It’s literally a parade in Pokémon TCG Pocket as the Fantastical Parade (B2) set takes centre stage, bringing a new roster of EX cards!
Since the start of the B series, Mega Evolutions are the core of the EX cards, boasting high HP and strong attacks.
Mega Evolutions in TCG Pocket take a cue from the Mega Evolution sets released in the physical TCG (Mega Symphonia and Mega Brave), and introduce a couple of new rules that are a little different from what we have been aware of in Pocket battles till now. Here are the battle rules for the Mega EX cards:
- Knocking out a Mega Evolution card rewards you with 3 points, granting you an instant win in TCG Pocket.
- Megas are Basic, Stage 1, and Stage 2 cards, and the latter two can be evolved directly from their respective Basic card or Stage 1 card.
To elaborate further on this:
- Mega Charizard Y can be directly evolved from Charmander.
- Mega Gyarados can be directly evolved from Magikarp.
- Mega Absol is a Basic card, hence not requiring evolution at all.
Now, let’s join the celebratory parade and see what’s in store for the EX department!
The ever-elegant Mega Gardevoir EX is the headliner of Fantastical Parade, and let’s just say that it is fantastic!
With a sweet 210 HP and 100 DMG done at only 2 
Energy, this thing is a menace.
But there’s more! Aside from dealing 110 DMG, it also attaches a whopping 3 Energy to any of your Benched Pokémon, in any way you like!
Does this ring a demonic bell? Indeed, the dreaded Giratina EX is now enabled to wreak havoc more easily, thanks to Mega Gardevoir EX. It’s a match made in heav… er, hell, and this duo is sure to torment the meta.
But there’s even more!!!
The beefy 210 HP Mega Gardevoir (230 HP with Giant Cape) gets ample healing support.
- Indeedee EX is a Basic and can be mounted on your Bench to heal 20 DMG from an Active Mega Gardevoir EX during every turn! Indeedee is also a fearsome attacker, as with only 2 Energy, it inflicts 30 DMG + 30 more damage for each Energy attached to your opponent’s Active card. This is lights out for those hefty Pokémon that use multiple Energies for their attacks, like Mega Charizard Y EX, Mega Venusaur EX, Giratina EX, and Mega Gyarados EX.
- The new Diantha Supporter heals an insane 90 DMG if it has 2 or more Energy attached! Of course, it also expels 2 Energy on doing so, but with Mega Gardevoir gaining 3 Energy from its attack, losing 2 doesn’t matter as it’s left with 1 Energy, and the other can be granted from the turn’s Energy. Another fun option is adding Genetic Apex Gardevoir to the mix, giving 2 free Energies by its ability or just using Dawn to get a Energy from Giratina EX.
- And of course, the Lillie Supporter is also superb for healing Stage 2 mons like Mega Gardevoir EX, aiding in a healing of 60 HP.
Add the new Peculiar Plaza Stadium card, and the retreat cost is zero for Mega Gardevoir EX, Giratina EX, and Indeedee EX.
Mega Gardevoir EX is one of the most (if not THE MOST) versatile Mega Evolution EX cards we have had in the game. It blends well with any Psychic type, with the likes of Mew EX, Mewtwo EX, Giratina, or even Lunala EX. You can also use Meloetta (a Crown Rare in Fantastical Parade) to help search for Mega Gardevoir EX quicker.
You get a lot of support from Mega Gardevoir EX, making it a custom-fit, Swiss Army Knife card for the Psychic meta.
The Grass type’s EX is the adorable but sassy Teal Mask Ogerpon EX, and surprisingly, it is a great check to the strongest Grass Pokémon in TCG Pocket, Mega Venusaur EX.
By just having Teak Mask Ogerpon EX on the Bench, any Pokémon in play that has even one Energy attached (
or not) is unaffected by special conditions. As such, an opposing Mega Venusaur EX cannot poison or put to sleep your Active Pokémon.
Of course, Team Mask Ogerpon is also generally good to target the poison meta and completely ignore the Poison Barb Tool.
As an attacker, it thrives on high Energy mons in the Active Spot since a total of 5 Energy or more in both Active Spots lets TM Ogerpon EX deal 120 DMG for only 2 Energy.
It’s a Basic, so it does help fulfill a great supporting role even in non-Grass decks, but in a Mega Evolution meta, an output of 120 DMG is often insufficient if there’s no ‘side effects’ attached to the move.
A handy EX for sure, but not the scariest by any means.
Ultra Beasts are back in Pokémon TCG Pocket and how! We have Blacephalon EX, a glass cannon that can do some mind-blowing damage (no pun intended), with many tools at its disposal.
Magby gives free 
Energy right from the first turn of the game, so even if you go first, you already give Blacephalon 1 Energy. As such, from your second attacking turn, you can dish out a fiery 140 DMG! However, for just 1 Energy, you can burn the opponent, effectively doing 20 DMG. On losing the coin flip, you end up doing 40 DMG.
Now, you do give up all 3 Energy via Pop-Punk, but with Flame Patch or even Charmeleon, you can get back to attacking the very next turn.
Moreover, being an Ultra Beast gives it free retreat aid from Celesteela (if needed), but more importantly, Energy support from Lusamine Supporter, getting free Energy of up to 2 if the opponent has gotten at least 1 point.
Not to forget, you can give Blacephalon EX a surplus of Energy from Moltres EX!
Being a Basic, there is a plethora of possibilities where it can pair with stalwarts like Mega Charizard Y EX or Mega Blaziken EX. This card is going to be the dark horse EX of the Fantastical Parade set.
Alolan Ninetales EX arrives in Pokémon TCG Pocket with style, boasting a tech so frustrating to your opponent that they may often call it quits!
For only 2x 
Energy, Alolan Ninetales EX does a decent 80 DMG, but what makes it truly dangerous is the effect that accompanies this attack.
Binding Snow prevents the target from taking any Energy for itself, arresting them from doing anything of note. With the Pokémon already hit with 80 DMG, it is a sitting duck unless it withdraws from the faceoff.
That’s where a tacky duo comes into the picture! Pair Alolan Ninetales EX with Genetic Apex Greninja to do 20 chip damage to any Benched/withdrawn Pokémon, and then use Cyrus to pull it to the Active and face Alolan Ninetales’ binding onslaught.
You can also add the Team Rocket Grunt to create more pressure on the opponent, not letting them use any effective Energy whatsoever.
In the right hands, this Alolan Ninetales EX | Greninja | Cyrus | Team Rocket Grunt arrangement can completely cripple Mega Charizard Y decks, or even most decks in general, especially because Alolan Ninetales EX gets good healing support from Irida and Potions.
It should be understood that succeeding with Alolan Ninetales EX requires cards to be in your favor (literally), and since its damage output isn’t too high, you might even fail miserably.
Hoenn representation! Mega Swampert EX is here, but does it shake up the meta?
Using this Mega Evolution relies on luck, honestly, as the incredible 150 DMG attack is accompanied by a tech that discards 2 random Energy from among all the Pokémon in play (both yours and your opponent’s). This is a Stadium card effect, per se, and if your opponent loses Energy or you give up 1 Energy, the match is in your favour.
However, in the off chance that there aren’t too many Pokémon in play or you simply end up losing 2 Energy from Mega Swampert EX, you’re in danger. Mega Swampert EX has a high retreat cost, so you can’t really afford losing Energy from your Benched folks as well.
You really need to have your prayers ready when playing with Mega Swampert EX!
Toxtricity EX’s 3 
Energy requirement may look shabby, but it isn’t! There’s Zeraora or Tapu Koko EX (two very reliable Lightning-type partners) to generate their own Energy, and then using the Elemental Switch to transfer Energy to Toxtricity later.
Not to mention, Baby Pokémon Pichu can give a free Energy right from the first turn to Toxel, and then Toxtricity can utilize it.
Attach the Electrical Cord Pokémon Tool to Pichu or Pachirisu, and on getting KO’d, you can attach Energy to Toxtricity EX.
And once Toxtricity is armed with 3 Energy, it hits the opponent for 90 DMG and also does 30 DMG to each of the opponent’s Benched Pokémon, provided they have damage on it. Now, how do you ensure damage on ALL of the opponent’s Benched cards?
Simple. Spiritomb from Space-Time Smackdown!
This sneaky Darkness Pokémon uses 1 Colorless Energy (use here) to do 10 DMG to everything on your opponent’s end. This way, Toxtricity EX hits everything out there, posing a huge threat to the meta.
Toxtricity EX may not be the strongest, but just like Jolteon EX from Mega Rising, this Pokémon will definitely cause a headache for your opponent. Be sure to pair it with Spiritomb, and have a powerful Lightning-type EX with you, like Shining Revelry Pikachu EX, Jolteon EX, or Tapu Koko EX.
The fan-favourite Mimikyu is finally in TCG Pocket (Pokémon GO when??), and Mimikyu EX comes with an amazing ability that is an ode to its main series ability (both called Disguise).
Basically, the first times that Mimikyu EX takes damage (either in the Active Spot or the Bench), it just shrugs it off. You read that right, reader… Mimikyu EX is immune to any damage when it takes its first hit.
This goes a great deal in helping farm Energy for Giratina EX on the Bench, but do keep in mind that Mimikyu EX is quite fragile at only 120 HP and does a meagre 70 DMG 9to offset its superb ability). Add the Peculiar Stadium Stadium card to retreat Mimikyu EX for free and bring in Giratina EX to rampage.
Mimikyu EX serves more as a support weapon (a shield, if you will) for Psychic types rather than an attacker, so use it as such. Be sure to arm a powerful attacker like Giratina EX or Lunala EX to create a formidable deck.
Okay, Gigalith EX sucks. It’s just too bad. 140 DMG for 4 
Energy and then getting disabled the next turn (that too with a 4 Energy retreat cost?!). Nah, you should stay away from this Pokémon altogether.
Metal types always tend to have a viable card, and Mega Mawile EX doesn’t disappoint. For just 2 Energy, it deals 60 DMG at first, and as it stays in the Active Spot, it does 30 more damage for each turn. So, assuming that Mega Mawile EX is not retreated or Sabrina’d into the Bench, its damage figures go like 60 DMG, 90 DMG, 120 DMG, and so on.
With healing support from Adaman and Potions, or can thrive. And it gets better because the new Metal Core Barrier Pokémon Tool helps the user take -50 DMG.
While you dump this Tool after usage, the Galarian Perrserker card from the Fantastical Parade set has an ability called Dig Up that retrieves two Pokémon Tools from your discard pile into your hand! If you have two Perrserker in your deck, you may do this two times strategically, and for multiple turns, Mega Mawile EX stays healthy and keeps on mounting its damage figures.
Of course, you are prone to the common Sabrina or Cyrus if your opponent directs chip damage to your Bench. As such, the Metal Core Barrier | Perrserker duo suits Melmetal EX better, who can do a whopping 300 DMG in two turns!
So even though Mega Mawile EX is great, the Metal type shenanigans are better explored with Melmetal EX or even good ol’ Solgaleo EX.
The parent-child pair of Mega Kangaskhan EX is a decent Mega Evolution. Its mechanics are cool, dealing 80 DMG first, followed by 40 DMG. If the opponent ends up being KO’d in the first hit, then the upcoming 40 DMG is done to the next Active Pokémon.
For decks having Baby Pokémon and left with no option but to bring one of them to your Active Spot after suffering a KO, Mega Kangaskhan EX is impending doom. Two KOs in a row is no joke, and is a game lost if the first KO is an EX card.
It’s ironic that Mega Kangaskhan, of all Pokémon, is cruel to a Baby. This card could have been excellent with a lower attack and/or retreat cost, and ends up being okayish.
Sure, it’s good situationally, but it won’t create a rift in the meta.
The Fighting meta has been very stale as of late in Pokémon TCG Pocket, and unfortunately, Mega Medicham EX doesn’t change that fate. Its best showing from its 3 Energy move, Chakra Fist, comes if the requirement is filled by both and Energies.
Unfortunately, there’s no Baby Pokémon that fulfills this need, and 3 Energy is a bit too much. 180 HP is also not impressive as such. So, purely as a Mega Evolution EX, it is not good.
However….
This one has a unique trait to it that establishes it as an interesting addition.
The description of Chakra Fist reads, “This attack’s damage isn’t affected by any effects on your opponent’s Active Pokémon.”
- Yes, dear reader… if that didn’t ring a bell yet, Mega Medicham EX is the only EX card to directly beat Oricorio! I laid emphasis on “directly,” as Mega Venusaur EX can technically beat it with successful Poison + Sleep trails, and Mega Blaziken EX does the same with the Burn status. Mega Medicham EX is also super-effective on Oricorio, dealing 120 DMG with pure Energies, and 160 DMG with both and Energies in the equation.
- The other perk is less interesting, but its attack ignores abilities, effects, or Trainers that help the target take less damage. Think Metal types like Mega Steelix EX or Mega Skarmory EX that take less damage typically, but this doesn’t apply to Mega Medicham EX. In the same vein, the effects of Adaman, Jasmine, Heavy Helmet, and Metal Core Barrier can be neglected.
Mega Medicham EX is a nice gimmick card, honestly, built for niche situations. In the real world, you can’t predict those matchups, and you can replace this Mega Evolution with something like Rampardos, which is not only one of the strongest Pokémon in TCG Pocket, but also annihilates Oricorio.
Fantastical Parade is an exceptional set, bringing with it a lot of mind games, mechanics, and the popular Stadium cards. There’s room for strategy and creativity from the EX Pokémon, making this one a fun experience in battles and a memorable expansion overall.
Not to mention, the cards in this set are some of the most beautiful in the game!
Happy collecting and battling, Pokémon TCG Pocket-ers!
