0.6% of the meta · Updated July 25, 2026
Signature card
Gholdengo ex
Special Art Rare
#3 — Yumi | 𝗕𝗢𝗔𝗧
Lagoon Crew Invitational S7 (30 USD & FA cards) · 6W-2L
#2 — Hanalana
Lagoon Serenity Format (5 USD) · 7W-3L
#3 — Neitrox
Lagoon Serenity Format (FA Choice Prize) · 7W-3L
Gholdengo ex spreads damage across the field with Spending Rush, randomly distributing 40 damage per Metal Energy attached. The deck aims to net two-point swings by knocking out the opponent's ex attackers while Metal Core Barrier slows their offense.
Open by benching Gimmighoul and using Poké Ball to secure your Basic, then rely on Professor's Research and Copycat to find Gholdengo ex through natural draw. Once evolved, attach Metal Energy each turn and fire Spending Rush to chip damage across multiple targets. Mid-game, Metal Core Barrier soaks hits while you stack energy for bigger Spending Rush outputs. Finish by targeting wounded ex Pokemon to score two points per knockout and close out the match.
Spending Rush with 2 Metal Energy
40 x 2 hits (random) = up to 80 damage spread
Distribution is random; all 2 hits could land on the Active or be split to the Bench
Spending Rush with 3 Metal Energy
40 x 3 hits (random) = up to 120 damage spread
Three-energy output can KO a pre-damaged ex in one shot if hits concentrate
Each Metal Energy on Gholdengo ex adds one random 40-damage hit to Spending Rush. Prioritize attaching every turn and use Hiking Trail to bring damaged Bench Pokemon into the Active Spot to finish them. Spreading early pressure forces opponents to heal or concede damage counter buildup across their whole board.
Metal Core Barrier and Protective Poncho keep Gholdengo ex alive long enough to fire multiple Spending Rush turns. Lucky Ice Pop removes damage in an emergency. Orthworm can serve as a stall pivot in the early game while you build up energy, delaying the opponent from scoring points off your main attacker.
Dialga ex appears in roughly 20% of lists as a secondary attacker that shares the Metal Energy type. It provides a high-HP alternative if Gholdengo ex is at risk, giving you a second win condition and preventing the opponent from scoring 2 points off an early ex knockout.
Gholdengo ex is a Stage 1 that needs energy to deal damage. Decks like Koraidon ex can attack into it before Metal Core Barrier tools are in place. Targeting the Active Gimmighoul or early Gholdengo ex for a 2-point score before its defenses arrive cuts the deck's tempo sharply.
Spending Rush hits are random, so play wide benches to dilute the spread. With more targets, each hit is less likely to land on your key attacker. Keep HP above 40 on important Pokemon through healing trainers, reducing the chance that concentrated hits result in an unexpected knockout on a high-value target.
Metal Core Barrier is the primary reason Gholdengo ex survives long enough to fire multiple Spending Rush turns. Stripping it with Steel Apron denial or forcing the Gholdengo player to discard it through disruption removes that damage reduction and makes Gholdengo ex vulnerable to being knocked out sooner.
Secondary attacker
Damage reduction tool
Threats — Weak Against
Based on type weakness analysis of core cards. View full matchup matrix →
