Charizard ex (TCG)

This article is intended to be moved into one of Bulbapedia's main content spaces. Be mindful that it is still part of a personal userspace. Any content changes should be brought up on the talk page for this article.

---

Charizard ex
Charizard ex and Pidgeot ex Types used Major cards Charizard ex and Pidgeot ex Era 2023-present

Charizard ex is a Pokémon Trading Card Game deck archetype that was mainly played in the 2023-2024 season.

Strategy

Arven

Key cards

Rare Candy

• Charizard ex - The deck's primary attacker, Charizard ex's Burning Darkness attack deals 180 damage for only energy, and deals 30 more damage for each prize card the opponent has taken, making Charizard ex's attack even more powerful later on in the game. Additionally, its Infernal Reign ability allows for three energies to be attached to any Pokémon, helping accelerate energy development. Charizard ex's type also grants it favorable matchups against Mew VMAX and Gardevoir ex, both of which are weak to it.
• Pidgeot ex - Quick Search allows the player to search their deck for one card every turn and place it in their hand, greatly improving consistency by guaranteeing that the player can get a card of their choice every turn.
• Lumineon V - When placed from the player's hand onto the Bench, Lumineon V's Luminous Sign allows the user to search their deck for a Supporter card, helping further add consistency.
• Mew - Mew's Mysterious Tail ability allows the player to search for an Item card in the top 6 cards of the deck, which is useful for getting cards such as Rare Candy and Ultra Ball into the hand faster.
• Manaphy - Manaphy's Wave Veil ability protects the Bench from the opponent's attacks, protecting frail Pokémon like Charmander and Pidgey.
• Jirachi - Similar to Manaphy, Jirachi's Stellar Veil ability protects the Bench from damage counters being placed as the result of a Basic Pokémon's attack, notably improving the deck against Sableye from the powerful Lost Box archetype.
• Rare Candy - This card is able to evolve Charmander or Pidgey directly into Charizard ex or Pidgeot ex, respectively, as early as turn 2, which greatly speeds up deck development.
• Battle VIP Pass - Places two basic Pokémon onto the Bench on the first turn, useful for guaranteeing a Charmander and Pidgey on the Bench to Rare Candy, as well as getting useful support Pokémon like Rotom V, Manaphy, and Jirachi.
• Ultra Ball - Helps guarantee that Charizard ex or Pidgeot ex will be in the hand in order to play Rare Candy, as well as grabbing Lumineon V and other support Pokémon into the hand.
• Arven - Searches the deck for an Item card and a Pokémon Tool card, which is very useful in grabbing a Rare Candy along with a Pokémon Tool.

Typical decklist

Ultra Ball

Azul Garcia Griego's decklist at the 2023 San Antonio Regional

Quantity	Card	Type	Rarity
3×	Charmander
1×	Charmander
1×	Charmeleon
3×	Charizard ex
2×	Pidgey
2×	Pidgeot ex
1×	Rotom V
1×	Lumineon V
1×	Mew
1×	Manaphy
1×	Jirachi
4×	Battle VIP Pass	I
4×	Ultra Ball	I
4×	Rare Candy	I
2×	Level Ball	I
2×	Lost Vacuum	I
2×	Counter Catcher	I
1×	Super Rod	I
1×	Artazon	St
1×	Collapsed Stadium	St
1×	Lost City	St
4×	Arven	Su
3×	Boss's Orders	Su
3×	Iono	Su
1×	Professor's Research	Su
1×	Forest Seal Stone	PT
1×	Justified Gloves	PT
1×	Vitality Band	PT
7×	Fire Energy	E

Possible tech cards

Radiant Charizard

The following cards can be used in Charizard ex decks in place of certain cards included in the above list.

• Radiant Charizard - A powerful late-game card that can OHKO many Pokémon V as a single-Prize card attacker with Combustion Blast.
• Bibarel - A useful way to gain consistency against hand disruption cards such as Iono and Roxanne.
• Entei V - Can draw one extra card with its Fleet-Footed ability and can deal up to 220 damage with its attack if the opponent has five benched Pokémon.
• Delphox V - Can deal 120 damage to a benched Pokémon with its Mystical Fire attack.
• Minior - Counter to Snorlax Stall decks
• Nest Ball - Useful for placing Pokémon V and basic Pokémon directly onto the bench.
• Switch/Escape Rope - Common switching cards that can help counter the effects of disruption cards such as Boss's Orders and Counter Catcher.
• Professor Turo's Scenario - Can be used to return a damaged Pokemon ex to the hand without losing prize cards, and if used on Charizard ex can allow for another use of Infernal Reign.
• Defiance Band - Useful for increasing Charizard ex's damage by 30 when behind in prize cards.
• Technical Machine: Evolution - Can be used to accelerate the evolutions of Charmander, Pidgey, and Bidoof in the early-game.

This article is part of Project TCG, a Bulbapedia project that aims to report on every aspect of the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

Category:Deck archetypes