Pokémon TCG: Expanded Deck Tech - Mega Heracross ex (Tanker and Healer)

Phantasmal Flames gave us Mega Heracross ex PFL 4, which is a lot more playable and efficient than its previous version from X/Y: Furious Fists.

The deck we'll discuss today heals constantly and leans on resilient Pokémon, particularly Mega Heracross ex PFL 4.

Decklist

Mega Heracross ex: Main Attacker

This Pokémon has two excellent attacks.

Juggernaut Horn is a sort of "vengeance" strategy, as it deals 100 damage plus the damage it took in the opponent's previous turn (if this damage didn't knock out Mega Heracross ex).

So, to deal a lot of damage with these "counter-attacks", you'll have to buff its HP. That's why this list plays Fighting Fury Belt BKP 99.

As for its second attack, Mountain Ramming, it deals 170 damage and also discards the top 2 cards in the opponent's deck. It's a "micro" mill effect.

Recursive Pokémon

Baby Pokémon

Rillaboom SHF 13's ability, Voltage Beat, is the perfect way to attach energies to your Pokémon directly from your deck.

Cherrim UPR 11's ability, Weather Guard, makes your Grass Pokémon immune to their natural weakness, Fire Pokémon.

Rabsca TEF 24's ability, Spherical Shield, protects your benched Pokémon from enemy attacks and attack effects.

Rule Box Pokémon

Radiant Tsareena SIT 16's ability, Elegant Heal, heals all your Pokémon in play by 20 HP.

You can only use Squawkabilly ex PR-SV 160's ability, Squawk and Seize, on your very first turn (whether you start first or not), but it renews your hand. You'll get 6 new cards after you play it. Squawkabilly ex doesn't even have to be on your active spot.

Tapu Lele-GX GRI 60a'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.

You can also use this Pokémon occasionally as an "attacker". If your opponent's active Pokémon has a lot of energies attached, Tapu Lele-GX's attack, Energy Drive, can be useful. It deals 20 damage per energy attached to both active Pokémon.

Mew ex sv3pt5 151's ability, Restart, draws cards.

You can use it as an attacker as well because Genome Hacking, its attack, only costs 3 colorless energies. You can easily get these energies with Rillaboom SHF 13's ability, as it gives you 2 basic Grass energies.

Trainers

Supporters

Arven sv3 186 filters items and tools from your deck.

Iono sv2 185 sabotages the opponent's hand and renews yours according to how many Prize cards each of you have left.

Boss's Orders MEG 114 pulls an enemy Pokémon into the active spot. That way, you can knock out problematic bench Pokémon.

Items to Get Pokémon

Bug Catching Set TWM 143 lets you look at the top 7 cards in your deck and get either Grass Pokémon or basic Grass energies.

Buddy-Buddy Poffin PRE 101 gets 2 basic Pokémon with up to 70 HP from your deck and puts them in your bench.

Nest Ball SUM 123 gets a basic Pokémon from your deck and puts it in your bench.

Quick Ball FST 237 gets a basic Pokémon from your deck and puts it in your hand, but only if you discard a card first.

Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146 gets a basic Pokémon from your Prize cards and puts it in your hand. You'll have to put this card in its place if you find one, but it's still great.

Item to Heal Mega Heracross ex

This item completely heals a Pokémon, but you'll also have to discard all energies attached to that Pokémon afterward.

You can take advantage of this later with Rillaboom SHF 13, which gets Grass energies from your deck and lets you attach them to a Pokémon. The idea is to attach these energies to Mega Heracross ex PFL 4 after you heal it completely!

Items to Recycle Cards in General

VS Seeker PHF 109 is the most important card in this group because it recycles 1 Supporter from the discard pile and puts it in your hand.

Super Rod sv2 188 recycles 3 cards from the discard pile and shuffles them back into your deck, Pokémon or basic energies.

Energy Recycler DRI 164 recycles 5 basic energies from the discard pile and shuffles them back into the deck.

Tools

This tool is perfect for Mega Heracross ex PFL 4, as it gives it an extra 40 HP and makes it deal 10 extra damage.

Stadiums

Forest of Vitality MEG 117 is a way to evolve your Grass Pokémon (except on your very first turn). It is crucial for your recursive baby Pokémon.

Life Forest ◇ LOT 180 is incredibly strong because it heals one of your Grass Pokémon by 60 HP and removes all its special conditions.

ACE SPEC

This card is perfect to put your basic Pokémon in play on your very first turns.

Pros

This list plays a lot of cards that attach energies so you can set up Mega Heracross ex PFL 4. It also makes it a very resilient Pokémon because of Fighting Fury Belt BKP 99 and Cherrim UPR 11. The tool buffs its HP, and Cherrim removes its main weakness.

Furthermore, it plays lots of heals, like Life Forest ◇ LOT 180 and Radiant Tsareena SIT 16, which, in one turn, heal a Pokémon by 80 HP!

Cons

Decks that "devolve" Pokémon with cards like Espeon ex PRE 34 or Technical Machine: Devolution sv4 177 are quite troublesome for this list, particularly if Rabsca TEF 24 isn't on your bench.

Decks that deal a lot of damage, particularly more than Mega Heracross ex PFL 4's total HP even with Fighting Fury Belt BKP 99, are a problem. For instance, Mega Charizard X ex PFL 13 and Charizard ex PR-SV 161 can deal that much damage even without applying weakness.

One Hit K.O. lists like Mega Absol ex MEG 86, Yveltal SHF 46, and similar have an advantage over this list.

Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX CEC 156 is also a natural predator. If you'd like to see more about this list, click here.

Finally, Mewtwo & Mew-GX UNM 71 lists, which can prevent basic Pokémon from dealing damage with Jolteon-EX GEN 28's second attack, will sabotage Mega Heracross ex PFL 4 considerably.

Suggestions

Healing Combos

Both of these Ludicolo are interesting: while Ludicolo JTG 37 gives a Pokémon an extra 40 HP, Ludicolo PFL 7 heals your Grass Mega Pokémon ex by 60 HP. They're both viable options.

This is another Pokémon that would be a great healing support, particularly with the Life Forest ◇ LOT 180/Radiant Tsareena SIT 16 combo.

Pokémon to Sabotage the Opponent

This card is a great way to delay the opponent's first turns so you can set up Mega Heracross ex PFL 4 in your bench.

This deck heals constantly, plays resilient Pokémon, and easily attaches energies to Mega Heracross ex PFL 4. Like so, it is a popular strategy in Expanded, as it does multiple things and plays an attacker that isn't part of a long evolution line (as Heracross is considered a basic Pokémon here).

If you enjoy "tank" lists, this is a great choice.

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

Thank you for reading, and see you next time!