it once per turn (even if you have two Pidgeot ex in play).

Trainers: The Most Important Cards of the Deck

Item

Prime Catcher

This is the third most critical card included in this product: it is also one of the most expensive ACE SPEC cards in the format. Thanks to this product, it will probably be cheaper soon.

It lets you switch one of your opponent's benched Pokémon with their active Pokémon. Next, you'll swap your own active Pokémon for one of your benched Pokémon, and it will be your new attacker from then on.

Buddy-Buddy Poffin

This is a welcome card in this deck. It lets you look for two Pokémon with 70 HP or less and put them on your bench, so it is great to set up most of your Pokémon, as most of them have 70 HP or less.

Decklist

Draw Power

The changes we'll suggest focus more on recursive Pokémon, as this deck is too dependent on Pidgeot ex sv3 164 and might brick from time to time.

Our suggestions are:

1) Bibarel BRS 121 because of its ability, Industrious Incisors, which draws cards for you until you have 5 cards in hand.

2) Fezandipiti ex SFA 38's ability, Flip the Script, also draws you cards under a few conditions. It is a great "staple" from the latest special set, Shrouded Fable.

Protection for your Pokémon

1) Manaphy BRS 41 is extremely useful because of its ability, Wave Veil. You should put it in play early on and protect your Pokémon from sniper attackers like Radiant Greninja ASR 46 and Greninja ex TWM 106. However, keep in mind this Pokémon doesn't protect your Pokémon from damage counters, like Dragapult ex TWM 130's from Phantom Dive.

2) I also highly recommend Rabsca TEF 24's entire evolution line because of its ability, Spherical Shield. It prevents all damage from effects of attacks from enemy Pokémon done to your benched Pokémon. So, this Pokémon counters any "sniper" and "spread" attacks!

Not to mention, it counters even Technical Machine: Devolution sv4 177 attacks, which are quite popular in multiple decks.

Support Attacks

In this deck, Mawile LOR 71's first attack, Tempting Trap, is what we want: your opponent's active Pokémon won't be able to retreat next turn, and this defending Pokémon will also take 90 extra damage from any of your attacks on your turn.

Support Attackers

1) Entei V BRS 22 is a versatile attacker because of its attack, Burning Rondo, which can deal up to 220 damage.

I picked this Pokémon V instead of Rotom V CRZ 45 and Lumineon V BRS 40, which are usually quite popular in many decks, because they're easy targets. Your opponent can easily knock them out and get two Prize cards.

Furthermore, as it is a Pokémon V, you can use Forest Seal Stone SIT 156 and its VStar ability to filter your deck and get any card you want.

As for Entei's ability, Fleet-Footed, it is quite useful: once per turn, if Entei V BRS 22 is your active Pokémon, you may draw an extra card from the top of your deck.

2) Radiant Charizard CRZ 20 is your "endgame" attacker because its attack deals 250 damage. The trick is using its ability, Excited Heart.

If your opponent manages to get five Prize cards, this attack will only cost one Fire energy, and thus you'll be able to deal 250 damage more easily.

Trainers

Supporters

For this list, I decided to use three copies of the cards above, instead of the original 4 Iono sv4pt5 80 and just 2 Arven sv3 186. Arven is great in this deck and makes a lot of sense, as we play three tools: Technical Machine: Evolution sv4 178, Forest Seal Stone SIT 156, and Defiance Band sv1 169. We simply needed more copies of it.

It is also one of the most important supporters in the entire deck because it lets you get a Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144 from your deck. Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144, in turn, is essential to get Charmander sv4pt5 7 and other "baby" Pokémon.

Items

Hisuian Heavy Ball

This card lets you get specific Pokémon that are in your "Prize card pile".

Counter Catch

Forest Seal Stone

This card will only be useful for Entei V BRS 22, which is the only Pokémon V in this deck that can use it.

You can use its VStar ability to get any essential cards from your deck.

Stadium

This Stadium will be useful to lock down enemy decks that lean on special energies, like Lugia VSTAR SIT 139.

Yes, definitely! These cards will last at least two years, so they're a great investment.

Furthermore, this product includes a few "staples" that are viable in other decks, like Prime Catcher TEF 157 and Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144.

I have no doubt in my mind that everyone is anxiously waiting for this deck. It will most likely be really popular among the community.

What about you, did you like this deck? Tell us your thoughts in our comment section below!

Thank you for reading, and see you next time!