(For the deck’s competitive history before September 2024, please refer to the gallery.)

[Update 10 Feb 2025] The rise of the Item-locking Budew card from Terastal Festival ex [SV8a] has greatly weakened the status of the Charizard ex deck. This is because the Charizard ex’s heavy reliance on Item cards such as Rare Candy from Start Deck 100 [SI] and Buddy-Buddy Poffin from Wild Force [SV5K] have left it vulnerable to Budew’s Itchy Pollen attack. As such, the Charizard ex deck is one that’s been on the decline as of late.

[Update 6 Jan 2025] A new variant of this deck has begun to rise in popularity. This new variant includes the Cleffa card from Ruler of the Black Flame [SV3] as an early-game draw engine as well as the Canceling Cologne card from Battle Region [S9a] for counterplay against decks such as the Iron Thorns ex, Snorlax, and Cornerstone Mask Ogerpon/Noivern ex decks.

[Update 27 Nov 2024] This deck has now begun to decline due to the rise of decks which pose difficult matchups for the Charizard ex deck. Examples of such unfavorable matchups include the Dragapult ex, Regidrago VSTAR, Palkia VSTAR/Dusknoir, and Palkia VSTAR/Terapagos ex decks.

[Update 4 Oct 2024] The emergence of a new deck variant has restored the Charizard ex deck to metagame relevance. This variant includes the Technical Machine: Evolution card from Future Flash [SV4M] to accelerate the deck’s setup via earlier evolution as well as the Thorton card from Lost Abyss [S11] for flexibility and pivoting options.

[Update 13 Sep 2024] Despite a solid showing at Worlds, this deck is likely to significantly fall off once the new Pokémon TCG tournament season begins at the upcoming Baltimore Regionals. This is because the current metagame prioritizes decks which set up their primary attackers quickly—something that isn’t possible with this deck simply because Charizard ex is a Stage 2 card. Hence, time might very well be running out on this iconic deck’s stint at or near the top of the meta once and for all.

It should not come as any surprise that when the Terastallization mechanic was introduced to the Pokémon TCG, the Dark-type Tera form of Charizard proved to be far and away the most desired card of a Terastallized Pokémon. Not only is Charizard one of the most iconic Pokémon—its Dark-type Tera form had already been depicted in various other forms of Pokémon media; none of its other Tera forms had been given anything close to such a spotlight.

The deck’s main card lives up to the hype. Found in Shiny Treasure ex [SV4a], two Fire-type Energy cards are all that Charizard ex requires to use the devastating Burning Darkness attack. With a base damage of 180, this attack adds 30 more for every Prize Card the opponent has taken. It’s the perfect way to jumpstart a comeback or deal a crucial blow in a late-game situation.

This deck is built around a tandem of top-tier offensive threats; the second is the Delphox V card from Lost Abyss [S11]. This card is sure to keep opponents on their toes as its Magical Fire attack inflicts 120 damage on one opposing Benched Pokémon, allowing for easy pick-offs.

The cumulative cost of every card in a Charizard ex deck that uses the Dark-type Tera form of Charizard is a minimum of ¥4,000 (~US$27).

In other TCG-related news, check out the Genesect V card from Fusion Arts [S8]. Alternatively, you can also head over to the SNKRDUNK App via the banner below and find the top trending and latest single cards and boxes.