Dragonite ex Deck
0.6% of the meta · Updated September 8, 2026
Signature card
Dragonite ex
Special Art Rare
Strengths
- 180 base damage from Giga Impact one-shots nearly every non-Mega attacker in the current meta without any buff required.
- Non-ex Dragonite covers the skip turn, maintaining offensive pressure without surrendering a 2-point KO on your own attacker.
- Giant Cape on Dragonite ex raises effective HP to 210, matching or exceeding many Mega ex HP values.
Weaknesses
- Dragonite ex is an ex; losing it grants the opponent 2 points, nearly closing the 3-point game in their favor.ex KO
- Giga Impact's skip-turn forces a mid-rotation each cycle; if Dragonite is KO'd on the skip turn, you lose an entire attacking turn.Tempo
- Dragon-type has no resistance coverage and takes neutral damage from most types; ice and fairy matchups can threaten meaningful weakness damage.Matchup
- A three-stage evolution line with a 1-of Dragonite ex means any disruption to Dragonair or Dratini can collapse the whole setup.Consistency
Top Tournament Deck Lists
#5 — JinNJuicee
Lagoon Serenity Format (FA Choice Prize) · 7W-1L
#1 — Esteban0708
Lagoon Serenity Format (OAK FA Prize) · 8W-2L
#5 — JPhenomenal
Lagoon Serenity Format (FA Choice Prize) · 7W-2L
Est. 361 packs to collect all core cardsdetails
Core Cards
Key Moves & Abilities
Strategy Guide
Auto-generatedDragonite 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.
Damage Math
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
How to Play
Build the Full Evolution Line Quickly
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.
Rotate Dragonite to Cover the Giga Impact Skip Turn
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.
How to Beat This Deck
KO Dragonite ex on Its Vulnerable Skip Turn
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.
Disrupt the Three-Stage Evolution Line
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.
Out-Survive Giga Impact with High-HP ex Attackers
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.
Common Substitutions
Skip-turn coverage attacker
- Dragonite:Core in 94.74% of lists; attacks freely on the turn Dragonite ex cannot, maintaining pressure.
Early board presence and bench support
- Cleffa:Cheap early attacker or staller while the evolution line builds.
- Celebi:Provides bench utility and flexible early support to protect the evolution chain.
- Mantyke:54% meta inclusion; offers a flexible cheap bench body for specific matchups.