{"id":156,"date":"2025-06-24T14:50:40","date_gmt":"2025-06-24T14:50:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lootstack.store\/?p=156"},"modified":"2025-11-03T06:38:29","modified_gmt":"2025-11-02T22:38:29","slug":"deep-dive-into-stevens-metagross-ex-deck","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lootstack.store\/index.php\/2025\/06\/24\/deep-dive-into-stevens-metagross-ex-deck\/","title":{"rendered":"Let’s play Steven\u2019s Rival Battle Deck"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

TLDR;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Steven\u2019s<\/strong> deck is one of the most enjoyable pre-constructed decks I’ve played in a long time. It delivers a cohesive strategy, nice card art, and flexible mechanics, while still leaving plenty of room for upgrades and personalization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With just a few edits (adding a third Metagross ex, selecting the right Ace Spec, and polishing the Trainer lineup), you can elevate this deck from a strong beginner-friendly option to something that can win at local events or hold its own in casual tournaments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quick Recommendations:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  • Add a 3rd Metagross ex (bare minimum)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Choose an Ace Spec (Hero\u2019s Cape is my top pick)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Polish the Trainer line with a few consistency boosters<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Keep the energy recovery tools. They\u2019re crucial.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Enjoy every second of swinging for 200-plus damage<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I\u2019ve never actually played a game that features Steven, but his sharp outfit and even cooler Pok\u00e9mon definitely caught my attention. So I picked up his Rival Battle Deck and gave it a try. I was genuinely impressed. The energy acceleration is fantastic, the theme is cohesive, and the deck plays surprisingly well. It\u2019s a well-built, efficient product that delivers a fun experience for both beginners and seasoned players alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    First Play<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    My first match with Steven\u2019s deck got off to an incredibly strong start. I had a Rare Candy in hand and everything I needed to evolve quickly. By turn two, I was only one piece away from having a full Stage 2 setup and locking in early board control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Then came a disruption. My opponent hit me with a hand shuffle effect, and just like that, my momentum hit a bump. Thankfully, this deck has enough consistency built in that I was able to recover quickly. A few turns later, I had Metagross ex<\/strong> on the field and was setting up a strong board again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The true star during this phase was Steven\u2019s Claydol<\/strong>, which proved to be a fantastic bridge card. More on that below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Core Engine: Metagross ex and Steven\u2019s Claydol<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    \"\"\/<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Once Metagross ex<\/strong> hits the field, everything changes. With an enormous 340 HP<\/strong> and dual synergy with Metal<\/strong> and Psychic<\/strong> types, this card is the cornerstone of the deck. Its signature ability is where the real value lies:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    X-Boot (Ability):<\/strong> Once during your turn, you may search your deck for a Basic Psychic Energy, a Basic Metal Energy, or one of each. Attach them to your Psychic or Metal Pok\u00e9mon in any way you like, then shuffle your deck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This is one of the best acceleration abilities you can ask for in a Stage 2. It turns Metagross into both a tank and a support engine, letting you power up attackers on the bench or stack energy onto your active Pok\u00e9mon every single turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
    \"\"\/<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Speaking of attackers, Steven\u2019s Claydol<\/strong> deserves a shoutout. It offers two attack options: a 20-damage move that inflicts Confusion (great for soft disruption) or a devastating 220-damage attack<\/strong> that requires discarding all attached energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I chose the heavy hit more than once. The payoff was well worth it, and since the deck includes multiple ways to recover energy from the discard pile, I never felt like I was sacrificing long-term tempo for short-term value. That kind of built-in recovery really makes the deck feel polished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Deck Design: Strong Foundation With Room to Grow<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Out of the box, this deck is remarkably coherent. It has strong synergy between its core cards, reliable evolution paths thanks to Rare Candy and search effects, and enough energy acceleration to keep you in the game against more aggressive decks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    That said, two things stood out during playtesting as critical improvements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Problem 1: No Ace Spec Included<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The absence of one here is a noticeable gap. The good news is that it gives you a slot to customize based on your playstyle. Some great options include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    • Hero\u2019s Cape<\/strong> \u2013 Grants additional HP to Metagross ex or Claydol, making them harder to knock out and letting you extract more value from their energy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Prime Catcher<\/strong> \u2013 Gives you stronger board control by letting you target key enemy Pok\u00e9mon for a clutch KO.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      Pick whichever one best fits how you play \u2014 but make sure you\u2019re playing *something*<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Problem 2: Only Two Metagross ex<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      This one really caught me off guard. In one game, I used Ultra Ball<\/strong> to search for a third Metagross ex, only to realize it wasn’t in the deck. With only two copies included in the prebuilt list, your entire game plan is at risk if one gets Knocked Out or stuck in your prize cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      My recommendation is simple: add a third Metagross ex immediately<\/strong>. If you\u2019re serious about tuning the deck for league play, consider a fourth. Running two just isn’t enough to ensure consistent access to your most important engine piece.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Card Cuts and Cleanups<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      While the core of the deck is strong, there are a few cards that feel like filler or simply don\u2019t hold up in actual gameplay. For example Steven\u2019s Skarmory<\/strong>. The deck includes two copies, but after several test runs, I found they rarely added meaningful pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Unless your opponent is leaving unevolved basics stranded on the bench into the late-game, Skarmory\u2019s 50 damage just isn\u2019t enough to pose a real threat. In most cases, the three energy cost is too high to use early game. Removing both copies frees up valuable space. Advanced players using Munkidori’s Adrena Brain ability may find Skarmory useful for bench sniping, so there is more than one way to build the deck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Playstyle Overview: Very Fast Energy Ramp<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      This deck performs best when piloted like a hybrid between a ramp deck and a control setup. You want to evolve quickly with Rare Candy, get Metagross ex onto the board, and begin using X-Boot<\/strong> to attach energy every turn. That energy can go to Claydol for aggressive swings or Metagross ex for a solid Metal Stomp<\/strong>, which deals a reliable 200. X-Boot<\/strong> can be used to attach to the active, bench, even itself, solong as the Pokemon is Metal or Psycic type.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      It\u2019s easy to lull opponents into thinking your deck is clunky or slow. Then, out of nowhere, you can swing for 220 with Claydol or set up a full bench of loaded attackers in a single turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Even when you’re forced to discard energy, the deck includes recovery tools that get you right back on track. Between reprints and energy support, you’re rarely short on resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Have you played Steven\u2019s deck yet?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Share your thoughts below. I\u2019d love to hear what tweaks or combos you\u2019ve discovered to make it even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      TLDR; Steven\u2019s deck is one of the most enjoyable pre-constructed decks I’ve played in a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[32,35,36,34,33],"class_list":["post-156","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-deck-review","tag-energy-acceleration","tag-metagross","tag-premade","tag-steven"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lootstack.store\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/156","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lootstack.store\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lootstack.store\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lootstack.store\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lootstack.store\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=156"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/lootstack.store\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/156\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":224,"href":"https:\/\/lootstack.store\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/156\/revisions\/224"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lootstack.store\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=156"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lootstack.store\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=156"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lootstack.store\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=156"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}