In this article, I’ve put together an idea I had for an upcoming deck featuring the soon to be released Espathra ex.

Espathra is noteable for a few reasons. The first reason is that this Pokemon card is new to the Pokemon TCG as of Paldean Fates. Unlike most of the cards being released in this set, it’s not one that is a different version of a previously released card. It’s an entirely new card with abilities and stats we haven’t seen before.

Second, Espathra ex is a Tera type Pokemon. This also makes it fairly strong as it can’t be targeted on the bench, and also has unique typing.

The third reason why Espathra ex is noteworthy has to do with this typing. Its typing is actually incredibly convenient for two reasons. On the one hand, its a grass type Pokemon, making it pretty helpful in the meta against dominate decks like Charizard ex and Roaring Moon ex. On the other hand, it uses psychic energies to attack, meaning it can be paired with the powerful Xatu energy acceleration/draw engine released in Paradox Rift.

With Xatu, you could very easily power up Espathra ex and start increasing the damage output it is capable of.

A strong Espathra ex deck list could feature Iron Valiant ex

One of the single strongest cards to come out of Paradox Rift was the highly underrated Iron Valiant ex. Although it did finish well at a large international championship, following that significant victory, eventually Iront Valiant began to lose steam as a primary attacker.

I doubt we’ve seen the last of it, however. Iron Valiant ex is likely to make a comeback in popularity. And, as it so happens, Espathra ex makes for a strong pairing for it. Both Espathra and Iron Valiant can be powered up with Xatu’s ‘Clairvoyant Sense’ ability, and both have excellent attacks that can be used side-by-side.

Because Iron Valiant ex benefits you by being switched it, you can easily switch in several Iron Valiant ex in a turn, spreading maximum damage via ‘Tachyon Bits’ before ending your turn with an attack from Espathra ex. Not only is it possible for you to do a lot of damage to opposing Pokemon this way, your opponent’s could also get pretty stuck thanks to Espathra’s ‘Dazzling Gaze’ ability, forcing your opponent to attach another energy in order to get their attack off.

Espathra ex deck does well against several decks in the current meta

Once paired with Iron Valiant ex, Espathra could conceivably fair well against multiple meta decks. Right off the bat, it would be a strong attacker against Charizard ex. You would only need a total of four energies attached to both active Pokemon for Espathra to knockout Charizard ex out. Given the passive ability that adds an energy cost, it’s conceivable that for just one single psychic energy you’re taking an OHKO against one of the toughest Pokemon in the game.

Roaring Moon ex would be even easier given its lower HP. Additionally, if it’s forced to use Frenzied Gouging, you could pick a Roaring Moon ex off with Tachyon Bits, and then take another knockout with Espathra or Iron Valiant ex.

Against Lost Zone Box, you wouldn’t really need Espathra and would rely more heavily on Iron Valiant. Meanwhile, the Miraidon ex match seems pretty strongly in your favor with the combination of Iron Valiant ex and Espathra ex, as Miraidon ex and Iron Hands, for example, both require a high number of energies to be attached in order to attack.

Admittedly, I don’t see many ways that this deck could compete with other decks in the meta like Gardevoir ex or Giratina VSTAR. But fairing so well against so many is certainly not bad, and the prize trade is also favorable against Mew VMAX.

Moonlit Hill is a huge boon to psychic decks

Lastly, you could pair this deck with the new Moonlit Hill stadium card. Any deck that runs psychic energy is going to get a decently strong advantage from including this card in their deck. While you are carefully spreading damage around with your Iron Valiant ex and taking knockouts with a combination of Iron Valiant ex and Espathra, you can also be healing your Pokemon.

Of course, running Tulip in your deck could help out. You’ll be discarding Psychic energy every so often, so play down a Tulip, bring those cards back into your hand, and start accelerating energies via

Potential Espathra ex Deck List

Pokémon: 7
4 Xatu PAR 72
2 Flittle PAR
2 Espathra ex
4 Natu PAR 71
4 Iron Valiant ex PAR 89
1 Mew ex MEW 151
Trainer: 12
2 Tulip PAR 181
3 Ultra Ball SVI 196
4 Switch SVI 194
4 Switch Cart ASR 154
4 Professor's Research SVI 190
2 Earthen Vessel PAR 163
1 Future Booster Energy Capsule PAR 164
2 Moonlight Hill
4 Battle VIP Pass FST 225
2 Iono PAL 185
1 Super Rod PAL 188
2 Boss's Orders SHF 58
Energy: 2
10 Basic {P} Energy Energy 13
2 Jet Energy PAL 190
Total Cards: 60

Espathra ex deck basic strategy

Bench as many Natu as possible and evolve it into Xatu.
Start accelerating energies with Xatu’s ability while drawing card.
Use this deck’s many switch cards to spread damage early with Iron Valiant exa and take knockouts with Iron Valiant ex or Espathra depending on which Pokemon you are facing.
Heal damage done with Moonlit Stadium and bring energies back to your hand with Tulip only to use them to accelerate further onto your benched Pokemon.
Stall your opponent by using Espathra ex’s Dazzling Gaze ability.
Use Mew ex’s ‘Genome Hacking’ attack to help in unfavorable matchups.

Will Espathra ex be competitive?

In the right conditions Espathra ex could be competitive. Whether or not someone will be interested enough to try to incorporate this card into their deck is another matter, however.

This deck concept, however, seems pretty solid, and could certainly be used at some levels of competitive play, if not quite strong enough to bring with you to a Regional.

Either way, I’m really excited to upgrade my Iron Valiant ex deck with Espathra ex once Paldean Fates arrives!

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