Pokémon TCG: Expanded Deck Tech - Rogue Arcanine ex for Beginners

Greetings, Pokémon community!

Today, we'll explore the Expanded format. So, if you're a beginner, have just started playing Expanded lists, or just want to learn the basics, this article is for you!

We want to encourage new players to explore this format, particularly if they're "bored" with Standard. Expanded is home to many different strategies and archetypes, besides exclusive cards that enable unique combos and answers.

We'll start with something simple and straightforward: Arcanine ex, which stood out when it was released in the Scarlet & Violet Base Set. Its attacks are quite objective. It's also perfect if you want to start with the basics but still play a functional, interesting strategy.

With this in mind, let's explore and understand how this deck works!

Decklist

Deck Structure

Arcanine ex: The Main Star

The main attack is Raging Claws, which deals 30 damage plus 10 extra damage for each damage counter on Arcanine ex.

Considering that this Pokémon has 280 HP, it can only have at most 27 damage counters. With that many damage counters, it will deal 300 damage!

Bodybuilding Dumbbells + Arcanine ex Combo

It can also deal a lot more damage with Bodybuilding Dumbbells BUS 113, which gives 40 HP to the Pokémon it is attached to. If you attach it to Arcanine ex, it'll have 320 HP!

So, with it, Raging Claws can deal up to 340 damage, and for just 2 Fire energies.

Radiant Charizard: End Game Attacker

This Pokémon is critical in the end game because of its ability, which discounts the cost of its main attack.

This ability, Excited Heart, lets you use this attack for one colorless energy (C) less for each Prize card your opponent has taken.

Like so, you can use Combustion Blast for just one basic Fire energy if your opponent has taken 4 Prize cards and deal 250 damage quite efficiently.

Recursive Pokémon

Recursive "Baby" Pokémon

►Mew UNB 76's ability protects your bench from enemy "sniper" attacks.

►Ninetales TEU 16's ability, Nine Temptations, is quite useful. It is similar to Boss's Orders BRS 132, as it lets you pull one benched enemy Pokémon into the active spot. This way, you can Knock Out more Pokémon, but you'll also have to discard 2 Basic Fire Energy sv3 230 to use it.

►As for Rapidash SIT 22's ability, Heat Boost, it is great because it lets you deal 30 extra damage to the opponent's active Pokémon. To use it, you'll also have to discard 1 Basic Fire Energy sv3 230, but it could be quite useful in some situations.

For instance, if you don't have Bodybuilding Dumbbells BUS 113 but have this Rapidash and your Arcanine ex sv1 32 has 27 damage counters, you'll deal 330 damage with it.

If you have Bodybuilding Dumbbells BUS 113, you'll deal 370 damage instead of 340!

Recursive "Rule Box" Pokémon

► Fezandipiti ex SFA 38's ability, Flip the Script, draws 3 cards if the opponent Knocks Out one of your Pokémon.

► Squawkabilly ex sv2 169's ability, Squawk and Seize, is quite useful. If you play it from your hand to the bench on your first turn, it discards your hand and draws 6 new cards. Its attack also attaches energies to your benched Pokémon.

► Tapu Lele-GX GRI 60's ability, Wonder Tag, lets you look in your deck for any Supporter and play it on your bench.

Trainers

Supporter to Retreat and Heal Pokémon

This card does two things:

It retreats your active Pokémon.

It heals your active Pokémon by 120 HP and also retreats it if you discard 2 cards from your hand.

Supporter to Filter Items and Tools

Supporters to Attach Energies

► You'll need 2 Basic Fire Energy sv3 230 in your hand to use Welder UNB 189. Once you do, you can play this card, attach the energies to your Pokémon, and draw 2 cards. You can use this card on any Pokémon, not only Fire Pokémon.

► Blacksmith FLF 88 recycles 2 Basic Fire Energy sv3 230 from your discard pile and attaches them to one of your Fire Pokémon.

Items to Get Pokémon

► You can only use Battle VIP Pass FST 225 on your first turn. It lets you get 2 basic Pokémon from your deck and put them on your bench. After turn 1, this card is dead weight in your deck, but you can discard it with cards like Ultra Ball or Secret Box.

►Ultra Ball BRS 150 gets any Pokémon from your deck, basic or evolution, if you discard 2 cards from your hand.

Items to Recycle Cards

► Ordinary Rod SSH 171 recycles up to 2 Pokémon or 2 basic energies in your discard pile and shuffles them back into your deck.

►Energy Recycler BST 124 recycles up to 5 basic energies from the discard pile and shuffles them back into your deck.

► Fire Crystal UNB 173 recycles up to 3 Basic Fire Energy sv3 230 from your discard pile and puts them in your hand.

► VS Seeker PHF 109 recycles one Supporter from your discard pile and puts it in your hand.

Tools

► Technical Machine: Evolution sv4 178 lets you evolve basic Pokémon to Stage 1 Pokémon, such as Rapidash SIT 22 or Ninetales TEU 16.

►Bodybuilding Dumbbells BUS 113 buffs Arcanine ex sv1 32.

Stadiums

► Heat Factory ◇ LOT 178 draws cards but forces you to discard 1 Basic Fire Energy sv3 230.

► Magma Basin BRS 144 attaches energies to Fire Pokémon on your bench but also puts 2 damage counters on them.

ACE SPEC

To use this card, you'll need to discard 3 cards in your hand. Once you do, you can get 1 Supporter, 1 Stadium, 1 Item, and 1 Tool from your deck.

Other ACE SPECs for this List

► Computer Search BCR 137 lets you get any card from your deck if you discard 2 cards from your hand.

► Precious Trolley SSP 185 helps you set up your bench early on.

► Hyper Aroma TWM 152 lets you evolve stage 1 Pokémon.

Pros

This deck deals a lot of damage, so it can Knock Out resilient Pokémon like TAG TEAM-GX Pokémon and Pokémon VMax.

It also plays extremely useful recursive Pokémon. For instance, Ninetales TEU 16 is similar to Boss's Orders, and Rapidash SIT 22 buffs your damage.

Cons

However, this deck relies on evolutions, so it is a bit slow. It is also weak to Water Pokémon and vulnerable to control strategies and cards like Avery CRE 130. Drednaw SCR 44 can also be an issue because they can prevent you from dealing over 200 damage.

Mewtwo & Mew-GX UNM 71 is a tough opponent because they can use Glaceon-EX FCO 20 to protect themselves from evolution Pokémon.

Finally, decks that "control" your bench slots, like Glimmora ex sv3 123, are also problematic for this list.

If you'd like to explore the Expanded format, this list is a great starting point. It will teach you some of the main mechanics in the format and what you can do in it, which is usually far more than what you can do in Standard.

Furthermore, it plays cards from the Black & White set to some of the most recent sets, so it's a way to learn a whole array of cards all at once.

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

Thank you for reading, and see you next time!