Ultimate Guide to Lucario and Rampardos Deck Strategy

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Since its debut in Pokemon TCG Pocket‘s Space-Time Smackdown, Lucario has been enhancing attacking Pokémon with its impressive Fighting Coach ability. This skill adds an extra 20 damage whenever your Active Pokémon attacks—provided that Pokémon is of the Fighting type.

Introduced alongside Lucario in Space-Time Smackdown, Rampardos stands out as one of the most aggressive cards available, delivering an incredible 130 damage for just one Energy. As a Stage 2 Fossil Pokémon, it requires specific setup, but when paired with a Rampardos and Lucario deck, you can dominate your opponents without the need for any EX cards.

Sample Deck Configuration

Lucario and Rampardos Deck

Alternatives and Strategies

Our deck includes Sudowoodo, a recent addition from the Triumphant Light expansion. However, Marshadow is another solid choice. Its Revenge attack can escalate damage from 40 to 100 if one of your Pokémon was knocked out in the previous turn. This strategy can be particularly effective with Rampardos, especially if it sacrifices itself by taking down a formidable opponent.

Against the rising tide of EX-based decks in the Triumphant Light era, we favor Sudowoodo, which can inflict 50 damage with just one Energy if its target is an EX Pokémon. Some players choose to include both Sudowoodo and Marshadow, but in our experience, this can overload your deck with Pokémon cards, potentially hurting your overall performance. Alternatively, consider swapping Rocky Helmets for Sabrina to enhance control or Giant Capes for added bulk.

Deck Strategy

The Lucario and Rampardos deck focuses on maximizing damage output. Its energy utilization is exceptional, allowing rapid high-damage strikes. You will typically start with Riolu as your Active Pokémon since the inclusion of two Skull Fossil cards limits your Basic Pokémon options. However, if you can get Sudowoodo out first, that’s preferable.

Your main objective is to quickly get your Skull Fossils on the bench and use Pokemon Communication to find Cranidos and Rampardos. The aim is to fully evolve the two-stage line well before your opponent has a chance to respond. Attach Rocky Helmets to either Riolu or Sudowoodo to inflict chip damage and create hesitation in your opponent’s actions.

Rampardos excels by dealing 130 damage for one Fighting Energy and boasts a robust HP of 150, making it particularly formidable. If Sudowoodo is your starting Pokémon, it can deliver a surprising 70 damage early on, aligning perfectly with the potential weakness of many starting Pokémon.

This aggressive strategy allows you to deliver substantial damage right from the start, maintaining momentum against your opponents. Even if you can’t get Rampardos out immediately, Cranidos can provide valuable support by dealing 50 damage with its Headbutt attack, which increases to 70 if combined with Lucario’s ability. This versatility ensures that your deck remains functional even in challenging scenarios.

Matchups and Counters

When facing typical Arceus EX decks, your Lucario and Rampardos strategy can shine. As one of the dominant forces in the current meta, Arceus is frequently supported by other strong Pokémon like Dialga EX, which are vulnerable to your Fighting-type attacks. Sudowoodo can capitalize on this weakness immediately.

However, be wary of Grass-type decks, as they can pose significant challenges. Pokémon like Exeggutor EX can swiftly overpower with Psychic attacks, which are effective against your Fighting-type Pokémon. The success of your deck heavily relies on drawing key cards like Cranidos and Rampardos quickly. While Pokemon Communication helps search for your Pokémon, there is no direct search tool for Fossil cards, necessitating some inherent luck.

Overall, while the deck has its strengths, it’s not without potential pitfalls. Adapting your strategy based on matchups will be crucial for mastering the Lucario and Rampardos deck in your battles.

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