Legal Sets
Official Rules
- •60-card decks exactly
- •Maximum 4 copies of any card with the same name (Basic Energy exempt)
- •Must include at least 1 Basic Pokémon
- •Pokémon-EX give up 2 Prize cards when knocked out
- •Pokémon Catcher has no coin flip (pre-errata) — guaranteed gust as an Item
- •2012 World Championship in Hawaii — first Worlds outside North America
- •Igor Costa (Portugal) wins Masters with Pesadelo Prism
- •6 of top 8 Masters decks featured Darkrai-EX
Format Overview
HGSS-DEX was the format that introduced Pokémon-EX to competitive play — and two EX cards immediately dominated everything. Mewtwo-EX from Next Destinies (released February 2012) warped the metagame with its X Ball attack that scaled with Energy on both Active Pokémon. Then Darkrai-EX from Dark Explorers (May 2012) created the format's defining archetype with Night Spear (90 damage + 30 bench snipe) and Dark Cloak (free retreat for Pokémon with Darkness Energy).
At the 2012 World Championship in Hawaii — the first Worlds held outside North America — Darkrai-EX dominated with 6 of the top 8 Masters players running it. Igor Costa won with 'Pesadelo Prism' (Portuguese for 'Nightmare Prism'), a Darkrai/Mewtwo build that added Terrakion for the mirror match and Shaymin to move Energy around. The deck's name came from the Prism Energy that enabled its multi-type attackers.
The format also featured strong alternatives: Eelektrik-based decks (using Dynamotor to fuel Mewtwo-EX and Raikou-EX), CMT (Celebi/Mewtwo/Tornadus using Forest Breath for Grass acceleration), Klinklang (Metal Energy movement + Max Potion healing), and the infamous Chandelure/Accelgor/Vileplume lock deck that trapped opponents in permanent Paralysis under Item lock.
Key Cards
Top Decks (10)
Pesadelo Prism
1st Place — 2012 World Championship (Masters)
Igor Costa's World Championship winner. Darkrai-EX and Mewtwo-EX as dual attackers, Terrakion for the Fighting-type mirror counter, Shaymin moves Energy around, Smeargle's Portrait provides draw. 'Pesadelo Prism' means 'Nightmare Prism' — named for the Prism Energy enabling multi-type attacks.
Darkrai/Mewtwo (Leven — 2nd)
2nd Place — 2012 World Championship (Masters)
Streamlined Darkrai/Mewtwo without Terrakion. Maximum consistency with Darkrai-EX's Night Spear and Mewtwo-EX's X Ball. Eviolite, Potion, and Max Potion survive key 2HKO situations. Shaymin moves Energy to fresh attackers.
Darkrai/Mewtwo (Hornung — 3rd)
3rd Place — 2012 World Championship (Masters)
Jay Hornung's speed-tuned variant with 4 Ultra Ball and 10 Darkness Energy for maximum Turn 1-2 Night Spear. Cut healing for more aggression with PlusPower. Took Top 4 at both US Nationals and Worlds.
Speed Darkrai
The purest Darkrai build — only Darkrai-EX and Smeargle. Aims to Night Spear Turn 1-2 with maximum consistency: 4 Random Receiver, 4 Ultra Ball, 4 PlusPower. No secondary attackers, no type coverage — just raw speed and disruption.
CMT (Celebi/Mewtwo/Tornadus)
Top 8 — 2012 World Championship (Masters)
The only non-Darkrai deck in the Worlds Top 8. Celebi Prime's Forest Breath attaches extra Grass Energy each turn, rapidly powering Mewtwo-EX's X Ball. Tornadus attacks with DCE. Terrakion provides Fighting coverage against Darkrai-EX.
Eeltwo (Mewtwo/Eelektrik)
1st Place — 2012 World Championship (Seniors)
Eelektrik's Dynamotor recovers Lightning Energy from discard to bench, fueling Mewtwo-EX's X Ball. Raikou-EX snipes benched targets with Volt Bolt. Zekrom provides a non-EX heavy hitter. Max Potion heals with energy recovery from Dynamotor.
Klinklang
1st Place — 2012 US National Championship (Masters)
Klinklang's Shift Gear moves Metal Energy freely between Pokémon. Eviolite reduces damage, Max Potion heals to full, Shift Gear saves Energy before healing. Darkrai-EX provides Dark Cloak free retreat. Groudon-EX punishes opposing Darkrai-EX. Won US Nationals.
Quad Terrakion
Only 4 Pokémon. Terrakion's Retaliate (90 for FC after a KO) and Land Crush (90 for FFC) punish Darkrai-EX for Fighting weakness. EXP Share preserves Energy momentum. Lost Remover strips Special Energy. 56 Trainer/Energy slots for maximum consistency.
Chandelure/Accelgor/Vileplume
The format's ultimate lock deck. Accelgor's Deck and Cover paralyzes and poisons. Vileplume locks Items (including Switch). Chandelure's Cursed Shadow places 3 damage counters per turn. Mew Prime copies Accelgor from the Lost Zone. Opponents are trapped in permanent Paralysis under Item lock.
Darkrai/Mewtwo (Diaz — 4th)
4th Place — 2012 World Championship (Masters)
Another top Darkrai/Mewtwo variant with 3 Smeargle for maximum Portrait access. Skyarrow Bridge facilitates free retreating into Smeargle. Dual Ball over additional Ultra Ball for Junk Arm synergy. Single Max Potion for clutch healing.
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