Pokémon TCG: Standard Deck Guide - Mega Charizard Y ex (2 Lists)

Recently, the Japanese Pokémon Company announced a few details about the next set in the Mega Evolutions block, the Mega Dream ex set. For instance, we now know that this set will bring new Mega Pokémon, like Mega Dragonite ex and Mega Charizard Y.

The first thing that crossed all of our minds when they announced this was obviously how we could add Mega Charizard Y to our "Fire Box" decks!

So, today, we'll show you two lists with this Pokémon and a few details about Mega Charizard X from Phantasmal Flames, which was released on November 14th in the West. We'll also explore a few ideas for next year, when Mega Dream ex comes out worldwide.

Mega Charizard X ex: A Powerful Attacker

Its main attack deals 90 damage for each Basic Fire Energy SVE 10 you discard from your Pokémon. You can discard as many of them as you'd like.

If you discard 5 Fire energies, it'll deal 450 damage, which is incredible. It simply knocks out everything in the meta with damage alone, which means Mega Charizard X ex is a formidable, efficient Pokémon.

Mega Charizard Y ex: A Sniper Attacker

Its main attack, Y-Plosion, forces you to discard 3 energies attached to it but then deals 280 damage to any enemy Pokémon. As usual, you don't apply weakness or resistance for benched Pokémon.

This means it's a great way to knock out recursive "Rule Box" Pokémon on the enemy bench or knock out enemy Pokémon that have already taken some damage, like a Mega Pokémon ex.

The list below includes a few strategies we've already mentioned before when we first discussed Phantasmal Flames' Mega Charizard X ex.

Pokémon (15)

2 Charmander PFL 11 (Phantasmal Flames)

2 Charmander sv3pt5 4

2 Charmeleon sv4pt5 8

2 Mega Charizard X ex PFL 13 (Phantasmal Flames)

1 Mega Charizard Y ex (Mega Dream ex)

2 Charizard ex svp 196

2 Oricorio ex PFL 18 (Phantasmal Flames)

1 Fezandipiti ex SFA 38

1 Cleffa sv3 80

Trainers (37)

2 Artazon sv2 171

4 Arven sv3 186

1 Brock's Scouting JTG 146

1 Dawn PFL 87

2 Iono sv2 185

2 Boss's Orders (Ghetsis) sv2 172

1 Professor Turo's Scenario sv4 171

3 Ultra Ball sv1 196

4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144

2 Rare Candy sv1 191

2 Earthen Vessel PRE 106

1 Counter Catcher sv4 160

4 Superior Energy Retrieval sv2 189

1 Energy Recycler DRI 164

2 Super Rod sv2 188

2 Technical Machine: Evolution sv4 178

2 Air Balloon BLK 79

1 Maximum Belt TEF 154

Energies (8)

8 Basic Fire Energy SVE 10

Oricorio ex: Main Recursive Pokémon

Oricorio ex's ability states that we can only use it if a Mega Pokémon ex is in play. If so, we can attach as many Basic Fire Energy SVE 10 from our hand to our benched Fire Pokémon as we'd like.

So, this Pokémon will be an energy engine for both Mega Charizard X ex and Mega Charizard Y ex.

Terastal Charizard ex: Alternative Attacker

We added this Pokémon to this list because it is a Darkness Pokémon, so it's great against the recently released Mega Gardevoir ex, which we've deemed quite promising.

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

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

With Dawn, getting the entire evolution line will be even simpler.

Pokémon (18)

2 Charmander PFL 11 (Phantasmal Flames)

2 Charmander sv3pt5 4

2 Charmeleon sv4pt5 8

2 Mega Charizard X ex PFL 13 (Phantasmal Flames)

1 Mega Charizard Y ex (Mega Dream ex)

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 (34)

2 Artazon sv2 171

4 Arven sv3 186

1 Brock's Scouting JTG 146

1 Dawn PFL 87

2 Iono sv2 185

2 Boss's Orders (Ghetsis) sv2 172

1 Professor Turo's Scenario sv4 171

3 Ultra Ball sv1 196

4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144

2 Rare Candy sv1 191

2 Earthen Vessel PRE 106

1 Counter Catcher sv4 160

3 Superior Energy Retrieval sv2 189

2 Super Rod sv2 188

2 Technical Machine: Evolution sv4 178

1 Air Balloon BLK 79

1 Maximum Belt TEF 154

Energies (8)

8 Basic Fire Energy SVE 10

Emboar: The Main Recursive Pokémon

Its ability, Inferno Fandango, lets us move Basic Fire Energy SVE 10 from our hand and attach them to our Pokémon however we want. It's the same as "Rain Dance", but for Fire Pokémon. This means it is more efficient than Oricorio ex*, which we added to our first list, as a "single prize" Pokémon.

Dawn will also get the evolution line for you in this list.

Charizard ex de 151: A Powerful Attacker

This Pokémon is in this list to avoid giving the opponent 3 Prize cards for knocking out its Mega version. Its first attack deals 60 + 100 damage if it has any damage counters. If you think it will be knocked out, use Professor Turo's Scenario sv4 171 and return it to your hand.

With Emboar WHT 13, you'll have no trouble getting the energies you need to deal 330 damage with its second attack.

Pros

To understand the context of the next meta and why Mega Charizard X ex will have an advantage in it, we must consider the following:

- Cynthia's Garchomp ex DRI 104 will become quite relevant because of Mega Lucario ex, from Mega Evolution. To answer Garchomp, Grass lists will be a good call, as we mentioned before when we discussed Serperior ex BLK 3. If you'd like to see more about this Pokémon, click here.

- Serperior ex BLK 3 will also be great against any lists that are weak against Grass Pokémon, like Marnie's Grimmsnarl ex DRI 136.

Considering these two factors, it will be just a matter of time before people realize how promising these Grass Pokémon will be, particularly Serperior ex BLK 3. Once the meta is full of them, Mega Charizard X ex will be the next "counter pick".

Mega Charizard Y ex will be our "sniper" option if we want to attack from a different angle.

Cons

However, these Pokémon will be vulnerable to Pokémon that are immune to Pokémon ex, like Mimikyu sv2 97.

They're also a bit slow because of their evolution line. This means we'll have to use cards like Technical Machine: Evolution sv4 178 and Rare Candy sv1 191 to keep up the pace. If you add Mega Charizard Y, it will be even slower, and you'll need more trainers to get the entire evolution line.

If the meta starts centering around Fire Pokémon, some players might move on to Water Pokémon. This could bring back the Pokémon that were relevant at the beginning of the Scarlet & Violet block, like Feraligatr with Milotic ex. This archetype could even get more support next season.

Finally, this archetype naturally struggles against Raging Bolt ex TEF 123, which is fast and aggressive, and decks that "devolve" Pokémon with cards like Technical Machine: Devolution sv4 177. This will be particularly efficient on Mega Charizard ex.

As we mentioned before when we explored Mega Charizard X ex, investing in it early on is a great decision. You'll also have to get Emboar WHT 13 as a staple to start getting your lists ready for when Phantasmal Flames finally comes along.

Furthermore, if you'd like to build a "Zard Box" with Mega Charizard Y ex, it will be a great addition, as it will make this list more versatile and powerful.

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

Thank you for reading, and see you next time!