Iron Thorns ex / Dragapult ex Poses Major Challenges to Top Decks
Hello to all PokeBeach readers! This is Gabriel Semedo again with another Pokemon TCG article. This time I want to talk about a deck that is actually the fusion of two decks from the format, [card name=”Iron Thorns ex” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”196″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Dragapult ex” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”200″ c=”name”][/card].
This is not the first time that this deck has appeared in the world of Pokémon TCG. At least I have tested Iron Thorns ex / Dragapult ex before the Latin America International Championships (LAIC), and I confess that I liked the deck at the time. But the metagame was completely different from what it is today. At LAIC, I played [card name=”Regidrago VSTAR” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”201″ c=”name”][/card] because it had not yet become 100% established as the best deck in the format, and there was a clear path for it to perform well. But now the metagame is 100% focused on playing Regidrago or playing with something that beats Regidrago, and it is in these moments that crazy ideas appear, like Iron Thorns / Dragapult.
Combining the deck that won the 2024 World Championships with a Pokemon that has one of the best attacks in the game—also Regidrago’s preferred attack—actually made some sense, even though several peculiar characteristics of each deck had to be set aside.
The Quad Iron Thorns deck is still strong, but it relies much more on luck now than it did at Worlds 2024. Everyone knows how to play against Iron Thorns and even dedicates specific cards to counter it. Aside from being well-known, it is also respected. While it’s still possible to see some good results here and there at Regionals, I believe that this is due to specific matchups or flipping heads on [card name=”Crushing Hammer” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”166″ c=”name”][/card] at the crucial moment. For me, the biggest issue with Quad Thorns isn’t beating Regidrago VSTAR. A player who knows the deck well is difficult to beat. A lot has to go wrong for Regidrago, such as [card name=”Canceling Cologne” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”136″ c=”name”][/card] going to the Prizes, or flipping multiple heads on Crushing Hammer.
About the Dragapult ex only deck, I still think it has a lot of potential, whether combined with [card name=”Dusknoir” set=”Shrouded Fable” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card] or just [card name=”Pidgeot ex” set=”Paldean Fates” no=”221″ c=”name”][/card] to improve consistency. However, it often lacks the time or resources to set up properly throughout the game. Dragapult needs one or two extra turns to fully utilise its potential, and this has been evident not only in the current metagame with Iron Thorns, but also in the future metagame in Japan. However, for me, the biggest issue with traditional Dragapult decks is your two-Prize support Pokemon that your opponent can Knock Out on your Bench or those offered by Dusknoir.
Often, victories against Dragapult ex are secured by Knocking Out your [card name=”Rotom V” set=”Lost Origin” no=”177″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Fezandipiti ex” set=”Shrouded Fable” no=”38″ c=”name”][/card], Pidgeot ex, or taking a double Knockout on your [card name=”Dreepy” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”128″ c=”name”][/card] and either [card name=”Pidgey” set=”Obsidian Flames” no=”207″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Duskull” set=”Shrouded Fable” no=”18″ c=”name”][/card] when playing against Regidrago VSTAR or [card name=”Radiant Greninja” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”46″ c=”name”][/card]. It’s not always necessary to deal directly with Dragapult ex, as it is powerful on its own. When a Dragapult ex deck works perfectly and avoids early [card name=”Kyurem” set=”Shrouded Fable” no=”47″ c=”name”][/card], Regidrago has serious problems. However, the match is still very balanced.
Iron Thorns ex alone cannot beat Regidrago VSTAR, but it can prolong the game, and Dragapult ex can beat Regidrago—provided the initial setup is solid. Combining the two Pokemon together seems to make a lot of sense. However, I believe the brilliance of the idea came from whoever thought of it (likely from Japan), simply putting two completely different Pokemon together in a single deck. I must admit, this idea didn’t even cross my mind. The card that connects Iron Thorns and Dragapult is [card name=”Crispin” set=”Stellar Crown” no=”164″ c=”name”][/card], which enables Iron Thorns to attack on the second turn and provides the Energy acceleration needed throughout the game for Dragapult ex.
Recently, Isaiah Cheville wrote an article about Iron Thorns ex, explaining the Iron Thorns ex / Dragapult ex combination very well. I’ll just give a brief explanation and then discuss the matchups.
Deck Overview
You always want [card name=”Iron Thorns ex” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”196″ c=”name”][/card] in the Active Spot on the first turn, which is why the deck only includes four Dreepy and [card name=”Radiant Alakazam” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”59″ c=”name”][/card] as your other Basic Pokemon. The more Basic Pokemon in the deck, the less likely you are going to be able to start with Iron Thorns ex. [card name=”Arven” set=”Paldean Fates” no=”235″ c=”name”][/card] and Crispin are the Supporter cards responsible for assisting with the deck’s early setup, with Arven fetching your ACE SPEC [card name=”Precious Trolley” set=”Surging Sparks” no=”185″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Technical Machine: Evolution” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”178″ c=”name”][/card], while Crispin enables Iron Thorns ex to attack early.
Despite being a very ingenious deck build, the strategy is quite simple: attack with Iron Thorns until you manage to evolve [card name=”Dragapult ex” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”200″ c=”name”][/card], then switch to Dragapult and continue attacking until the game ends. Of course, the deck’s complexity appears in other parts of the game, but in terms of possible plays, I believe decks with [card name=”Dusknoir” set=”Shrouded Fable” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Briar” set=”Stellar Crown” no=”171″ c=”name”][/card] or even [card name=”Regidrago VSTAR” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”201″ c=”name”][/card] are more complex to use.
From turn 3 onwards, the deck is expected to have an army of [card name=”Drakloak” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”129″ c=”name”][/card] on the Bench providing draw power, while Iron Thorns can continuously attack to buy more time. Cards like [card name=”Penny” set=”Paldean Fates” no=”239″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Boss’s Orders” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”189″ c=”name”][/card], and [card name=”Counter Catcher” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”264″ c=”name”][/card] are used during this phase of the game to maximise Iron Thorns’ effectiveness, giving time for the Drakloak to evolve into Dragapult ex.
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Finally, Dragapult ex steps in to claim the last few Prizes remaining or finish off the Knock Outs that Iron Thorns ex couldn’t achieve. A mistake I often made was waiting too long to attack with Dragapult ex, thinking that extra turns of Ability Lock would be the best option. However, this is an illusory comfort zone. Don’t waste more time than necessary—one good turn from your opponent is all it takes for your protection to be nullified and your setup to be disrupted. Remember that Radiant Alakazam is there to adjust the damage dealt by Iron Thorns so that Dragapult can finish it off.
[decklist name=”Thorns Dragapult” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Radiant Alakazam” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”59″][pokemon amt=”15″]4x [card name=”Iron Thorns ex” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”196″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Dragapult ex” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”130″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]4x [card name=”Drakloak” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”129″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Dreepy” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”128″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]1x [card name=”Radiant Alakazam” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”59″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”34″]4x [card name=”Arven” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”166″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Crispin” set=”Stellar Crown” no=”133″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Iono” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”185″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Boss’s Orders” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”154″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]1x [card name=”Penny” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”183″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”Pokégear 3.0″ set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”182″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”102″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Nest Ball” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”181″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Precious Trolley” set=”Surging Sparks” no=”185″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Buddy-Buddy Poffin ” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”144″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Tera Orb” set=”Surging Sparks” no=”189″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Earthen Vessel” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”163″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Night Stretcher” set=”Shrouded Fable” no=”61″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Lost Vacuum” set=”Lost Origin” no=”162″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Counter Catcher” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”91″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]2x [card name=”Technical Machine: Evolution” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”178″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Rescue Board ” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”159″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Future Booster Energy Capsule” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”164″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”11″]4x [card name=”Fire Energy” set=”EX Ruby and Sapphire” no=”108″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Psychic Energy” set=”EX Ruby and Sapphire” no=”107″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Lightning Energy” set=”Black and White” no=”108″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card][/energy][/decklist]
Matchups
Regidrago VSTAR (50/50)
I’ve heard many times that several decks have a 50/50 matchup against [card name=”Regidrago VSTAR” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”201″ c=”name”][/card], when in reality, they don’t. The truth is that Regidrago has several balanced matchups, ranging from 60/40 to 40/60. Ultimately, I see most of these matchups with a slight advantage for Regidrago, especially when used by an exceptional player. However, I believe [card name=”Iron Thorns ex” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”196″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Dragapult ex” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”200″ c=”name”][/card] has a very balanced matchup, even against the best Regidrago player in the world.
We already know that aggro decks like [card name=”Raging Bolt ex ” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”208″ c=”name”][/card]and [card name=”Gouging Fire ex ” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”204″ c=”name”][/card] can have a good matchup against Regidrago, but this may be the first time a Stage 2 deck has given me a similar feeling. While Regidrago VSTAR can sometimes beat Raging Bolt and Gouging Fire, the advantage typically lies with those decks. Regidrago needs those decks to miss attacks and Knock Outs, and it must make perfect use of [card name=”Radiant Charizard” set=”Crown Zenith” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card]. In the case of Iron Dragapult, Regidrago needs a bit of luck to avoid Iron Thorns’ Ability in the early turns; otherwise, the game becomes very difficult for Regidrago.
In this matchup, Iron Thorns ex is the best way to delay Regidrago VSTAR’s setup, as it disables the Abilities of [card name=”Squawkabilly ex” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”264″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Teal Mask Ogerpon ex” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”211″ c=”name”][/card], Regidrago VSTAR, [card name=”Mew ex” set=”Paldean Fates” no=”232″ c=”name”][/card], and [card name=”Fezandipiti ex” set=”Shrouded Fable” no=”38″ c=”name”][/card]. The most effective way for Regidrago to set up is by using [card name=”Cleffa” set=”Obsidian Flames” no=”202″ c=”name”][/card]’s attack to draw cards.
Iron Thorns ex should take the first two Prizes, but don’t wait too long to attack with Dragapult ex. Regidrago is a toolbox, and anything can happen. Just when you think you’re in control, your opponent can use powerful Trainer cards like [card name=”Canceling Cologne” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”136″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Prime Catcher ” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”157″ c=”name”][/card] to throw off your entire strategy.
Dragapult ex is one of the best Pokemon in the format to deal with Regidrago VSTAR, simply because Regidrago can’t Knock it Out with one attack, and Dragapult ex’s attack is very strong.
Charizard ex (70/30)
One of the best matchups for Iron Thorns ex / Dragapult ex, [card name=”Charizard ex” set=”Obsidian Flames” no=”223″ c=”name”][/card] struggles with setup issues at the beginning of the game and later can’t deal with Dragapult ex’s power. Dragapult has a clear power advantage over Charizard in this matchup. It feels like Dragapult attacks twice while Charizard only attacks once, as the damage done to the Bench is enough to KO [card name=”Pidgey” set=”Obsidian Flames” no=”207″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Duskull” set=”Shrouded Fable” no=”18″ c=”name”][/card].
The match can spiral out of control if you focus too much on playing with Iron Thorns ex. Ideally, you should only lose one Iron Thorns and then continue the rest of the game with Dragapult ex. If you play one or two more Iron Thorns, they’ll become easy Prizes for Charizard ex later on. There are matchups where you need to play two Iron Thorns to prevent [card name=”Iron Bundle” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”56″ c=”name”][/card] from removing the Ability lock, but that’s not the case here.
Lugia VSTAR (80/20)
In this matchup, the strategy is to play as if it were Quad Iron Thorns, since you don’t want your opponent to bring out their [card name=”Archeops” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”147″ c=”name”][/card] under any circumstances. Remember that Iron Thorns ex takes advantage of [card name=”Lugia V” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”186″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Lugia VSTAR” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”211″ c=”name”][/card]’s Lightning-type Weakness, so Knock Out both Pokemon whenever possible. The opponent will likely bench [card name=”Wyrdeer V” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”180″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Cinccino ” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”183″ c=”name”][/card], so simply use [card name=”Boss’s Orders” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”189″ c=”name”][/card] and get rid of those Pokemon.
The match can become complicated if you open with [card name=”Dreepy” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”128″ c=”name”][/card] and can’t get Iron Thorns ex in the Active Spot on the first turn. Try to use [card name=”Penny” set=”Paldean Fates” no=”239″ c=”name”][/card] to bring back your Dreepy to hand to prevent your opponent from using Boss’s Orders on it, as this would let them get out of Ability Lock and bring out Archeops.
Take note: Iron Thorns ex disables the Abilities of [card name=”Lumineon V” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”156″ c=”name”][/card], Squawkabilly ex, [card name=”Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”216″ c=”name”][/card], and Lugia VSTAR.
Gholdengo ex (40/60)
Some Iron Thorns ex / Dragapult ex lists use [card name=”Toedscruel” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”17″ c=”name”][/card], which can prevent the opponent from returning cards to their hand from their discard pile, whether through Trainer cards or Abilities. With Toedscruel in the list, this matchup becomes much more favorable because the opponent can’t use [card name=”Superior Energy Retrieval” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”277″ c=”name”][/card]. Without it, you can still win, but it will depend on the opponent’s bad luck.
The key here is to focus on Iron Thorns ex to prevent the opponent from drawing cards and setting up. You can play a Dreepy, which won’t complicate things for you, as it will act as the odd Prize. Even though the opponent can use Abilities with Dreepy in play, it won’t be that devastating.
Raging Bolt (30/70)
Quad Iron Thorns has a bad matchup against Raging Bolt ex and Dragapult ex as well, so it was to be expected that Iron Thorns ex / Dragapult ex would have the same issue.
Starting the game with Iron Thorns will disable the Abilities of Squawkabilly ex, Teal Mask Ogerpon ex, and Radiant Greninja, which will help you buy time to set up Dragapult ex. The best strategy is to play two Dragapult ex and try to secure Prizes with them, but this will obviously be difficult in practice.
Always aim to have two Iron Thorns ex on the field to avoid Iron Bundle’s Ability, and try to secure the odd Prize. Attacking with Radiant Alakazam can help in this situation.
Whenever your opponent scores a Knock Out, use [card name=”Iono” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”269″ c=”name”][/card] and focus your Knock Outs on your opponent’s Fezandipiti ex if you’re attacking with Dragapult ex.
Gardevoir (40/60)
There are several pros and cons to this matchup, but ultimately, it’s very balanced. Both decks have strong resources to beat each other, with certain weaknesses on both sides.
Iron Thorns ex / Dragapult ex needs to follow its usual strategy: Start the game using Iron Thorns ex in the Active Spot and then play Dragapult ex to finish the game. However, Gardevoir is a deck that suffers little from Iron Thorns’ Ability, as the deck draws cards with [card name=”Kirlia” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”68″ c=”name”][/card] and uses Counter Catcher to dodge Iron Thorns. It also relies on [card name=”Klefki” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”96″ c=”name”][/card] to ensure that Iron Thorns can’t stop Gardevoir ex from using its Ability.
Dragapult ex is a strong attacker against Gardevoir, but you’ll need to Knock Out [card name=”Munkidori” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”95″ c=”name”][/card]. The more Munkidori there are, the less effective Dragapult ex will be
Blocklax (80/20)
In the Pokemon TCG, I avoid using terms like “autowin” and “autoloss” because such matchups are rare. In a card game, anything can happen. A bad hand from you and a decent hand from your opponent can render statistics irrelevant. However, if you have a good matchup against a control deck, it will be much harder for you to experience bad luck. The matchup against Block [card name=”Snorlax” set=”Pokemon GO” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Pidgeot ex” set=”Paldean Fates” no=”221″ c=”name”][/card] Control is more like a game of chess because you generally have plenty of time and the ability to access almost all the cards in your deck.
In this matchup, [card name=”Iron Thorns ex” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”196″ c=”name”][/card] can handle almost all threats, except [card name=”Mimikyu” set=”Paldean Fates” no=”160″ c=”name”][/card]. The strategy is to Knock Out all Snorlax and [card name=”Cornerstone Mask Ogerpon ex” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”215″ c=”name”][/card] with Iron Thorns, which prevents Rotom V from using its Ability to draw cards. Against Mimikyu, the way to go is to attack with [card name=”Drakloak” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”129″ c=”name”][/card], and since you have four of them in your list, this is a viable option.
Manage your resources well, use the right attackers, and you’ll hardly lose. However, if you play carelessly, the Blocklax deck has ways of depleting your resources and locking some of your Pokemon in the Active Spot.
Klawf / Terapagos (60/40)
It’s crucial that Iron Thorns ex disrupts [card name=”Klawf” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Terapagos ex” set=”Stellar Crown” no=”170″ c=”name”][/card] setup by deactivating key Pokemon such as [card name=”Oranguru V” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”179″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Latias ex” set=”Surging Sparks” no=”76″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Pecharunt ex” set=”Shrouded Fable” no=”39″ c=”name”][/card], Lumineon V, Squawkabilly ex, and [card name=”Radiant Hisuian Sneasler” set=”Lost Origin” no=”123″ c=”name”][/card]. This allows you to buy enough time to evolve your [card name=”Dragapult ex” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”200″ c=”name”][/card].
The key point about this matchup is that Iron Thorns is a poor attacker, while Dragapult ex is an excellent one. However, it’s still necessary to start with Iron Thorns because without it, Dragapult ex cannot be played. Once you have Dragapult ex attacking, your opponent will need two attacks to Knock it Out, while just two attacks from Dragapult ex can be sufficient to win the game.
Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR / Dusknoir (50/50)
At first glance, this may seem like a good matchup for Iron Thorns ex / Dragapult ex, simply because Iron Thorns targets [card name=”Origin Form Palkia VSTAR” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”208″ c=”name”][/card]’s Weakness. However, we must remember that the deck includes [card name=”Greninja ex” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”214″ c=”name”][/card] specifically to deal with threats like Iron Thorns.
If it’s a Quad Iron Thorns deck, I believe that if the opponent uses Greninja ex, the matchup is over, as the deck won’t have a way to deal with it. It would take three attacks from Iron Thorns to deal with Greninja ex, but fortunately, with Dragapult ex in the mix, you can handle it more effectively.
Another important aspect of this matchup is that if you manage to set up Dragapult and your opponent has yet to evolve their [card name=”Froakie” set=”Obsidian Flames” no=”56″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Duskull” set=”Shrouded Fable” no=”18″ c=”name”][/card], you should use Dragapult ex to Knock Out these smaller Pokemon. These are the Pokemon that can swing the matchup in your opponent’s favour. Without Dusknoir, your opponent won’t be able to knock out your Dragapult ex with a single attack.
Final Thoughts
This is a deck with strong matchups, but [card name=”Iron Thorns ex” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”196″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Dragapult ex” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”200″ c=”name”][/card] also faces some challenging ones that can be quite anxiety-inducing. One of the issues I see with the deck is its very linear strategy—either it wins, or it encounters serious problems. It’s tough to find a middle ground, especially since the deck has limited resources and plays. Perhaps I feel this way because I’ve been playing [card name=”Regidrago VSTAR” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”201″ c=”name”][/card] for months, a deck with “Tool Box” characteristics, meaning it always has a relevant answer for a variety of situations.
In my previous article, I discussed the importance of using a deck that can respond to 20 other competitive decks in the current format. In this regard, Regidrago has proven to be unbeatable. However, Iron Thorns / Dragapult has managed to give me a bit of that “Tool Box” feeling, despite its linear strategy.
Combining Iron Thorns with Dragapult doesn’t give you an answer to everything, but it provides the best Pokemon for both the early and late game. Iron Thorns is one of the best opening Pokemon in the game, and Dragapult ex is one of the best in the format—though it only truly shines with consistency and efficiency from the mid to late game.
I appreciate that Iron Dragapult has solid matchups against [card name=”Charizard ex” set=”Obsidian Flames” no=”215″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Lugia VSTAR” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”211″ c=”name”][/card], and a balanced matchup against Regidrago, the three top decks in the format. However, the format is much broader than just those three, and players aren’t limiting themselves to just these decks. In this article alone, I’ve briefly analyzed nine important matchups, and I could have easily added another nine.
From the analysis of these matchups, it’s clear that Iron Thorns / Dragapult has a place in the metagame and can catch opponents by surprise. But it will require a bit of luck in the pairings and avoiding those matchups that are tough to win—even with good fortune.
That’s all for today, folks. I hope you enjoyed it, and see you next time!
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