Mega Sharpedo ex

What Mega Sharpedo ex looks like when you open the box

Across the 16 lists we counted, this deck runs 10 to 20 Pokémon, 24 to 40 Trainers and 8 to 16 Energy. Its attacks are paid for in Darkness.

On results pages and on stream you will see it written « mega-sharpedo-ex ». Every card named in that label turns up in the tables below, which is what makes it a fair name for the deck.

Look at the Energy: 8 to 16 out of 60, when half the 132 decks we track run 11 or fewer. This one carries more than most, and you feel it at the table — it wants to load up a big Pokémon and swing hard, even if that means drawing a spare Energy now and then.

It sets up fast. Mega Sharpedo ex is a Stage 1 Pokémon: a Basic, one evolution on top, and you are attacking. Two cards instead of three. You lose fewer turns building, and you rebuild much more easily when an early knockout lands on you.

Look at the Trainers: 24 to 40 cards out of 60, against a median of 31 across the 132 decks we track. Inside that, 4 to 19 Supporters, and the rule there is strict — one a turn, even if you are holding three. The 9 to 23 Items you can play all of in the same turn. It also brings up to 6 Stadiums, and 7 of the 132 decks we track bring that many or more. Only one Stadium sits on the table at a time: the one you play sends the one already there to the discard pile.

What Tools and Stadiums do — the two Trainer families we skipped here — and why the Energy count says so much: how to read a deck list.

How Mega Sharpedo ex actually wins

Mega Sharpedo ex attacks with Hungry Jaws. It needs 2 Darkness Energy attached, and it has 330 HP. The damage box reads "120+", and that little symbol hides the real decision on this card: 120 to start with, 270 the moment it has taken a hit itself.

The cost of Hungry Jaws decides your first few turns. You only get to attach one Energy a turn, and that attack asks for 2. On your own attachments alone, your first real swing lands on turn 2. We have not found anything in this list that attaches Energy faster than that, so plan on holding out for a turn before you swing. Those turns still get played: you fill your Bench, you build your lines, and you keep something back to rebuild with when your attacker falls.

Good news on mobility: Mega Sharpedo ex retreats for free. You get it back to the Bench without discarding a single Energy, and you can still attack in the same turn. An attacker that comes and goes like that walks out of almost any mess.

Mega Sharpedo ex is a Mega Evolution ex, and that is the most expensive rule in the game: your opponent takes 3 Prize cards instead of one the turn it goes down. They need 6 to win the game, so 2 well-placed knockouts on that card beat you, where it would take 6 knockouts anywhere else on your Bench.

The attackers in the deck's core, with their best attack, its cost and their Weakness

Pokémon	HP	Attack	Damage	Cost	Weakness	Retreat
Close Mega Sharpedo exStage 1	330	Hungry Jaws	120+		Grass ×2	0
Close CarvanhaBasic	70	Reckless Charge	30		Grass ×2	1

The core: the 4 cards every list runs

These 4 cards appear in all 16 lists, without a single exception. That is 19 of the 60 slots. The other 41 are decided player by player.

Look at how those 19 slots break down: 4 Trainers, 8 Pokémon, 7 Energy. Pokémon dominate, which is unusual: this deck needs bodies on the board, and it depends on any single attacker less than it looks.

4 of those 4 cards do not sit at the same count from list to list: Carvanha (1 to 4), Mega Sharpedo ex (2 to 4) and Lillie's Determination (1 to 4), plus 1 more. Add those spreads up and you get 17 copies the 16 lists do not agree on, inside the core itself.

What "3 to 4" means in the copies column, what the "TWM 130" code under each name is for, and why we count dozens of lists instead of one: how to read a deck list.

The cards present in every list counted, with the number of copies

Copies	Card	Printing	Kind
1–4	Close Carvanha	PFL 60	Pokémon
2–4	Close Mega Sharpedo ex	PFL 61	Pokémon
1–4	Close Lillie's Determination	MEG 119	Trainer
7–16	Darkness Energy	MEE 7	Energy

The 112 cards that change from list to list

112 cards fight over the 41 slots that are left: 2 above three lists in four, 90 below one in four, and the percentage on each row says how many players took it.

The most agreed on first: Boss's Orders at 94 % and Ultra Ball at 88 %. Add those to the core and you have the common build.

The dividing line runs through Poké Pad, at 50 %: 8 of 16 players took it, 8 put something else there. The ones who run it bring 4 copies. Right at the bottom of the table, Buneary (4 lists out of 16) and Chi-Yu (4 lists out of 16).

Why a card at 45 % is not a bad card, and what order to buy all this in: how to read a deck list.

The cards some lists run and others don't, most common first

Lists running it	Card	Copies	Printing	Kind
94 %15/16	Close Boss's Orders	2–4	MEG 114	Trainer
88 %14/16	Close Ultra Ball	2–4	MEG 131	Trainer
69 %11/16	Close Judge	1–4	POR 76	Trainer
63 %10/16	Close Night Stretcher	1–3	ASC 196	Trainer
56 %9/16	Close Buddy-Buddy Poffin	2–4	TEF 144	Trainer
56 %9/16	Close Pokégear 3.0	1–4	SVI 186	Trainer
56 %9/16	Close Hand Trimmer	1–2	TEF 150	Trainer
56 %9/16	Close Shadowy Darkness Energy	2–3	PBL 83	Energy
50 %8/16	Close Poké Pad	3–4	POR 81	Trainer
44 %7/16	Close Handheld Fan	1–4	TWM 150	Trainer
44 %7/16	Close Switch	1–2	MEG 130	Trainer
38 %6/16	Close Dark Bell	2–4	PBL 75	Trainer
38 %6/16	Close Team Rocket's Venture Bomb	3–4	DRI 179	Trainer
38 %6/16	Close Mega Signal	1–3	MEG 121	Trainer
38 %6/16	Close Wally's Compassion	1–3	MEG 132	Trainer
31 %5/16	Close Munkidori	1–3	TWM 95	Pokémon
31 %5/16	Close Pecharunt ex	1–2	SFA 39	Pokémon
31 %5/16	Close Crushing Hammer	4	POR 71	Trainer
31 %5/16	Close Super Potion	4	JTG 158	Trainer
31 %5/16	Close Eri	2	TEF 146	Trainer
31 %5/16	Close Energy Retrieval	1–2	SVI 171	Trainer
31 %5/16	Close Poké Vital A	1	SFA 62	Trainer
25 %4/16	Close Buneary	1–2	PFL 83	Pokémon
25 %4/16	Close Chi-Yu	1–2	PBL 59	Pokémon
25 %4/16	Close Mega Lopunny ex	1–2	PFL 84	Pokémon
25 %4/16	Close Yveltal	1–2	MEG 88	Pokémon
25 %4/16	Close Janine's Secret Art	1–3	PRE 112	Trainer
25 %4/16	Close Team Rocket's Watchtower	1–3	DRI 180	Trainer
25 %4/16	Close Battle Cage	1–2	PFL 85	Trainer
25 %4/16	Close Team Rocket's Petrel	1–4	DRI 176	Trainer
19 %3/16	Close Absol	1–2	PFL 63	Pokémon
19 %3/16	Close Fezandipiti ex	1	ASC 142	Pokémon
19 %3/16	Close Mega Gengar ex	1–2	PFL 56	Pokémon
19 %3/16	Close Moltres	1	PFL 14	Pokémon
19 %3/16	Close Hilda	1–3	WHT 84	Trainer
19 %3/16	Close Punk Helmet	1–3	PFL 92	Trainer
19 %3/16	Close Risky Ruins	1–3	MEG 127	Trainer
19 %3/16	Close Air Balloon	1–2	ASC 181	Trainer
19 %3/16	Close Binding Mochi	1–2	PRE 95	Trainer
19 %3/16	Close Rare Candy	2–4	MEG 125	Trainer
19 %3/16	Close Energy Search	1–2	POR 72	Trainer
19 %3/16	Close Hero's Cape	1	TEF 152	Trainer
13 %2/16	Close Dudunsparce	2–3	TEF 129	Pokémon
13 %2/16	Close Froslass	3	TWM 53	Pokémon
13 %2/16	Close Gastly	1–3	POR 48	Pokémon
13 %2/16	Close Snorunt	3	ASC 46	Pokémon
13 %2/16	Close Dunsparce	1–2	TEF 128	Pokémon
13 %2/16	Close Haunter	1–2	PFL 55	Pokémon
13 %2/16	Close Tatsugiri	1–2	TWM 131	Pokémon
13 %2/16	Close Fan Rotom	1	SCR 118	Pokémon
13 %2/16	Close Toxel	1	PFL 67	Pokémon
13 %2/16	Close Toxtricity	1	PFL 68	Pokémon
13 %2/16	Close Yveltal	1	SFA 35	Pokémon
13 %2/16	Close Cyrano	1–2	SSP 170	Trainer
13 %2/16	Close Energy Switch	1–2	MEG 115	Trainer
13 %2/16	Close Grimsley's Move	2	PFL 90	Trainer
13 %2/16	Close Pokémon Center Lady	1–2	MEG 123	Trainer
13 %2/16	Close Prime Catcher	1	TEF 157	Trainer
13 %2/16	Close Special Red Card	1	CRI 82	Trainer
13 %2/16	Close Surfer	1	SSP 187	Trainer
13 %2/16	Close Prism Energy	2	ASC 216	Energy
6 %1/16	Close Cinderace	4	MEG 28	Pokémon
6 %1/16	Close Grookey	3	TWM 14	Pokémon
6 %1/16	Close Haunter	3	POR 49	Pokémon
6 %1/16	Close Seviper	3	PFL 62	Pokémon
6 %1/16	Close Thwackey	3	TWM 15	Pokémon
6 %1/16	Close Dunsparce	2	JTG 120	Pokémon
6 %1/16	Close Gastly	2	PFL 54	Pokémon
6 %1/16	Close Gengar ex	2	30C 90	Pokémon
6 %1/16	Close Goldeen	2	TWM 44	Pokémon
6 %1/16	Close Mega Absol ex	2	MEG 86	Pokémon
6 %1/16	Close Seaking	2	PRE 21	Pokémon
6 %1/16	Close Budew	1	ASC 16	Pokémon
6 %1/16	Close Gastly	1	TEF 102	Pokémon
6 %1/16	Close Gengar ex	1	TEF 104	Pokémon
6 %1/16	Close Lillie's Clefairy ex	1	JTG 56	Pokémon
6 %1/16	Close Mew ex	1	30C 66	Pokémon
6 %1/16	Close Nidoran♀	1	30C 87	Pokémon
6 %1/16	Close Nidorina	1	30C 88	Pokémon
6 %1/16	Close Okidogi ex	1	SFA 36	Pokémon
6 %1/16	Close Patrat	1	CRI 70	Pokémon
6 %1/16	Close Psyduck	1	ASC 39	Pokémon
6 %1/16	Close Shaymin	1	DRI 10	Pokémon
6 %1/16	Close Festival Grounds	4	TWM 149	Trainer
6 %1/16	Close Dizzying Valley	3	PFL 88	Trainer
6 %1/16	Close Pokémon Catcher	3	POR 82	Trainer
6 %1/16	Close Team Rocket's Factory	3	DRI 173	Trainer
6 %1/16	Close Team Rocket's Transceiver	3	DRI 178	Trainer
6 %1/16	Close Academy at Night	2	SFA 54	Trainer
6 %1/16	Close Brock's Scouting	2	JTG 146	Trainer
6 %1/16	Close Colress's Tenacity	2	SFA 57	Trainer
6 %1/16	Close Enhanced Hammer	2	TWM 148	Trainer
6 %1/16	Close Lisia's Appeal	2	SSP 179	Trainer
6 %1/16	Close Nighttime Mine	2	ASC 197	Trainer
6 %1/16	Close Waitress	2	ASC 215	Trainer
6 %1/16	Close Carmine	1	TWM 145	Trainer
6 %1/16	Close Cook	1	TWM 147	Trainer
6 %1/16	Close Dawn	1	PFL 87	Trainer
6 %1/16	Close Drayton	1	SSP 174	Trainer
6 %1/16	Close Grand Tree	1	SCR 136	Trainer
6 %1/16	Close Gravity Mountain	1	SSP 177	Trainer
6 %1/16	Close Hyper Aroma	1	TWM 152	Trainer
6 %1/16	Close Iris's Fighting Spirit	1	JTG 149	Trainer
6 %1/16	Close Kieran	1	TWM 154	Trainer
6 %1/16	Close Maximum Belt	1	TEF 154	Trainer
6 %1/16	Close Meddling Memo	1	SSP 181	Trainer
6 %1/16	Close N's Plan	1	BLK 83	Trainer
6 %1/16	Close Precious Trolley	1	SSP 185	Trainer
6 %1/16	Close Rescue Board	1	TEF 159	Trainer
6 %1/16	Close Salvatore	1	TEF 160	Trainer
6 %1/16	Close Scoop Up Cyclone	1	TWM 162	Trainer
6 %1/16	Fire Energy	1	MEE 10	Energy

How many different cards Mega Sharpedo ex needs, and how long it will last

You need 116 different cards to cover every version of this deck, 4 of which nobody argues about. The rest is where lists differ from one another, and that is where you have room to choose.

15 of these 16 lists bring an ACE SPEC, and that is where they part ways: 5 took Poké Vital A, 3 took Hero's Cape and 2 took Prime Catcher. The flex table shows you all 8. You are allowed ONE ACE SPEC card in your whole deck, so a single copy covers it whatever it costs. New to this deck? Take Poké Vital A and watch what the others do with theirs before you switch.

Then there is time, and the answer is a good one: not one of the 4 core cards carries the letter H, the one that goes at the next rotation. This deck walks through the change whole.

What Mega Sharpedo ex struggles against

The attackers in this deck are Weak to Grass, so they take DOUBLE damage from that type. 21 of the 132 decks we track attack in exactly that type.

Concretely, here is what is waiting for you: Teal Mask Ogerpon ex / Meganium / Hydrapple ex, Festival Lead (Thwackey) and Crustle, plus 18 more decks. The table below takes them one at a time, and those are the lists you practise against first before an event.

This table counts one thing, Weakness, and that comes to 21 decks out of the 132 we track. The other 111 do not attack into yours, and this table says nothing about them. You will still run into them.

Going the other way, your attackers are Darkness, and 28 of the decks we track have an attacker Weak to one of those: Latias ex / Mega Kangaskhan ex, N's Zoroark ex and Dhelmise, among others. That is you doubling, for once. Second half of the table.