Magnezone has been a powerhouse ever since it was first released inPokemon TCG Pocket’s Space-Time Smackdown set, mostly because the Genetic Apex version of Magneton allows it to be played in virtually any deck. But despite being a great partner for any Pokemon, it rarely gets the spotlight.

Extradimensional Crisis introduced a new version of Shiinotic that helps to put Magnezone in the limelight, accelerating your deck by fetching a new Pokemon each turn. Combined with a little support, this deck is incredibly fast and consistent, two hallmarks of a great deck.

The Illustration Rare of Morelull, from Pokemon TCG Pocket’s Celestial Guardians set.

Morelull (A3) x3

Shiinotic (A3a) x2

The Morelull card, from Pokemon TCG Pocket’s Celestial Guardians set.

Magnemite (A1) x2

Magneton (A1) x2

Shiinotic from Extradimensional Crisis in Pokemon TCG Pocket.

Magnezone (A2) x2

Oricorio (A3 66) x1

The Magnemite card, from Pokemon TCG Pocket’s Genetic Apex (Pikachu) pack.

Guzma x1

Cyrus x1

The Magneton card from Pokemon Pocket’s Genetic Apex: Pikachu.

Sabrina x1

Poke Ball x2

Giant Cape x1

Morelull and Shiinoticboth use Colorless Energy, so make sure youturn off Grass and Psychic Energyin the deck builder.

Ideally,Morelull should never attack,so you’re free to use any version. However, theCelestial Guardians Morelullhas thehighest HP,and canattack with Colorless Energy, if necessary. Use this one unless you just don’t have it in your collection.

The Magnezone card, from Space-Time Smackdow in Pokemon TCG Pocket.

It’s alsothe only version with an Illustration Rare, making it one of the few options to add some style to your deck.

Both theGenetic Apex and Space-Time Smackdown versionsof Magnemite have thesame amount of HPand can attack with a single Energy. TheGenetic Apex versionis preferred, since itdeals double the damageof the Space-Time Smackdown version for thesame Energyinvestment.

The Lightning-type Oricorio, from Celestial Guardians in Pokemon TCG Pocket.

Magnezone Shiinotic Strategy

Magnezone isthe only real attackerin this deck. It candeal 110 damage with only three Energy, but you need todiscard a Lightning Energyeach time you use itsThunder Blastattack. It’s also aStage 2 Pokemon,which requires a little time and luck to set up.

Shiinoticreduces the need for luck with itsIlluminate ability, which gives you arandom Pokemon from your deck for free each turn.Combined withPoke Ball and Professor’s Research,you should be able to get one or both Magnezone lines quickly and start swinging early.

The Professor’s Research promo from Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket.

Using Shiinotic to find Pokemon,play your Magnemites and evolve them into Magnetonsas soon as you can, thenuse Magneton’s Volt Charge to attach Lightning Energyto them. Use that ability every turn until theyevolve into Magnezonein order to be able to attack early and often.

If you have two Magnetons and both Magnezones in your hand,only evolve one Magneton. Save the other one and just let the second Magneton charge up with Volt Charge until you need it.

Guzma, from Celestial Guardians in Pokemon TCG Pocket.

Shiinotic and Oricoriocan be used as backup attackers, butthey don’t deal much damage and require two Energy. If you’re ahead on Energy, feel free to attach one to each of them, just to have them ready when needed.

If your opponent’s deck relies on attacks from an ex Pokemon,Oricorio can be swapped in to your Active spotto lock them down.Safeguard makes Oricorio immune to attacks from ex Pokemon, but doesn’t prevent damage from Poison, Burn, Rocky Helmet, or Darkrai ex’s Nightmare Aura.

The Pokemon Center Lady card, from Pokemon TCG Pocket.

Pokemon Center Lady can heal 30 HPfrom any of your Pokemon, as well asremove all Special Conditions.Along with Giant Cape, this adds survivability to your Pokemon.Guzma is also important for removing Rocky Helmet and Poison Barbfrom your opponent’s Pokemon, allowing you to attack without being punished for it.

Magnezone Shiinotic Matchups

Giratina ex Darkrai ex

While it isn’t the top deck right now,Giratina ex Darkrai exis a powerhouse deck and a tough match for Magnezone. Giratina ex can set up almost as fast as Magnezone, and can OHKO your ace Pokemon, even with a Giant Cape attached. Darkrai ex, meanwhile, can chip away at Magnezone’s HP and usually score a KO with one Dark Prism.

Magnezone’s advantages are the fact that it’s a single-prize Pokemon, so your opponent needs to KO three of yours,and access to Oricorio. Oricorio can tank Giratina ex’s attacks and chip away so you can score a two-point KO with Magnezone when you’re ready.

Silvally Zeraora

Silvally is one of thebreakout Pokemon from Extradimensional Crisis, and it finds an incredible partner in Zeraora. With Zeraora’s Thunderclap Flash ability and Dawn,Silvally can evolve and attack for 100 damage as early as turn three.

This is a really even match, but Magnezone has a slight advantage despite being slower.Magnezone’s Thunder Blast can OHKO anything in the Silvally deck, while Silvally cannot do the same in return.Save Guzma to deal with Giant Cape, and be patient setting up favorable trades, and you should do fine.

Guzzlord ex Nihilego

Guzzlord demonstrates exactly why you should hold onto your second Magnezone: Grindcore can set you back multiple Energies, sohaving a backup Magnezone stacked with Energy allows you to recoverif your opponent gets a series of lucky coin flips.

Tyrannical Hole can sweep your team, but your opponent needs three KOs to win, whileyou only need to KO Guzzlord and one other Pokemon. If you save your Sabrina and Cyrus to snipe that last Pokemon, you should have no problem taking this deck down.