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While both NAIC 2025 finalists used similar decks, Isaiah Bradner’s Gardevoir ex deck came out on top to win the Master’s Division
Gardevoir ex was a common archetype at NAIC 2025. This reached at a head at the Pokemon TCG Masters Finals, where both finalists — Isaiah Bradner and Riley McKay — faced off against one another in a mirror Gardevoir ex match. After a long duel between the two, it was Isaiah Bradner who came out on top thanks to the help of his Munkidori.
In this article, we will highlight the key strategies involved in Isaiah winning his first-ever International Pokemon TCG tournament.
Isaiah Bradner’s Gardevoir Ex Deck Used Four Munkidori
While Riley McKay had added the new Shaymin card from the Destined Rivals expansion, Isaiah decided to go with a meta staple — Munkidori. While Munkidori was present in Riley’s deck as well, he went with three of them, which was a common standard for all Gardevoir ex decks. However, Isaiah was clearly of the opinion that you couldn’t have too much of a good thing, and went with the maximum of four Munkidori and four Basic Darkness Energy as well.
Munkidori, though a Psychic-type card, finds itself in most decks thanks to its ability Adrena-Brain. If Munkidori has a Basic Darkness Energy attached to it, this ability lets it move up to three damage counters from your Pokemon to any of the opponent’s. While this ability sees Munkidori on a lot of decks, it enjoys a high level of synergy with Gardevoir ex. Combined with Gardevoir ex’s tendency to inflict damage on its side of the field with its ability Psychic Embrace, Munkidori doesn’t have to wait for the opponent to inflict damage to use its ability.
By maxing out the number of Munkidori he could keep in a deck, Isaiah ensured that there would be a greater chance of adding a Munkidori to his Bench at all times. Additionally, he could use Nest Balls and Ultra Balls to fish for the card as well. But he also made an adjustment so that his Munkidori would also have easy access to Basic Darkness Energy as well. By using the Technical Machine: Turbo Energize, he could add two Basic Darkness Energy to two Munkidori on his Bench for his next turn.
This minor tweak he made for a fourth Munkidori ended up being the difference maker in the end for Isaiah.
All Cards in Isaiah Bradner’s Gardevoir Ex Deck
- Ralts x3
- Kirlia x2
- Gardevoir ex x2
- Munkidori x4
- Scream Tail x1
- Lillie’s Clefairy ex x1
- Mew ex x1
- Fezandipiti ex x1
- Professor’s Research x4
- Iono x2
- Arven x2
- Boss’s Orders x1
- Ultra Ball x4
- Earthen Vessel x3
- Nest Ball x2
- Rare Candy x2
- Night Stretcher x2
- Super Rod x1
- Counter Catcher x1
- Energy Switch x1
- Secret Box x1
- Technical Machine: Evolution x2
- Technical Machine: Turbo Energize x1
- Bravery Charm x1
- Artazon x2
- Basic Psychic Energy x7
- Basic Darkness Energy x4
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