0.3% of the meta · Updated July 25, 2026
Signature card
Dragonite ex
Special Art Rare
#5 — JinNJuicee
Lagoon Serenity Format (FA Choice Prize) · 7W-1L
#5 — JPhenomenal
Lagoon Serenity Format (FA Choice Prize) · 7W-2L
#11 — Akeisback
Lagoon Serenity Format (Any FA or RR Paradox) · 6W-2L
During your next turn, this Pokémon can't attack.
Dragonite ex is a dragon-type Stage 2 ex that fires Giga Impact for 180 damage at the cost of skipping its next attack turn. The win condition is scoring a 180-damage one-shot on a key threat, then pivoting to the non-ex Dragonite to attack on the follow-up turn while Dragonite ex recharges.
Open by placing Dratini with Poké Ball and using Professor's Research, Copycat, and Lyra to draw into Dragonair and then Dragonite ex. Rare Candy and the full 2-2 Dragonair line support consistent evolution. Cleffa provides an early chip or stall option while the line develops. Once Dragonite ex is ready, Giga Impact scores a 180-damage KO on the opponent's primary attacker, granting 2 points for an ex KO or 1 for a standard KO. The built-in skip-turn restriction is managed by switching Dragonite ex out for non-ex Dragonite, which attacks independently on the off-turn before swapping Dragonite ex back in. Giant Cape boosts Dragonite ex's 180 HP to 210, reducing one-shot vulnerability.
Any Active Pokemon
Giga Impact 180 damage — one-shots all non-Mega targets at or below 180 HP
Dragonite ex cannot attack on the following turn; non-ex Dragonite must cover the skip turn
Poké Ball finds Dratini on turn 1. Professor's Research, Copycat, and Lyra dig for Dragonair and Dragonite ex across the next two turns. Rare Candy is present in 61% of lists as an option to skip Dragonair when needed. May and Cleffa can serve as early board presence that buys time while the Dragonite line completes.
After Dragonite ex fires Giga Impact, it cannot attack next turn. Switch Dragonite ex to the bench and bring up non-ex Dragonite to attack in its place. Non-ex Dragonite scores a 1-point KO if it lands a hit, and Dragonite ex is safe on the bench re-attaching energy. Giant Cape on Dragonite ex keeps it safe during the rotation.
After Dragonite ex fires Giga Impact, it must either stay active and be unable to attack or retreat to the bench. If it stays active, any attacker dealing 180+ damage scores a 2-point KO unopposed. If it retreats, bench damage effects can wear it down before it recharges. Timing your large attack to hit Dragonite ex on the skip turn wins the exchange.
Dragonite ex relies on Dratini evolving through Dragonair to Dragonite ex. Forcing Dratini or Dragonair active with Sabrina or Cyrus-style disruption and KO-ing the early-stage Pokemon before evolution collapses the entire line. With only 1-of Dragonite ex in most lists, there is no backup attacker at full power.
Giga Impact hits 180 damage — enough to one-shot most non-Mega targets. However, ex Pokemon with 190+ HP survive the hit and can swing back for 2 points if they KO Dragonite ex. Decks that can field a high-HP ex attacker and absorb one Giga Impact before retaliating put Dragonite ex in an unfavorable trade.
Skip-turn coverage attacker
Early board presence and bench support
