All You Need To Know About Build and Strategy
Surging Sparks has sent shockwaves through the Pokémon TCG, generating a new level of hype and ratcheting up the excitement in the Scarlet and Violet era.
Chief among the Surging Sparks pulls, sending Pokémon fans into a frenzy, is Pikachu ex. Making an appearance in its terastal form, the face of the franchise is both a collector’s dream and competitively viable. And this has allowed Pikachu ex to carve its own niche archetype, and fit into some pre-existing builds.
The Lost Box Pikachu ex build, born out of the trying and testing of these different deck variations, does just that. It combines cards we have seen thrive in the meta while also platforming Pikachu ex as the foremost attacking threat in the deck.
So, what’s needed to crank up the amps with Pikachu ex?
Table of Contents
Deck List
This new archetype brings Pikachu ex together with the Lost Zone strategy, which has previously seen play with cards such as Giratina V and Giratina V Star and used to much success.
The play revolves around sending cards to the Lost Zone – a removed-from-play area that cards cannot return from – and then reaping the benefits that can come with it. For example, Giratina V Star’s Star Requiem attack, which is reliant on stocking your Lost Zone.
Now, we are seeing the Pikachu ex Lost Zone strategy combining the power of Pikachu ex's high-damage output with the flexibility of the Lost Zone engine, building cards up in the Lost Zone in order to find new ways to accelerate Energy cards to your main attackers.
What cards do you need to get this deck to work for you…
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2 x Deck Strategy
At the heart of this deck, fronted by Pikachu ex, lies the Lost Zone engine, fueled by Comfey and Colress’s Experiment.
Start by using Comfey's Flower Selecting ability to quickly send cards to the Lost Zone, aiming for at least seven in the early game to unlock the power of your Lost Zone-powered item cards. Flower Selecting lets you look at the top two cards from your deck. From these, you’ll place one in your hand and one in the Lost Zone. Yet, while it is incredibly useful for accelerating your Lost Zone strategy and draw capabilities, it only works if Comfey is in the active spot.
But that’s where cards such as Switch and Switch Cart come into play. Switch does what it says; it allows you to switch your active Pokémon with one of your benched Pokémon. Similar in approach, Switch Cart does the same but also heals 30 damage from the Pokémon moves to the bench. What both of these allow you to do is use multiple Flower Selecting per turn, quickly racking up those cards in the Lost Zone.
You can also accelerate this setup stage by playing cards such as Colress’s Experiment. This Supporter card allows you to look at the top five cards of your deck, place three in your hand and the other two in the Lost Zone. So, just like Comfey, it is both a draw engine and a way to stockpile the Lost Zone.
Once you’ve reached seven cards in the Lost Zone, the Item card Mirage Gate allows you to attach two different basic Energy cards to your Pokémon in a single move, acting as the linchpin of Energy acceleration in this profile. This is key to powering up your diverse attackers, especially Pikachu ex, Iron Hands ex, and Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex – all of which require multiple types of Energy for their attacks.
From setup with Comfey, we move to the Surging Sparks star. With a Lost Zone full of cards and Mirage Gate played, your Pikachu ex will be ready to take the front foot and hit for big damage. Pikachu ex's attack, Topaz Bolt, is pulsating and menacing in equal measure, dealing out a whopping 300 damage. Despite it needing one Grass, one Lightning, and one Metal Energy, these awkward Energy requirements can be eased by your strategic setup. On its own, Topaz Bolt is enough to OHKO some of the meta’s top attackers, such as Raging Bolt ex and Lugia VStar.
This signature attack is paired with an equally promising ability, Resolute Heart. The ability says:
‘If this Pokémon has full HP and would be knocked out by damage from an attack, it is not knocked out, and its remaining HP becomes 10.’
This ability offsets Pikachu ex's fairly low 200HP, allowing it to withstand attackers from big hitters and potentially deal out another 300 damage.
Supporting Pikachu ex are secondary attackers like Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex and Iron Hands ex – both of which benefit from the energy acceleration provided by Mirage Gate.
Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex offers durability and raw power that grows as the game wanes. Its ability, Seasoned Skill, says that for every Prize Card your opponent takes, its attack costs one less Energy. This is hugely beneficial as its attack, Blood Moon, typically costs five Colourless Energy but deals out a hefty 240 damage. If you can use Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex at the right time, you could be hitting these numbers with barely any requirements.
Like its counterparts, Iron Hands ex is also primed to reap the benefits of Mirage Gate. The future paradox Pokémon, already potent in its own right, boasts the match-defining attack, Amp You Very Much. Costing one Lightning Energy and three Colourless Energy, the attack does 120 damage, though if you manage to knock a Pokémon out with it, you take an extra Prize card. If you have already done leg work with Pikachu ex, slamming into the opponent for 300 damage, then Iron Hands ex can tidy up with this attack to take three-Prize card knockouts. This is particularly useful for the ever-present Charizard ex and even bulky Terapagos ex builds. This is surely enough to spark intrigue.
While already competitive, this build is elevated by the damage spread potential that comes with some of the remaining Pokémon in the deck list. Radiant Greninja adds a layer of flexibility, allowing you to draw cards with its Concealed Cards ability while doubling as a spread attacker in certain matchups. Sableye, likewise, can chip away at your opponent with its spread damage attack, Lost Mine, once you have a well-stacked Lost Zone. And Cramorant, a staple of the Lost Box deck, can hit for 110 with no Energy requirements as a solid single-Prize attacker (you’ll just need to have four or more cards in the Lost Zone). What this means is that Pikachu ex and co can be primed to take knockouts, especially when paired with the Supporter card, Boss’s Orders.
One of the final compliments in this deck is, of course, Manaphy. With its ability, Water Veil, Manaphy can prevent spread decks, such as the Dusknoir line, from chipping away at your Pikachu ex and negating the insatiable ability, Resolute Heart. This is pivotal to ensuring Pikachu ex can deliver at least two consecutive attacks with the stunning Topaz Bolt. In this instance, water and electricity mix well.
Deck Upgrades
Looking to refine your Lost Box Pikachu ex deck? There are several powerful cards to consider adding to your deck, depending on your playstyle and local meta. These upgrades offer new tactical options and further elevate the deck’s versatility.
Surging Sparks Magneton, for example, adds an intriguing layer of Energy acceleration to the deck. Using its Overvolt Discharge ability, Magneton can act as a foil for Pikachu ex, sacrificing itself to recycle Energy. The ability says, ‘Once during your turn, you may attach up to three basic Energy from your discard pile to your Lightning Pokémon in any way you like. If you use this ability, this Pokémon is knocked out.’ It’s a trade-off that also benefits Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex. It must be used carefully, though.
If you’re looking for durability and sustained pressure, Blissey ex is another possible inclusion. Its ability, Happy Switch, lets you move one basic Energy from one of your Pokémon to another once per turn. This can be useful for those slightly awkward Energy requirements, synergising well with Mirage Gate to get Pikachu ex charged up. And Blissey ex comes with bulk, too. A whole 300HP, to be precise.
Lastly, there have even been instances of players integrating Iron Thorns ex into this archetype. This inclusion can be particularly useful for shutting off the abilities of some of the meta’s greatest menaces, such as Charizard ex, Teal Mask Ogerpon and more. This is because its ability, Initialization, states:
‘As long as this Pokémon is in the active spot, Pokémon with a rule box in play (both yours and your opponent’s) have no abilities, except for future Pokémon.’
While Pikachu ex is sending collectors into overdrive, will you be looking to roll out this archetype for competitive play, making the most of these new prints? And if so, how will you put your mark on it?
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