How I Would Play Charizard EX Right Now!

Taking a look at and going over my latest take on Charizard EX going into the Charlotte Regional Championships
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[@Killchaingg]

I've noticed you do an excellent job voicing you perspective into strategy. Thank you for all your insight! Im a huge fan

[@logana5479]

Well explained, good list - 2nd Artazon sounds really nice to help you get setup in as many games as possible

[@neen_stream]

6 energy is enough. *Proceeds to prize 3 energy. Lol

[@jakeplays3445]

I’m loving the IRL deck lists!

[@justinjenkins4301]

Was waiting for this build 👀👀.Im definitely running zard for charlotte,I like the changes to the deck

[@MajinSageofDarkness]

New subscriber here! Great work and good luck in Charlotte!

[@NikoDSMS]

Lets Go Azul, im a Fan from your Deck, keep grinding it bro, good luck on Charlotte, Greetings from Mexico

[@stephensummers1958]

I’d love to see a focused video talking about the match ups in detail.

[@lloydraymondtiamson5352]

There's a video by JamesCTCG with Grant Manley after the San Antonio Regionals about the Charizard Ex deck guide. It's not that detailed but you'll still learn a lot.

[@stephensummers1958]

@@lloydraymondtiamson5352thank you yeah I saw that one. I’d love to hear bother perspectives.

[@stephensummers1958]

@@lloydraymondtiamson5352thank you yeah I saw that one. I’d love to hear both perspectives.

[@ZeroUH]

I'm using Rotom-V on all my stage 2 Decks, it's a great card! Thanks for the tech, Azul!

[@Popovich16]

Import deck lists on these videos would be awesome

[@Pmplays1089]

Great vid! Thoughts on cutting research for nest ball? Rarely has it been used imo and sure it can bail you out but iono does a very similar thing

[@FrostFangPokemon]

helps out tremendously when you get iono'd or roxanne'd to 1 or 2 and you still have quick search available

[@wesleyhenrico2828]

Once again a really good explanation of the deck. Also agree that the mew becomes less useful later in the game. Could that be cut for a nest ball or would that be too extreme?

[@TheBigDizz]

You've been at the forefront with Zard and I've been generally following your choices. Love seeing RadZard and Choice Belt returning but only one Counter Catcher makes me wince a little haha

[@Waylander132]

I'm curious what your opinion on entei v in the deck is? I've been trying it out in my zard deck and find it really helps with the extra draw and it's a second attacker.

[@casualcampaigns]

The way azul says charizard is life

[@Bigame_channel]

Justified gloves still useful? Or just for mirror match. Hard to deal with roaring moon ,Asia player here

[@DasOlli91]

I will try it on the next local and maybe the regionals in germany, too!

[@DarastaiL]

Hi, If you knew that of the 5 rounds there were 3 or 4 mirrors, would you still use the belt over the band? And what do you think about the possibility of placing nest instead of the 4 vip?

[@Nolu-Shizmat]

If you are guaranteed 60-80% mirrors, play justified gloves lol

[@ReasonablyToasted]

Love the video and the list! What ever happened to Entei V in the Charizard lists though? I'm still rocking him and he still feels great to me. Entei with Radiant Charizard gives two guaranteed attackers through Devolution.

[@b-rad578]

I tried azuls deck. Just didn't feel right. I had been playing entei as well before. My last locals I went 2-2. Lost to the tourney winner goldengo and lost to lost box cuz I prized a manaphy. I like devolution. Lost city still hits well. 6 energy is pretty bad imo.

[@mariomitchell2864]

​@@b-rad578Try 2 Chi-Yu's instead of Entei. Entei is bad in the mirror matchup and against Giratina, Miraidon etc. due to its low HP as a 2 prizer.

[@29396]

thoughts on tm evo zard, given all the tm devo running around? or is it too slow for the meta?

[@BasedTCG]

Only thing I don’t like about evo Zard is that you have to have energy in hand to use it. Candy is better

[@Robong0]

how do you play the 6 fire, 2 rod? just more conservative?

[@mxt7407]

Azul, where can i find a reference to that australian list?

[@MillanPatel]

Thoughts on maybe cutting a boss instead of a counter catcher?

[@BasedTCG]

You can always boss but can’t always use counter catcher

[@Nolu-Shizmat]

this deck thrives on consistency. counter catcher doesn't disassemble your opponent's board if you are ahead, but risk falling behind if you leave something there.

[@salteh22]

This style of video is so good. I love seeing actual cards instead of just PTCGlive

[@cesarguerrero5630]

How much does it hurt the deck to not be able to punish the mirror for taking three prizes (responding with pidgeot + vitality band knockout combo)?

[@Cocopuffs77]

Where can i find the list of harus with no arvens? Cant seem to find it

[@T1redRn]

Just to clarify as of right now we would play the Paldean Fates charmeleon that prevents all effects of attacks right

[@pasuabe4179]

What are the best card sleeves in your opinion?

[@AzulGG]

Dragon Shield

[@OscarHowe-dm9mx]

Bro soon he'll be playing 1 fire energy💀💀💀

[@lilnickygs1617]

In my list im running a tool jammer and it feels amazing but i would love to include Rad Zard. Is there anything from this list i could cut for tool jammer? Maybe a single arven?

[@lloydraymondtiamson5352]

Hi. Does the tool jammer stop TM Devo?

[@29396]

@@lloydraymondtiamson5352 yep jammer stops devo if jammer's on your active

[@Nolu-Shizmat]

What situations do you like the tool jammer in? Is it a particular number of prizes on each side or a certain board setup?

[@kotoriitsuka4418]

Paldean Fates released a 90-HP Charmeleon with Flare Veil (Prevents all Effects of attacks from the opp’s pokemon), could you swap that with the other 90-HP Charmeleon? And what about TM Crisis Punch? I want to add it for RZard for zero cost because of its ability, but what can I swap out for it?

[@Nolu-Shizmat]

Note that it also only deals 50 with the attack. That's going to limit what you can clean up and prevent you from knocking comfey out.

[@NanoSalas]

I tried to play with 6 energies. In one game, I had 2 energies in prizes, evolved charizard ex (2) and (1) to retreat mew (or another). With only one in deck I can't evolved another Charizard or put energy on charmeleon... I feel confident with 7 energies xD.

[@Nolu-Shizmat]

That's what super rod is for. you can also try to use switch to move the mew if you checked your prizes and know that is the case already. This deck isn't looking to rush down opponents. It sets up and selectively knocks out what it wants to focus down.

[@con4327]

Deevolution really messed my deck up + the occasional scovillain coming in now from the zorak deck transform build

[@Nolu-Shizmat]

Do you have a local scovillain meta?

[@williamtan5243]

I was wondering would it be better to replace the belt which gives attack 10+ to Vseries only TO bravery champ which gives 50 health

[@Nolu-Shizmat]

Choice Belt does 30 more damage and bravery charm does nothing because charizard either gets 1 or 2 shotted. 50 more hp wouldn't even save it from an attack that does 160 damage.

[@williamtan5243]

@@Nolu-Shizmat what do you think about vitality band..at least work for all pokemon

[@DemonlordAdralemech]

I actually run two fire Charizards, and two dark Charizards with Arceus and Arceus ex and the Pigeot Ex, stadium of choice being magma basin. Works great for me, but my deck is a bit different from yours!

[@mrlukejennings]

How do you handle your opponent bossing up your Radiant Charizard with so few energy and only 1 switch? Do you just never have two Charizard ex on the board at the same time?

[@FrostFangPokemon]

In an ideal scenario you would bench Radiant Zard the turn you plan on using it. If you promote a pidgeot ex you can pivot into the zard and quick search for an energy if you don't have it in hand. or if zard ex is active you would need switch, radiant zard, energy, and choice belt.

[@ksauls]

I'd imagine Rad Zard doesn't hit the bench until late (when it's close to useful or already there). If they gust it up, best the can do is one prize, right?

[@BasedTCG]

You should always have more than 1 Zard set up

[@mrlukejennings]

@@ksauls I've had a few wins vs Charizard where I have bossed up Radiant Charizard late game with 4 prizes remaining (after forcing the one switch card earlier in the game), and the Zard player loses by running out of cards as they can't retreat. I guess the way to avoid it is just don't play it until needed

[@PokeSharkYT]

The only thing I can't get behind is no nest ball. It is going to be hard to search for Rotom.

[@AzulGG]

I forgot they changed VIP Pass

[@PokeSharkYT]

@@AzulGG fax, fairplay, I forgot, checkmate.

[@shaku45]

Is this build supposed to go first or second?

[@Nolu-Shizmat]

Second usually for Arven to my understanding.

[@jakegamblen3552]

Would you change much for Liverpool Regionals this weekend?

[@AzulGG]

nah run the 60

[@jakegamblen3552]

@@AzulGG 🤝

[@BasedTCG]

I played rad Zard in my deck at cup last week and my friends said it was stupid and rad Zard is terrible. But they’ll see your video now and put in their deck list lol

[@mariomitchell2864]

It is terrible. Play Chi-Yu instead, Azul hasn't realized but Chi-Yu synergizes well with Charizard Ex. It provides energy recovery and a 280 damage against Goldengo and Toedscruel. It's perfect

[@rugar85]

@@mariomitchell2864 it takes it out of your deck, not discard

[@CygnusVArcana]

@@mariomitchell2864 Do you happen to have an example decklist? Interested in trying this out. Or is it just switch RadZard for Chi Yu EX?

[@whitewolf8051]

I think less arven would be better, but could you maybe run one arven just in case?

[@AsherJohnson]

Bro what are you on

[@BasedTCG]

1 arven? Bruh. Go play digimon

[@Nolu-Shizmat]

What are you replacing Arven with that is better?

[@estebanrivera4388]

I really like this deck list but losing vitality band hurts so much charizard against a normal v Pokémon like tina or Miraidon match ups in my opinion the third Iono might be unnecessary I already tried this deck list maybe removing the professor and having the third Iono can make this work better and adding back the vitality band

[@mariusfilho]

Still don't get why this Jirachi instead of ... 2 manaphy for example?

[@Nolu-Shizmat]

Jirachi stops sableye and yoga loop. manaphy does not and 2 manaphy prevents you from having a wider shield from opponents' unique attacks.

[@cesarguerrero5630]

Chien pao also hurts without vitality if they take one prize

[@AzulGG]

That is true but they also should be taking a early prize card vs Zard in fear of vitality band

[@mariomitchell2864]

​@@AzulGG Wouldn't that same logic be present for Miraidon? Especially since it doesn't need a rare candied pokemon to start attacking.

[@Nolu-Shizmat]

​​@@mariomitchell2864 Miraidon plays a lot of 2 prizers with 210 or less. They also play mew. lots of easy 1 shots as opposed to Chien Pao.

[@540pokeROGUES]

I've become a huge Charizard EX fan and I'm curious to see how you would play Charizard post rotation. With knowing what new cards are coming out already. Great video. I love the IRL videos and good luck in Charlotte

[@IMunchGlass]

At a bare minimum - 4 Buddy Poffins to replace VIP Pass and replace Level Ball with Nest Ball. Also, Little Dark Fury released a video in the last day or so explaining some key changes to decks after rotation, you should check that out!

[@540pokeROGUES]

@@IMunchGlass I will definitely check that out. I appreciate it.

[@frameandi]

Cleffa for mew. Also path rotates so you will probably run one less stadium and vacuum. It's scary season post-rotation.

[@Nolu-Shizmat]

basically poffin and max belt

[@chubby4853]

if I just downloaded the game ptcg live to play it online what would be the fastest and cheapest way to obtain these cards? and do you know if its still going to be viable to play this after the rotation? im new to pokemon i just downloaded the game to play with the virtual cards since im bored of hearthstone but i dont have any cards or knowledge of how to get them besides buying the real cards lol

[@MathCrazyProfessor]

Do you go first? If so on which match ups?

[@Nolu-Shizmat]

Could against gardevoir

[@nathanbastos3595]

I Love you BlockLax

[@DragonCatProductions]

me too

[@C41N4]

Little “e”, little “x”

[@level3xfactor]

Have you considered Thornton in Charizard?

[@Pavcodecorilujancarrion]

Is there a reason why some cards like the crown zenith variant of radiant charizard and promo version of lumineon V are cheaper even though they’re the same card?

[@antonioboscodecarvalho8261]

Reduce one batle vip pass and put nest ball.....

[@AzulGG]

I could see it

[@IMunchGlass]

i don't get your logic for the Choice Belt into Miraidon. If they take one KO, we're doing 210 with Charizard ex, which is already enough to knock out Raikou and Raichu without any tools and Miraidon with a Vitality Band. Not getting Iron Hands unless you have Defiance Band. Then, if Raikou and Raichu have Bravery Charm, you're not getting them with either Vitality Band, Defiance Band, or Choice Belt. I know you're a much better player than me but I will be sticking with Vitality Band :) Unless you care to reply to me to help me understand better the Choice Belt.

[@eljuanman999]

You're right. However in the case that they don't take a prize first, you can still KO their Raikou/Raichu

[@adamjones9818]

belt makes you the aggressor. instead of being passive, it let's you dictate the pace of the game.

[@onedinoboi1795]

I think its for like Tina maybe?

[@adamjones9818]

@@onedinoboi1795 that too.

[@guilhermemendes6279]

Your answer is in “If they take one KO..” Miraidon players knowing that zard needs to lose some prizes first, they take their time to set up better and dictate the pace. If they KO first it’s basically the same game, if they don’t, zard won’t wait no more.

[@appleplayz2926]

I think the Irl deck lists are better than looking at a limitless TCG image for 10 minutes

[@Bitemeyalevo]

I cut Mew and i don´t miss it

[@Nolu-Shizmat]

Are there any results for larger tournaments that prove that the deck performs strong without it?

[@mariomitchell2864]

A few thoughts on your deck: I think you should cut 1 Iono and 1 Boss, replace those with a Palpad (Same idea as cutting an energy for for another rod, and gives you the option of 4 Bosses/Ionos). Then you can include a counter catcher. 2. Radiant Charizard is a really niche attacker, but what makes it worse is if you starting hand the radiant Charizard as your only basic. You essentially can't move it until they kill it and lose so much momentum. Have you ever thought about including Chi-Yu? It has 2 moves, 1 that cycles back energies straight onto Pokemon, and another that does 140 damage if a pokemon was knocked out previous turned. It's really good in the Goldengo matchup to get the momentum needed to win in the prize trade. Essentially a single prize fire attacker that can clean up KOs, take energy straight from the discard pile, and win you the Goldengo matchup. 3. Remove one of the Ultra Balls for a Heavy Ball. Nothing feels worse than prizing both pidgeys, or your rotom-V .. And it allows you to check your prized cards. Super helpful when trying to manage energy well mid game too.

[@orlandocalderas3991]

Bro, this post is like trying to teach LeBron how to play basketball

[@mariomitchell2864]

​@@orlandocalderas3991 It's a card game based on statistics and critically thinking. It's purely knowledge based, so you can give invite without winning 1000 tournaments

[@AsherJohnson]

Bro just get better at checking your prize cards you don’t need heavy ball cause ur lazy

[@mariomitchell2864]

​@@AsherJohnson It's not just about checking prize cards, it's also about prizing Pidgeys or Rotom, or even 2/4 Charmanders or even Radiant Charizard in this case. Heck, you might prize Manaphy or Jirachi in a certain matchup and have issues.

[@aimanz202]

I would say theory crafts could only get so far unless u have been getting results from that

[@KingYamiBakura]

I will never agree with 7 energies in this deck... 9 is the sweet spot and I also run 2 Super Rods. Also never lost a mirror match against your version of Charizard and I run Delphox V instead of Rotom V for 1prize decks.

[@AzulGG]

That’s cool

[@DaZeroHero]

You also haven’t won a regional with your decklist

[@KingYamiBakura]

@@DaZeroHero because I don't play irl cards. I played against his deck a lot of times on the PTCGL tho. If 6 energies work for him that's cool, but I have my opinion

[@nelsoncontreras7047]

​@@DaZeroHero dammm that was savage ☠️