0.4% of the meta · Updated July 25, 2026
Signature card
Melmetal ex
Special Art Rare
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If this Pokémon has a Pokémon Tool attached, this attack does 50 more damage.
Melmetal ex wins by attaching a Pokemon Tool to reach Metal Arms for 150 damage while Metal Core Barrier blocks damage returned to it, creating a near-unkillable attacker that chips through the opponent's roster point by point. The deck plays a slow, grinding game backed by multiple layers of damage reduction.
Open by searching Meltan with Poké Ball and developing the bench. Mid-game, evolve into Melmetal ex through natural draw from Professor's Research and Copycat, then attach Steel Apron or Metal Core Barrier to complete the defensive package. Metal Core Barrier blocks damage from ex Pokemon. Once Melmetal ex has a Tool attached, Metal Arms deals 150 damage — enough to threaten most targets. Use Sabrina to pull key threats into the active spot, and Training Area to manage energy attachments during long exchanges.
Any active Pokemon with a Pokemon Tool attached to Melmetal ex
base 100 + tool bonus 50 = 150
Metal Arms at maximum damage; requires one Tool card attached to Melmetal ex
Steel Apron provides damage reduction while simultaneously enabling Metal Arms' 50-damage bonus. Attaching it as soon as Melmetal ex is active accomplishes both goals at once. Training Area assists energy attachment to reach the 4-energy Metal Arms threshold sooner. Metal Core Barrier stacks on top for extra damage reduction against ex attackers.
Once Melmetal ex is defended with tools, use Sabrina to pull the opponent's most vulnerable benched Pokemon to active. 150-damage Metal Arms KOs most non-mega targets cleanly. Cyrus disrupts Supporter access to prevent the opponent from healing or pivoting efficiently. Lucky Ice Pop reduces chip damage during energy accumulation turns.
Metal Core Barrier specifically blocks damage from ex Pokemon. Non-ex attackers deal full damage to Melmetal ex regardless of the Barrier. With retreat cost 3, Melmetal ex cannot escape easily, making it an ideal target for sustained non-ex attacker pressure that ignores the primary defensive layer.
Metal Arms requires 4 energy and a Tool card. During the setup turns, Melmetal ex can only use Headbutt for 80 damage. Aggressive decks that apply pressure in turns 2-4 can score a KO for 2 points before Metal Arms becomes available, then maintain the point lead against the slower setup.
Without a Tool attached, Metal Arms deals only 100 damage instead of 150. Field Blower or equivalent tool removal drops Melmetal ex's maximum output below one-shot range for most targets. This also removes the Steel Apron damage reduction layer, leaving Melmetal ex fully exposed to incoming attacks.
Tool and damage reduction options
Threats — Weak Against
Based on type weakness analysis of core cards. View full matchup matrix →
