Mega Rayquaza EX (TCG)

Mega Rayquaza EX
M Rayquaza-EX and Shaymin-EX Types used Major cards M Rayquaza-EX, Shaymin-EX, Mega Turbo and Sky Field Era 2015–2017

Mega Rayquaza EX was a Pokémon Trading Card Game deck archetype played during the 2015-2016 to 2016-2017 season. The deck's strategy revolved around M Rayquaza-EX's Attack that could deal up to 240 damage on the first turn with the right setup to bench as many Pokémon possible. Mega Turbo added energies to M-Rayquaza to ensure it could use its mildly expensive attack. Thanks to its fast set up and to its high damage cap, Mega Rayquaza EX was a popular archetype in tournaments during the 2015-2016 season, although it suffered for the presence of Night March and, later on, Parallel City which was largely played by many decks. Mega Rayquaza EX's best result was by Top 8 player Calvin Connor in the Senior Division at the 2016 Pokémon US Nationals Championships, but it has also featured in many other tournaments, such as ranking 1st place in the Master Division at the 2016 Liverpool Regional and the 2017 Leipzig Regional.

Strategy

Sky Field

Mega Rayquaza EX was a very aggressive deck that focused on evolving M Rayquaza-EX, benching as many Pokémon possible and attaching 3 energies for M Rayquaza-EX's attack, which dealt 30 damage times for each of the player's benched Pokémon. Evolving M Rayquaza-EX early was possible due to its Δ Evolution Ancient Trait, which did not count as an Ability and so the opponent could not block its effect. Other strong supporting cards got released in the same expansion as M Rayquaza: Shaymin-EX allowed the player to draw up to 6 cards when played on the field, Sky Field increased the possible number of benched Pokémon (and therefore M Rayquaza's damage) and Mega Turbo added basic energies from the discard pile to M Rayquaza, allowing it to use its attack early. Later on, Hoopa-EX also allowed the player to search their deck for Pokémon-EX, reducing the need of Pokémon-searching cards. Such strength was enough to M Rayquaza-EX knock out most Pokémon-EX on the player's first turn.

As a deck that used energies to attack, Mega Rayquaza EX had a few slightly different techs through the seasons, such as Bronzong and Jolteon-EX variants. While the deck's aggressive setup left it open to disruptive and stalling strategies, as well Night March decks due to its weakness, Mega Rayquaza EX's main trouble was later on with the release of Parallel City, a Stadium card that could limit the number of Pokémon on the opponent's side; as a strong contender however, the existence of this archetype was enough pressure to make Parallel City a common card in tournaments.

Key cards

Mega Turbo

• M Rayquaza-EX - For 3 energies, M Rayquaza-EX's Emerald Break Attack dealt up to 240 damage with Sky Field and a full bench. Its Ancient Trait allowed it to evolve on the turn Rayquaza-EX was played, being useful even if going first: evolving reduced the number of cards in the player's hand to better use Shaymin-EX or common Supporter cards and reduced disruption of opposing Trainer cards.
• Shaymin-EX - When played on the field, Shaymin-EX allowed the player to draw cards up to having 6 on its hand. Most Mega Rayquaza EX lists played four copies of this card, making it one of the most expensive decks of the format.
• Hoopa-EX - Hoopa-EX's Scoundrel Ring Ability allowed the player to search the deck for up to 3 other Pokémon-EX. As a Pokémon, it was immune to Wobbuffet's Ability lock.
• Mega Turbo - Attached a basic energy from the discard pile to Mega Evolutions, being essential to attack on the first turn or recover in a turn the attackers got knocked out.
• Float Stone - It allowed the player to freely retreat supporting Pokémon with useless attacks.
• Sky Field - Increased the number of benched Pokémon each player could have by 3, increasing M Rayquaza-EX's damage potential and the amount of Shaymin-EX/Hoopa-EX Abilities that player could use.
• Winona - Before the release of Hoopa-EX, Winona was the best way to search the deck for the main Pokémon, though it prevented the player from using more relevant Supporter cards that turn.
• Hex Maniac - Counter to other decks that used Abilities to setup or prevent damage dealt.
• Double Colorless Energy - Reduced the need of energy cards M Rayquaza-EX needed to attack.

Typical decklist

Hoopa-EX

Calvin Connor's decklist at the 2016 US National Championship

Quantity	Card	Type	Rarity
3×	M Rayquaza
2×	Rayquaza
2×	Rayquaza
4×	Shaymin
2×	Hoopa
2×	Jolteon
1×	Jirachi		—
1×	Battle Compressor	I
1×	Escape Rope	I
2×	Float Stone	I
2×	Mega Turbo	I
4×	Puzzle of Time	I
1×	Super Rod	I
3×	Trainers' Mail	I
4×	Ultra Ball	I
4×	VS Seeker	I
3×	Rayquaza Spirit Link	I
4×	Sky Field	St
2×	Hex Maniac	Su
2×	Lysandre	Su
1×	N	Su
2×	Professor Sycamore	Su
1×	Xerosic	Su
4×	Double Colorless Energy	E
3×	Lightning Energy	E

Possible tech cards

Dragonite-EX

The following cards are often used in Mega Rayquaza EX in place of certain cards included in the above lists.

• Rayquaza-EX - The Rayquaza-EX had a less useful attack but 10 more Hit Points and a different Weakness than its counterpart.
• Bronzong - Bronzong's Metal Links Ability traded off the deck's speed for a consistent way to reattach discarded energies into the main attackers.
• Raichu - Both Raichu and M Rayquaza-EX had similar attacks and Double Colorless Energy was part of Mega Rayquaza decks, allowing Raichu to attack with one energy.
• Jolteon-EX - A secondary attacker that could be immune to damage from Basic Pokémon.
• Altaria - Altaria's Ability removed the Weakness of Pokémon. This card also had the Δ Evolution Ancient Trait and could be played right away in the field.
• Ninetales - It prevented the opponent to play Stadium cards and thus remove Sky Field from play.
• Dragonite-EX - Dragonite-EX's Pull Up Ability allowed the player to retrieve 2 Basic Pokémon from the discard pile, usually discarded from the removal of Sky Field.
• Magearna-EX - Its Ability prevented effects of attacks against Pokémon with energies.
• Jirachi - Counter to decks that relied on special energies.

This article is part of Project TCG, a Bulbapedia project that aims to report on every aspect of the Pokémon Trading Card Game.