Whether you’re a beginner to the game or an avid player, pre-constructed decks provide a unique opportunity to learn new strategies in thePokemon TCG. While building your own deck from scratch can be exciting, with a pre-built deck like the Melmetal ex Battle Deck, you’ll be able to experiment with an already cohesive deck.

In this guide, learn everything you need to know about the Melmetal ex Battle Deck, from what is included in the deck to how you play it. Plus, learn more about some of the common threats that you may encounter when playing this deck competitively.

Illustration Rare Varoom from Pokemon TCG Obsidian Flames

What Does The Melmetal ex Battle Deck Include?

Although you’re free to make changes as you wish to help alter this deck to your play style,the Melmetal ex Battle Deck comes ready to playright out of the box. you may incorporate it into both free play and competitive play, as it is atournament-legal 60-card deck.

However, the Melmetal ex Battle Deck comes with more than just the cards themselves. In fact, it comes witheverything that you will need for your first battleswith this deck. This includes essentials such as acoin and damage countersas well as accessories like aplay mat and deck box.

Nemona Special Illustration by aspara

Players of all skill levels can learn to play the Melmetal ex Battle Deck, including those more experienced with the Pokemon TCG. However, for individuals who are new to the game, this collection also includes other helpful pieces.

One of these pieces is astrategy card, which will help you better understand each essential card and how it is important to the deck. It will also provide a brief introduction to the overall strategy of the deck.

Pokemon TCG Melmetal ex

It also includesthree reference cards.

Although the Melmetal ex Battle Deck includes a variety of beneficial cards to help you navigate the Pokemon TCG, this specific box is designed for gameplay over collecting. As a result, it does not include any alternative or hyper-rare artworks.

Meltan (x3)

Zacian

Melmetal (x1)

Revavroom (x3)

Radiant Charizard TCG

Varoom (x4)

Orthworm (x2)

Zacian (x2)

Bronzor (x2)

Nemona (x3)

Roark (x3)

Youngster (x2)

Jacq (x1)

Rika (x1)

Switch (x3)

Potion (x1)

Basic Metal Energy (x19)

Melmetal ex Battle Deck Strategy

The main focus of the Melmetal ex Battle Deck is toattach as many basic Metal Energies as possible to your essential Pokemonsuch as Melmetal ex and Orthworm. This will give you the potential to deal large amounts of damage while also boosting the HP of some Pokemon.

Theoverall gameplay for this deck is highly flexible, allowing you to adapt your play style, and thus where you prioritize Energy attachments, to the deck you’re facing.

Because Melmetal ex is a Stage 1 Pokemon, you will likely find yourself wanting to start off the game bygoing first whenever possible. This will give you the great potential for having your Bench set up by your second turn (the third turn in the game overall), since you will be able toevolve many of your Basic Pokemoninto their next forms.

Starting with Zacian in the Active Spot can be a helpful option, depending on the deck you are facing. If you are facing a deck that allows your opponent to quickly start dealing large amounts of damage, such as Charizard ex (Tera), then this may not be your best option. In this cases, you’ll want to attack when possible to disrupt your opponent.

However, against other decks in which you’re able to wait until your third turn to begin attacking and dealing damage, attacking with Zacian on your second turn will help youattach Energies to Melmetal ex.This is because of Zacian’s Iron Roar attack, which allows you to attach a basic Metal Energy from the discard to one of your Benched Pokemon.

Make sure to have a basic Metal Energy in the discard pile before declaring your attack with Zacian. In this deck, this will be best accomplished by attaching an Energy for turn (prior to needing to attach to Zacian to attack) and retreating.

Becausethis is a Level 1 deckgeared more toward beginners or those unfamiliar with this archetype, the strategy for this deck after setting up is fairly straightforward. Although there are several different gimmicks included to help you set up and attack,your main focus is attaching Energies as needed and dealing damagewith Melmetal ex.

Melmetal ex Battle Deck Common Threats

Melmetal ex is a fairly strong Pokemon, with low Energy costs, high HP, and the potential to deal large amounts of damage. As a result, it can be viable against several different decks. However, there are some cards and decks that may pose a threat in competitive play.

One of the biggest threats is cards that can reduce or otherwise make it difficult to maintain high Energy attachments.Crushing Hammerscan be used to discard Energies attached to your Pokemon, and some Pokemon, likeBouffalant, have attacks that canremove attached Energy.

Because this deck revolves around Metal-type Pokemon, Fire Pokemon like Radiant Charizard may also pose a challenge. This is becausethey can apply Weaknessto your Melmetal ex and other Pokemon.