Pokémon TCG’s latest expansion Surging Sparks has brought back some fan-favorites and promising new cards, which could shake up the metagame.
With a total of 191 new cards, some of these new entries may have the potential to become a mainstay in the world of competitive Pokémon TCG.
Still figuring out what decks to play or look out for when Surging Sparks goes live? Let’s explore some of these decks.
Table of Contents
Ceruledge ex
The talk of the town is none other than Ceruledge ex, whose Abyssal Flames attack deals 30 damage, plus an additional 20 damage per Energy card in the discard pile. While this initially seems like a pitiful number, when we combine it with effects such as Professor’s Research, Carmine, and Squawkabilly EX, we get to discard our hand and fill up the discard pile with more energy. We also have the ever-reliable Earthen Vessel, which lets us discard a card (in this case, an Energy card) to search for more energies!
This means that for a single Fire energy, we could be hitting upwards of 180 damage on turn one, and it will only grow larger as the game goes on! A simple and straightforward deck, we can use Legacy Energy – an ACE SPEC, which are powerful cards limited to only one per deck – so that our opponent only takes one prize card when they KO the Ceruledge it’s attached to. Meanwhile, we could potentially win off of three attacks.
Decklist by いしD, 3rd Place City League Miyazaki 11/04
Pokémon: 12
3 Charcadet SVLS 5
1 Charcadet SVI 40
3 Ceruledge ex SVLS 6
2 Squawkabilly ex PAL 169
1 Fan Rotom SCR 118
1 Fezandipiti ex SFA 38
1 Radiant Greninja ASR 46
Trainer: 28
4 Carmine
2 Boss’s Orders
2 Judge
2 Professor’s Research
1 Briar
4 Ultra Ball
3 Nest Ball
3 Earthen Vessel
2 Night Stretcher
1 Pal Pad
1 Canceling Cologne
3 PokéStop
Energy: 20
15 Fire Energy
4 Jet Energy
1 Legacy Energy
Note: The abbreviations and numbers after the card name means its set and collector number. By searching for the card name alongside the set and collector number, you will be able to see the exact card. For instance, Squawkabilly ex PAL 169 refers to its Paldea Evolved version.
Hydreigon ex
Another exciting attacker is Hydreigon ex, with many players anticipating its release. With the Obsidian attack, we can deal 130 damage and an additional 130 damage to two benched Pokémon. Combined with cards like Dusknoir, which can place damage counters on the opponents’ Pokémon with its Cursed Blast ability, we can potentially get six prizes from a single attack if we KO three Pokémon ex or Pokémon V at once!
The deck leverages the power of Rare Candy, which allows us to skip the stage one evolution of a Pokémon. So from a lowly Deino, Pidgey, or Duskull, we can immediately evolve into a Hydreigon ex, Pidgeot ex, or Dusknoir.
However, the main problem is: how do fire off an attack that requires four energy — with three of them being different types? The answer is our powerful ACE SPEC Neo Upper Energy. Together with Dark Patch, which lets us attach a Dark energy card from the discard pile to one of our Pokémon, we only need one more energy attachment to fire off our powerful and game-ending Obsidian attack!
Decklist by くう, 7th Place City League Tōkyō 11/04
Pokémon: 16
3 Deino SV8 70
1 Zweilous SV8 71
3 Hydreigon ex SV8 72
2 Pidgey OBF 162
2 Pidgeot ex OBF 164
1 Mimikyu PAL 97
1 Pecharunt ex SFA 39
1 Fezandipiti ex SFA 38
1 Rotom V LOR 58
1 Lumineon V BRS 40
Trainer: 36
4 Arven
2 Iono
1 Roxanne
1 Crispin
1 Boss’s Orders
4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin
4 Rare Candy
3 Nest Ball
3 Ultra Ball
2 Counter Catcher
2 Dark Patch
2 Night Stretcher
1 Earthen Vessel
1 Super Rod
2 Counter Gain
1 Forest Seal Stone
2 Pokémon League Headquarters
Energy: 8
5 Darkness Energy
1 Psychic Energy
1 Metal Energy
1 Neo Upper Energy
Note: The abbreviations and numbers after the card name means its set and collector number. By searching for the card name alongside the set and collector number, you will be able to see the exact card. For instance, Squawkabilly ex PAL 169 refers to its Paldea Evolved version.
Archaludon ex
Sporting a hefty 300 hit points, Archaludon ex is one of the beefiest Pokémon in the Pokémon TCG. With its Assemble Alloy ability, we can attach two Metal energy from our discard pile to our Pokémon. This means with just one attachment of energy, we can attack with its Metal Defender for 220 damage — just enough to KO important support Pokémon in the format. The added bonus: we remove our weakness to Fire, ensuring we can rarely be one hit KO’d.
But now with all these damage counters on Archaludon ex, how do we get more damage? Enter Relicanth TEF. With its Memory Dive ability, we can use the Raging Hammer attack of Duraludon SCR, which deals more damage the more damage counters we have! This sets up for huge damage once we soak up a hit. We even run Professor Turo’s Scenario, which lets us remove one of our damaged Archaludon ex from the field. This means we reset the damage on the Pokémon, while denying our opponents the chance to score a KO for prizes. We are never out of options.
Decklist by かのう, 3rd Place City League Tōkyō 11/04
Pokémon: 17
4 Duraludon SCR 106
3 Archaludon ex SV7a 37
3 Luxray CRZ 44
2 Staryu BRS 30
1 Starmie MEW 121
1 Iron Bundle PAR 56
1 Relicanth TEF 84
1 Fezandipiti ex SFA 38
1 Radiant Greninja ASR 46
Trainer: 34
3 Judge
3 Boss’s Orders
2 Professor Turo’s Scenario
2 Professor’s Research
1 Serena
4 Ultra Ball
4 Nest Ball
3 Earthen Vessel
3 Night Stretcher
2 Pokémon Catcher
1 Pal Pad
1 Counter Catcher
1 Super Rod
1 Maximum Belt
2 Artazon
1 Full Metal Lab
Energy: 9
9 Metal Energy
Note: The abbreviations and numbers after the card name means its set and collector number. By searching for the card name alongside the set and collector number, you will be able to see the exact card. For instance, Squawkabilly ex PAL 169 refers to its Paldea Evolved version.
Gholdengo ex
Although not a new card, Gholdengo ex has received huge resurgence for the boost it has received from Surging Sparks. In particular, Energy Search Pro, its powerful ACE SPEC of choice, allows us to search our deck for Basic Energy of different types. Since there are eight Basic Energy types in the current game, we can get eight cards cards from this one item!
Combined with the Make It Rain attack, we can then dish out 400 damage by discarding all these energies. We can definitely one hit KO all Pokémon in the TCG through this one card. The problem now is: how do we take more prizes after that? We run four copies of Superior Energy Retrieval, which lets us dig for up to four energy cards from our discard pile into our hand so we can repeat the same cycle next turn. We can fill up our hand even more with Gholdengo ex’s very own Coin Bonus ability, which lets us draw a card, and an additional one if they are in the active position! We can run multiple Gholdengo ex’s at once, so our draw power is just absurd.
The other support the deck received is the unassuming Gimmighoul SSP. Sporting 70 HP, it survives the popular Dragapult ex’s Aerial Dive attack. With it’s Minor-Errand-Running attack, Gimmighoul can even let us search for two energy from the deck, which lets us power up our attack even more. Gholdengo ex is a simple deck to pick up, yet rewarding when mastered. Remember: Make it rain!
Decklist by Rye, 1st Place City League Saitama 11/02
Pokémon: 15
4 Gimmighoul SV7a 24
4 Gholdengo ex PAR 139
1 Duskull SFA 18
1 Dusknoir SFA 20
1 Togepi OBF 83
1 Togekiss SV8 47
1 Fezandipiti ex SFA 38
1 Radiant Greninja ASR 46
1 Manaphy BRS 41
Trainer: 34
3 Irida
3 Ciphermaniac’s Codebreaking
1 Boss’s Orders
1 Thorton
4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin
4 Superior Energy Retrieval
2 Ultra Ball
2 Nest Ball
2 Rare Candy
2 Night Stretcher
2 Pokémon Catcher
1 Hisuian Heavy Ball
1 Energy Retrieval
1 Earthen Vessel
1 Energy Search Pro
1 Counter Catcher
1 Canceling Cologne
2 PokéStop
Energy: 11
4 Metal Energy
1 Grass Energy
1 Fire Energy
1 Water Energy
1 Lightning Energy
1 Psychic Energy
1 Fighting Energy
1 Darkness Energy
Note: The abbreviations and numbers after the card name means its set and collector number. By searching for the card name alongside the set and collector number, you will be able to see the exact card. For instance, Squawkabilly ex PAL 169 refers to its Paldea Evolved version.
Pikachu ex
Of course, Surging Sparks wouldn’t be complete without a Pikachu ex deck! With its Resolute Heart ability, it can withstand one hit KOs, as long as it has full HP. The most exciting part about our favorite mouse, however, is its Topaz Bolt attack, which deals 300 damage to the opponent’s Pokémon, at the cost of three energy.
We can easily set up Pikachu ex in one turn with Magneton SSP. With its Overvolt Discharge ability, we can attach up to three Basic Energy cards from our discard pile to any of our Electric type Pokémon, including Pikachu ex. Although Magneton KO’s itself for the ability, it gives us the opportunity to take down a powerful Pokémon to take two prize cards in return. Magneton also benefits the powerful Iron Hands ex, whose Amp You Very Much attack can KO little Pokémon, while taking an extra prize card!
The suite is completed by the brand new Latias ex SSP, which provides free retreat cost for Basic Pokémon with its Skyliner ability. This allows us to maneuver Iron Hands ex out of the active spot — because otherwise, we have to pay a hefty four energy for its retreat cost. While this may not be the most powerful deck, Pikachu still remains a fan favorite and there are several players out there trying to find the most optimal way to play the game’s mascot.
Decklist by だーじりん, 11th Place City League Kyōto 10/20
Pokémon: 18
2 Magnemite SV8 34
2 Magneton SV8 35
2 Pikachu ex SV8 33
2 Miraidon ex SVI 81
2 Lumineon V BRS 40
1 Iron Hands ex PAR 70
1 Fezandipiti ex SFA 38
1 Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex TWM 141
1 Latias ex SV7a 19
1 Squawkabilly ex PAL 169
2 Joltik SCR 50
1 Galvantula ex SCR 51
Trainer: 31
4 Arven
3 Boss’s Orders
1 Crispin SCR
1 Professor’s Research
4 Ultra Ball SVI
4 Earthen Vessel
2 Night Stretcher
1 Counter Catcher
1 Hisuian Heavy Ball
1 Prime Catcher
2 Rescue Board
1 Defiance Band
1 Forest Seal Stone
1 Bravery Charm
Energy: 11
5 Lightning Energy
4 Grass Energy
2 Metal Energy
4 Nest Ball SVI
Note: The abbreviations and numbers after the card name means its set and collector number. By searching for the card name alongside the set and collector number, you will be able to see the exact card. For instance, Squawkabilly ex PAL 169 refers to its Paldea Evolved version.
Excited to try these brand-new Surging Sparks decks? The set will be available on November 8, 2024 and will also be on Pokémon TCG Live, the official online client of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. In fact, the Battle Pass for the season is a Pikachu ex deck (and Archaludon ex later on), which means we will already have the new pieces necessary to play with the deck!
