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Pokemon TCG Pocket’s third major expansion, Space-Time Smackdown, introduced several new ex cards that have shaken up the meta and introduced interesting new combos. While a lot of decks are utilizing Pokemon Tools and high-health tanks to stall matches, some decks seek to finish the game as quickly as possible.
The Yanmega ex deck attempts to do exactly this, utilizing Dialga ex to quickly charge its attack and start firing off Air Slashes at the opponent’s team. Below, we’ll take a look at everything you need to know about this deck, including how to build and play it, and some matchups to be aware of.
Mew ex x1
Yanma x2
Yanmega ex x2
Dialga ex x2
Leaf x2
Cyrus x2
Dawn x2
Poke Ball x2
Professor’s Research x2
This deck uses onlyMetal-type Energy, so remove Psychic type from the decklist.
Alternative Cards
There are quite a few variations of this deck that have seen success. In particular,Skarmorypairs very well with Yanmega ex and Dialga ex as it can be used as anearly game attackerwhile you set up energy on Yanmega ex. Keep in mind that Skarmory works best when it has a Pokemon Tool attached, which may run counter to saving them for Yanmega or Dialga.
A completely different variation of this deck replaces Mew ex and Dialga ex withExeggutor ex, which acts as a tank while you set up Yanmega ex. This also lets youuse Erika to heal your Pokemon, giving them some sustain. This version takes a bit longer to set up due to not having Dialga’s Energy acceleration, but it is a bit tankier overall and can deal more consistent damage with Exeggutor’s Tropical Swing.
In any version, you may also want to swap in aPotionor two in place of one Dawn or Leaf. This will add a bit of sustain to Yanmega and potentially let it survive an additional attack.
Deck Strategy
The core of this deck revolves around Yanmega ex’s attack, Air Slash, havingcolorless Energy cost. This means that it can really pair with any Energy accelerating card. In this case, we are using the powerfulDialga ex, which acts as atank and Energy supporter.
In an ideal match, you wouldstart with Dialga ex in the Active Spot, with Yanma and Yanmega ex in hand or Benched. Put two Energy onto Dialga, then begin attacking withMetallic Turboto attach energy to Yanmega ex.
TheRocky Helmetshould also be used with Dialga to get a bit more damage out of attack trades, weakening your opponent’s Pokemon.
When Yanmega is ready,use Leaf to swap it in, reserving Dialga’s Energy for potential attacks with Heavy Impact later, if needed. Yanmega’s Air Slash deals a respectable 120 damage, but this is by no means the strongest attack in the game.
Additionally, Air Slashdiscards an Energy each time you use it, so you’ll need to beconstantly re-attaching Energy to Yanmegaeach turn, which can make setting up back-up Pokemon difficult. The strategy of this deck very much relies on quickly setting up Yanmega and overwhelming the opponent before they have time to hit back.
To compensate against Pokemon with higher-damage attacks, you’ll need to make use ofGiant Capeto keep Yanmega alive and Cyrus to swap back in low-health Pokemon to finish off.
Matchups And Counters
This deck has a relatively quick set up speed at the cost of Yanma being very fragile. Luckily, Dialga ex is a strong tank that can soak up a few hits while you set up Yanma and Yanmega, but you’ll need tobe careful of Cyrus, especially if you start with Yanma in the Active Spot.
Air Slash is somewhat weak when compared to heavy-hitting attacks likeMewtwo ex’s PsydriveandCharizard ex’s Crimson Storm, which can both one-shot Yanmega. This is whereMew exis invaluable, allowing you to steal their attacks and use them against them.
PuttingGiant Capeon Yanmega will let itsurvive Mewtwo ex’s Psydrive.
Yanmega ex is alsoweak to Electric-type, so you’ll need to be wary ofPikachu ex and Pachirisu exdecks. Luckily, both of these Pokemon will beknocked out with one use of Air Slash, so these matchups are by no means unwinnable.
Some favorable matchups includeDarkrai exand Weavile ex, who are bothone-shot by Yanmega’s Air Slashdue to their weakness to Grass-type. If the Darkrai ex and Weavile ex deck is ever appearing a lot in your matches, Yanmega ex is the perfect counter to it.
