Donphan ex Deck

Ever since Exeggutor ex, no other Stage 1 Pokémon ex with a turn 3 attack has made a real impact on the metagame. The main problem with these Pokémon is their poor damage output later in the game. Donphan ex steps in and brings a solution to not just be an early game threat, but also a relevant unit later on. It combines two key strengths of the type in a single move: Gigantic Press deals 50 damage for just 1 Energy, but if Donphan ex has two extra Energy attached, the damage jumps to a base 110. Basically, Donphan ex is a pseudo-Garchomp ex as just a stage 1.

Pokémon that are able to hit multiple damage thresholds throughout the game are incredibly valuable. They stay relevant at every stage and ramp up pressure as soon as they're charged. With a sturdy 160 HP, Donphan ex can take hits even from Stage 2 Pokémon and survive dangerous interactions like Nightmare Aura or Water Shuriken + Chaotic Impact.