[Update 16 Sep 2024] A new variant of this deck has emerged; it includes Judge from Incandescent Arcana [S11a] as well as Pecharunt ex from Night Wanderer [SV6a]. Judge is included to provide a backup option in the event of a difficult hand; it also has disruptive capabilities. This gives the deck the upper hand over the Charizard ex deck.

Pecharunt ex, meanwhile, supplies flexibility through its ability of Subjugating Chains and causes the deck to have a highly favorable matchup against the Snorlax deck.

[Update 19 Aug 2024] True to the previous update, this deck ended up claiming a runner-up finish at Worlds in the hands of Seinosuke Shiokawa of Japan.

[Update 19 Jun 2024] The most recent developments in the Pokémon TCG metagame have seen the rise of decks prioritizing inflicting much early-game damage. This is among those decks and will therefore likely be heavily featured at the World Championships in August.

Not every Pokémon TCG card is necessarily “built to last”. Some are the proverbial glass cannons; however, although this is ordinarily a drawback, there are certain setups which allow players to get the most out of these cards’ high-risk, high-reward playstyles. One such card is the Roaring Moon ex card from Ancient Roar [SV4K] that serves as the foundation of this deck.

The standout feature of the Roaring Moon ex card has to be its Frenzied Gouging attack. Salamence’s Paradox counterpart could potentially pick up an instant KO with it; however, by doing so it inflicts 200 damage upon itself—a decent number considering that Roaring Moon ex’s total base HP is 230.

This is where Ancient Booster Energy Capsule comes in. Also part of the Ancient Roar [SV4K] expansion set, Ancient Booster Energy Capsule adds 60 HP to the Ancient Pokémon it’s attached to. It also protects the Pokémon from all Special Conditions.

With Ancient Booster Energy Capsule equipped, Roaring Moon ex’s Frenzied Gouging will leave it on 90 HP instead of 30, making it more likely to take the next hit. Alternatively, players might choose to save Frenzied Gouging as a final salvo, sacrificing Roaring Moon ex to take out the opponent’s biggest threat.

Purchasing every card in the Roaring Moon ex deck has a total cost of at least ¥5,000 (~US$33).

In other TCG-related news, check out the Pikachu & Zekrom GX card from Tag Bolt [SM9]. 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.