Pokémon TCG: Standard Deck Tech: Mega Charizard X ex - Theories and Possibilities

The new Pokémon TCG block, Mega Evolution, just came out in September! Soon we'll also get a new set, Phantasmal Flames. If you're a competitive, serious player, then you will probably study the Japanese meta way before the new cards hit the West.

The Japanese set Inferno X, which includes part of the future Western set Phantasmal Flames, will be out on September 26th. This means we'll have enough time to analyze all the new decks and see how they impact the game before it reaches the West. One of the most promising Pokémon is Mega Charizard X, which will breathe some new air into the Fire archetype.

Mega Charizard X ex: The Main Star of the Deck

Its main attack deals 90 extra damage for each Basic Fire Energy SVE 10 you discard from your Pokémon. That's right, you can discard as many Basic Fire Energy SVE 10 as you want from your Pokémon to deal extra damage with Mega Charizard X ex.

If you discard 5 Fire energies, you'll deal an incredible 450 damage, which is enough to Knock Out everything in the meta through sheer force alone. This Pokémon will definitely be formidable as well as quite efficient.

Mega Charizard X ex with Oricorio

The List

Pokémon (14)

2 Charmander (Phantasmal Flames)

2 Charmander sv3pt5 4

2 Charmeleon sv4pt5 8

2 Mega Charizard X ex (Phantasmal Flames)

2 Charizard ex svp 196

2 Oricorio ex (Phantasmal Flames)

1 Fezandipiti ex SFA 38

1 Cleffa sv3 80

Trainers (38)

2 Artazon sv2 171

1 Jamming Tower TWM 153

4 Arven sv3 186

2 Brock's Scouting JTG 146

2 Iono sv2 185

2 Boss's Orders (Ghetsis) sv2 172

1 Professor Turo's Scenario sv4 171

4 Ultra Ball sv1 196

4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144

2 Rare Candy sv1 191

3 Earthen Vessel PRE 106

2 Counter Catcher sv4 160

3 Superior Energy Retrieval sv2 189

1 Energy Recycler DRI 164

2 Super Rod sv2 188

2 Technical Machine: Evolution sv4 178

1 Maximum Belt TEF 154

Energies (8)

8 Basic Fire Energy SVE 10

Oricorio ex: The Main Recursive Pokémon

Its ability states that you can only use it if you have a Mega Pokémon ex in play. If you do, it lets you attach as many Basic Fire Energy SVE 10 from your hand to your Benched Fire Pokémon as you want.

So, this Pokémon is an energy engine for Mega Charizard X ex.

Terastal Charizard ex: Alternative Attacker

This list plays this card because it is a Darkness Pokémon. As such, it will be a great ally against Mega Gardevoir ex, a promising Pokémon for the next meta. Terastal Charizard ex could become one of the best ways to "counter" it.

Its attack deals 30 extra damage for each Prize card your opponent has taken.

Its ability is quite useful too because, when you evolve your Charmeleon into Charizard ex, it lets you get up to 3 Basic Fire Energy SVE 10 from your deck and attach them to your Pokémon however you like.

Mega Charizard X ex with Emboar

The List

Pokémon (17)

2 Charmander (Phantasmal Flames)

2 Charmander sv3pt5 4

2 Charmeleon sv4pt5 8

2 Mega Charizard X ex (Phantasmal Flames)

1 Charizard ex svp 196

1 Charizard ex sv3pt5 6

2 Tepig WHT 11

1 Pignite WHT 12

2 Emboar WHT 13

1 Fezandipiti ex SFA 38

1 Cleffa sv3 80

Trainers (35)

2 Artazon sv2 171

1 Jamming Tower TWM 153

4 Arven sv3 186

1 Brock's Scouting JTG 146

2 Iono sv2 185

2 Boss's Orders (Ghetsis) sv2 172

1 Professor Turo's Scenario sv4 171

4 Ultra Ball sv1 196

4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144

2 Rare Candy sv1 191

2 Earthen Vessel PRE 106

2 Counter Catcher sv4 160

3 Superior Energy Retrieval sv2 189

2 Super Rod sv2 188

2 Technical Machine: Evolution sv4 178

1 Maximum Belt TEF 154

Energies (8)

8 Basic Fire Energy SVE 10

Emboar: The Main Recursive Pokémon

Its ability, Inferno Fandango, lets you attach as many Basic Fire Energy SVE 10 from your hand to your Pokémon as you want. It is the same concept as "Rain Dance", but for the Fire archetype, so this Emboar is actually more efficient as a "single prize" card than the Oricorio ex in the first list we covered.

I mentioned how important it would be when we reviewed the best cards from Black Bolt & White Flare. It will become quite relevant quite soon, I believe.

Terastal Charizard ex: Alternative Attacker

Once again, this list plays Terastal Charizard ex to possibly counter Mega Gardevoir ex.

Charizard ex from the "151" Set: Brute-Strength Attacker

This list plays this Pokémon as a preemptive measure. Instead of giving your opponent 3 Prize cards, this version will only give them 2.

Its first attack deals 60 + 100 damage if Charizard ex has any damage counters. If your opponent is almost Knocking it Out, you can also just use Professor Turo's Scenario sv4 171, return it to your hand, and prevent your opponent from taking 2 Prize cards.

Finally, its second attack deals 330 damage just like that, which can catch your opponent off-guard. With Emboar WHT 13, you'll easily get the energies you need to use it.

Favorable

To understand why the Grass archetype will most likely start dominating the format and why Mega Charizard X will be a great counter for it, we need to consider the following:

- Cynthia's Garchomp ex DRI 104 will become relevant because of Mega Lucario ex, coming soon in the Mega Evolution set. The Grass archetype will be a decent option to deal with it, as we mentioned when we covered Serperior ex BLK 3 in this article.

- To counter Pokémon that are weak against the Grass archetype, like Marnie's Grimmsnarl ex DRI 136, Serperior ex BLK 3 will be a great choice.

As such, it will be just a matter of time until people see its potential and start playing Grass Pokémon. Then, we can just use Mega Charizard X ex to counter it.

Furthermore, as Mega Evolutions will have a lot of HP (more than 340 HP), we'll only be able to Knock them Out with a few Pokémon, including Mega Charizard X ex. It often deals 450 damage, that is, if you discard 6 energies or more, and thus can Knock Out the entire meta.

Unfavorable

- Decks that are immune to Pokémon ex, like Mimikyu sv2 97, could be an issue. In fact, this Pokémon will probably start seeing a lot of play.

- Mega Charizard X ex itself is a bit slow because it relies on its evolution line. You'll need time and Technical Machine: Evolution sv4 178, as well as Rare Candy sv1 191, to set it up in time.

- If too many Fire Pokémon start seeing play, some players might invest in Water archetypes, which were relevant at the beginning of the Scarlet & Violet block. This archetype truly can come back, particularly Feraligatr with Milotic ex, which can be updated for the new season.

- Raging Bolt ex TEF 123 could be an issue, as it is faster and deals just as much damage. The Prize card race in this matchup will be quite difficult.

- Decks that "devolve" Pokémon with Technical Machine: Devolution sv4 177 will be a problem. They'll simply sabotage Mega Charizard X ex's evolution line entirely and disrupt you considerably.

If you enjoy Mega Charizard X ex, this is a great opportunity to invest in this list and start looking for Emboar WHT 13, particularly as it will become a "staple" soon. If you do, once Phantasmal Flames comes to the West, you'll be ready.

Furthermore, if you enjoy this Pokémon as well as brute-strength strategies, this is one of the best options the new Pokémon TCG block can offer, particularly when it comes to Mega Evolutions.

What do you think? Tell us your thoughts in our comment section below.

Thank you for reading, and see you next time!