Pokémon TCG: Expanded Deck Tech - Mega Clefable ex Upgrade

The new set, Perfect Order, gave us new Mega Evolutions to try out in Expanded.

This time, we're going to explore Mega Clefable ex POR 31, which is quite fast, as it is a stage 1 Pokémon, and doesn't need lots of energies to attack, which is also excellent!

That being said, let's see how this deck works!

Decklist

POKÉMON: 16

4 Clefairy LOR 62

3 Mega Clefable ex POR 31

2 Lillie's Clefairy ex JTG 173

2 Spritzee POR 35

2 Aromatisse POR 36

1 Mew UNB 76

1 Tapu Lele-GX GRI 60

1 Latias ex SSP 76

TRAINERS: 36

2 Carmine TWM 145

2 Arven sv3 186

2 Iono sv2 185

2 Boss's Orders ASC 256

1 Tulip sv4 181

3 Mystery Garden MEG 122

3 Battle VIP Pass FST 225

3 Ultra Ball ASC 264

3 Trainers's Mail ROS 92

2 Earthen Vessel PRE 106

3 Wondrous Patch PFL 94

3 VS Seeker PHF 109

2 Superior Energy Retrieval sv2 189

1 Ordinary Rod SSH 171

1 Energy Recycler DRI 164

2 Handheld Fan TWM 150

1 Unfair Stamp TWM 165

ENERGIES: 8

8 Basic Psychic Energy sv3pt5 207

Deck Structure

Mega Clefable ex: Main Attacker

Its ability, Luminous Wing, protects it from all effects on enemy Pokémon with abilities.

This means, does that particular Pokémon have an ability? That Pokémon won't be able to deal damage to Mega Clefable ex. This includes "special conditions" and effects like "next turn, this Pokémon can't attack", which are pretty common. Currently, some players use Mewtwo & Mew-GX UNM 71 to copy Glaceon-EX FCO 20's Crystal Ray and do exactly that, for instance.

Mega Clefable ex's attack, Shooting Moons, deals 120 damage. It also lets you discard up to 4 cards from your hand, and, if you do, deal 40 extra damage for each card you discard. Like so, you can deal up to 160 extra damage and a total of 280 damage with this attack!

This means we can knock out nearly all VStar Pokémon in Expanded, as they have around 280 HP, as well as nearly all TAG TEAM-GX Pokémon, like Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX CEC 156, one of the scariest TAG TEAM Pokémon in the format (on top of it all, we'll get 3 Prize cards for knocking them out).

Lillie's Clefairy ex: Support Attacker

This is another excellent attacker in this list. It is particularly scary to Dragon Pokémon because its ability, Fairy Zone, makes all Dragon Pokémon weak to Psychic Pokémon.

Its main attack, Full Moon Rondo, deals 20 base damage plus 20 extra damage for each Pokémon in play, including yours and the opponent's! It also doesn't cost a lot of energies: just (P)(C).

Recursive Pokémon

Baby Pokémon

Clefairy LOR 62 (from Sword & Shield: Lost Origin) will get us the energies we need. You can use its ability, Moon-Watching Party, when Clefairy LOR 62 is your active Pokémon. Then, for each Clefairy LOR 62 on your bench, you can get 1 Basic Psychic Energy sv3pt5 207 from your deck and attach it to each of them.

This Pokémon will let you get your Psychic energies from your deck and put them in play, as it's a great way to filter them. It will also let you set up the Pokémon you already have in play and get to your Mega Clefable ex POR 31 faster. Then, all you have to do is evolve it from any Clefairy you already set up.

Mew UNB 76's ability protects your bench from sniper damage. It will protect your Clefairy LOR 62, so it's quite critical.

Please note that sniper damage is different from spread damage. Mew UNB 76 protects your Pokémon from attacks like Greninja ex TWM 106's, Kyogre SHF 21's, Mega Starmie ex POR 21's, and Greninja VUnion's, for instance. But Pokémon that deal spread damage, like Dragapult ex PRE 73, will still be able to deal damage to your bench after you use this Mew.

Aromatisse POR 36's ability, Scent Collection, lets you look in your deck for 2 basic Psychic energies (P) and put them in your hand. So, it's also essential for Mega Clefable ex POR 31.

I decided to play a 2-2 line with these Pokémon because we can use more Items to get energies in the late game.

Rule Box Pokémon

► Tapu Lele-GX GRI 60's ability, Wonder Tag, lets you look for a Supporter in your deck and put it in your hand when you play it from your hand to your bench.

This Pokémon isn't vulnerable to any Pokémon type, which is one less thing to worry about. It's also a great attacker because it deals 20 damage for each energy attached to both active Pokémon (don't apply weakness or resistance with this attack).

► Latias ex SSP 76's ability, Concealed Cards, lets you retreat your basic Pokémon for free. Like so, you'll be able to move your Clefairy LOR 62 around more easily.

Trainers

Supporters

Carmine TWM 145 renews your hand, as it lets you draw 5 new cards.

One of its strengths is that you can play it on your very first turn, even if you're the first to play, which breaks the old Pokémon TCG rule that states you can't do that.

Arven sv3 186 lets you filter through your deck and get an Item and a Tool.

Iono sv2 185 forces both players to shuffle their cards back into their decks and then draw cards according to the number of Prize cards each of them still has left*.

Boss's Orders ASC 256 lets you pull benched enemy Pokémon into the active spot so you can knock out any particular problematic piece.

Tulip sv4 181 recycles 4 cards (Psychic Pokémon and energies) into your hand.

Items

Items to Get Pokémon

Ultra Ball BRS 150 lets you get any Pokémon (basic or evolution) if you discard 2 cards from your hand.

Battle VIP Pass FST 225 lets you get two basic Pokémon from your deck and put them on your bench directly. However, you can only use this card on your very first turn. Afterward, it will be dead in your hand.

Item to Filter and Get Cards In General

This card lets you look at the top 4 cards in your deck and get any Trainer you find there, including Supporters, Items, Tools, and Stadiums.

Item to Get Energies

If we discard a card from our hand, this card lets us look for 2 basic energies in our deck and put them in our hand.

The best way to use it is by discarding Battle VIP Pass FST 225.

Items to Recycle Cards In General

Super Rod sv2 188 recycles a combination of 3 Pokémon and/or basic energies from your discard pile back into your deck.

VS Seeker PHF 109 is the most important item in this list because it lets you recycle 1 Supporter from your discard pile and put it in your hand.

Superior Energy Retrieval sv2 189 lets you recycle up to 4 basic energies from your discard pile back into your hand, but, to use it, you'll have to discard 2 cards from your hand as well. It's very useful in this list.

Energy Recycler DRI 164 lets you recycle up to 5 basic energies from your discard pile and shuffle them back into your deck.

Wondrous Patch PFL 94 lets you recycle 1 Basic Psychic Energy sv3pt5 207 from your discard pile and attach it to one of your Psychic Pokémon.

Tools

Handheld Fan is a way to sabotage your opponent.

If you attach it to a Mega Clefable ex POR 31 and your opponent attacks it, you can move one energy attached to their active Pokémon to one of their benched Pokémon.

Stadium

This Stadium lets you draw cards based on how many Psychic Pokémon are on your side of the board. You also have to discard an energy from your hand to use it.

ACE SPEC

Unfair Stamp is considered an Item, though it is also an ACE SPEC. It activates when one of your Pokémon is knocked out. On the next turn, you and your opponent will shuffle your cards back into your decks, your opponent will draw 2 cards, and you'll draw 5 new cards.

It's another way to sabotage them, and it's quite useful because you'll lose more than one Clefairy LOR 62 when you play this list. Because of this card, you'll be able to counter-attack as soon as you do.

Suggestions

Secret Box lets you filter through your deck and get 1 Supporter, 1 Item, 1 Tool, and 1 Stadium as long as you discard 3 cards from your hand as well.

As we mentioned before, this deck plays Battle VIP Pass FST 225, so you should discard these as soon as they're no longer useful.

You can also replace Secret Box for Computer Search BCR 137, which lets you get any card in your deck if you discard 2 cards from your hand.

Pros

This list is easy to set up because it centers around a stage 1 Pokémon, Clefairy. You can easily get to Mega Clefable as you play, and it's quite practical.

It can also knock out, in just 1 turn, 90% of all the VStar Pokémon in Expanded because they have around 280 HP, as well as 99% of all the TAG TEAM-GX Pokémon in Expanded. The only exception is Magikarp & Wailord-GX PR-SM SM166.

Mewtwo & Mew-GX UNM 71 lists that center around copying Glaceon-EX FCO 20's Crystal Ray have no shot against it.

Dragon lists, like Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX CEC 156 and Regidrago VSTAR SIT 136 will also struggle against it.

Cons

Decks that use Path to the Peak CRE 148 are great against this deck's Rule Box Pokémon.

Furthermore, Pokémon that have over 300 HP will be a problem because you'll need 2 turns to knock them out. This will give your opponent time to get back into the match and find solutions.

Pokémon that prevent Pokémon V and Pokémon ex from dealing damage, like Mimikyu sv2 97, will also be a problem.

Finally, One Hit K.O. lists, like Mega Absol ex MEG 86 and Yveltal SHF 46, will be difficult to beat.

If you enjoy Clefairy lists, this one is great, particularly in Expanded. It's also a way to beat Dragon lists, if you're struggling against them.

Another way to play this archetype would be to lean into massive healing. Instead of Jacinthe POR 110 (which also came out in Perfect Order and heals 150 HP), you can use Max Potion GRI 128. As such, you don't have to play a Supporter to heal your Pokémon.

Don't worry about losing energies with Max Potion GRI 128 because you'll have Superior Energy Retrieval sv2 189 to get them back, as well as other combos, like Energy Recycler DRI 164.

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

Thank you for reading, and see you next time!