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At the start of the Space-Time Smackdown meta, players of Pokémon TCG Pocket quickly identified Darkrai ex as a dominant force within the format. After a few weeks, strategies to counter Darkrai ex emerged as players came to realize they had access to many of the necessary tools from earlier sets.
In the Mythical Islands meta, Celebi ex became a significant challenge due to its ability to accumulate large amounts of Energy through sheer force, often winning crucial coin flips. Meanwhile, Exeggutor ex, previously a support option for Venusaur ex, has finally found its moment to shine in this new meta, providing a strong deck strategy.
Sample Decklist
| Exeggutor ex / Celebi ex | |||
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| Exeggcute (A1) x2 | Exeggutor ex (A2) x2 | Celebi ex (A1a) x1 | Professor’s Research x2 |
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| Erika x2 | Sabrina x2 | Cyrus x1 | Poke Ball x2 |
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| Potion x2 | Pokemon Communication x1 | Rocky Helmet x2 | Giant Cape x1 |
Exeggcute remains the only card with an alternate print from a different set. The Mythical Island version generates Grass Energy through its attack, while Exeggutor ex only requires Energy to retreat. Leverage the first-turn bonus damage from Seed Bomb.
Some versions of this deck may swap out Sabrina for Leaf, Shaymin, or both. The ability to bring out a blocking Pokémon like Druddigon proved valuable in many matches.
Exeggutor Ex / Celebi Ex Deck Strategy
The strategy for the Exeggutor ex / Celebi ex deck is straightforward: Attach an Energy to Exeggcute, attack, and evolve as soon as possible. Stack your remaining Energy on Celebi ex for a powerful cleanup after Exeggutor ex is knocked out.
If going second, Exeggcute can deal 20 damage instantly. If leading the game, you can evolve into Exeggutor ex and launch an immediate attack causing 40-80 damage. This averages out to a 2-hit KO on Darkrai ex, even if it has a Giant Coat, due to its Grass weakness.
Since Exeggutor ex requires only one Grass Energy, you can allocate the rest to Celebi ex on the bench. Generally, this allows you to build up to four Grass Energy on Celebi ex before Exeggutor ex is taken out.
The other components of your deck serve as a toolbox: Professor’s Research, Poke Ball, and Pokemon Communication help you locate your Pokémon; Erika and Potions keep your Pokémon in play; and Sabrina and Cyrus can help clear out Druddigon so you can target the higher-value Pokémon in the back.
Both the Giant Cape and Rocky Helmet have their uses, but the Rocky Helmet should usually go on Exeggutor ex to add chip damage and deter weak attacks while your opponent sets up.
Exeggutor Ex / Celebi Ex Matchups
Darkrai Ex / Magnezone
Darkrai ex decks rely on gradual damage while setting up, but Exeggutor ex can start hitting hard right away, enjoying a type advantage. These factors result in Exeggutor ex / Celebi ex decks achieving a high win rate against various Darkrai ex decks.
Sabrina is crucial in this matchup as she enables you to bypass the Druddigon your opponent is trying to protect. Even if you manage just one attack, they’ll need a Leaf to discard Energy and reposition, with your Cyrus at the ready for future turns.
Charizard Ex / Moltres Ex
Charizard ex decks benefitted from a slight upgrade, gaining Pokemon Communication, which simplifies the process of getting the Stage 1 and Stage 2 Pokémon needed to start battling. This enhancement has made the deck faster and more dependable than ever.
Your odds against this setup are limited: All of your Pokémon are weak to fire, and if your opponent opens with Charmander, it can potentially knock out your Exeggcute. Healing cards like Erika become ineffective when facing a deck capable of one-hit knocking out all your Pokémon.
Magnezone / Skarmory
Usage of this deck has increased since it was highlighted by Sam Woods. It poses a challenging matchup for Exeggutor ex, as Skarmory can reliably knock out Exeggcute on its first attacking turn.
However, if you can endure past the initial turn, you might be able to turn the tables. Skarmory may take early Prize Points, but Exeggutor ex and Celebi ex can absorb several hits and retaliate even harder.
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