With this Shivery Chill ability, Chien-Pao ex is one of the strongest cards, and this guide shows the Deck List and how to play it in Pokemon TCG!
Chien-Pao ex Deck Guide for Pokemon TCG
In Pokemon TCG, the Chien-Pao ex Deck is based on the Chien-Pao ex Pokemon card. This deck’s premise is to retrieve, accelerate energy, and provide massive damage quickly. You will be discarding energy with Chien-Pao ex, and retrieving the energy to keep your overall damage high. If you enjoy fast-paced action with emphasis on Pokemon abilities, Chien-Pao ex is for you.
We will go through a Chien-Pao ex deck list, a guide on how to play it, and the crucial cards. Let’s first show you the deck list so you understand the premise behind the Pokemon TCG: Chien-Pao ex Deck Guide.
Chien-Pao ex Deck List
| Pokémon: 14 | Trainers: 37 | Trainers | Energy: 9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Chien-Pao ex PAL 61 | 4 Irida ASR 147 | 2 Canceling Cologne ASR 136 | Basic Water Energy |
| 2 Baxcalibur PAL 60 | 1 IJudge SVI 176 | 2 Super Rod PAL 188 | |
| 2 Bibarel BRS 121 | 4 Battle VIP Pass FST 225 | 1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146 | |
| 2 Bidoof CRZ 111 | 2 Escape Rope BST 125 | 4 PokéStop PGO 68 | |
| 3 Frigibax PAL 58 | 4 Nest Ball SVI 181 | 4 Rare Candy SVI 191 | |
| 1 Manaphy BRS 41 | 4 Superior Energy Retrieval PAL 189 | 1 Switch Cart ASR 154 | |
| 1 Radiant Greninja ASR 46 | 4 Ultra Ball SVI 196 |
Key Cards in Chien-Pao ex
While Chien-Pao ex is the centerpiece of the deck, there will be a synergy with Baxcalibur. You will rely on very few Trainer Supporters and have a lower energy count than other decks. However, your abilities are powerful, and once your bench is formed, it’s hard to slow down Chien-Pao ex. So, here are the most important cards in the new Paradox Rift deck and how to use them.
Below are the most essential key cards in the Chien-Pao ex Deck:
- Chien-Pao ex: used for damage and energy retroviral
- Baxcalibur: accelerates energy
- Irida: searches for Pokemon and item card
- Radiant Greninja: more drawing potential
- Superior Energy Retrieval: retrieve energy from the discard pile
Chien-Pao Ex
Chien-Pao ex Features in Pokemon TCG:
- Pokémon: Basic Ex
- Type: Water
- HP: 220
- Shivery Chill: Once during your turn, if this Pokémon is in the Active Spot, you may search your deck for up to 2 Basic Water Energy cards, reveal them, and put them into your hand. Then, shuffle your deck.
- Hail Blade: 60x damage + You may discard any amount of Water Energy from your Pokémon. This attack does 60 damage for each card you discarded in this way.
- Pokémon ex rule: When your Pokémon ex is Knocked Out, your opponent takes 2 Prize cards.
- Weakness ×2 Metal
- Resistance: None
- Retreat Cost: 2 Colorless Energy
- Set: Paldea Evolved 61/193 Double Rare
Your go-to for energy retrieving is Chien-Pao ex. It allows you to search for 2 energy and constantly load your hand. Get Chien-Pao ex into the active spot to accelerate energy in your hand.
Pair Chien-Pao ex with Baxcalibur to bypass the “one energy per turn” aspect of Pokémon. Together, these two cards allow you to quickly load up your Pokémon and bench with energy. However, be careful of Chien-Pao ex’s low health. With the popularity of the Roaring Moon ex deck, you can lose this card quickly if not playing aggressively.
When using damage cards, you must discard energy. This becomes important later in the game, especially when holding on to and making use of both Super Rod and Superior Energy Retrieval. These two cards, later in games, make the difference to keep firing off damage with Chien-Pao ex. Rarely, if ever, discard them.
Baxcalibur
Baxcalibur Features in Pokemon TCG:
- Pokémon: Stage 2
- Type: Water
- HP: 160
- Super Cold: As often as you like during your turn, you may attach a Basic Water Energy card from your hand to 1 of your Pokémon.
- Buster Tail: 130 damage
- Weakness Metal ×2
- Resistance: None
- Retreat Cost: 2 Colorless Energy
- Set: Paldea Evolved 60/193 Rare
To accelerate energy, bring Baxcalibur into play. This Stage 2 Pokémon is essential to powering up Chien-Pao ex quickly. Use Irida to find Baxcalibur or Stage 1 Frigibax. Then, find the item trainer Rare Candy to bypass the Stage 1 potion of the evolution chain. This combo allows you to quickly find, play, and evolve Baxcalibur, feeding your energy and essentially damage.
Baxcalibur is limited to two cards in the deck, so play defensively with it. Rarely should it be in the active spot due to its weak damage and high retreat cost. Keep it on the bench, and fire off the ability once your hand is loaded with energy due to Chien-Pao ex.
Irida
Irida Features in Pokemon TCG:
- Trainer – Supporter
- Search your deck for a Water Pokémon and an Item card, reveal them, and put them into your hand. Then, shuffle your deck.
- Set: Astral Radiance 147/189 Rare
The most important supporter trainer card in the Chien-Pao ex deck is Irida. It allows you to choose a water Pokémon (any stage) and an item. If you go second on turn one, you can play it during your first turn to grab Battle VIP Pass, which gives you two Pokémon immediately.
As the game progresses, Irida can help you find more Chien-Pao ex for the bench or Superior Energy Retrieval. Additionally, you’ll want to find and evolve Bibarel. Its ability allows you to draw until you have five cards in your hand, keeping your hand full.
Radiant Greninja
Radiant Greninja Features in Pokemon TCG:
- Pokémon: Radiant
- Type: Water
- HP: 130
- Concealed Cards: You must discard an Energy card from your hand in order to use this Ability. Once during your turn, you may draw 2 cards.
- Moonlight Shuriken: Discard 2 Energy from this Pokémon. This attack does 90 damage to 2 of your opponent’s Pokémon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.)
- Weakness Lighting x2
- Resistance: None
- Retreat Cost: 1 Colorless Energy
- Set: Paldea Evolved 60/193 Rare
To draw cards, Radiant Greninja is a staple in Pokémon Standard gameplay. It allows you to discard to draw a card, making it a must-have for weak hands with limited cards. However, don’t overdo it by drawing; you want to keep mostly energy in your hand.
Use Radiant Greninja to draw cards when essential, such as when you are missing Baxcalibur, Rare Candy, or Superior Energy Retrieval. The Moonlight Shuriken ability can be helpful if there are two lower-health Pokémon on the field and you can attach it to your bench. This is still one of the best overall cards for the Pokemon TCG: Chien-Pao ex Deck Guide and Deck List.
Superior Energy Retrieval
Superior Energy Retrieval Features in Pokemon TCG:
- Trainer – Item
- You can use this card only if you discard 2 other cards from your hand.
- Put up to 4 Basic Energy cards from your discard pile into your hand. (You can’t choose a card you discarded with the effect of this card.)
- Set: Paldea Evolved 189/193 Uncommon
In your deck, damage relies on discarding cards, making Superior Energy Retrieval the most crucial item card. After a significant attack, save it and discard two less useful cards. Early in the game, when your board is set up, cards like Nest Ball, Rare Candy, and Battle VIP Pass are excellent choices for discarding.
Additionally, the stadium card PokeStop plays a vital role in locating and utilizing Superior Energy Retrieval. Once you’ve found and evolved essential Pokemon like Baxcalibur or Bibarel, activate the PokeStop stadium ability. With Chien-Pao ex on your bench, loaded with ability cards, search for valuable items and ensure Superior Energy Retrieval is readily available when you have four energy cards in your discard pile.
How to Play Chien-Pao ex
To play the Pokémon TCG Chien-Pao ex deck effectively, quickly locate and evolve your Pokémon. Chien-Pao ex and Baxcalibur allow you to accelerate energy quickly. Once you have enough energy, discard energy from Chien-Pao ex to deal massive damage. Then, retrieve the energy with Superior Energy Retrieval to sustain the damage.
Radiant Greninja and Bibarel serve as your draw power. Most of your Trainers are items because you want to use PokéStop frequently. It’s a good idea to keep one PokéStop in your hand because Path to the Peak stadium can neutralize this deck.
On turn one, aim for Nest Ball, Battle VIP Pass, and/or Ultra Ball. Your goal is to locate and put Chien-Pao ex into play first. Second, locate Frigibax, a Rare Candy, and Baxcalibur. This will allow you to evolve on the second turn and start loading Chien-Pao ex with energy.
Next, focus on setting up your card drawing potential by finding Bidoof or Radiant Greninja. As you start drawing cards, save PokéStop and keep discard fodder like Nest Ball for later in the game. This is useful when you have Superior Energy Retrieval and need to hit hard with Chien-Pao ex. If you have a good start and set up your board, this deck will be very difficult to beat.
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