The temptation to fill a deck with the biggest, flashiest ex Pokémon is understandable, but it's rarely the strongest build.
The all-ex trap
Every ex Pokémon knocked out hands the opponent 2 Prize cards instead of 1. A deck packed entirely with ex attackers gives up Prizes twice as fast on every loss, which can undo the extra power those cards bring.
What regular Pokémon add
Non-ex Pokémon often carry the Abilities, cheap early attacks or Energy acceleration that support an ex attacker's game plan, without adding more high-value knockout targets to the board for the opponent.
The zero-ex strategy
Some competitive decks skip ex Pokémon entirely on purpose, deliberately denying the opponent easy 2-Prize knockouts and trading raw individual power for overall resilience across a longer game.
Frequently asked questions
Should a deck be built entirely around ex Pokémon?
Not usually, since every knockout gives up 2 Prizes instead of 1.
What role do regular, non-ex Pokémon play in a deck built around ex attackers?
Abilities, cheap attacks or Energy acceleration without extra knockout risk.
Is it ever correct to run zero ex Pokémon in a competitive deck?
Yes, some strategies deny easy 2-Prize knockouts entirely.