Today we will take an in-depth look at the Iron Thorns ex Deck List Guide for the Pokémon Trading Card Game TCG. Iron Thorns ex is a new card launched with the Twilight Masquerade (TWM) content for the Pokémon TCG.

The Iron Thorns ex Deck unleashes chaos on the field by disrupting the abilities of the opponent’s Pokémon. Any Pokémon in play with a rule box has no abilities both in the active spot and on the bench. This massively destroys most meta decks.

Visit our Pokémon Decks overview page for more deck lists or check out: Dragapult ex Deck List – Greninja ex Deck List – Blissey ex Deck List – Teal Mask Ogerpon ex Deck ListIncineroar ex Deck List.


TLDR Summary of the Iron Thorns ex Deck

TLDR: This deck is hyper-focused on Iron Thorns ex. It is the only Pokémon that we have in this deck. That way we guarantee that the opponent won’t get any chance to use Boss’s Order, Prime Catcher, Counter Catcher etc. on one of our Pokémon and take it out. Because Iron Thorns ex ability Initialization only works when it is in the active spot.

As long as Iron Thorns ex is in the active spot, Pokémon with a rule box in play have no Abilities, except for Future Pokémon. Almost the same effect that Path of the Peak provided, except that Future Pokémon are excluded. With this setup, we can almost auto-win against some popular decks like Charizard, Chien-Pao, Lugia, Gholdengo, Arcues, Gardevoir, and so on. Of course, they could add Canceling Cologne to their decks to counter our effect. But that only lasts one turn and most players put one or two max into their deck.

Iono, Judge, Eri and Crushing Hammer are all here to annoy our opponent.

Iron Thorns ex Deck List Build for Pokemon card game TCG


Iron Thorns ex Deck Card List for Pokémon TCG

Here, you can find the full card list for the Iron Thorns ex Deck for the Pokémon TCG. Like with any Pokémon deck, the total number of cards is 60.

Pokémon Cards

All Pokémon cards included in the Iron Thorns ex Deck TCG are listed below.

Total Pokémon: 4

Amount Name Card ID
4 Iron Thorns ex TWM 077

Trainer Cards

All Pokémon Trainer cards included in the Iron Thorns ex Deck TCG are listed below.

Total Trainer: 46

Amount Name Card ID
4 Arven SVI 166
4 Boss’s Orders PAL 172
4 Judge SVI 176
3 Iono PAL 185
3 Eri TEF 146
2 Penny SVI 183
4 Pokegear 3.0 SVI 186
4 Crushing Hammer SVI 168
2 Techno Radar PAR 180
2 Canceling Cologne ASR 136
2 Lost Vacuum LOR 162
1 Earthen Vessel PAR 163
1 Energy Loto ASR 140
1 Prime Catcher TEF 157
3 Future Booster Energy Capsule TEF 149
1 Technical Machine: Devolution PAR 177
2 Technical Machine: Turbo Energize PAF 179
1 Handheld Fan TWM 150
1 Collapsed Stadium BRS 137

Energy Cards

All Energy cards included in the Iron Thorns ex Deck TCG are listed below.

Total Energies: 10

Amount Name Card ID
8 Lightning Energy SVI 004
2 Double Turbo Energy BRS 151

Iron Thorns ex Deck Card Gallery

Below you can find all cards that are part of the Iron Thorns ex deck list for the Pokémon card game.


How to play the Iron Thorns ex Deck TCG

I will explain most of the important cards of our Iron Thorns ex Deck here in great detail. Please always remember that you can adjust the deck and test out other cards that might fight the Iron Thorns ex Deck Build well for the Pokémon card game TCG.

Iron Thorns ex

Because we only have Iron Thorns ex as our only Pokémon, it will always be in your starting hand. As long as it is in the active spot, Pokémon with a role box in play have no abilities, except for Future Pokémon. That means pretty much all ex, V and Radiant Pokémon won’t be able to make use of their abilities. This shuts down most of the decks. Against some decks this card is an auto-win because they can’t use their ability setup their play.

The only downside to Iron Thorns ex that it hits like a wet noodle, only dealing 140 damage. We can attach a Future Booster Energy Capsule to it to increase our attack power to 160. This will also make our retreat cost free in case we want to swap in another Iron Thorns ex.

If you drop low on health you also have the option to use Penny SVI 183 to put it back into your hand. That way the opponent won’t be able to take a prize card.

To speed up our energy attach rate, we can use the Technical Machine: Turbo Energize. This allows us to search our deck for two basic energy cards and attach them to our benched Pokémon in any way we like.

We do use Boss’s Order to take out the opponent’s low health Pokémon. Keep in mind that you need to keep the opponent in check. For example, our ability shuts down Charizard’s Infernal Reign ability, but they can still manually attach Fire Energy. Therefore, you still need to be aware of what the opponent does and remember that you only do little damage in comparison.

Arven

Arven is an important Supporter Trainer card. It allows us to get important item and Pokémon tool cards. Getting the Technical Machine: Turbo Energize early is important to get our energies ready as soon as possible.

Iono, Judge, Eri, Crushing Hammer and Handheld Fan

Iono and Judge have similar functions. They both interfere with the opponent’s hand. Eri is most often used to discard Rare Candy from the opponent. Crushing Hammer makes it harder for the opponent to setup his attack because we can discard one of his energies if we flip the coin and hit head.

Handheld Fan can be attached to one of our Pokémon. When the opponent’s Pokémon attacks, you can move an energy from the attacking Pokémon to a benched Pokémon. This in combination with Crushing Hammer can be devastating for the opponent.

Penny

Penny is an important Supporter card. It is used when one of your Iron Thorns ex drops to low health. Instead of letting the opponent take two prize cards you can place him back into your hand with all of the attached cards.

Technical Machine: Turbo Energize, Earthen Vessel and Energy Loto

The Technical Machine: Turbo Energize PAR 179 should always be obtained early to start attaching Lightning Energy early. Afterward, you have Earthen Vessel and Energy Loto to get more energies out of the deck fast.

Future Booster Energy Capsule

The Future Booster Energy Capsule boosts our damage to 160 and drops our retreat cost to zero.

Canceling Cologne

Canceling Cologne is only used when the opponent has a Pokémon that annoys us with an ability or if we want to take out a Pokémon that is protected by its ability. Remember, Pokémon without rule boxes keep their abilities.


Iron Thorns ex Deck Variations

Here are a few cards that you could add to the Iron Thorns ex Deck for the Pokémon TCG.

Iron Bundle is always a nice pick that has low risk of getting you exposed. It allows you to mess with the opponent’s bench using its Hyper Blower ability. It will then also go directly into the discard, the opponent won’t have a chance to defeat it.

Survival Cast could be used instead of the Prime Catcher. This prevents a one-shot, dropping the health of your Pokémon to 10. You can then use Penny to remove it. The opponent doesn’t get any prize cards with this move!

Adding a Cornerstone Mask Ogerpon ex and or a Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex also makes the deck more versatile. The Cornerstone Mask Ogerpon ex has the Cornerstone Stance ability, which prevents all damage from attacks done to this Pokémon by opponent’s Pokémon that have an ability. Additionally, the Demolish attack ignores any effects that may prevent it from attack the opponent.

Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex is used in the late endgame to attack with 240 damage with just one energy. However, keep in mind that no other Iron Thorns ex can be on the bench, otherwise its ability won’t work. You need to be sure you get the winning blow with its attack.


Iron Thorns ex Deck Import Code

Here is the deck import code for the Iron Thorns ex Deck List for the Pokémon TCG online client.

Pokémon: 1
4 Iron Thorns ex TWM 77

Trainer: 19
4 Arven OBF 186
4 Boss’s Orders SVALT 24
4 Judge SVI 176 PH
3 Iono PAF 80
3 Eri TEF 146
2 Penny SVI 183
4 Pokégear 3.0 SVI 186
4 Crushing Hammer SVI 168
2 Techno Radar PAR 180
2 Canceling Cologne ASR 136
2 Lost Vacuum LOR 162
1 Earthen Vessel PAR 163
1 Energy Loto ASR 140
1 Prime Catcher TEF 157
1 Technical Machine: Devolution PAR 177
2 Technical Machine: Turbo Energize PAR 179
3 Future Booster Energy Capsule TEF 149
1 Handheld Fan TWM 150
2 Collapsed Stadium BRS 137

Energy: 2
8 Basic {L} Energy SVE 4
2 Double Turbo Energy BRS 151

Total Cards: 60


We hope you enjoyed the Iron Thorns ex Deck List Guide for the Pokémon TCG.

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