Generating a Power Spike: Surging Sparks and Improved Miraidon

Hello everyone! Surging Sparks has just released and will be legal for tournaments right after LAIC for the subsequent Sacramento Regional Championships. As with any new set release, it has caused some buzz and excitement in the community, however, upon closer inspection, the set isn’t actually that good… I think this is fine, as we don’t need a groundbreaking set every three months that completely changes the landscape of the meta.

[cardimg name=”Pikachu ex” set=”Surging Sparks” no=”238″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

Of course, there are several good cards in the set, but I think this set will be overall less impactful than most other sets. There also aren’t any clearly premium archetypes that come out of this set alone, such as [card name=”Terapagos ex” set=”Stellar Crown” no=”128″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Noctowl” set=”Stellar Crown” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card] from Stellar Crown. Cards that could make their own decks, such as [card name=”Pikachu ex” set=”Surging Sparks” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Ceruledge ex” set=”Surging Sparks” no=”36″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Hydreigon ex” set=”Surging Sparks” no=”119″ c=”name”][/card], or [card name=”Archaludon ex” set=”Surging Sparks” no=”130″ c=”name”][/card], are clearly a step below the meta’s current contenders. As of right now, I don’t think any of these cards are going to immediately break into the meta. Of course, with time, perhaps players will unlock the true power of some of these cards. Nonetheless, I still want to briefly discuss some of the more interesting cards from this set, and see if we can figure out where they will see play in the meta.

Furthermore, there is one deck that gets a notable boost in power from this set; [card name=”Miraidon ex” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”81″ c=”name”][/card]. I want to take a look at this deck and talk about why it’s good, so we will get to that shortly.

Surging Sparks Rundown

As I said before, I don’t think this set is that good, however, I am notorious for underrating new cards before they prove themselves in tournaments. That said, there are a few cards that are clearly meant to have decks built around them. The likes of Ceruledge ex, Hydreigon ex, and Archaludon ex are interesting, but they make for second-rate decks in the current meta. I can’t help but compare them to decks like [card name=”Raging Bolt ex ” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”123″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Regidrago VSTAR” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”136″ c=”name”][/card], which outclass and whoop these newcomers. Pikachu ex is slightly different, however. This card has some serious promise. The effect of Pikachu ex’s Ability is rarely seen, and it is an extremely good Ability, allowing it to survive any attack that should be a one-shot. Pikachu ex’s attack is a bit difficult to manage, but it is undeniably good too — dealing 300 damage, this will one-shot most Pokemon in the game. With a little help from something like [card name=”Defiance Band” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”169″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Gravity Mountain” set=”Surging Sparks” no=”177″ c=”name”][/card], it can even take out big guns like [card name=”Charizard ex” set=”Obsidian Flames” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Dragapult ex” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”130″ c=”name”][/card] in one hit. As for its attack cost, it can be managed by cards like [card name=”Terapagos” set=”Surging Sparks” no=”161″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Crispin” set=”Stellar Crown” no=”133″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Sparkling Crystal” set=”Stellar Crown” no=”142″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Powerglass” set=”Shrouded Fable” no=”63″ c=”name”][/card], or even [card name=”Mirage Gate” set=”Lost Origin” no=”163″ c=”name”][/card].

Pikachu ex has two big problems; the first is that it is high-maintenance, requiring it to have a deck built around it. This is not inherently a bad thing, but it becomes an issue when combined with Pikachu ex’s second big weakness; the meta is hostile for it, with most decks having ways around Pikachu ex’s Ability. Regidrago VSTAR and Dragapult ex are happy to spread damage and take multi-Prize turns, and they are mostly unaffected by Pikachu ex’s Ability. The prevalence of [card name=”Dusknoir” set=”Shrouded Fable” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card] is also a struggle, as any deck containing the phantom menace will easily dispatch Pikachu ex with no regard to its defensive Ability. Finally, even [card name=”Raging Bolt ex ” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”123″ c=”name”][/card] can deal with Pikachu ex by attacking with [card name=”Slither Wing” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”107″ c=”name”][/card], which easily one-shots Pikachu ex due to Weakness and Burn damage. As a result, I don’t think a Pikachu ex-based deck is good in the current meta.

[cardimg name=”Chien-Pao” set=”Surging Sparks” no=”56″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

The new [card name=”Chien-Pao” set=”Surging Sparks” no=”56″ c=”name”][/card] has the same Ability as [card name=”Pumpkaboo” set=”Evolving Skies” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card], which is significant. This won’t see too much play right now, but it is a nice utility card, and will probably see some competitive use throughout its lifetime. [card name=”Rotom” set=”Surging Sparks” no=”61″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Turtonator” set=”Stellar Crown” no=”25″ c=”name”][/card] are nice cards for control decks to include. I don’t think control is a threat in the current metagame, but when it is played, it will certainly enjoy these cards. [card name=”Koraidon” set=”Surging Sparks” no=”116″ c=”name”][/card] is a high-damage single-Prize attacking option for any Ancient-based deck, however, the restriction on its first attack makes it inferior to other single-Prize options in Raging Bolt ex, in my opinion.

[card name=”Latias ex” set=”Surging Sparks” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] is almost certainly the best card in Surging Sparks. Its Ability is downright ridiculous, making the card extremely efficient. This will see play in every Basic-focused deck, and I could even see it being useful in some other decks like Regidrago VSTAR or [card name=”Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card]. Latias ex adds a lot of consistency to any turn one options, be it a setup or aggressive attack. Its attack won’t be used as often, and that doesn’t matter — Latias ex is a stupidly good card for the Ability alone. My only concern is that adding power to big Basic decks might further the gap between them and the other options.

The most interesting card to me personally is [card name=”Slaking ex” set=”Surging Sparks” no=”147″ c=”name”][/card]. This is a Stage 2, which isn’t exactly a good thing, but its attack is insane. For two Colorless, it swings for 280, which will likely be 260 for a [card name=”Double Turbo Energy” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”151″ c=”name”][/card]. Slaking ex also has a whopping 340 HP — it’s essentially a “big numbers” card with an efficient attack, which seems pretty good to me. The catch is that Slaking ex’s Ability says it can’t attack if your opponent only has single-Prize Pokemon in play, and there’s no real way to turn this Ability off. This means that unless you want your opponent to be able to sit there and set up, you’ll need some alternative way to apply pressure. This shouldn’t be too hard to find in deckbuilding though. [card name=”Slakoth” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”160″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Vigoroth” set=”Surging Sparks” no=”146″ c=”name”][/card] aren’t much help, but perhaps [card name=”Fan Rotom” set=”Stellar Crown” no=”118″ c=”name”][/card] could provide early pressure and trade into single-Prize Pokemon while also being a valuable consistency piece. Fortunately for Slaking ex, there are no decks that can fully operate without any two-Prize Pokemon, so Slaking ex should usually be in a situation where it can, in fact, attack.

Trainer cards like [card name=”Counter Gain” set=”Surging Sparks” no=”169″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Precious Trolley” set=”Surging Sparks” no=”185″ c=”name”][/card] are obviously good. I think some underrated Trainers might be [card name=”Jasmine’s Gaze” set=”Surging Sparks” no=”178″ c=”name”][/card] with its unique effect, [card name=”Call Bell” set=”Surging Sparks” no=”165″ c=”name”][/card] for super aggressive decks, or even [card name=”Gravity Mountain” set=”Surging Sparks” no=”177″ c=”name”][/card] if a deck needs a bit of extra reach against [card name=”Charizard ex” set=”Obsidian Flames” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Dragapult ex” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”130″ c=”name”][/card].

Miraidon ex

Now let’s talk about [card name=”Miraidon ex” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”81″ c=”name”][/card]. Miraidon ex gets a few new cards from Surging Sparks and also seems to be positioned alright into the meta.

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[cardimg name=”Magneton” set=”Surging Sparks” no=”59″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

First off is [card name=”Magneton” set=”Surging Sparks” no=”59″ c=”name”][/card]; Magneton’s Ability Knocks itself Out and attaches three Basic Energy from your discard to your Lightning Pokemon. Since this is a Stage 1, it is a bit awkward to play in a deck like Miraidon ex, but you can think of it similarly to [card name=”Flaaffy” set=”Evolving Skies” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card], which Miraidon ex used to play anyway. Miraidon ex definitely does not have to play Magneton, but it serves a few purposes — it enables [card name=”Raichu V” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”45″ c=”name”][/card], which is a solid way to deal with a [card name=”Raging Bolt ex ” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”123″ c=”name”][/card] or even bigger Pokemon. Without Magneton, it’s much more difficult to pull off Raichu V plays. Magneton helps stabilize the Miraidon ex deck, as it is sometimes prone to running out of gas after its initial burst of aggression. Those [card name=”Electric Generator” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”170″ c=”name”][/card] are a limited supply, after all, and things get dicey if you whiff Energy off an Electric Generator or two. Since Miraidon ex has mostly two-Prize Pokemon in the deck, Magneton’s self-KO effect isn’t too bad, and usually won’t affect the Prize trade. That said, it wouldn’t be too surprising to see Miraidon ex builds that don’t play Magneton, but it’s a strong option at the very least.

Miraidon ex also enjoys [card name=”Latias ex” set=”Surging Sparks” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card]. Latias ex in this deck is no mere convenience — Miraidon ex relies on switching its Pokemon around, and this was quite cumbersome and annoying to deal with in the past. Latias ex is a helpful card to make the deck function, and it also opens up several deck spots, as you don’t necessarily need switching cards anymore. Relying fully on Latias ex is the most efficient route, but does leave you more vulnerable to [card name=”Snorlax” set=”Pokemon GO” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card] stall.

Finally, Miraidon can replace [card name=”Mewtwo ex” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”58″ c=”name”][/card] with [card name=”Pikachu ex” set=”Surging Sparks” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] as the Tera Pokemon of choice for [card name=”Area Zero Underdepths” set=”Stellar Crown” no=”131″ c=”name”][/card]. While Pikachu ex can’t attack in this deck and has fewer HP than Mewtwo, its Ability makes up for this. Pikachu ex is only here to activate Area Zero Underdepths to make room for the various support Pokemon. Its Ability can be useful in case you whiff an early attack and need a tank to send up to the Active Spot.

Miraidon ex Deck List

Here is my current list. I think it’s good, but it’s still in the early stages.

[decklist name=”don” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Iron Bundle” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”56″][pokemon amt=”15″]2x [card name=”Miraidon ex” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”81″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Magneton” set=”Surging Sparks” no=”59″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Magnemite” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”65″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Pikachu ex” set=”Surging Sparks” no=”57″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Iron Hands ex” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”70″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Raikou V” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”48″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Raichu V” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”45″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”141″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Lumineon V” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”40″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Squawkabilly ex” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”169″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Fezandipiti ex” set=”Shrouded Fable” no=”38″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Latias ex” set=”Surging Sparks” no=”76″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Radiant Greninja” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”46″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Iron Bundle” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”56″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”29″]3x [card name=”Boss’s Orders (Ghetsis)” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”172″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Professor’s Research” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”147″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Arven” set=”Obsidian Flames” no=”186″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”2″][/card]4x [card name=”Electric Generator” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”170″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Nest Ball” set=”Paldean Fates” no=”84″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”196″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Hisuian Heavy Ball” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”146″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Super Rod” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”188″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Lost Vacuum” set=”Lost Origin” no=”162″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Prime Catcher ” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”157″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Forest Seal Stone” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”156″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]3x [card name=”Area Zero Underdepths” set=”Stellar Crown” no=”131″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”3″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”16″]15x [card name=”Lightning Energy” set=”Crown Zenith” no=”155″ c=”deck2″ amt=”15″][/card]1x [card name=”Double Turbo Energy” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”151″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/energy][/decklist]

List Breakdown

One of every Pokemon has become standard for [card name=”Miraidon ex” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”81″ c=”name”][/card]. Many of these Pokemon you only want once, but occasionally something important will get targeted down, so we can recover as needed with [card name=”Super Rod” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”188″ c=”name”][/card]. Two copies of Super Rod and [card name=”Hisuian Heavy Ball” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”146″ c=”name”][/card] each make the one-of spread of Pokemon reasonable and consistent. Since we don’t play as many copies of [card name=”Arven” set=”Obsidian Flames” no=”186″ c=”name”][/card], I’m hesitant to rely on one-of copies of these crucial Item cards, as I want to draw into them at the right time, even when I don’t have Arven to search them out. We don’t play as many Arven because this deck doesn’t need Pokemon Tool cards besides [card name=”Forest Seal Stone” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”156″ c=”name”][/card]. We still play two Arven because it’s still good to find an Item card and Forest Seal Stone, but since that’s the only Pokemon Tool, it’s a bit of a balancing act. I wanted to make the deck efficient with many impactful one-of Pokemon for various situations, as well as consistent to be able to leverage them for maximum value.

[cardimg name=”Latias ex” set=”Surging Sparks” no=”239″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

While two Super Rod might not be entirely necessary, the deck heavily relies on [card name=”Latias ex” set=”Surging Sparks” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Fezandipiti ex” set=”Shrouded Fable” no=”38″ c=”name”][/card], so if they get KO’d, I always want them back. [card name=”Night Stretcher” set=”Shrouded Fable” no=”61″ c=”name”][/card] is better for Pokemon alone, but Super Rod works well with [card name=”Electric Generator” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”170″ c=”name”][/card], so it’s preferred for that reason. With plenty of [card name=”Nest Ball” set=”Paldean Fates” no=”84″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”196″ c=”name”][/card], this deck should have no problem finding the Pokemon that went back in via Super Rod. Night Stretcher may be missed against hand disruption, but if Fezandipiti ex is KO’d off the Bench, that usually means there is still an attacker present. Furthermore, [card name=”Radiant Greninja” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”46″ c=”name”][/card] can somewhat help against hand disruption as well. I considered [card name=”Mew ex” set=”151″ no=”151″ c=”name”][/card] in the deck, but I don’t see it being particularly great. Since we have some [card name=”Professor’s Research” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”147″ c=”name”][/card] and aren’t fully relying on Arven, we don’t necessarily need Restart for draw power, and we also have plenty of supporting Pokemon already. Mew ex would be useful against hand disruption though, of course.

[card name=”Raichu V” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”45″ c=”name”][/card] with [card name=”Magneton” set=”Surging Sparks” no=”59″ c=”name”][/card] is a strong power option. Miraidon ex and Raikou V love sniping two-Prize Pokemon off the Bench, but the fact of the matter is that you won’t always have a [card name=”Boss’s Orders” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”132″ c=”name”][/card], so Raichu V can one-shot the Active if need be. With an attachment for turn plus Magneton, Raichu V deals 240, enough to one-shot a [card name=”Raging Bolt ex ” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”123″ c=”name”][/card]. With two more Energy from previous turns or [card name=”Electric Generator” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”170″ c=”name”][/card], Raichu V can dispatch even high-HP Pokemon like [card name=”Charizard ex” set=”Obsidian Flames” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card] in one hit. [card name=”Raikou V” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”48″ c=”name”][/card] is still in the deck because it is the most efficient attacker, dealing decent damage for two Energy. With [card name=”Area Zero Underdepths” set=”Stellar Crown” no=”131″ c=”name”][/card], Raikou V is a relevant threat, and can even one-shot [card name=”Regidrago VSTAR” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”136″ c=”name”][/card] if they fill their Bench to five. Between these two and [card name=”Lumineon V” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card], it should be fairly easy to use Forest Seal Stone.

There’s only one [card name=”Iron Hands ex” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”70″ c=”name”][/card] in this list when sometimes the deck plays two. Now that we’ve abandoned [card name=”Heavy Baton ” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”151″ c=”name”][/card]and [card name=”Exp. Share” set=”Battle Styles” no=”126″ c=”name”][/card], I don’t see the point in playing two Iron Hands ex. The meta also isn’t as demanding of it, with Iron Hands ex only being required in some matchups, and not against the more popular decks like Raging Bolt ex and Regidrago VSTAR. Again, Hisuian Heavy Ball and Super Rod help ensure that we can utilize the tech attackers whenever we need to. We still play [card name=”Double Turbo Energy” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”151″ c=”name”][/card] to make use of Iron Hands ex. While we may not always draw into it at the right time, it’s a frequent Forest Seal Stone target on those turns where we are trying to reach for a fast Amp You Very Much. Double Turbo Energy can sometimes be used with [card name=”Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”141″ c=”name”][/card] as well. Speaking of Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex, it’s a fantastic option for closing out games. It’s similar to a free Miraidon ex attack, and that extra damage even lets it one-shot Raging Bolt ex! Although we do have Magneton for a similar effect, Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex is still relevant and useful. Magneton isn’t the most reliable thing in the world, and we may use it for an earlier Raichu V instead.

[cardimg name=”Area Zero Underdepths” set=”Stellar Crown” no=”174″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

[card name=”Lost Vacuum” set=”Lost Origin” no=”162″ c=”name”][/card] is extremely strong in this deck. It does a few things; most obviously, it deals with [card name=”Bravery Charm” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”173″ c=”name”][/card] against Raging Bolt ex. This makes it easier for [card name=”Miraidon ex” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”81″ c=”name”][/card] to KO the likes of [card name=”Teal Mask Ogerpon ex” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”25″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Fezandipiti ex” set=”Shrouded Fable” no=”38″ c=”name”][/card], or for Raichu V or Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex to KO Raging Bolt ex. With Area Zero Underdepths in play, Lost Vacuum actually can provide lots of healing. By getting rid of Area Zero Underdepths, you can clear damaged Pokemon off your board, which is highly effective, especially against [card name=”Dragapult ex” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”130″ c=”name”][/card], Regidrago VSTAR, or anything that hit into your Active [card name=”Pikachu ex” set=”Surging Sparks” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card]. Next, you can also clear liabilities off your board, such as [card name=”Lumineon V” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Squawkabilly ex” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”169″ c=”name”][/card] against an opposing Iron Hands ex before they get the chance to use Amp You Very Much (which would effectively shut you out of Magneton or punish an already used Magneton). Finally, removing Area Zero Underdepths also gives you an option to play another one, effectively generating three extra Bench spaces. Rearranging the Pokemon you have in play can be quite handy. It may be worth including a second copy of Lost Vacuum with three Area Zero Underdepths in the deck.

Speaking of Area Zero Underdepths, most lists play two, but I think three is better. Not only is Area Zero Underdepths extremely useful for this deck, but it’s even necessary. Aside from making space for the plethora of support and attacking Pokemon alike, you can also pull off all of the aforementioned shenanigans with Lost Vacuum. Miraidon ex has always struggled with Bench space, and now this list relies on [card name=”Latias ex” set=”Surging Sparks” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card] as well. With no consistent way to search out Area Zero Underdepths, we have to draw into it naturally, and sometimes even want another one during the game. For these reasons, playing three makes sense to me and makes the deck more consistent.

Some lists play [card name=”Secret Box” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”163″ c=”name”][/card] for some reason… [card name=”Prime Catcher ” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”157″ c=”name”][/card] is too broken and synergistic to not play in the deck. Prime Catcher is exactly what the deck wants; the additional switching out can also be useful in some niche situations where you need to move your Active twice in a turn, or if Latias ex’s Ability is locked. I also don’t see the value in playing the various Pokemon Tool cards anymore, which further diminishes the value of Secret Box. There isn’t a lot of space for said Pokemon Tool cards anyway.

All of that said, there may or may not be changes that could improve this deck. Maybe a version focused on [card name=”Arven” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”166″ c=”name”][/card], Pokemon Tools, and [card name=”Mew ex” set=”151″ no=”151″ c=”name”][/card] is better. Nonetheless, the above logic is what has led me to this list, and I think it’s pretty solid.

Matchups

[cardimg name=”Terapagos ex” set=”Stellar Crown” no=”170″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

[card name=”Lugia VSTAR” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”139″ c=”name”][/card]  has always been [card name=”Miraidon ex” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”81″ c=”name”][/card]’s best matchup, so as long as that deck is popular, the better it is for Miraidon ex. [card name=”Raging Bolt ex ” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”123″ c=”name”][/card] isn’t quite as bad with the additions of [card name=”Magneton” set=”Surging Sparks” no=”59″ c=”name”][/card] and Lost Vacuum, but I don’t see that matchup getting much better than 50-50 anyway, as it comes down to a Prize-trade slugfest every time. [card name=”Regidrago VSTAR” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”136″ c=”name”][/card] is a fine matchup but it’s not as free as some people think. Lost Vacuum can clear damaged Pokemon from play, which is good when they inevitably try to set up damage with Dragapult ex and [card name=”Kyurem” set=”Shrouded Fable” no=”47″ c=”name”][/card]. [card name=”Iron Bundle” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”56″ c=”name”][/card] can sometimes be useful when they go for [card name=”Radiant Charizard” set=”Pokemon GO” no=”11″ c=”name”][/card] plus [card name=”Iono” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”185″ c=”name”][/card], as you can put it in play preemptively. The matchup against [card name=”Dusknoir” set=”Shrouded Fable” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card] decks mostly comes down to how fast you can use [card name=”Iron Hands ex” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”70″ c=”name”][/card] and how much mileage you can get out of it. In some games against decks like [card name=”Charizard ex” set=”Obsidian Flames” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card] or Dragapult ex, you can use Iron Hands ex for two, boss-KO [card name=”Rotom V” set=”Lost Origin” no=”58″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Fezandipiti ex” set=”Shrouded Fable” no=”38″ c=”name”][/card] for two, and then bring out [card name=”Raichu V” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”45″ c=”name”][/card] for a nuke. [card name=”Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card] is going to be easier, while [card name=”Terapagos ex” set=”Stellar Crown” no=”128″ c=”name”][/card] is going to be more difficult. [card name=”Zapdos” set=”Pokemon GO” no=”29″ c=”name”][/card] would only matter if they weren’t playing the [card name=”Bouffalant” set=”Stellar Crown” no=”119″ c=”name”][/card] version.

Wrapping Up

That’s all I have for today! I’m sure the plethora of Miraidon ex-enthusiasts will be excited to play this deck in the new format, as it seems to be the biggest beneficiary from Surging Sparks. I’m not sure if Miraidon ex will suddenly jump to Tier 1, but it does seem strong. Give the deck a try if you’ve been missing Miraidon ex or if you like fast and aggressive decks. Thanks for reading!

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