Pokémon TCG - Standard Deck Guide: Mega Latias ex + Ethan's Ho-Oh ex

The new Pokémon TCG set, Mega Evolution, will come out soon, so, obviously, many players are anxious to play the new Mega Evolutions in their lists.

Some of the new Pokémon show a lot of promise, though others are still a mystery. One of these mystery Pokémon was precisely Mega Latias. It deals a lot of damage but also needs a lot of energies to work and forces us to discard all energies attached to it after it attacks.

However, in Japan, players have already found a solution for this problem. In this article, we'll show you everything about it, bit by bit!

The List

Pokémon (14)

2 Ethan's Slugma DRI 35

2 Ethan's Magcargo DRI 36

3 Ethan's Ho-Oh ex DRI 39

2 Mega Latias ex

1 Latios

2 Latias ex SSP 76

1 Fezandipiti ex SFA 38

1 Squawkabilly ex sv2 169

Trainers (32)

1 Gravity Mountain SSP 177

1 Lively Stadium SSP 180

3 Arven sv3 186

3 Professor's Research PRE 122

2 Boss's Orders (Ghetsis) sv2 172

2 Iono sv2 185

1 Penny sv1 183

1 Lillie's Determination

2 Pokégear 3.0 BLK 84

2 Ultra Ball sv1 196

2 Nest Ball sv1 181

3 Earthen Vessel PRE 106

3 Night Stretcher SFA 61

3 Superior Energy Retrieval sv2 189

1 Bravery Charm sv2 173

1 Protective Goggles sv3pt5 164

1 Precious Trolley SSP 185

Energies (14)

12 Basic Fire Energy sv3 230

2 Basic Psychic Energy sv3pt5 207

Mega Latias ex: The Star of the Deck

Its main attacks are:

- Strafe (C): deals 40 damage and lets you swap this Pokémon with one of your Benched Pokémon.

- Illusory Impulse (F)(P)(C): deals 300 damage but forces you to discard all energies attached to it.

Understanding The Main Combo

Illusory Impulse is the core of the entire strategy, and it needs a very specific set of energies.

So, how do we get them?

Simple. We'll use Ethan's Ho-Oh ex DRI 39's ability to attach Basic Fire Energy sv3 230 to Ethan's Magcargo DRI 36.

1) Ethan's Ho-Oh ex DRI 39's ability lets you attach 2 Basic Fire Energy sv3 230 from your hand (which you'll get with Earthen Vessel PRE 106) to one of your Benched Pokémon, as long as they're Ethan's (please pay attention to this).

2) The Pokémon you'll attach energies to will be Ethan's Magcargo DRI 36, at least 2 Basic Fire Energy sv3 230. This will help you set up Mega Latias ex because you'll get Fire and colorless energies. Then, all you need to do is attach a Basic Psychic Energy sv3pt5 207 to it from your hand as your energy that turn!

3) And then you'll use the Latios from the new set, Mega Evolution. Its ability states, "If Latias ex is on your board and you move it from your Bench to the Active Spot, you may move any energies attached to your Benched Pokémon to Mega Latias ex."

This is how you'll move these energies to Mega Latias ex!

4) To move Mega Latias ex from your Bench to your Active Spot, you'll use Latias ex SSP 76. Its ability lets you retreat all your basic Pokémon for free!

This is how you'll move Mega Latias ex. Afterward, all you have to do is use Latios' ability. That's the main combo/loop in this strategy!

Other Recursive Pokémon

Card Draw Pokémon

Fezandipiti ex SFA 38's ability, Flip the Script, is what you want. It'll draw you three cards if one of your Pokémon was Knocked Out by enemy attacks on your opponent's last turn.

Squawkabilly ex sv2 169's ability, Squawk and Seize, lets you discard your hand and draw 6 new cards when you put it on your bench for the first time.

Trainers

Supporter to Get Items and Tools

Supporter to Sabotage Your Opponent's Hand and Renew Yours

Supporter to "Pull" Enemy Pokémon

Supporters to Get Resources from Your Deck

Hilda WHT 84 lets you get an evolution Pokémon and an energy, basic or special, from your deck.

Colress's Tenacity SFA 57, in turn, lets you get a Stadium and a basic or special energy from your deck.

Items

To get Pokémon:

To get Supporters:

To get Energies:

Tools

Bravery Charm sv2 173 gives 50 extra HP to the basic Pokémon it is attached to.

Protective Goggles sv3pt5 164 makes the Pokémon it is attached to immune to its weakness.

Stadiums

Gravity Mountain SSP 177 nerfs stage 2 Pokémon by -30 HP.

Lively Stadium SSP 180 buffs your basic Pokémon by +30 HP.

If you enjoy Mega Latias, then this list is an opportunity to explore it, as it plays a reliable energy combo. Because this is a Dragon Pokémon, it is also resilient against other common Pokémon types.

However, we will have to wait and see if it will have space in the meta in the near future, as it rivals Charizard ex sv3pt5 6 in terms of raw damage.

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

Thank you for reading, and see you next time!