Standard Deck Guide: Mega Gardevoir ex - Theories and Possibilities

Greetings to all!

Now that the Pokémon Company announced the return of Mega Evolutions (on Pokémon Day), many players are excited. This mechanic was simply incredible back in the X/Y era, so we're all anxious to see its return.

Gardevoir and Lucario have already been revealed, so we can start building new decks and theories while we wait for Mega Symphony and Mega Brave to be released. Furthermore, Gardevoir Box, which was a bit forgotten in this format, might make its triumphant return.

Considering all of this, I introduce to you my first list for the future, built with the April rotation in mind. Keep in mind this deck will struggle without Kirlia SIT 68, as its ability was essential to activate Gardevoir ex sv1 86's ability because it draws two cards.

Let's see how this list works!

Decklist

Pokémon (19)

4 Ralts sv1 84

4 Kirlia sv1 85

2 Gardevoir ex sv1 86

2 Mega Gardevoir ex

2 Drifloon sv1 89

1 Flutter Mane PRE 43

1 Scream Tail PRE 42

1 Dedenne ex sv2 93

1 Mew ex sv3pt5 151

1 Fezandipiti ex SFA 38

Trainer (32)

2 Artazon sv2 171

3 Arven sv1 166

3 Iono sv2 185

1 Professor's Research PRE 122

1 Professor Turo's Scenario PRE 121

1 Boss's Orders (Ghetsis) sv2 172

3 Buddy-Buddy Poffin PRE 101

3 Ultra Ball sv1 196

1 Nest Ball sv1 181

2 Rare Candy PGO 69

1 Earthen Vessel PRE 106

1 Pal Pad sv1 182

1 Night Stretcher SFA 61

2 Super Rod sv2 188

2 Counter Catcher sv4 160

2 Bravery Charm sv2 173

2 Technical Machine: Evolution sv4 178

1 Hero's Cape TEF 152

Energies (9)

9 Basic Psychic Energy sv3pt5 207

Mega Gardevoir ex

Its greatest strength is its second attack, Mega Symphonia, which deals 50 damage for each Basic Psychic Energy sv3pt5 207 attached to your Pokémon*.

The main combo uses Gardevoir ex sv1 86's ability to get energies back from the discard pile and put them on your Psychic Pokémon. This effect will force you to put two damage counters on the Pokémon you attach energies to, but you can take advantage of this with Dedenne ex sv2 93.

Dedenne ex

Its attack, Tail Swamp, lets you move all damage counters on your Benched Pokémon to your opponent's active Pokémon. This way, you can use the damage counters from Gardevoir ex sv1 86's ability with this attack and deal a lot of damage.

Drifloon & Scream Tail: "Baby” Attackers

Drifloon's Ballon Blast deals 30 damage for each damage counter on it. To buff its HP and put even more damage counters on it, you can use Bravery Charm sv2 173 or Hero's Cape TEF 152.

Scream Tail's attack, Roaring Scream, is similar to Drifloon's, but you can target any enemy Pokémon with it, even Benched Pokémon.

Recursive Pokémon

Each of these Pokémon do something different to keep this deck working, either attaching energies, drawing cards, or supporting the entire strategy in another way.

Pokémon Suggestions

Clefable ex

You can use this Pokémon on another Pokémon with Psychic energies attached to set its retreat cost to 0.

Lillie’s Clefairy ex

Its ability makes Dragon Pokémon weak against Psychic Pokémon, and its attack can deal 340 damage if you set it up correctly. The best way to do this is to increase your bench with Area Zero Underdepths PRE 94 and fill it with 8 Pokémon instead of 5, as long as you have a Tera Pokémon in play.

Trainers

Supporter to Filter Items and Tools

Besides Ultra Ball sv1 196, Nest Ball sv1 181, and Buddy-Buddy Poffin PRE 101, which are essential to find Pokémon in your deck, Arven also draws Tools for you, like Technical Machine: Evolution sv4 178, which lets you evolve your Pokémon.

This is particularly useful to evolve Ralts into Kirlia, as Standard will lose Kirlia SIT 68. You'll have to put as many Kirlia in play as you possibly can to make this strategy work.

Furthermore, Arven draws Bravery Charm sv2 173 and Hero's Cape TEF 152 for you.

Supporter to Draw Cards

Supporter to Sabotage Hands

Supporter to "Pull" Enemy Pokémon

Supporter to "Save" a Pokémon

Items to Get Pokémon

Items to Get Energies

Items to Evolve Pokémon

You'll use this card to evolve Ralts directly into Mega Gardevoir ex or into Gardevoir ex sv1 86.

Item to Recycle Pokémon and Basic Energies

Item to Pull Enemy Pokémon

Tools

Technical Machine: Evolution sv4 178 lets you evolve Ralts into Kirlia.

Bravery Charm sv2 173 buffs basic Pokémon by giving them HP. In particular, you'll use it to buff Drifloon, Scream Tail, and Dedenne ex.

Stadium

This Stadium lets you get "Baby" Pokémon (Pokémon without any Rule Box) from your deck, and put them directly in play.

ACE SPEC

This ACE SPEC buffs the Pokémon it is attached to by giving it 100 HP.

Unlike Bravery Charm sv2 173, which only buffs basic Pokémon, you can use this card on any Pokémon. It is also excellent on Gardevoir ex, as it makes it a lot more resilient.

Pros and Cons

Pros

This list is great against Fighting decks like Mega Lucario ex, and Charizard ex, which is slower.

Cons

This list struggles against Raging Bolt ex because it gets many energies very quickly, Archaludon ex, which is strong against Gardevoir in particular, and Hydreigon ex, which includes Darkness Pokémon and "mill".

Gardevoir ex might get a breath of fresh air once Mega Gardevoir ex comes along. The new synergy with Lillie's Clefairy ex should also make this strategy a lot stronger.

What did you think of this list? Tell us your thoughts in our comment section below.

Thank you for reading, and see you next time!