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In the world of thePokemon TCG, decks that focus on dealing high damage quickly aren’t the only ones that can succeed. In fact, there are several other options for winning, including stall and disruption, like in the Banette ex deck. The Banette ex deck focuses on disrupting your opponent by preventing them from playing Item cards. Then, it deals a powerful attack with the ability to deal damage well into the hundreds.
The Banette ex deck is considered a rouge deck. However, because it can be such a powerful counter for so many decks in the meta, it is rapidly growing in popularity. To learn how to build this deck for your own gameplay, whether in person or onPokemon TCG Live, continue reading this complete guide to the Banette ex deck.
Pokemon TCG: Banette ex Deck List
Pokemon TCG: Banette ex Deck Key Cards
There are many cards that can be included in the Banette ex deck, with only the namesake itself being essential. However, of the cards that can be included, there are many that bolster the chances for this deck to succeed.
Banette ex
Banette ex is both the main source of disruption in this deck and a key attacker. During the early game, Banette ex’s Everlasting Darkness attack will deal 30 damage. However, it isn’t the damage that is key here. Instead, the benefit of Banette ex’s Everlasting Darkness comes from the effect of the attack.This will prevent your opponent from playing any Item cards in their following turn.Some of the most popular Item cards this will keep out of play include those like:
Because of this, Banette ex can pose a major threat to many of the popular meta decks. This includes those such as Lost Box, Charizard ex (Tera), and Miraidon. Banette ex’s attack, while not dealing a lot of damage, can prevent your opponent from making some of the most essential plays in the game. This is only part of the reason why Banette ex is essential in this deck, however.
Banette ex’s second attack, Poltergeist, does damage based on the number of Trainer cards in your opponent’s hand. This includes Items, Tools, Stadiums, and Supporters. As a result, by preventing your opponent from playing any Item cards, over time, you’ll be able to build up their hand, allowing you to attack with 60 damage per Trainer Card.
Later in the game, this attack can deal over 1000 damage in a single turn, depending on your opponent’s hand.
Spiritomb
In many disruption decks, Spiritomb plays a key role.This is because this card’s Ability deactivates the Ability of any Basic V Pokemon in play for as long as Spiritomb is in play.As a result, Spiritomb can block many Abilities that would otherwise disrupt Banette ex’s Ability to use Everlasting Darkness or Poltergeist.
Spiritomb will also block any of your Basic V Pokemon’s Abilities. However, this is not a concern in this deck, as Spiritomb’s Ability does not affect ex Pokemon.
For example, when playing, your opponent may wish to use Lumineon V’s Ability to search their deck for an Iono in order to reduce the number of Supporter cards in their hand.Spiritomb, however, will prevent Lumineon V from using this Ability.
Mew ex
Unlike Banette ex, Mew ex isn’t essential to this deck.However, it can help with some of the toughest matchups for the Banette ex deck.
Mew ex’s unique attack allows for it to copy one of your opponent’s Active Pokemon’s attacks. This includes both the damage of this attack as well as the effects, so long as you meet the requirements to perform the attack. This can be beneficial in matchups against Dark-type decks, which have a Weakness advantage of Banette ex.
Mew ex’s attack copies your opponent’s attack exactly as it is written. This means if, for example, you try to use Sableye’s Lost Mine attack, you will have to fulfill the requirement of having ten cards in your Lost Zone.
One example of this is against Charizard ex (Tera). Because Charizard ex is a Dark-type Pokemon, it will deal double the damage to Banette ex, effectively knocking it out in a single turn. However, depending on how many Prize Cards your opponent has taken, you can use Mew ex to counter.
Mew ex, if copying Charizard ex’s attack, will deal scaling damage as your opponent takes more Prize Cards. Closer to the end of the game, Mew ex will be able to use its attack, Genome Hacking, to copy Charizard ex’s Burning Darkness in order to Knock Out that Charizard ex in one turn.
Genome Hacking does have a fairly high Energy cost in comparison to other Pokemon in this deck. However, with Gardevoir ex’s Ability, you can easily attach as many Energies as needed in a single turn.
Pokemon TCG: Banette ex Deck Strategy
Because Banette ex is a Stage 1 Pokemon,it is best to go first whenever possible. This will allow you to have Banette ex on your second turn, with attacking often a possibility with Everlasting Darkness’s low Energy cost.However, in going first, you allow your opponent a chance to attack on their first turn, with the possibility of Knocking Out a Shuppet.Because of this, it is best to end your first turn with two Shuppets when possible. This will ensure a Banette ex is possible on your next turn.
For much of the game, you’ll want to focus on disruption.Much of this will be done through Everlasting Darkness, which will prevent your opponent from playing any Item cards. Poltergeist can be a powerful attack, even early on, but it can also be a bit risky. This is because this deck has no methods of looking at your opponent’s hand, making it difficult to gauge exactly how much damage you will be doing until after you declare your attack.
The Banette ex deck also relies on some mechanics of stall.You’ll want to use one of the various gusting options in your deck, such as Boss’s Orders or Counter Catcher, to bring a safe choice to the Active Spot.
Because your opponent cannot play any Items while under Everlasting Darkness,they’ll be forced to manually retreatthis Pokemon from the Active Spot. Calamitous Wasteland will increase the retreat cost for most Pokemon, slowing down this process.
With a reduced fear of your Banette ex being Knocked Out, you’ll be able to spend several turns attacking with Everlasting Darkness, helping bulk up your opponent’s hand.Then, as necessary, you can pivot and attack with Poltergeist to deal larger amounts of damage.
Both Gardevoir ex and Mew ex can help you set up your Bench and hand through their respective Abilities. Just remember that using Gardevoir ex to accelerate Energy will put damage counters on your Pokemon.Both of these Pokemon can also make strong attackers in this deck, providing another option if Banette ex’s is not available to attack.
Pokemon TCG: Banette ex Deck Common Threats
One of the biggest threats for the Banette ex deck is theGardevoir ex deck.This is because the Gardevoir ex deck, although made more efficient through the use of Items, does not rely on them. This deck will play both the Stage 1 and Stage 2 cards needed for their Pokemon, making the inability to use Rare Candy inconvenient but not entirely disruptive.
Gardevoir ex can also accelerate Energy rapidly, fueling Brainwave Gardevoir with enough Energies to easily Knock Out Banette ex in a single turn.
