Quick Links
In thePokemon TCG, one of the ways that a game can be lost is if there are no Benched Pokemon left to continue playing. As a result, many decks employ a wide variety of Pokemon, whether as attackers or support, to ensure successful gameplay. However, the Iron Thorns ex deck relies on quality over quantity, sporting only four Pokemon cards in the entire deck.
The Iron Thorns ex deck pairs control and disruption with a relatively powerful attack. Discover how to build and play the Iron Thorns ex deck, as well as some common threats you might face.
Judge (x4)
Iono (x4)
Arven (x4)
Eri (x4)
Pokegear 3.0 (x4)
Double Turbo Energy (x4)
Iron Thorns Ex Deck Best Cards
With space for 56 non-Pokemon cards, the Iron Thorns ex deck offers a highly customizable deck that can be tailored to counter meta and rogue decks alike. However, there are certain cards that are either essential to the core mechanics of this deck or highly significant.
Iron Thorns Ex
Iron Thorns ex isthe core of this deck. In fact, it is the only Pokemon card played. However, its Future marking and Initialization Ability make it a powerful option.
Initialization negates the Ability of any Pokemon in play with a Rule Box, except for other Future Pokemon. Although this Ability only activates when Iron Thorns ex is in the Active Spot,its Ability affects all Pokemon, including those on the Bench.
Along with this Ability, Iron Thorns ex sports a single attack: Volt Cyclone. This does140 damage to the Defending Pokemon, and it causes you to move one Energy from your attacking Iron Thorns ex to a Pokemon on the Bench. This can be helpful in setting up multiple Iron Thorns ex cards, especially when paired with Future Booster Energy Capsule.
For each Double Turbo Energy attached to Iron Thorns ex,it will do 20 less damage. So, if you choose to meet the Energy requirements by attaching one Lightning Energy and a Double Turbo Energy, Volt Cyclone will do 120 damage instead.
Eri
In many decks, Item cards are essential, and there are few ways to retrieve them from the discard pile once they get there. As a result, when paired with the four-of-a-card limit, many players are especially careful with how they treat their Item cards.
This is why Eri can be a beneficial addition to the Iron Thorns ex deck. This Supporter allows you to look at your opponent’s hand anddiscard any two Item cards that you find there. This can include everything from a Rare Candy to a Superior Energy Retrieval.
Eri acts as a counter for many powerful decks. Many decks, such asCharizard exandChien-Pao, rely on Rare Candies, playing very few, if any, Stage 1 Pokemon to allow evolution otherwise. Other decks, likeGholdengo ex, need Superior Energy Retrieval in order to deal the most amount of damage.
By limiting the Items available for your opponent to play, you’ll be able to have the opportunity tohinder significant gameplay mechanicsfor a variety of decks.
Technical Machine: Devolution
Eri can be exceptionally advantageous on its own in the Iron Thorns ex deck. However,when paired with Technical Machine: Devolution, it has the potential to be game-altering.
When attached to your Active Pokemon, you’ll be able to attack with Technical Machine: Devolution, so long as you meet the Energy requirements for this Tool. This attack does no damage, but it does allow you totake the highest stage Evolution Pokemon from each of your opponent’s Pokemon and put it back into their hand.
To use Technical Machine: Devolution, your Pokemon will need one Colorless Energy.
This means that if you are playing against someone with a Benched Pidgeot ex that they evolved through a Rare Candy and you use this Tool card, they’ll be left with a Pidgey in its place. However, the Rare Candy originally used to evolve this Pokemonremains in the discard pile.
By pairing Technical Machine: Devolution with Eri, you’ll be able todrastically reduce the amount of Rare Candiesyour opponent has available. Then, since they often have little to no options to return these cards into play,your opponent may be left withno way to evolvetheir Pokemon again.
If you attach this Tool to your Pokemon, even if they don’t attack with it, it will be discarded at the end of your turn.
Future Booster Energy Capsule
Future Booster Energy Capsuleis a staplein any deck playing Future Pokemon. This is especially true for Pokemon like Iron Thorns ex that have high Retreat Costs and overall weaker attacks.
This Tool card allows for Future Pokemon todeal 20 more damage to Active Pokemonwhile also providing afree Retreat Cost. Because of this, it can be used in combination with Double Turbo Energy to prevent any changes to Iron Thorns ex’s attack.
However, in the Iron Thorns ex deck,Future Booster Energy Capsules are best used for pivoting. Because you’ll have to move an Energy to a Benched Pokemon when attacking with Volt Cyclone, there may come times when you are unable to attack on your next turn. Future Booster Energy Capsule creates the opportunity for a free Retreat Cost,making it easy to Retreat and switch into a different Pokemon.
Because Future Booster Energy Capsule is a Tool card, you cannot attach Technical Machine: Devolution to Iron Thorns ex when this Tool is already attached. If you need to remove a Future Booster Energy Capsule, you’ll have to use a Lost Vacuum.
Iron Thorns Ex Deck Strategy
The Iron Thorns ex is adisruption- and control-based deck. This means that rather than focusing on attacking and Knocking Out your opponents, your main priority will be preventing them from playing to the fullest. Then, from there, you can secure enough Knock Outs to end the game.
When you have the choice,going first in this deck is preferred. This is because, although going first limits what you’re able to do in your turn, it will give youthe potential to attach all the necessary Energyfor Volt Cyclone prior to the third turn of the game. At this point, it is likely that, depending on the opposing deck, you’ll be able totake a Knock Out on your next turn.
Because this deck only plays Iron Thorns ex, going first is a safe strategy as you will always start off the game with the Pokemon you need in the Active Spot.
For the majority of the game, you will want to focus ondisrupting your opponent’s gameplaythrough the use of Iron Thorns ex’s Ability, Eri, and other cards. Calamitous Wasteland can be beneficial, as, with the use of Future Booster Energy Capsule,it won’t affect your Pokemon.
The exact strategy for playing Iron Thorns ex depends on the opposing deck, as you are seeking to actively counter their gameplay.
Against Charizard ex, you’ll want to focus onpreventing them from using Rare Candies. Iron Thorn ex’s Ability will also inactive Quick Search and Infernal Reign, making gameplay more difficult.
Against Chien-Pao, Eri can be used to get rid of Rare Candies and any sort of Energy retrievals. This can help prevent this deck from being able to Knock Out your Iron Thorns ex, especially becauseChien-Pao won’t be able to activate its Ability.
Iron Thorns Ex Deck Common Threats
Iron Thorns ex struggles most againstdecks that do not utilize Rule Box Pokemon, such as Lost Box. This is because these decks are not affected by Iron Thorns ex’s Ability, and, in many cases, they are able to withstand Volt Cyclone and return Knock Outs.
In these matchups, it is best to play with afocus on controland aim to use any gusting cards, like Prime Catcher, totarget easy Knock Outsto win through Prize Cards.
