Charizard EX Variants

Machamp The Champion

Machamp The Champion

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This thread is used for all competitive discussion on Charizard EX decks (including variants not listed below). This includes strategies, playstyles, and techs.

You may post decklists here, but only as a means to add to the discussion. If you're looking for advice on your list, post in the Deck Garage.

Straight Charizard's Skeleton List:

Pokémon: 5
  • 4 Charizard EX FLF 12
  • 1 Keldeo EX
Trainers: 32
  • 4 Professor Juniper
  • 4 N
  • 4 Blacksmith
  • 4 Fiery Torch
  • 4 Bicycle
  • 4 Ultra Ball
  • 4 Muscle Band
  • 3 Professor's Letter
  • 3 Float Stone
  • 1 Computer Search
Energy: 15
  • 8 Fire
  • 4 Double Colorless
Free Spots: 8

Good Additions:
  • Druddigon FLF
  • Jirachi EX
  • Electrode PLF
  • Raichu XY
  • Reshiram BW
  • Mewtwo EX
  • Victini EX
  • M Charizard Y and Protection Cube
  • Ninetales and/or Hypnotoxic Laser
  • Roller Skates
  • Lysandre / Pokémon Catcher



Charizard/Pyroar Skeleton List:

Pokémon: 10
  • 4 Charizard EX FLF 12
  • 2 Pyroar
  • 2 Litleo FLF 18
  • 1 Keldeo EX
Trainers: 32
  • 4 Professor Juniper
  • 4 N
  • 4 Blacksmith
  • 4 Fiery Torch
  • 4 Bicycle
  • 4 Ultra Ball
  • 3 Muscle Band
  • 3 Float Stone
  • 2 Professor's Letter
  • 1 Super Rod
  • 1 Computer Search
Energy: 14
  • 8 Fire
  • 4 Double Colorless
Free Spots: 4

Good Additions:
  • Druddigon FLF
  • Jirachi EX
  • Electrode PLF
  • Raichu XY
  • Reshiram BW
  • Mewtwo EX
  • Victini EX
  • Lysandre
  • Startling Megaphone
 
Another good addition would be raichu because Yveltal EX wrecks Charizard and raichu has only a double colorless energy requirement for circle circuit.
 
I'm assuming this includes Mega Charizard EX variants, as there isn't a separate thread for them.
I've tested this list a little, and so far it works pretty good:

Pokemon:
Trainers/Supporters/Stadiums:

  • 4 N
    4 Professor Juniper/ Sycamore
    2 Lysandre
    4 Roller Skates
    3 Fiery Torch
    3 Blacksmith
    4 Rare Candy
    4 Ultra Ball
    1 Level Ball
    1 Computer Search
    1 Professor's Letter
    3 Protection Cube
    2 Skyarrow Bridge
Energy:

  • 7 Fire Energy
    4 Double Colorless Energy
The strategy is simple, set up M Charizard and rip through your opponent's Pokemon.
So here's card explanations:
I chose Charizard 12 because it has a better attack than the other Charizard EX in my opinion. This is really up to personal preference. For the Mega, I went with M Charizard Y because it has a better drawback (50 damage > discard 5 any day, with how fast this deck runs through its cards) and a better Energy cost. The biggest disadvantage is having lower HP, but hopefully you're killing things faster than they can kill you. However, the lower HP really bites if you don't have the Protection Cube, as that leaves you at 170 HP which is a number that many decks can hit. The Water Weakness is also a pain in the neck because a lot of decks are teching Water types to help with Pyroar.
Sigilyph's main function is to be a wall while I set up M Charizard EX. I went with Sigilyph over Suicune because Sigilyph is searchable by Level Ball and retreats for free with Skyarrow Bridge out, while Suicune can do neither of those things.
Delphox provides additional draw power and an alternate attacker. With the unreliable draw from N and Roller Skates, and the situational Fiery Torch, the stability from Mystical Fire is welcome. It also hits pretty hard with some Fire attached, so it's helpful if you don't want to (or can't) attack with Charizard.
Jirachi EX is awesome. It can get you any supporter in the deck and is searchable by both Level Ball and Ultra Ball. Jirachi EX is great for nabbing that Lysandre or Blacksmith you need to pull off a KO, or it can get you a fresh hand with N or Juniper. The only problem is that it's an EX, but that's a price I'm willing to pay for the consistency and versatility it provides.
I went with 4 N, 4 Juniper, 4 Roller Skates, and 3 Torch for my draw because this deck focuses on speed. The 4 Juniper and N allow you to draw lots of cards and Torch and Skates get you from extra cards here and there. I don't play Bicycle because I usually have a hand too big for it to help, and the deck lacks Skyla because it already plays 5 non-draw Supporters, and Skyla would clog your hand. Torch is kind of annoying because it is very situational and only gets you two cards, though if you have the Fire it's helpful to discard it. Skates operates on a coin flip and hitting that heads or tails could win you the game or completely screw you over depending on the result. I'm considering dropping some of these for Random Receivers to be on the safe side. I'm still messing around with the Draw card counts.
Blacksmith is necessary for a turn 3 Mega Charizard EX, so not playing it would asinine. Lysandre is awesome for bringing up that EX your opponent is trying to hide on the bench from Mega Charizard.
Skyarrow is good because it gives Sigilyph and Fennekin free retreat, and it lowers the cost of Charizard's to 1, so it allows more movement, which is especially helpful at the beginning of the game if I start Fennekin and for retreating Sigilyph into Mega Charizard. Beach is another option but with all the draw cards in this deck, I have never needed it and I would rather have the versatility that Skyarrow has to offer.
Everything else should be fairly straightforward. Also, I'm considering adding Switch and/or Random Receiver. Maybe Raichu for Yveltal EX. Druddigon might be good too, but I haven't tested it yet. So yeah. Feel free to discuss.
 
What about pairing up Garbador with Charizard EX as a variant? I've been trying to put a list together to try out.
 
I am now 4-0 against all Yveltal/Darkrai decks with a speed Charizard deck. It has a very good match-up.
 
VergeX said:
I am now 4-0 against all Yveltal/Darkrai decks with a speed Charizard deck. It has a very good match-up.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I agree. I've been testing it a lot, and Charizard often just overpowers their Yveltals before they can get too big. If you get a slow start and they set up a bunch of Yveltals, it can be a little difficult to stream Charizards for the rest of the game and win the prize trade, but that usually doesn't happen. Do you run Raichu in your list? If you run that, it makes the match up a lot easier, and makes coming back from going down 1-2 prizes very realistic.
 
Machamp The Champion said:
VergeX said:
I am now 4-0 against all Yveltal/Darkrai decks with a speed Charizard deck. It has a very good match-up.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I agree. I've been testing it a lot, and Charizard often just overpowers their Yveltals before they can get too big. If you get a slow start and they set up a bunch of Yveltals, it can be a little difficult to stream Charizards for the rest of the game and win the prize trade, but that usually doesn't happen. Do you run Raichu in your list? If you run that, it makes the match up a lot easier, and makes coming back from going down 1-2 prizes very realistic.
Click to expand...

Nah, I run a Delphox line and Pyroar, they generally seem to work as opposed to Raichu.
 
This way is a bit unconventional, but is a fun way to play Charizard. I found that in a M Gardevoir match up, which is usually not so good for Charizard a surprise M Charizard can close the game up if you need that last M Gardevoir knock out. Just make use that you're careful with putting down the Dragon Charizard.:)

Pokemon
4 x Charizard EX Combustion
1 x M Charizard EX Fire
1 x M Charizard EX Dragon
1 x Yveltal EX
2 x Vulpix
2 x Ninetales Bright Look
1 x Jirachi EX

Trainer/Supporter/Stadium
3 x Blacksmith
4 x Professor Sycamore
3 x N
2 x Skyla
2 x VS Seeker
2 x Switch
1 x Dowsing Machine - ACESPEC
4 x Fiery Torch
2 x Scorched Earth
3 x Ultra Ball
4 x Muscle Band
4 x Hypnotoxic Laser

Energy
8 x Fire Energy - Basic
4 x Double Colorless Energy - Special
2 x Darkness Energy - Basic
 
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