Every time a new set is released in Pokemon TCG Pocket, new decks make their debut and old ones either get new tools or fall by the wayside. With the release of Shining Revelry, Paldean Pokemon like Clodsire can finally have their day in the sun.
Related
Pokemon Pocket: 11 Best Cards In Shining Revelry
These cards are our top picks for Pokemon Pocket Shining Revelry.
Clodsire ex is the Poison-enabler Dark-type players have been waiting for since the game was released in November, and is backed by another equally useful Pokemon in the Toxic Monkey Pokemon, Grafaiai. Between the two of them, you can win with a one-two punch of poison and Paldean power!
Sample Decklist
|
Clodsire ex |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
Paldean Wooper (A2b) x2 |
Paldean Clodsire ex (A2b) x2 |
Shroodle (A2b) x2 |
Grafaiai (A2b) x2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Professor’s Research x2 |
Sabrina x1 |
Cyrus x1 |
Leaf x2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Iono x1 |
Red x1 |
Poke Ball x2 |
Giant Cape x2 |
Since Leaf reduces Paldean Clodsire ex’s retreat cost to one colorless Energy, replacing one Leaf with an X Speed can allow it to retreat for free. However, this is a little less reliable than being able to reduce the cost by two on two separate occasions.
If you don’t have Shroodle or Grafaiai, Koffing and the Genetic Apex Weezing can substitute for them. If you use that combo, you’ll want to include two copies of Koga in order to both apply Poison and attack on the same turn, making that combination more resource-intensive.
As the metagame shifts, be aware of how often single-prize decks show up. If they become really common, Red can be replaced with Giovanni or an extra Sabrina.
Clodsire ex Deck Strategy
Paldean Clodsire ex is capable of dealing a whopping 120 damage with only two Darkness Energy using its powerful Venoshock attack. The only tricky part is that you need to Poison your opponent’s Active Pokemon first.
If you lose the initial coin flip, you’ve got a huge advantage: Paldean Wooper can inflict Poison on your first turn for one Darkness Energy. If your opponent doesn’t retreat or evolve that Poisoned Pokemon, it’ll take 30 damage (two turns of Poison plus 10 from Wooper’s Poison Jab), then 120 more on your next turn after you evolve your Clodsire ex.
Clodsire ex is your main attacker, but you’ve got another method to Poison your opponent’s Active Pokemon: Grafaiai’s Poison Coating! Poison Coating can Poison your opponent’s Active Pokemon from your Bench, allowing you to use Venoshock each turn for maximum effect.
Grafaiai’s Poison Coating requires a winning coin flip, so it’s a good idea to get both on your Bench in order to get an extra flip each turn. With two copies of Poison Coating available, you should Poison your opponent’s Active Pokemon three out of every four turns.
Because of Poison’s effect, Clodsire ex effectively deals 130 damage with a good Venoshock. This is plenty for non-ex Pokemon, and lower-HP ex Pokemon like Pikachu ex. However, it can be a problem against Pokemon with 140 or more HP, which is where Red comes in.
Red adds 20 damage to your Pokemon’s attack, but only if your opponent’s Active Pokemon is an ex Pokemon. It’s a double-Giovanni, but only against the most powerful Pokemon in the game. It may not seem like a big boost, with high-HP Pokemon like Venusaur ex around, but it’s enough to OHKO Lucario ex and other threats.
Clodsire ex Matchups
Arceus ex / Dialga ex
The Arceus ex / Dialga ex deck that was so common in the Triumphant Light meta is a big problem for Clodsire ex. The Steel-type immunity to Poison doesn’t carry over to Pokemon TCG Pocket, but Arceus ex’s Fabled Luster makes it immune to Poison and other status effects, making it an almost insurmountable obstacle.
While you’re at a disadvantage, there’s still a path to victory: Clodsire ex can OHKO Dialga ex with Red (and Poison), leaving only one Prize Point between yourself and victory. You can grab that last point from Mew ex or Shaymin, which are commonly included.
In order to facilitate this, it can be advantageous to leave one of them with some damage from Poison until late-game, then use Cyrus to boss it forward for the final hit.
Giratina ex / Darkrai ex
Right out of the gate, the Giratina ex / Darkrai ex archetype is a dominant force in the Shining Revelry meta, so you’re likely to see a lot of them. It features similar gameplay to the famous Darkrai ex / Magnezone deck, but with more consistency thanks to only using Basic Pokemon.
Thankfully, Clodsire ex has a huge advantage here: With Poison, Venoshock can OHKO Druddigon and Giratina after using its Broken-Space Bellow ability just once, and leave Darkrai at 10 HP and Poisoned. With a good hand, these matchups should be over by your fourth turn.
Charizard ex / Moltres ex
Charizard and its partner, Moltres, are back, with a twist: This is a whole new Charizard ex! The Shining Revelry Charizard ex can accelerate its own Energy using Stoke, then attack for 150 damage with Steam Artillery without discarding any Energy, making it more consistent than the Genetic Apex version, in exchange for doing a little less (but still really high!) damage.
Charizard ex can OHKO Clodsire ex with Giovanni, but it takes two Poison-boosted Venoshocks to KO Charizard ex. Fortunately, you’ve got a couple of turns while your opponent evolves his Charizard, which means that you can KO Charmeleon before your opponent can even get started. Take advantage of those turns, and this match is yours.
Next
Pokemon Pocket: Every Shiny Pokemon In Shining Revelry
We look at all the shiny Pokemon available in Pokemon Pocket: Shining Revelry.