Dragapult / Dusknoir — New Best Deck in Format

Hello to all PokeBeach readers, this is Gabriel Semedo again with another Pokemon TCG article. This time, I want to talk about [card name=”Dragapult ex” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”200″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Dusknoir” set=”Shrouded Fable” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card]—the best deck in the format and my top choice for the European International Championships (EUIC).

Recently, I’ve been playing Dragapult much more than any other deck. My initial goal wasn’t even to use the deck, but rather to find one that had a good matchup against it while also performing well against the rest of the metagame. Sometimes, I play games with myself to test ideas, so I almost always test them against Dragapult ex / Dusknoir or [card name=”Gardevoir ex” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”245″ c=”name”][/card]. I even ended up finding some interesting options for EUIC, like [card name=”Miraidon ex” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”253″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Archaludon ex” set=”Surging Sparks” no=”241″ c=”name”][/card], but in the end, I really enjoyed playing Dragapult ex / Dusknoir. I also realised that even in these unfavourable matchups, there are still chances to win.

I believe that if you choose between Dragapult, Gardevoir, or Miraidon, there’s a good chance you’ve picked a strong deck. Among them all, Dragapult / Dusknoir gives me the most pleasure to play, and I feel the most comfortable using it. However, in the end, I believe any of these decks could bring me a good result.

At the time of writing this article, there are still five days until the start of EUIC, so a lot can happen—mainly because I’ll be spending a few days in an Airbnb with seven other friends from Brazil. Usually, the most interesting ideas come up right before the tournament, but honestly, I find that unlikely to happen this time. I still don’t see another deck as versatile or with as many ways to achieve Knock Outs as Dragapult, which is why I decided to write about it.

It’s rare that I enjoy playing with the best deck in format, so I find that strange. Of course, in the end, the deck needs to deliver results, and so far, it has been one of the best in my tests.

Dragapult ex is Finally a Perfect Deck

[cardimg name=”Dragapult ex” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”200″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

Since Dragapult ex was released, it never had a fixed archetype. At first, it was combined with [card name=”Charizard ex” set=”Paldean Fates” no=”234″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Xatu” set=”Paldean Fates” no=”152″ c=”name”][/card] to help with getting Energy cards on the board, but these combinations never became popular. Later, with the arrival of [card name=”Crispin” set=”Stellar Crown” no=”164″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Sparkling Crystal” set=”Stellar Crown” no=”142″ c=”name”][/card], it became possible to play Dragapult ex without relying on any Pokemon to accelerate Energy. This opened up space to use Dusknoir, which remains the most popular combination to date and has even produced a few good results. However, [card name=”Regidrago VSTAR” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”201″ c=”name”][/card] was so dominant in the previous format that it performed better than Dragapult ex itself, consistently attacking with Phantom Dive by the second turn.

To try and slow down the speed of Regidrago VSTAR, a version of Dragapult ex with [card name=”Iron Thorns ex” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”196″ c=”name”][/card] was created and gained some popularity. However, the deck still had flaws in both strategy and consistency. But finally, Prismatic Evolutions introduced a baby Pokemon that would solve all of Dragapult ex’s problems.

Budew brings everything Dragapult ex needs to perform well—essentially one or two turns at the start of the game to properly set up. Thanks to this extra time, you gain additional turns to find and attach Energy, as Budew attacks with no Energy required. You can also make full use of two cards that only work if the opponent takes a slow turn: [card name=”Drakloak” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”129″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Lance” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”192″ c=”name”][/card]. As interesting as Drakloak’s Ability was, the format without Budew didn’t offer favourable conditions to play a Stage 1 Pokemon effectively. Because of this, Lance was considered a weak Supporter—but now, he’s proving to be a great option.

It is everything I wanted Dragapult ex to be from the moment I first saw it. Its consistency problems are gone, but that doesn’t mean it’s perfect or unbeatable. The massive wave of Miraidon ex at the Merida Regional in Mexico showed that Dragapult ex still has weaknesses in the format.

Other Dragapult Variants I’ve Tested

Before confirming that Dusknoir is the best match for Dragapult ex, I decided to test all the other variants I found that might make sense. Even though, in theory, Dusknoir seemed indisputably the best combination, in practice, I wasn’t using it that much. Not because it was bad, but because I was searching for something that could add even more to the deck.

Dragapult ex / Charizard ex

This was the first variant I tested after the Merida Regional, as I wanted something that could counter Miraidon ex while still performing well in the format. The advantages of this variant include the ability to Knock Out Gardevoir ex in one attack, having one of the best Pokemon to deal with Miraidon ex, and Charizard’s Ability helping to get Energy cards to Dragapult ex. This also frees up the ACE SPEC slot—usually taken by Sparkling Crystal—allowing the use of [card name=”Hero’s Cape ” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”152″ c=”name”][/card] or, in my case, [card name=”Maximum Belt ” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”154″ c=”name”][/card], which I prefer.

Although these two ACE SPEC cards have completely different effects, I believe they ultimately serve the same goal: reducing the disadvantage in the Dragapult / Dusknoir matchup. The extra damage from Maximum Belt is equivalent to having one [card name=”Dusclops” set=”Shrouded Fable” no=”19″ c=”name”][/card], while the extra HP from Hero’s Cape allows Dragapult ex to survive two attacks. I personally prefer Maximum Belt because it lets Dragapult ex deal 250 damage, which is enough to KO almost all relevant Basic Pokemon ex, such as [card name=”Iron Hands ex” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”248″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Raging Bolt ex ” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”208″ c=”name”][/card]. Another key point is that if the opponent has already taken three Prize cards, Charizard ex with Maximum Belt attached deals 320 damage.

Even with an ACE SPEC focused on improving the Dragapult / Dusknoir matchup, I believe it’s still not enough—the Dusknoir variant maintains a slight advantage. This led me to conclude that Dragapult / Charizard is not an ideal choice for a high-level tournament like the International Championships. However, it could be a good option for a League Cup, League Challenge, or even local leagues, especially if you believe your gameplay can make up for the matchup disadvantage.

Iron Thorns ex / Dragapult ex

This version made a lot of sense when Budew wasn’t in the format, as the only reliable way to force the opponent into a bad turn was by placing Iron Thorns ex in the Active Spot. However, now that Budew exists, it simply does a better, more efficient, and more consistent job.

The main advantage of still using Iron Thorns ex is that it performs well against [card name=”Lugia VSTAR” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”211″ c=”name”][/card] and significantly improves the Miraidon ex matchup, making it favorable. However, its matchups against Dragapult / Dusknoir and Gardevoir ex become significantly weaker. For me, that trade-off isn’t worth it, which is why I no longer consider this version a viable choice.

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Dragapult ex / Xatu

[cardimg name=”Xatu” set=”Paldean Fates” no=”152″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

I decided to test this version during a period when I was questioning whether Dusknoir was really that good. I tested Xatu purely for its Ability to attach extra Energy and so I could use Maximum Belt, which I was really enjoying. The idea behind this version was to quickly respond to the opponent’s Iron Hands ex on the first turn, create a more consistent list than Dragapult / Dusknoir, and use tech cards to improve the Dragapult / Dusknoir matchup—something made possible since Xatu takes up less deck space than Dusknoir.

Even though I liked the list, I realised that Xatu just doesn’t work—at least not in the way I wanted. In my view, Xatu is only useful if it appears quickly on the field, but that won’t happen unless you use [card name=”Technical Machine: Evolution” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”178″ c=”name”][/card], and for me, that’s the problem. Budew is what makes the deck function smoothly—it’s easy to set up and rarely fails, whereas Technical Machine: Evolution fails often, requires more conditions, and worst of all, allows the opponent to use Items.

I wanted to be able to evolve Xatu during the first few turns while Budew was attacking, but that isn’t possible. As a result, Xatu only becomes available when it’s no longer useful.

Dragapult ex / Gholdengo ex

This is another unique Japanese deck idea that gained attention after the last Champions League in Japan, a tournament with around 5,000 players, where one player reached Top 4 using this combination.

Although it may seem unusual, adding [card name=”Gholdengo ex” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”252″ c=”name”][/card] to Dragapult does make sense—firstly, due to the draw power the deck gains by having two Stage 1 Pokemon that can draw cards, and secondly, because the deck gains the ability to Knock Out any Pokemon in one attack, something Dragapult typically cannot achieve.

However, from my testing, I felt like this deck was trying to merge two different playstyles, but in the end, it fails to perform well in either role. It ends up being a weak Dragapult deck in matchups where you need a strong Dragapult deck, and a weak Gholdengo deck in situations where you need a solid Gholdengo deck.

In terms of damage output and deck synergy, it lacks cohesion. For example, [card name=”Superior Energy Retrieval” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”277″ c=”name”][/card] is an incredible card for Gholdengo, but completely useless for Dragapult. Meanwhile, Crispin is perfect for Dragapult, but makes no sense for Gholdengo, which only needs one Energy to attack.

Dragapult ex / Dusknoir Deck

[decklist name=”Dragapult Dusknoir” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Roselia” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”3″][pokemon amt=”22″]3x [card name=”Dragapult ex” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”130″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/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]2x [card name=”Dusknoir” set=”Shrouded Fable” no=”20″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Dusclops” set=”Shrouded Fable” no=”19″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]3x [card name=”Duskull” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]1x [card name=”Fezandipiti ex” set=”Shrouded Fable” no=”38″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Lumineon V” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”40″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Rotom V” set=”Lost Origin” no=”58″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Radiant Alakazam” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”59″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Roselia” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”3″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”32″]4x [card name=”Arven” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”166″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Iono” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”185″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Lance” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”159″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Boss’s Orders” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”154″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Professor Turo’s Scenario” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”171″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”Buddy-Buddy Poffin ” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”144″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”102″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Nest Ball” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”123″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Rare Candy” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”142″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Night Stretcher” set=”Surging Sparks” no=”251″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Counter Catcher” set=”Crimson Invasion” no=”91″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Earthen Vessel” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”163″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Lost Vacuum” set=”Lost Origin” no=”162″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Sparkling Crystal” set=”Stellar Crown” no=”142″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Forest Seal Stone” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”156″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Rescue Board” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”225″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Temple of Sinnoh” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”155″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”6″]3x [card name=”Fire Energy” set=”EX Ruby and Sapphire” no=”108″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Psychic Energy” set=”EX Ruby and Sapphire” no=”107″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card][/energy][/decklist] 

Four Drakloak and Lance

[cardimg name=”Lance” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”192″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

The combination of cards, together with the Itchy Pollen attack, has introduced a completely new playstyle to the [card name=”Dragapult ex” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”200″ c=”name”][/card] deck—and it always seems like the right way to play this Pokemon.

The perfect time to use [card name=”Lance” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”192″ c=”name”][/card] is on the second turn, and the draw power provided by [card name=”Drakloak” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”129″ c=”name”][/card] in the following turns is incredible, allowing you to draw cards without any downside. Unlike [card name=”Kirlia” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”68″ c=”name”][/card]’s Ability, which requires you to discard a card from your hand to draw two cards, Drakloak lets you look at two cards, choose one, and place the other on the bottom of your deck.

Thanks to this smooth, consistent setup, Dragapult’s deck reaches its full strength with a high-quality board state by the late game, helping you recover from the time spent setting up during the first two turns.

Three Dragapult ex Seems Over the Top, But It Makes Sense

The more I play Dragapult ex, the more I realise that the deck functions well with just two copies—at least in theory, as it can perform consistently from the start to the end of the game. However, some key problems arise if you don’t run three copies.

The first issue is, of course, Prizes—if two copies of Dragapult ex are stuck in your Prize cards, you’re practically unable to play. While you could try to pick up a Prize or two, that crucial first Phantom Dive attack—which makes a huge difference—won’t happen.

Another important factor is that there are situations where you want two Dragapult ex in play. If your opponent uses [card name=”Iron Bundle” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”56″ c=”name”][/card], you don’t want to be forced to sacrifice a Benched Pokemon.

Finally, I’ve found myself in games where I actually needed three Dragapult ex on the field. By doing this, I was able to completely deny my opponent any easy Prize cards. It might sound unlikely, but I’ve made this move several times. In reality, it isn’t that rare, since Dragapult now typically runs an average of three Drakloak on the board.

A Heavy Dusknoir Line Seems Overpowered

Lacking a better or more suitable idea for the current format, I ended up using Dusknoir, even though I was initially reluctant. However, I quickly realised just how broken it can be when combined with the Phantom Dive attack.

The most successful Dragapult / [card name=”Dusknoir” set=”Shrouded Fable” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card] lists recently have been running a 3-1-2 Dusknoir line—which is even heavier than what [card name=”Charizard ex” set=”Paldean Fates” no=”234″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Terapagos ex” set=”Stellar Crown” no=”173″ c=”name”][/card] / Dusknoir used in the previous format.

The biggest advantage of using three [card name=”Duskull” set=”Shrouded Fable” no=”18″ c=”name”][/card] is the higher chance you draw organically into them, meaning you don’t have to rely on Items like [card name=”Buddy-Buddy Poffin” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”223″ c=”name”][/card]. In the early turns, priority is given to [card name=”Dreepy” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”128″ c=”name”][/card] and Budew when using these Items, and only if there’s room do you fetch Duskull. Another huge benefit is being able to put two Duskull at once onto the Bench, so even if your opponent is able to Knock Out one, you still have another to evolve.

As for playing with just one [card name=”Dusclops” set=”Shrouded Fable” no=”19″ c=”name”][/card], I’ve been wondering if it might make more sense to run two Dusclops and only one Dusknoir. This approach would allow Dusknoir to be set up without needing [card name=”Rare Candy” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”256″ c=”name”][/card], making it viable even under Item lock. Additionally, since the deck only runs two copies of Rare Candy, it’s not always easy to find them when needed. Dusclops, on the other hand, is more reliable and, when paired with Phantom Dive, enables Knock Outs that no other deck can pull off.

However, running two Dusknoir provides an aggressive edge in games where luck is on your side with consistency. Having two also makes it easier to chain Knock Outs in back-to-back turns, shutting down your opponent’s chances of a comeback. I once played against [card name=”Archaludon ex” set=”Surging Sparks” no=”241″ c=”name”][/card] and managed to Knock Out three [card name=”Duraludon” set=”Stellar Crown” no=”106″ c=”name”][/card] with two Dusknoir plus Phantom Dive—something that wouldn’t have been possible with just one.

Be Careful with Your Radiant Alakazam Getting Stuck

[cardimg name=”Radiant Alakazam” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”59″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

One of the biggest issues I faced when first testing Dragapult ex was how often my [card name=”Radiant Alakazam” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”59″ c=”name”][/card] got stuck in the Active Spot—either as a stalling tactic by my opponent or as a last-ditch effort to buy time and stop me from attacking.

Most of the time, your opponent will trap Radiant Alakazam when you’re winning, hoping it will be their last chance to turn the game around. And trust me, it’s not as uncommon as you’d think—they may actually succeed in stopping you for a few turns, giving them a chance to catch up.

Radiant Alakazam is the only Pokemon in the deck with a two Energy retreat cost, and it almost never has Energy attached. Even though it can be a decent attacker, it’s vulnerable to decks that deal Bench damage, such as Gardevoir ex with [card name=”Munkidori” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”95″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Scream Tail” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”86″ c=”name”][/card]. These decks exploit this small weakness by forcing Radiant Alakazam to the Active Spot while they continue attacking your Bench.

To avoid this situation, always keep an eye on your [card name=”Professor Turo’s Scenario” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”240″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Rescue Board” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”225″ c=”name”][/card]—paired with a manual Energy attachment, these are your key outs if Radiant Alakazam gets trapped. Be extra mindful in matchups where your opponent can hit the Bench, as they’ll be actively looking to lock you down.

The Combination of Drakloak and Ultra Ball

One of the biggest advantages of using two or three Drakloak on turns 2 and 3 is how easily you can discard cards with [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”186″ c=”name”][/card]. Not only does Drakloak’s Ability provide great draw power, but it also lets you strategically choose a bad card to keep, just so you can discard it later with your Ultra Ball.

These small optimisations allow you to use Ultra Ball efficiently, ensuring that you never have to discard important resources unnecessarily. Over time, I’ve found that these minor details make a big difference in how smoothly the deck runs.

Lost Vacuum Is the Best Way to Remove Jamming Tower

After struggling against [card name=”Jamming Tower” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”153″ c=”name”][/card] for so long, I’ve come to the conclusion that every Dragapult ex deck must include a copy of [card name=”Lost Vacuum” set=”Lost Origin” no=”217″ c=”name”][/card]. In fact, I wouldn’t even rule out running a second copy—but more on that later.

The biggest advantage of using Lost Vacuum is that it can be searched with [card name=”Arven” set=”Paldean Fates” no=”235″ c=”name”][/card], making it a reliable answer to problematic Stadiums and Tools.

Most top decks in the current metagame rely on Pokemon Tools and Stadiums, so Lost Vacuum doesn’t just counter Jamming Tower—it’s a card that can directly contribute to your victory.

Here’s a look at the key Pokemon Tools and Stadiums used by the top decks right now:

• [card name=”Lugia VSTAR” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”211″ c=”name”][/card] – Jamming Tower
• Archaludon ex – Jamming Tower
• [card name=”Klawf” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”105″ c=”name”][/card] / Terapagos – [card name=”Ancient Booster Energy Capsule ” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”140″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Area Zero Underdepths” set=”Stellar Crown” no=”174″ c=”name”][/card]
• [card name=”Raging Bolt ex ” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”208″ c=”name”][/card] – [card name=”Bravery Charm” set=”Stellar Crown” no=”175″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”PokéStop” set=”Pokemon GO” no=”68″ c=”name”][/card]
• [card name=”Miraidon ex” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”253″ c=”name”][/card] – [card name=”Forest Seal Stone” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”156″ c=”name”][/card], Bravery Charm, and Area Zero Underdepths
• [card name=”Gouging Fire ex ” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”204″ c=”name”][/card] – Bravery Charm, Forest Seal Stone, and [card name=”Magma Basin” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”144″ c=”name”][/card]
• Gardevoir ex – Bravery Charm, [card name=”Hero’s Cape ” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”152″ c=”name”][/card], and [card name=”Artazon” set=”Obsidian Flames” no=”229″ c=”name”][/card]
• Dragapult ex / Dusknoir – [card name=”Sparkling Crystal” set=”Stellar Crown” no=”142″ c=”name”][/card] and Forest Seal Stone

With so many decks relying on game-changing Tools and Stadiums, having a counter like Lost Vacuum in your deck is a must.

Temple of Sinnoh Is Needed to Beat Lugia

[cardimg name=”Temple of Sinnoh” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”214″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

To stand a chance against Lugia VSTAR, you need to disable [card name=”Mist Energy ” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”161″ c=”name”][/card]—this allows you to deal damage to opponent’s Pokemon on the Bench with Phantom Dive. Without this, an already difficult matchup becomes even harder. Preventing your opponent from drawing cards with [card name=”Gift Energy” set=”Lost Origin” no=”171″ c=”name”][/card] is another huge advantage. On top of that, nullifying [card name=”Legacy Energy” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”167″ c=”name”][/card]’s effect with [card name=”Temple of Sinnoh” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”214″ c=”name”][/card] can be a game-changer.

That said, I still feel the matchup is unfavorable even with Temple of Sinnoh. Plus, I have a strong hunch that Lugia won’t be popular at EUIC, mainly because of Miraidon ex.

If we were preparing for any tournament besides EUIC, I’d definitely keep Temple of Sinnoh to improve my chances against Lugia. But given the current metagame, I believe Lugia won’t see much play, which means I could replace Temple of Sinnoh with another stadium or even two Lost Vacuum instead.

I think it’s important to keep one slot open for a Stadium-removal option, alongside the Lost Vacuum already in the deck. In this case, I’m considering [card name=”Pokémon League Headquarters” set=”Obsidian Flames” no=”192″ c=”name”][/card], especially since I expect an increase in decks like Miraidon ex, Raging Bolt ex, [card name=”Roaring Moon ex” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”251″ c=”name”][/card], and Gouging Fire ex. This Stadium, paired with [card name=”Iono” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”269″ c=”name”][/card], could disrupt my opponent’s strategy in the late game.

Final Thoughts

For a large part of the season, I felt very comfortable playing [card name=”Regidrago VSTAR” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”136″ c=”name”][/card]—I even used it at the Latin America International Championships and the Rio de Janeiro Regionals. However, with Budew in the format, the deck just can’t compete like before, forcing all Regidrago players to adapt.

Many have migrated to [card name=”Dragapult ex” set=”Twilight Masquerade” no=”200″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Dusknoir” set=”Shrouded Fable” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card], not just because the decks share some strategic similarities, but also because they hold similar positions in the metagame.

Right now, Dragapult / Dusknoir seems to be the best deck in format, and the meta needs to adjust to counter it, just like it did with Regidrago VSTAR.

• Gardevoir ex keeps refining its list to improve the matchup against Dragapult.
• Miraidon ex re-entered the meta because it found a way to beat Dragapult.
• Raging Bolt ex is still around for the same reason.

But none of these matchups are auto-losses for Dragapult / Dusknoir—there’s always a way to win. And the more I train with the deck, the stronger it feels, because it rewards experience and deep understanding. The more you learn, the stronger it gets.

That’s all for today, guys! Hope you enjoyed the read. See you next time!

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