Standard Deck Tech: Espathra ex Terastal - New Decks

The second special set from the Scarlet & Violet block, Paldean Fates, brought us Espathra ex sv4pt5 6, the only ex card that is strong in Standard's competitive scene; this Pokémon deals damage according to the energy cards attached to it and your opponent's active Pokémon.

In this article, we brought five lists with this Pokémon for you to try out! Some have cards with the "E" symbol, which means they'll be rotated in April, so, pay attention to this detail and enjoy them as much as you can in local and regional tournaments. After this year's rotation, some of these cards can be swapped for others.

Espathra ex Terastal + Froslass ex Terastal

Decklist

This deck will have two roles: deal damage with Espathra ex sv4pt5 6 based on the number of energy cards stacked on both active Pokémon, and deal "sniper" damage with Froslass ex sv4 3, considering this Pokémon targets Pokémon on your opponent's bench. Long-term, this will complement the damage caused by Espathra ex sv4pt5 6, and you'll knock out a few Pokémon with Frosslass' 20 damage.

In this list, we'll mainly use Basic Water Energy sv2 279 due to Froslass ex sv4 3, but don't worry because we'll also use Baxcalibur sv2 60. Besides the fact it is the best energy source in Standard, thanks to its ability, Super Cold, which attaches basic Water energy cards from your hand on your Pokémon, it complements Froslass ex sv4 3's "sniper" attack because it deals, on its own, 140 damage. It also increases the damage dealt by Espathra ex sv4pt5 6, considering it increases the number of energy cards attached to Pokémon in play.

All of these Pokémon are Grass type Pokémon to deal with Charizard ex sv4pt5 234!

Keep in mind that Espathra ex sv4pt5 6's ability, Dazzling Gaze, forces your opponent's active Pokémon to use one extra colorless energy card to attack.

Our concern while playing this list will be managing Basic Psychic Energy sv3pt5 207, considering we only have 4 copies of it in our deck to attack with Espathra ex sv4pt5 6. Like so, we can search for energy cards with Fog Crystal CRE 140, or Earthen Vessel sv4 163; and, to recycle energy cards, we have Super Rod sv2 188 and Superior Energy Retrieval sv2 189.

To defend ourselves against targeted attacks, "snipers" or "spreads", we have different Pokémon with their own roles:

1) Manaphy BRS 41 protects us against "sniper" damage, such as Radiant Greninja ASR 46.

2) Jirachi sv4 126 protects us against damage counters, the famous "spread" damage, such as Sableye LOR 70.

Having Pokémon League Headquarters sv3 192 in play is essential to sabotage Pokémon like Iron Hands ex sv4 70, Roaring Moon ex svp 67 and other basic attackers. They'll be forced to use more energy cards to attack, considering they're basic Pokémon, which will increase Espathra ex sv4pt5 6's damage.

Espathra ex Terastal + Dodrio with Baxcalibur's Energy Setup

Decklist

We changed the attackers in this list a bit, and focused more on "single prize" Pokémon, such as Dodrio sv4pt5 200. Like so, we can set up our Pokémon more easily, just like we set up Espathra ex sv4pt5 6. As they are stage 1 Pokémon, they can easily benefit from Technical Machine: Evolution sv4 178, which speeds up their evolutions.

The Zooming Draw ability allows you to put 1 damage counter on this Pokémon to draw a card. Thus, it is a strong source of card draw, and, at the same time, it is a "buff" considering the "recoil" it gets.

Its attack deals damage based on the number of damage counters on it (30 points for each). If we consider it can have up to 9 damage counters (90 damage), considering it has 100 HP, we can deal up to 270 damage for just one energy card!

To protect it from opponents with "sniper" or "spread" damage, we have Manaphy BRS 41 and Jirachi sv4 126.

We've kept Baxcalibur sv2 60 to optimize our energy cards setup, and also because it is the most explosive option for this deck. With it, Espathra ex sv4pt5 6 will knock out a few Pokémon naturally as the game goes on.

Espathra ex Terastal + Dodrio with Xatu's Energy Setup

Decklist

Our strategy with this list is still the same as the deck above, but we'll swap our energy setup; from Baxcalibur sv2 60 to Xatu sv4pt5 152. With its ability, Clairvoyant Sense, you'll attach Basic Psychic Energy sv3pt5 207 from your hand to one of your benched Pokémon and draw two cards.

To attach Basic Psychic Energy sv3pt5 207 constantly with Xatu sv4pt5 152, we have options like Fog Crystal CRE 227 and Earthen Vessel sv4 163. To get energy cards from the discard pile, we have Superior Energy Retrieval sv2 277, which will recycle these energy cards into our hand.

If our deck is running out, we can resort to Super Rod sv2 276 and Energy Recycler FLI 143.

It is a bit slower than Baxcalibur sv2 60, but it guarantees us an extra source of card draw, and, when combined with Dodrio sv4pt5 200's ability, it will draw you three cards per turn.

Additionally, we have Mew ex sv4pt5 216 with its ability, Restart, which also helps you draw cards. It can also be an attacker.

Espathra ex Terastal + Cresselia with Xatu's Energy Setup

Decklist

This deck needs to go second on turn 1 because of Cresselia EVS 228 and its attack, Crescent Glow. This attack, if you attack on turn 2, on your turn 1, will get up to three

Basic Psychic Energy sv3pt5 207 at once from your deck and attach them to your Pokémon in any way you want.

We've kept Xatu sv4pt5 152 to complement your damage, considering its ability, when you use one Basic Psychic Energy sv3pt5 207 from your hand and attach it to one of your benched Pokémon, draws you two cards. It is another essential engine in this deck.

To lock down Charizard ex sv4pt5 234 decks that use Rotom V CRZ 45, Lumineon V PR-SW SWSH250 and even Entei V BRS 22, we use Spiritomb sv4pt5 158 as a control tool. With its ability, you'll disable abilities from basic Pokémon V.

As we have several Psychic cards, Tulip sv4 181 is ideal to retrieve up to 4 Psychic our basic Psychic energy cards from the discard pile.

Considering Arven sv3 186 is quite popular, I complemented Espathra ex sv4pt5 6's defense with Rigid Band sv3pt5 165, which reduces the damage this Pokémon takes by 30, considering it only has 260 HP.

To filter this deck, I chose Pokégear 3.0 UNB 233.

Espathra ex Terastal + Shadow Rider Calyrex VMax

Decklist

This deck is more aggressive and resilient.

Besides the effects activated by Cresselia EVS 228's first attack, we have Shadow Rider Calyrex VMAX ASR TG30, which, with its ability, Underworld Door, attaches one Basic Psychic Energy sv3pt5 207 from your hand to one of your Psychic Pokémon on your bench, besides drawing you two cards.

We can use Shadow Rider Calyrex VMAX ASR TG30 to attach energy cards on Flittle sv1 101, right before you evolve it to Espathra ex sv4pt5 6, to stack these energy cards. But pay attention: when you evolve this Pokémon, it will no longer get this benefit because its type will change to Grass.

As an attacker that will complement your damage, before preparing Espathra ex sv4pt5 6, we have Zacian V CRZ GG48.

If Shadow Rider Calyrex VMAX ASR TG30 takes a lot of damage, to the point it is almost knocked out, we can use Dedenne ex sv2 93 to move all damage counters from one of your Pokémon in play to your opponent's active Pokémon. Considering Shadow Rider Calyrex VMAX ASR TG30 can only be dealt 310 damage, by attacking with Dedenne ex sv2 93, with its first attack, you'll deal 310 damage for just two energy cards!

We can also lock down our opponent with Spiritomb sv4pt5 158 and disable abilities from basic Pokémon V, like Rotom V CRZ 45 and Lumineon V PR-SW SWSH250. And we have Mimikyu sv4pt5 160 as a "anti-Pokémon V and ex defense", so we can stall the game and the opponent, besides putting 7 damage counters on our opponent's active Pokémon.

Clefable ex sv3 82, with its ability, zeroes the retreat cost of your Pokémon that have a Psychic energy card attached, and also deals 170 damage with its attack. It also allows us to move Psychic energy cards between our Pokémon in any way we want to, and like so we can set up other attackers, if we have synergy with Cresselia EVS 228 early in the game.

Did you like these lists? Which of them interested you the most? Would you change something in them? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section!

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