Pokémon TCG: Standard Deck Tech - Magcargo ex (Mega Evolution 2025.2 Upgrade)

Greetings! When Magcargo ex TWM 29 came out in Scarlet & Violet: Twilight Masquerade, its second attack was the only thing that made it a bit relevant. It forces both players to discard the top card in their deck and deals damage for each basic energy discarded this way.

Bit by bit this deck got better: Team Star Grunt sv3 195, from Obsidian Flames, sabotages the opponent and lets Magcargo deal damage more consistently.

Then came Academy at Night SFA 54, which lets us put a card from our hand on the top of our deck. However, this card also affects the opponent, like all stadiums, so it could give them a counterattack advantage on the following turns.

Nonetheless, the new set, Mega Evolution, solved this problem with Gumshoos MEG 110, which only lets its controller swap a card from their hand with the top card in their deck.

This strategy then became quite similar to an old deck from Sun & Moon, with Entei LOT 47 and Magcargo CES 24, and started to shine in Standard. In fact, it showed Magcargo ex TWM 29 can even face the Mega Pokémon ex in the current format as an equal.

That being said, let's go over the list itself.

Decklist

Deck Structure

Magcargo ex: The Main Attacker

The most important attack in this list is Ground Burn, which deals 140 base damage. It also forces each player to discard the top card in their deck, and for each basic energy discarded this way, it deals an extra 140 damage. As such, it will deal 280 extra damage if two basic energies are discarded this way, and 420 damage total!

Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex: “End-Game” Attacker

This Pokémon's ability states that the more Prize cards the opponent takes, the less energies its main attack, Blood Moon, will cost.

You should only use it in the "end-game", when the opponent has already taken at least 4 Prize cards. That way, its main attack will only cost 1 energy. If the opponent has taken 5 Prize cards, it will cost zero energies!

Recursive Pokémon

"Baby" Pokémon

► Gumshoos MEG 110 is the core of this entire strategy and as much of a star as Magcargo ex because of its ability, Evidence Gathering.

It lets you swap a card from your hand with the top card in your deck. So, if you have a Basic Fire Energy sv3 230 in your hand, you can use this effect to put it on top of your deck and guarantee Magcargo ex will deal at least 140 extra damage.

►Cleffa sv3 80's attack draws until you have 6 cards in your hand.

"Rule Box" Pokémon

►Fezandipiti ex SFA 38's ability, Flip the Script, draws up to three cards if one of your Pokémon was knocked out by enemy attacks on the previous turn.

► Mew ex sv3pt5 151's ability, Restart, draws until you have 3 cards in your hand.

►You can only use Squawkabilly ex PR-SV 160's ability, Squawk and Seize, on the very first turn.

Regardless if you put Squawkabilly ex on your bench or in the active spot, this ability lets you discard your entire hand and draw 6 new cards. It is excellent.

Trainers

Supporters

►Arven sv3 186 gets items and tools from your deck.

►Team Star Grunt sv3 195 is extremely important in the main strategy because it sabotages the opponent by removing one energy from their active Pokémon and putting it on top of their deck. This way, Magcargo ex TWM 29's attack will always be effective.

►Mela sv4 167 lets you recycle 1 Basic Fire Energy sv3 230 in your discard pile and attach it to one of your Pokémon. It also draws until you have 6 cards in hand.

►As for Iono sv2 185, it lets you manipulate both your and the opponent's hand.

► Finally, Boss's Orders (Ghetsis) sv2 172 lets you pull enemy Pokémon into their active spot. This way, you can knock it out.

Items to Get Pokémon

Item to Get Energies

Items to Recycle Pokémon and Basic Energies

Item to "Pull" Enemy Pokémon

Tools

► Rigid Band sv3pt5 165 makes the stage 1 Pokémon it is attached to take 30 damage less (after applying weakness or resistance) from enemy attacks. You should use it on Magcargo ex TWM 29.

► Technical Machine: Turbo Energize sv4 179 lets you get 2 basic energies from your deck and attach them to your benched Pokémon.

► Technical Machine: Evolution sv4 178 evolves 2 benched Pokémon.

Stadium

This stadium lets you get a "baby" basic Pokémon (this doesn't include "Rule Box" Pokémon) from your deck and put it on your bench. It is a way to start setting up your main game plan.

ACE SPEC

This "Tool" ACE SPEC makes your Pokémon deal 50 extra damage to enemy Pokémon ex on the active spot.

Pros

Gumshoos MEG 110 and Team Star Grunt sv3 195 are great with Magcargo ex TWM 29's Ground Burn attack.

With them, this deck can deal a lot of damage (420, for instance) if you get the entire combo right. Maximum Belt TEF 154 will add another 50 extra damage to that mix, and, as such, you'll be able to knock out all the Mega Pokémon ex and stage 2 Pokémon ex in the current format.

Cons

The Ground Burn combo relies a bit on the opponent. If they don't discard a basic energy when you use this attack, you won't deal 140 extra damage, and Magcargo ex TWM 29 will definitely be less effective. You'll be forced to play another turn, which gives time for your opponent to react.

It also feels like we're missing a "Switch" card in this archetype to move Magcargo ex TWM 29 around, particularly if the opponent is playing a "stall" strategy.

This list is interesting and "fun", but not as competitive as other lists. It also plays accessible cards, so if you want to explore Pokémon TCG, the Standard format, or even "rogue" strategies, it's perfect.

Furthermore, it shows how a simple "bulk" card, that is, a card that often goes by unnoticed, can become a critical piece with the right support.

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

Thank you for reading, and see you next time!