ex cards are built around a simple trade: bigger stats for a bigger cost when they go down.
Bigger stats, bigger risk
ex Pokémon generally carry higher HP and stronger attacks than their non-ex counterparts. The trade-off is the Prize card rule: knock one out and your opponent takes 2 Prize cards instead of 1, so an early ex knockout can swing a game hard.
Always Rare or above
Every ex card prints at Rare rarity as a baseline, with many also getting Double Rare, Special Illustration Rare or Hyper Rare alternate versions — cards like Mega Delphox ex are Double Rares by default.
Not the same as old EX or GX cards
Despite the name, current ex cards are a distinct mechanic introduced in the Scarlet & Violet era, separate from the 2003-2016 EX cards and 2017-2019 GX cards that came before them.
Frequently asked questions
What's the downside of playing an ex Pokémon?
Your opponent takes 2 Prize cards instead of 1 when it's knocked out.
Are all ex cards Rare or above?
Yes, always Rare rarity or higher.
Is ex the same mechanic as the old EX or GX cards?
No, it's a distinct modern mechanic despite the similar name.