How to Upgrade (& Play) The Charizard EX Deck in Pokémon TCG Live

Pokémon TCG Live's Obsidian Flames Charizard EX is easily one of the best decks in the Standard Format. With many options on how to play it, getting to Arceus Tier is very easy to achieve. From online tournaments to in-person events, this deck should be practiced on how to play and succeed against it. It is the most important deck in the format right now that not only has a strong start but a shockingly good endgame.

Charizard EX proudly boasts a Dark Tera Type which comes from the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Tera Types. This means that although it has Fire-type moves that require Fire Energy, its overall defensive typing is Dark-type or Dark Energy in the overall Pokémon Trading Card Game. This is important to consider, as its weakness is changed to Grass Energy, which encompasses the original Bug- and Grass-type Pokémon.

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​​​​​​What Is Included in a Typical or Free Charizard EX Deck On PTCG Live?

The Charizard EX Deck in the Pokémon Trading Card Game consists of a core of Charizard and Pidgeot from the Obsidian Flames and Paldean Fates booster series. Thankfully, in the Pokémon TCG Live online format, you obtain this deck for free to try out.

A great full list for beginners can be found in YouTuber TrustYourPilot's video about the best post-rotation cards for this deck.

When you start playing on the ladder or against people in real life, they try to play technical cards like Rotom or Lumineon V to support the main attacker, which is Charizard EX.

How Can I Obtain More Currency in PTCG Live?

Some players at the beginning of their journey in Pokémon TCG Live format will want to obtain more cards for their Charizard EX Deck. In this case, you will need more Credits, which are free to obtain while playing the game. With the monthly pass and daily rewards, you should be able to obtain a large sum of them day by day.

However, if you want more Credits right away, purchasing packs in real life or getting PTCG Live codes instead of a full pack can be redeemed. The more packs in the game that you open, the more cards will be converted into game Credits.

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Best Pokémon Upgrades for Charizard EX Decks

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Aside from using the core of the Charizard EX deck, consider some great Pokémon upgrades and alternatives. For example, Colorless Energy Pokémon cards such as Bidoof, Bibarel, and Arceus can all be played to assist in card draw to set up Charizard EX faster. You can also swap in Obsidian Flame's Cleffa for an early card draw set-up and an advantage in damage, giving Charizard EX an extra 30 damage when Cleffa is knocked out.

To search automatically for a Supporter card to win the game, Lumineon V is also frequently inserted into this deck. Finally, to counter the counter-Charizard EX decks, Fire Energy Pokémon such as Entei V and Gouging Fire EX are played sparingly to set up big damage numbers and plays.

As a single-prize attacker in this deck, it is also wise to play Radiant Charizard, as only one Radiant card can be used in a deck.

Items and Tools play a big role in Pokémon TCG Live's Tera Dark Charizard EX Deck. For example, the sooner you can set up a full bench, the better your game will be. This can be done with Buddy-Buddy Poffins, Ultra Balls, and Nest Balls, which typically are already included in the free deck.

The most important resource in the deck is your Rare Candy cards, as they will help you access Pidgeot and Charizard EX as soon as possible. As far as Tools goes, make sure to stock up on TM Evolution and TM Devolution, which are used for set-up and opponent bench disruption. Finally, several new Temporal Forces ACE SPEC cards can be used, such as Prime Catcher or the Hero's Cape.

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Best Supporter Cards for Charizard EX Decks

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The best Supporter cards for a Charizard EX Deck in Pokémon TCG Live are some of the most influential cards in the game. However, you are only allowed to play one per turn, so choose wisely what you are aiming to do.

For example, on turn two of the game, Arven can be played for an advantage as early as possible. You can pick up your TM Evolutions, Devolutions, and Rare Candies in a pinch. Another play for a turn could be Eri, Roxanne, or Iono for some serious hand disruption. Finally, Boss's Orders should always be used to control the way the game will go.

Best Tips and Tricks for Playing the Charizard EX Deck

Starting in a game with the Charizard EX deck is easy as it is by preference whether to go first or second turn. If you go first, you can evolve by using a Rare Candy on your next turn. However, if you go second and have a TM Evolution, you can evolve multiple Pokémon at one time.

Additionally, going second allows you to play a Supporter card that turn. Use this to your advantage by shuffling your hand with an Iono or retrieving what you need from Arven which helps you grab Buddy-Buddy Poffins or Rare Candy cards right away. Finally, keep in mind that your damage increases depending on how many Prize Cards your opponents have taken. This means that if they have one Prize Card left, you can do 330 damage in one turn!

Charizard EX's HP is at 330, making you last a few turns of play unless your opponent has a way to one-hit knock-out you. If you have multiple Charizard EX's on your bench, you can use the card Professor Turo's Scenario to lift a hurt Charizard EX out of the active spot and replace it with another one all in one turn.

Best Counters to Charizard EX Decks

There are very few decks in Pokémon TCG Live's Standard Format that completely counter Charizard EX. This is because its original counter, the stadium card, Path to the Peak, rotated out of the format, making its ability useless. Therefore, players need to look for ways to knock it out quickly by finding Grass-type Energy Pokémon because of its type weakness.

Alternatively, at the right time, TM Devolution in any deck is a great way to stunt a Charizard EX deck's progress. If your opponent has no more Rare Candy cards left, then they only have the option of evolving them regularly. This could be your winning condition by keeping Charizard as a Charmander.

Video Credit: YouTube/TrustYourPilot

Source: Reddit/PTCGL