{"id":415861,"date":"2025-02-18T15:55:09","date_gmt":"2025-02-18T07:55:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/?p=415861"},"modified":"2025-04-09T15:14:56","modified_gmt":"2025-04-09T07:14:56","slug":"pokemon-tcg-the-milotic-ex-farigiraf-ex-deck-is-the-metagames-newest-defensive-powerhouse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/snkrdunk.com\/en\/magazine\/2025\/02\/18\/pokemon-tcg-the-milotic-ex-farigiraf-ex-deck-is-the-metagames-newest-defensive-powerhouse\/","title":{"rendered":"[Pok\u00e9mon TCG] The Milotic ex\/Farigiraf ex Deck Is the Metagame’s Newest Defensive Powerhouse"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

[Update 9 Apr 2025] A new variant of this deck made a notable appearance at Champions League Miyagi where Ryunosuke Murata took it to fifth place. The new deck variant replaces the Girafarig card from Crimson Haze [SV5a] with its Clay Burst [SV2D] counterpart<\/a>; it also includes the Fan Rotom card from Stellar Miracle [SV7] for Bench-building purposes.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

[Update 2 Apr 2025] The post-rotation performance of this deck in Japan has proven that it will be a major force in the meta once rotation arrives internationally on 11 April. This is because many of the decks and cards which counter it will be rotated out of tournament play; these include the Lugia VSTAR and Lost Zone Box decks as well as the Radiant Charizard card from Pok\u00e9mon GO [S10b]<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Milotic ex card from Super Electric Breaker [SV8] had been a coveted pickup for collectors in its Special Art Rare (SAR) form ever since the set’s release. This was understandable as the card’s spectacular Full Art illustration made it an obvious standout right from the jump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Milotic ex had never seen widespread gameplay utility until recently, when the Pok\u00e9mon TCG took a clear turn in favor of defensive decks. When combined with several other defensive cards, Milotic ex\u2014especially when paired with the Farigiraf ex card from Cyber Judge [SV5M]<\/a>\u2014became a card evidently capable of being the focal point of one of the meta’s standout defensive decks. This was proven by four players taking the Milotic ex\/Farigiraf ex deck to top-16 finishes at Champions League Fukuoka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strategy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Since this is a defensive deck, the standout features of both its titular cards are their respective Abilities. Milotic ex has Sparkling Scales while Farigiraf ex’s is Armor Tail. Sparkling Scales blocks all damage and effects from attacks launched by opposing Terastallized Pok\u00e9mon from harming Milotic ex in any way. Similarly, Armor Tail prevents Farigiraf ex from sustaining any damage (but not any other effects) from the attacks of opposing Pok\u00e9mon-ex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Completing the deck’s defensive trifecta is Cornerstone Mask Ogerpon ex from Mask of Change [SV6] which is immune to damage from attacks by opposing Pok\u00e9mon which have an Ability thanks to its own Ability of Cornerstone Stance. Some variants of the deck also include Mimikyu from Snow Hazard [SV2P]; post-rotation, Mimikyu’s Ability of Safeguard effectively has the same effect as Armor Tail now that Pok\u00e9mon V (including Pok\u00e9mon VSTAR and VMAX) have been rotated out of tournament play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That being said, it’s not as though the deck is completely devoid of offensive firepower. Milotic ex’s Hypno Splash and Farigiraf ex’s Dirty Beam both deal 160 damage for three Energy cards; Dirty Beam also hits a Benched Pok\u00e9mon for 30 damage. Finally, Munkidori from Mask of Change [SV6] adds to the deck’s damage output while simultaneously giving the deck’s main Pok\u00e9mon more survivability by transferring damage counters to opposing Pok\u00e9mon via Adrena-Brain, its Ability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Price<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Buying all the cards in a Milotic ex\/Farigiraf ex deck will cost a minimum of 4,960 JPY (~US$33).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In other TCG-related news, check out the Relicanth Master Ball Mirror card from Terastal Festival ex [SV8a]<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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