Which Shining Revelry ex Starter deck to pick?

At the release of Shining Revelry, a new type of ticket came up: a Deck ticket to redeem one of 9 possible decks, all of them featuring one Pokémon ex from Shining Revelry. There's still 5 days left to do it! For those who haven't yet and haven't been keeping up with the metagame, JohannTryger analyses them one by one with suggestions, then classify them based on their usefulness.

Beedrill ex Starter Deck

Core Strategy

Beedrill ex Starter Deck is an Aggro deck. Beedrill ex applies early-game pressure with Crushing Spear, and can also disturb the opponent's plans to attack thanks to the effect discarding an Energy to the opponent's Active Pokémon. Meowscarada aims OHKOs with Red on many ex Pokémon, such as Articuno ex, but setting it up beside another Stage 2 is problematic.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Beedrill ex deck can lay waste to hopes of winning of slower decks if set up quickly, and can also halt decks requiring high energy costs to attack in their tracks. However, playing 2 different stage 2 lines can come with consistency issues. This deck also struggles late-game, and Beedrill ex gets OHKOed by Charizard ex, which also has its own Starter Deck.

Improving the deck

The deck is actually very close from the competitive Meowscarada Beedrill ex deck, and you can take inspiration from the best performing lists to make it relevant in competition:

General recommendations:

• The Lopunny line and Pinsir waste space in the deck and should be replaced with better cards in priority.
• Erika: A near-staple in decks, Erika's healing helps keep Beedrill ex and Meowscarada alive longer, especially in the late-game.
• Sabrina/Cyrus: Both of these are good in their scenarios. Sabrina helps to send Pokémon back to the bench, while Cyrus helps drag damaged Pokémon to the Active Spot for KOs.

More Beedrill ex decklists on our related page:

Charizard ex Starter Deck

Core Strategy

Charizard ex Starter Deck is a ramp deck. The gameplan is to bring Charizard ex to the Active Spot as soon as possible and use Stoke to get the required energies to attack on the following turn with Steam Artillery. Magmortar helps stall in situations where you are unable to find Charizard ex. Cyclizar helps apply early-game pressure.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Charizard ex can run away with the game if you get it quick. Steam Artillery aims OHKOs at many Pokémon, including Dialga ex. However, as a Stage 2, it has consistency issues when trying to get Charizard ex online. It also suffers from lack of a good attacker for Big Basic Pokémon and other bulky Pokémon with quick setup. But with the upcoming release of Rare Candy, it might be destined to a brighter future in the Celestial Guardians format.

Improving the deck

• The Raticate line and Paldean Tauros should be replaced with better cards in priority.
• Iono: Iono can help turn the tide of a game as well as unbrick hands. For a deck like Charizard ex that needs to assemble multiple stage of evolution, Iono can be very important.
• Moltres ex: The long-time companion of Pokémon and the original Charizard ex is a good partner for this Charizard ex as well, powering it up with Inferno Dance. In combination with the Supporter Dawn, Moltres ex can attack with Heat Blast as soon as turn 4.

More Charizard ex (Shining Revelry) decklists on our related page:

Wugtrio ex Starter Deck

Core Strategy

Wugtrio ex Starter Deck is a Splash Damage/Midrange deck. Wugtrio ex is the main attacker. Tentacruel and Floatzel serve as the deck's early-game attackers, with Tentacruel dealing a lot of damage and Floatzel also acting as a sniper.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Wugtrio ex Starter Deck has no problem attacking past walls like Druddigon and against decks relying on a single Pokémon ex in the Active spot such as these 18 Trainers deck. It can also use the armada of support cards released previously, which will be discussed later. It, however, lacks decent control over its damage. It also suffers due to its low HP.

Improving the deck

• The Raticate line, Dondozo and Tatsugiri should be replaced with better cards in priority.
• Misty: Arguably the most hated card in the game right now, Misty can help accelerate energies to the point where your opponent has no chance of winning if you're lucky on coinflip, especially immediately after Wugtrio ex evolves on your second turn of the game.
• Irida: Another powerful Supporter, Irida helps offset the fragility of Wugtrio ex by healing 40 damage. It can also heal other Pokémon, which can help save you from a losing position.

More Wugtrio ex decklists on our related page:

Pikachu ex Starter Deck

Core Strategy

Pikachu ex Starter Deck is a Sweep deck. Pikachu ex can OHKO many meta-relevant Pokémon with the help of Red thanks to its Thunder attack. Pachirisu helps accelerate energy onto other Pokémon. Electrode and Pawmot are both good but it is suggested to keep only one of those 2 lines.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Pikachu ex Starter Deck has decent matchups against many decks. It can sweep off many Pokémon with Red, but its requirement to discard energy hurts its potential. It can stall well, but lacks endgame attackers in case Pikachu ex cannot be played. It also suffers in the Meowscarada STS Magnezone matchup.

Improving the deck

• The Lickilicky line should be replaced with better cards in priority.
• Volkner+Luxray: Luxray is an excellent attacker in such a deck, without any need to give it energy as Volkner can provide it energy discarded by Pikachu ex. Luxray also is easy to pivot as it has no retreat cost.
• Shaymin (Triumphant Light): Shaymin can create combos where you can attack again with Pikachu ex with only 1 turn in between using Dawn. It can also help preserve energy on Pachirisu.
• Pachirisu ex: Pachirisu ex can also serve as an attacker, with Sparkling Gadget dealing respectable damage when a Tool is attached to it, allowing a different strategy involving manual energy attachment to Pikachu ex as well.

More Pikachu ex (Shining Revelry) decklists on our related page:

Giratina ex Starter Deck

Core Strategy

Giratina ex Starter Deck is a Ramp deck. Giratina ex can ramp itself using Broken-Space Bellow, and deal damage later using Chaotic Impact. Alakazam can 2HKO many Pokémon and can also snipe if the opponent is loading up energy to their Benched Pokémon.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Giratina ex Starter Deck has no problem going first. It uses a Stage 2 requiring 2 energy to attack (Alakazam), so going first means getting to attack first on a non-Stage 2 Pokémon, crucial in many matchups like Beedrill ex, Charizard ex and Meowscarada. Giratina ex is better going first than second for similar reasons. However, this deck isn't the most consistent due to Alakazam being a Stage 2. It also suffers in the Darkrai ex matchup, but that is not too significant due to Alakazam being able to provide payback.

Improving the deck

• The Lickilicky line, the Drifblim line and Mr. Mime should be replaced with better cards in priority.
• Mewtwo ex: Mewtwo ex was earlier removed from the metagame by the existence of Darkrai ex in the meta. However, now, Mewtwo ex can attack on your third attacking turn while needing less pieces to pull it off. It is a main piece of the "17 trainers" deck that you can find right here:

• Darkrai ex: This Energy-only deck is the uncontested top tier of the Shining Revelry format. Packing 2 Giratina ex, 2 Darkrai ex and a bunch of Trainers, it patiently charges up on the first three turns until it unleashes an unescapable stream of 150 damage and more each and every turn:

Lucario ex Starter Deck

Core Strategy

Lucario ex Starter Deck is a Midrange Deck. It uses Lucario ex as its main attacker, with math helping a lot. Machamp serves as a secondary attacker, and can be useful late-game against bulkier opponents.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Lucario ex has decent matchups all around, and its split damage output is valuable: just ask Druddigon and Magikarp! It, however, has consistency issues outside the Lucario ex line. Machamp struggles as an early-game attacker and the deck can lose quickly to an Aggro deck.

Improving the deck

• The Lopunny line, Hitmonlee, Hitmonchan and Flamigo should be replaced with better cards in priority.
• Lucario (Space-Time Smackdown) line: Running 3 Lucario, with 2 STS Lucario and a Lucario ex is a solid choice, as Lucario is essentially a free Red on any Pokémon. Riolu is also better in its STS iteration.
• Cyrus: Cyrus and Lucario ex are a dream team, as Cyrus can pull up the Pokémon from the Bench who's been dealt 30 damage on the previous turn and attack with Lucario ex for the full 100 damage after pulling it up with the Supporter.

Paldean Clodsire ex Starter Deck

Core Strategy

Paldean Clodsire ex Starter Deck is a Gimmick deck. It uses Paldean Clodsire ex as the main attacker after poisoning the opponent's Active Pokémon in advance. Grafaiai is used to poison the opponent thanks to its Poison Coating ability, although it is not very reliable. Spiritomb can help stall, but falls off late-game.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Paldean Clodsire ex Starter Deck doesn't have an exact weakness and it can easily OHKO glass cannons or tanks like Pikachu ex, Druddigon, etc. when they are poisoned. It has consistency issues and has no good attacker if Paldean Clodsire ex doesn't show up.

Improving the deck

The deck is very close to the fringe competitive Paldean Clodsire ex with Grafaiai archetype so you can take inspiration from successful tournament lists:

• The Lickilicky line and the Arbok line should be replaced with better cards in priority.
• Genetic Apex Weezing line+Koga: If you truly have some space left, go for the original poison and stall engine. The combo can help you poison your opponent beforehand as well as serve as a staller.
• Genetic Apex Arbok: GA Arbok can mess up your opponent's plans with Corner, and is useful to prevent retreats when fighting decks like Meowscarada Magnezone etc.

Tinkaton ex Starter Deck

Core Strategy

Tinkaton ex Starter Deck is a Midrange Deck. Tinkaton ex deals damage, while Revaroom serves as a secondary attacker. Tinkaton ex is a Stage 2 with a lot of HP and deals average damage equivalent to Machamp ex. Revaroom can stall the opponent while dealing damage with Spinning Drift.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Tinkaton ex has decent matchups against many decks and doesn't have any terrible matchup. It, however, does not have a great matchup against any deck either.

Improving the deck

• The Buneary line and the Gholdengo line should be replaced with better cards in priority.
• Skarmory: Skarmory can serve as an early-game attacker, with good damage-dealing capabilities, all the while you're preparing the Tinkat.
• Dialga ex: Dialga ex can be used as a ramper for Tinkaton ex, with Metallic Turbo helping you get energy on Tinkaton ex. Dialga ex can also serve as a tank and an attacker on its own.

More Tinkaton ex decklists on our related page:

Bibarel ex Starter Deck

Core Strategy

Bibarel ex Starter Deck is an Aggro/Stall deck. It uses Bibarel ex as the main attacker, which can go for a long time thanks to the healing effect of its Carefree Press attack. Cyclizar and the Drifblim line serve as early-game attackers. Wigglytuff helps further the healing aspect.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Bibarel ex Starter Deck does not have any particular strengths except for its healing prowess. It lacks energy efficiency, has too much clutter, and cannot stand up to the meta.

Improving the deck

• The Lopunny line should be replaced with better cards in priority.
• Manaphy+Irida: Manaphy can accelerate energy to a benched Bidoof/Bibarel ex, while Irida helps further heal Bibarel ex.
• Dialga ex: Dialga ex is another energy accelerator requiring higher investment but gives Energy as well to Bibarel ex.

Shining Revelry ex Starter decks Tier list

While at this point of the format, less than two days before the release of Celestial Guardians, it's likely that you'll pick up the deck based on the Pokémon ex you're missing the most, here's my personal tier list of which ex starter deck to pick: