Charizard ex
Rotated OutThe gateway card: famous, friendly and still a great teacher.
What this card does
Charizard ex is the card most children ask for by name, and happily it is also one of the best decks to learn the game on. It is a Stage 2 that evolves from Charmander then Charmeleon.
It teaches a core idea beautifully: the longer the game goes, the harder it hits. It is forgiving, powerful and recognisable, which is everything a first competitive deck should be.
Infernal Reign
When you play this Pokémon from your hand to evolve 1 of your Pokémon during your turn, you may search your deck for up to 3 Basic Fire Energy cards and attach them to your Pokémon in any way you like. Then, shuffle your deck.
The moment Charizard ex evolves, the player searches the deck for up to three Basic Fire Energy and attaches them anywhere. That single burst sets up the whole board in one turn, so the deck goes from slow to fully armed instantly. Its Burning Darkness attack then grows stronger as the opponent takes Prize cards.
Attacks
This attack does 30 more damage for each Prize card your opponent has taken.
Abilities
When you play this Pokémon from your hand to evolve 1 of your Pokémon during your turn, you may search your deck for up to 3 Basic Fire Energy cards and attach them to your Pokémon in any way you like. Then, shuffle your deck.
Which deck it belongs in
The heart of the Charizard ex deck, usually paired with Pidgeot ex so the player can find exactly what they need every turn.
- •Loads three Energy the instant it evolves
- •Hits harder the longer the game runs
- •High 330 HP
- •Famous and motivating to play
- •Rotated out of the current Standard format
- •Weak to other attackers of its type
- •A Stage 2, so it needs Charmander and Charmeleon first
- •Gives up two Prizes as an ex
Pairs well with
Finds the right card every turn so Charizard keeps firing.
Time the evolution for when you have the best Energy targets, since Infernal Reign only triggers once, as Charizard evolves.
Charizard's flame is said to burn hotter the tougher the battle. Burning Darkness dealing more damage as the game gets desperate captures that perfectly.
Demand keeps the headline versions pricey, but the Double Rare play copy is far cheaper than the collector printings and works exactly the same on the table. A brilliant, motivating deck to learn on, as long as everyone knows it is now for casual and Expanded play rather than current Standard events.
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