Cynthia's Garchomp
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Two Cynthia's Gabite search out Cynthia's Garchomp ex and Cynthia's Roserade. Corkscrew Dive hits and refills your hand; Draconic Buster takes big ex. Every Roserade in play adds 30, so count them before each attack.
Your turn-3 goal
- Two Cynthia's Gabite using Champion's Call every turn.
- Cynthia's Garchomp ex Active with Fighting Energy and Cynthia's Power Weight (400 HP).
- 1–2 Cynthia's Roserade in play: each adds 30 to the Active.
- Cynthia's Spiritomb on the Bench as a 1-Prize backup attacker.
Your attackers
100; draw until you have 6 cards
Default attack: 130 with one Roserade, 160 with two, and your hand is full again.
260; discard all its Energy
Big ex only: 290 with one Roserade, 320 with two. Neo Upper Energy pays it in one attachment.
10 per counter on Benched Cynthia's Pokémon
When your Bench is damaged. Retreat a hurt Garchomp ex for free (Retreat 0) to fuel it.
Search for any Cynthia's Pokémon
Every turn, once per Gabite: two Gabite find Garchomp ex and Roserade together.
Cynthia's attacks +30 to the Active
Always in play. Losing one drops every number by 30.
Key decisions
- Corkscrew Dive whenever it KOs. Draconic Buster throws away both Energy and skips the hand refill; save it for targets above 160 HP.
- Add up the boosts. Draconic Buster is 260, +30 per Roserade and +30 per Premium Power Pro: 320 needs two boosts, 350 needs three.
- Premium Power Pro boosts Fighting Pokémon only. Cynthia's Spiritomb is Darkness, so only Roserade adds to Raging Curse.
- Power Weight on the Garchomp ex taking hits. 400 HP survives most single attacks; vs spread, put it on Roserade (200 HP) instead.
- Turn 1: Buddy-Buddy Poffin for Gible and Roselia. Every Basic you play has 70 HP or less; Lillie's Determination draws 8 with 6 Prizes left.
Common mistakes
- Using Draconic Buster when Corkscrew Dive already takes the KO.
- Attaching Neo Upper Energy to a Gabite or a Basic: off a Stage 2 it only provides Colorless.
- Benching extra 70 HP Basics against spread or Bench snipers: lose your Roserade and every number drops.
- Leaving Garchomp ex without Power Weight against Grass attackers: its Grass Weakness doubles everything.
Versions
4-4-3 Garchomp ex, 4-3 Roserade, 1 Spiritomb, 3 Power Weight, 2 Premium Power Pro, 4 Rocky Fighting Energy. Steady damage, solid vs Dragapult.
Adds 1–2 Rare Candy to land Garchomp ex a turn earlier. Helps against fast decks that pick off the Gible line.
Shaymin stops attack damage to your non-ex Bench; Battle Cage stops placed counters (Dragapult). Battle Cage also starves your Spiritomb.
Matchups
Cynthia's Garchomp vs Dragapult
Garchomp ex takes two Phantom Dives to KO, while Draconic Buster with two boosts KOs Dragapult ex in one. The game turns on keeping your Roserade and Basics alive through Risky Ruins and the Bench counters.
Their plan
- Phantom Dive: 200 to the Active plus 6 counters on your Bench. Garchomp ex (330, or 400 with Power Weight) survives the first one; the second KOs it.
- Risky Ruins: Gible and Roselia take 20 when Benched and drop to 50, so 5 Phantom Dive counters KO them. Spiritomb is [D] and takes none.
- Munkidori: Adrena-Brain moves 3 counters a turn to finish off a damaged Roserade or Gabite.
- Budew and 4 Crushing Hammer: Items locked for a turn, and Draconic Buster's [F][F] gets stripped on heads.
Your prize plan
- Bench your Basics before Risky Ruins. Turn 1 Buddy-Buddy Poffin for 2 Gible and a Roselia; Gabite's Champion's Call then finds Garchomp ex and Roserade even under Item lock.
- Cut the engine. Boss's Orders plus Corkscrew Dive (100) KOs Drakloak (90) or Dreepy (70) and refills your hand to 6.
- KO Dragapult ex in one hit. Draconic Buster + 2 Roserade, or + 1 Roserade and 1 Premium Power Pro, does exactly 320.
- Spiritomb turns their spread into damage. Raging Curse does 10 per counter on your Benched Cynthia's Pokémon, +30 per Roserade, for 1 Prize.
Against an Active Dragapult ex (320 HP)
Don't
- Benching extra Gible or Roselia under Risky Ruins when you don't need them this turn: each is a Prize for 5 counters.
- Using Draconic Buster when Corkscrew Dive already KOs: you discard both Energy and give up the draw to 6 cards.
- Leaving Roserade without Power Weight against two Phantom Dives: at 200 HP it survives the spread and keeps your +30.
Key turn
- Their first Dragapult ex attack: your Garchomp survives it, so answer with Draconic Buster + 2 Roserade for the KO. That puts you ahead in the 2-for-2 trade.
- Your turn 2: two Gabite using Champion's Call set up Garchomp ex and Roserade before Budew and Hammer slow you.
If they play…
Turns off Cynthia's Power Weight: Garchomp ex is back to 330 and Roserade to 130.
270 HP, weak to [F]: Corkscrew Dive + 2 Roserade does 320, KO.
Fighting Wings does only 110 to Garchomp ex. Corkscrew Dive + 1 Roserade (130) KOs it (120 HP).
Cynthia's Garchomp vs Slowking
Copied Trifrost wipes your Gible, Roselia and Gabite before the first Garchomp lands. Get Shaymin down early, then cash in Garchomp's big hits on their Kangaskhan and Benched ex.
Their plan
- Trifrost (copied): 110 to 3 Pokémon. Gible, Roselia, Cynthia's Spiritomb (70) and Gabite (100) die; only Roserade (130) survives.
- Turn 2 timing: without Rare Candy your first Garchomp arrives on turn 3, after Trifrost has hit your Bench.
- Slowking is a 1-Prize attacker. Metallic Hammer (150) and Rapid-Fire Combo (200+) need two hits on Garchomp, but each trade costs you 2 Prizes.
- Thunder Raid (Zeraora): 210 to a Benched ex. A healthy Garchomp ex (330) survives it.
Your prize plan
- Shaymin before their turn 2. Poké Pad finds it; Flower Curtain blocks Trifrost damage to your Benched Gible, Roselia, Gabite and Spiritomb.
- Rare Candy if you have it for a turn-2 Garchomp. Bench only 3-4 Basics so one Trifrost can't take your whole board.
- KO the Active Mega Kangaskhan ex. Corkscrew Dive + 2 Roserade is 160 ×2 = 320 against 300 HP: 3 Prizes and their draw engine.
- Boss's Orders their ex for the rest. Meowth ex falls to Corkscrew Dive (200); Latias ex to Draconic Buster + 1 Roserade (260).
Your hits on their key Pokémon (Active, after Weakness and Resistance)
Don't
- Benching three 70 HP Basics before Shaymin. One Trifrost erases them and your Garchomp line with them.
- Draconic Buster on a Slowking. You discard all Energy for 1 Prize; Corkscrew Dive + 2 Roserade does the job.
- Plain Corkscrew Dive on Slowpoke. Resistance makes it 70 against 80 HP: add a Roserade.
Key turn
- Their turn-2 Trifrost. With Shaymin in play it only hits your Active; without it you lose 3 Pokémon and probably the game.
- The turn Kangaskhan sits Active for Run Errand: that 3-Prize KO is your path to win the race.
If they play…
Hazardous Tail copies Paralysis and Poison. Rocky Fighting Energy on Garchomp prevents both.
Ghostly Blow adds 5 damage counters on your Bench. Shaymin doesn't stop them, but they fuel Spiritomb's Raging Curse.
Copied attacks do 30 more to your Active ex: Metallic Hammer becomes 180. Power Weight (400) still takes three hits.
Cynthia's Garchomp vs Basic Box
A Prize race between ex. Draconic Buster KOs every 2-Prize attacker they have and Kangaskhan is weak to you; their Grass attackers hit Garchomp for double. Power Weight decides who swings first.
Their plan
- Iron Leaves ex: Prism Edge 180 × 2 = 360. It KOs a plain Garchomp ex (330) but not one with Power Weight (400).
- Teal Mask Ogerpon ex: 30 + 30 per Energy on both Actives, doubled. Ogerpon with 3 Energy against your Garchomp with 2 is 360.
- Mega Kangaskhan ex: Rapid-Fire Combo 200 + 50 per heads. It needs 3 heads to KO a 330 Garchomp.
- Bench snipes: Cruel Arrow (100) and Torrential Pump (120 to the Bench) KO Gible, Roselia, Cynthia's Spiritomb and Gabite.
Your prize plan
- Mega Kangaskhan ex first (300, 3 Prizes, weak to Fighting): Corkscrew Dive + 2 Roserade = 160 × 2 = 320. You keep your Energy and refill to 6 cards.
- Meowth ex (170) falls to Corkscrew Dive alone (200); Fezandipiti ex (210) to Corkscrew Dive + 1 Roserade (260). Boss's Orders them for cheap Prizes.
- Draconic Buster (260) KOs the rest: Teal Mask Ogerpon ex (210), Iron Leaves ex (220), Raging Bolt ex (240), Latias ex (230 after Resistance).
- Power Weight on the Active Garchomp: at 400 HP, Prism Edge and a 3-heads Rapid-Fire Combo don't KO it.
Against an Active Mega Kangaskhan ex (300 HP, weak to Fighting)
Don't
- Draconic Buster on a target Corkscrew Dive already KOs: you lose both Energy and the hand refill.
- Leaving a Garchomp with 2+ Energy in front of a charged Teal Mask Ogerpon ex: your Energy adds to its damage.
- Benching more 70 HP Basics than you need: Cruel Arrow and Torrential Pump turn each one into a free Prize.
Key turn
- Your first Garchomp ex turn. Take Kangaskhan or a Benched Meowth ex right away; they need three Garchomp KOs, you need three ex.
- Team Rocket's Watchtower turns off Run Errand and Last-Ditch Catch: play it when their hand is thin.
If they play…
Kangaskhan goes to 400: Corkscrew Dive needs 2 Roserade + 2 Premium Power Pro (440). Draconic Buster still KOs it.
Power Weight stops working: Garchomp is back at 330 and Prism Edge (360) KOs it.
Spirited Tackle does 180 to an Active Stage 1, 360 to Roserade. Keep Roserade and Gabite on the Bench.
Cynthia's Garchomp vs Dhelmise
Garchomp ex with Power Weight takes three Vengeful Anchors to KO, but Dhelmise resists [F] and Corkscrew Dive alone can't KO it. Win by trading a 1-Prize Spiritomb or a boosted hit into each Dhelmise.
Their plan
- Vengeful Anchor: 170 for one [P] once 4 Hide 'n' Sneak Pokémon are in their discard. KOs every Pokémon you have except Garchomp ex and a Roserade with Power Weight (200).
- Matcha Spin: with 6 in the discard, 4 counters on each of your Pokémon. Gible, Roselia and Spiritomb drop to 30.
- Legacy Energy: the first KO on its holder gives you 1 fewer Prize; against a 1-Prize board you may need 7 KOs.
- Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex: Blood Moon 240 plus one Anchor KOs a Garchomp ex with Power Weight.
Your prize plan
- Power Weight on the Active Garchomp ex. At 400 HP it survives two Anchors (340), so each Garchomp should take two or three Prizes before it falls.
- KO Dhelmise with a boost. Corkscrew Dive + 2 Roserade + 1 Premium Power Pro does 160 after Resistance; Draconic Buster does 230 with no help.
- Spiritomb is the 1-Prize trade. Retreat a damaged Garchomp ex for free; with 11 counters on your Benched Cynthia's Pokémon, Raging Curse + 1 Roserade does 140, KO.
- Take Prizes from the ex and Dudunsparce. Dudunsparce (140, weak to [F]) falls to Corkscrew Dive alone; Lillie's Clefairy ex (190) to Corkscrew + 2 Roserade + 1 Premium Power Pro.
Against an Active Dhelmise (140 HP, Resistance [F] −30)
Don't
- KOing Shuppet, Banette or Poltchageist when Dhelmise or an ex is reachable: every one adds to their discard and powers Anchor and Matcha Spin.
- Draconic Buster on a 1-Prize target when a boosted Corkscrew Dive does the job: you discard both Energy.
- Benching Meowth ex: 170 HP, exactly an Anchor KO for 2 Prizes.
Key turn
- When they reach 4 in the discard: have a Garchomp ex with Power Weight Active. Their Dhelmise needs two attacks on it, giving you two turns to KO back.
- After Matcha Spin: your Benched Cynthia's Pokémon carry 4 counters each, and Spiritomb hits hard enough to trade with Dhelmise.
If they play…
260 HP, weak to [F]: Corkscrew Dive + 1 Roserade does 260, KO for 2 Prizes.
270 HP, weak to [F]: Corkscrew Dive + 2 Roserade does 320, KO.
210 HP, resists [F]: Draconic Buster does 230, KO. Skyliner lets Dhelmise retreat for free.
Cynthia's Garchomp vs Ogerpon Meganium Hydrapple
Their whole deck is Grass and Garchomp ex is weak to Grass, so almost any attack KOs it. You must break Meganium early and take cheap Prizes before they snowball.
Their plan
- Syrup Storm: 30 + 30 per Grass Energy in play, each Grass counting twice with Meganium. With 3 Grass Energy that is 210 ×2 = 420: KOs even a 400 HP Garchomp ex.
- Myriad Leaf Shower: Ogerpon with 2 Grass plus Meganium against a Garchomp with 1 Energy does 180 ×2 = 360, enough for a 330 Garchomp.
- Tapu Bulu: Wood Hammer 220 ×2 = 440 for only 1 Prize, paid with 2 Grass Energy under Meganium.
- Cruel Arrow (100 anywhere) and Briar: Arrow snipes Gible, Roselia, Spiritomb or Gabite; Briar turns an Ogerpon KO into 3 Prizes when you have 2 left.
Your prize plan
- Break Meganium first. Boss's Orders + Corkscrew Dive with 2 Cynthia's Roserade is 160: KO on Meganium (160). Without Wild Growth their damage is halved.
- Take the easy ex. Corkscrew Dive does 200 to Meowth ex (170) and 260 with one Roserade to Fezandipiti ex (210): 2 Prizes each and you keep your Energy.
- Draconic Buster on Ogerpon. 260 KOs Teal Mask Ogerpon ex (210) with no help, and an Energy-less Garchomp lowers the next Myriad Leaf Shower.
- Hydrapple ex last. It needs 350: Draconic Buster + 2 Roserade + 1 Premium Power Pro, or 1 Roserade + 2 Premium Power Pro.
Against an Active Hydrapple ex (330 HP)
Don't
- Leaving Hydrapple ex at 10 HP: Ripening Charge heals 30 when they attach. Only swing at it when you have the full 350.
- Benching spare 70 HP Basics: each one is a 1-Prize Cruel Arrow target and feeds their Unfair Stamp turns.
- Dropping to exactly 2 Prizes left with Garchomp ex Active against Ogerpon: Briar makes that KO worth 3 Prizes.
Key turn
- The turn after Meganium lands: Forest of Vitality builds it in one turn. If you can Boss's Orders it right away, their next attack is half as strong.
- Power Weight timing: at 400 HP, Garchomp survives Syrup Storm with 2 Grass in play (300) and an Ogerpon without Meganium. Put it on before they reach 3 Grass.
If they play…
Itchy Pollen stops Buddy-Buddy Poffin, Poké Pad and Premium Power Pro next turn. Play your searches before it attacks.
Noctowl's Jewel Seeker finds 2 Trainers. Team Rocket's Watchtower turns it off, and Meowth ex's Last-Ditch Catch too.
Usable once you have 3 Prizes or fewer: your hand goes to the bottom and you draw 3. Corkscrew Dive refills you to 6.
Sources
- Sin autor (lista de Chloe Abbott, NAIC 2026, adaptada), "Cynthia's Garchomp Deck List: Standard 2026", GameShuffle, verificado 24 jul 2026 (anterior a 30C; matchups genéricos) · gameshuffle.co
- Rodrigo William (trad. Joey), "Pokémon TCG: Standard Deck Tech - Cynthia's Garchomp ex (Praga Regional)", Cards Realm, 12 may 2026 (antiguo) · pokemon.cardsrealm.com
- Rodrigo William (trad. Joey), "Pokémon TCG: Standard Deck Tech - Cynthia's Garchomp ex + Mega Lucario ex (2026)", Cards Realm, 22 jun 2026 (antiguo; baja confiabilidad en números) · pokemon.cardsrealm.com
- Limitless Play, matchups de Cynthia's Garchomp (online, 30C), consultado el 20 oct 2026 · play.limitlesstcg.com
- Limitless TCG, "Cynthia's Garchomp - Deck Overview" (resultados de Regionales y conteos núcleo), consultado el 20 oct 2026 · limitlesstcg.com
- Limitless TCG, textos de Cynthia's Garchomp ex DRI 104 y Cynthia's Roserade DRI 8 · limitlesstcg.com