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In a meta filled with nightmare creatures from other dimensions, sometimes the best option is to slap your opponent with a fish. Thankfully,Pokemon TCG Pocket’s most popular fish, Magikarp, evolves into the powerful, dragon-like Gyarados ex!
Gyarados ex has been popping up in different forms since it was released in Mythical Island, but the continued support that Water-type decks receive means it keeps getting better. And since it’s one of the decks that can consistently beat the meta-defining Darkrai ex / Giratina ex archetype, it’s a great option to play and a terrifying one to be matched against.
Magikarp (A1a) x2
Gyarados ex (A1a) x2
Manaphy (A2) x2
Misty x2
Irida x2
Sabrina x1
Red x1
Pokemon Communication x1
Rocky Helmet x2
The Mythical Island version of Magikarp is preferable to the Genetic Apex version, despite the fact that the Genetic Apex version can attack for one Colorless Energy. The Mythical Island’s attack,Leap Out, works as a functional Retreatwithout discarding any Energy.
One or two Giant Capes can replace the Rocky Helmets, giving Manaphy a little more bulk to resist being KOed in the first couple turns.Rocky Helmet is more useful at higher tiers of play, though, since its chip damage puts major threats in range of a KO from Rampaging Whirlpool.
Some versions of this deck drop one Misty for a copy of Mars, which can help interfere with your opponent in the late game. However, we’ve found that being able to draw Misty early more often leads toan explosive early game that your opponent will struggle to recover from.
Gyarados ex / Manaphy Deck Strategy
Gyarados ex is the primary attacker for this deck: It’s tanky at 180 HP, deals 140 damage with Rampaging Whirlpool, and can disrupt your opponent’s strategy by forcing them to discard Energy from their Pokemon. The drawbacks are that it needs four Energy, andit evolves from Magikarp, the weakest Pokemon in the game.
Both Magikarp cards only have 30 HP and a weakness to Lightning, which means they can be OHKOed by many Basic Pokemon, including Magnemite, a common threat to the deck. For this reason, you want touse the Mythical Island Magikarp, which can retreat as its attack, conserving Energy, andtry to get the slightly tougher Manaphy into your Active position.
It only has 50 HP, butManaphy’s function is to use Oceanic Gift to attach Energyto the Magikarp, Gyarados ex, and Origin Forme Palkia on your Bench. Oceanic Gift allows you to attach one Water Energy to each of two Pokemon on your Bench, allowing you to set up multiple attackers at once.
The setup of Manaphy in the Active position and at least one Gyarados ex on the Bench is vital, but as soon as you get that, you canuse Misty to attempt to get some extra Energy on Gyarados ex. If you manage to get enough heads to pay for Rampaging Whirlpool, you should switch Gyarados ex in and use it immediately.
Alwaysevolve Magikarp as soon as possibleto avoid losing it to Hitmonlee or Sabrina with basically anything.
If you’re still looking for Gyarados ex to evolve your Magikarp,use Irida to heal Manaphy and use it as a tank for as long as possible. Manaphy isn’t going to deal any damage, so don’t worry about it getting KOed to set up your Gyarados ex.
Origin Forme Palkia is a solid backup attacker. Three Water Energy is a little steep for 60 damage (and a chance at 120), but it can beyour second Oceanic Gift target and an outlet for Mistyonce one or both Gyarados ex are already set up.
Since Origin Forme Palkia has 120 HP and is only worth one Prize Point, it also allows you to have an attacker that presents less risk once your Manaphy (or a Magikarp) has been KOed.Use it to soften up a big target like Charizard exbefore bringing Gyarados ex in for the finishing blow.
Gyarados ex Manaphy Matchups
Giratina ex Darkrai ex
Giratina ex Darkrai ex decksare a common sight, so they will likely be your most common matchup. Fortunately, it’s alsoone of your best matchups. Gyarados ex can OHKO Darkrai ex, and leave Giratina ex low enough that it can’t attack without KOing itself, while both need two attacks to KO Gyarados ex.
Be wary of attacking a Rocky Helmet Druddigon, which can put Gyarados ex in range of a KO from Giratina ex. Use Origin Forme Palkia to get through that wall, or Sabrina to pull a higher-value target to the Active position before attacking.
Meowscarada Magnezone
Meowscarada and Magnezoneareuniquely well-suited to taking on Gyarados ex. If your opponent goes second, they can KO your Magikarp with Magnemite, and both Pokemon can KO Gyarados ex in two hits while only giving up one Prize Point to revenge KOs.
Gyarados ex is a little more consistent than Meowscarada decks, sobe aggressive about taking out your opponent’s Pokemonbefore they can finish setting up. A good Misty early on can make this match.
Charizard ex Moltres ex
The Charizard ex / Moltres ex deckand Gyarados ex / Manaphy deck areabout equally matched. Charizard ex is capable of scoring a OHKO on Gyarados ex, but Gyarados ex can do the same with the help of Red, or to Moltres ex.
In this matchup, you want togive up your Manaphy to Charizard ex, leaving it open for your Rampaging Whirlpoolas a revenge KO. This will usually leave your opponent without another attack ready, so you can sweep.
