Hot off the Pixel Press: Gholdengo’s EX Coin Bonus Leads To Victory! (Techs & Investing in the Meta)

Hey Kickin’ it Retro, My Blast Hornets

Welcome to another thrilling edition of Pixel Press! I’m buzzing with excitement to dive deep into the Pokémon TCG’s latest standout: Gholdengo EX. As we explore Gholdengo's "Coin Bonus" mechanic and its ability to crush even the most daunting threats, let's also take a closer look at the emerging powerhouse from Japan—Sylveon—and how it ties into the future of competitive play. Buckle up because things are about to get exciting!

Gholdengo EX: The Art of Collection & Strategy

Gholdengo EX, heavily hyped before its debut in the Paradox Rift set, had a slow start in competitive play, surprising many of us. However, its potential was finally realized during a third-place finish at the prestigious Champions League Kyoto, and that was just the beginning. While Gholdengo requires strategic setup, once it gets rolling, it can wipe the floor with nearly anything.

The key to mastering Gholdengo EX is its Coin Bonus ability, which allows players to leverage Gholdengo's high-maintenance strategy for incredible payoffs. Collecting those valuable coins may seem like a tedious task, but it's well worth it once the rewards come into play—especially with the Make It Rain attack. By discarding Metal energies from your hand, Gholdengo's "Make it Rain" attack hits for an impressive 50 damage for each energy discarded.

With a well-built engine and strategic partners like Palkia VSTAR, Gholdengo EX can thrive in a variety of situations. Palkia brings both synergy and power to the table, fueling your setup and laying the groundwork for Gholdengo to take over. The Water-type combo with Radiant Greninja also allows you to clear single-Prize Pokémon from the field with devastating efficiency, ensuring that even slower starts can lead to overwhelming success.

Why Sylveon Changes the Game

The Pokémon TCG is buzzing with excitement over the new Sylveon arriving on August 30th, 2024, in Japan. This Fairy-type Pokémon is set to shake up the meta, especially with its synergy in evolving from Eevee the turn it’s played—a mechanic that speeds up Sylveon’s setup exponentially.

Here's what Sylveon does:

• Magical Charm
  Cost: Water, Electric, Psychic
  Damage: 160
  Effect: During your opponent's next turn, attacks used by the Defending Pokémon do 100 less damage (before applying Weakness and Resistance).

• Angelite
  Cost: Water, Electric, Psychic
  Effect: Choose 2 of your opponent's Benched Pokémon, and shuffle those Pokémon and all attached cards into their deck. If one of your Pokémon used Angelite during your last turn, this attack can’t be used.

This Sylveon is a game-changer. Its Angelite attack provides a near-unstoppable bench-clearing force, capable of sending not one but two Benched Pokémon—and all their attached cards—back into the opponent’s deck. The best part? There’s no coin flip, no discarding involved—just having the right energy cost. While Gholdengo EX's Make it Rain attack can pulverize Sylveon with ease, it remains vulnerable to Angelite, which could decimate your bench strategy without breaking a sweat.

Given the potential for Sylveon’s bench control and its compatibility with various decks, it’s safe to say this Pokémon will become highly splashable in many competitive builds.

Gholdengo’s Evolution with New Meta Threats

As we prepare for the new meta with Sylveon on the horizon, Gholdengo EX is worth investing in. Its ability to stand tall against massive threats and maintain strategic control with Coin Bonus makes it an excellent addition to any player’s collection. Sure, it ranked 39th / 50th at this year's Pokémon Worlds, but mark my words—it will perform even better next year.

I believe that as more players experiment with new strategies and Sylveon makes its competitive debut, Gholdengo EX will find new ways to thrive. Adjusting your energy deck to handle Sylveon’s Angelite attack and modifying your tactics can keep Gholdengo one step ahead of the competition.

Shifting to Charizard EX / Pidgeot EX

In a quick segue, let’s talk about the Charizard EX / Pidgeot EX deck that’s been gaining traction in Pokémon TCG Live. While this isn’t the focus of today's article, I recently faced this powerful deck in a match, and let me tell you—it INCINERATES the competition.

Even in casual ladder play, I highly recommend this deck for players looking to rank up, gather rewards, and get into better decks. The Charizard EX / Pidgeot EX deck packs a punch with solid draw power, consistency, and devastating firepower. I’ve been fine-tuning my build, which looks like this:

Pokémon (10)

• 3 Charizard EX

• 2 Pidgeot EX

• 1 Radiant Charizard

• 2 Pidgeotto

• 2 Charmeleon

• 2 Pidgey

• 1 Bibarel

• 1 Bidoof

• 4 Charmander

Trainers (11)

• 4 Ultra Ball

• 3 Switch

• 4 Rare Candy

• 4 Arven

• 3 Buddy-Buddy Poffin

• 3 Iono

• 1 Defiance Band

• 2 Boss's Orders

• 4 Capturing Aroma

• 2 Super Rod

• 1 Night Stretcher

Energy (10)

• 10 Basic Fire Energy

It’s a solid, consistent deck with enough firepower to take on almost any threat—perfect for climbing the ranks in Pokémon TCG Live, and the key to building more decks, and easily getting those resources

A Final Tech Card for Gholdengo EX: Galarian Perserker V

One final tech card to consider for Gholdengo EX is Galarian Perserker V. This card not only helps in matchups against threats like Iron Thorns EX, but its Feelin' Fine attack draws 3 cards, adding to your hand advantage. The real kicker, though, is Treasure Rush, which deals 20x damage for each card in your hand. With just 12 cards in hand, you’re knocking out Iron Thorns EX in one hit. Use items like Canceling Cologne to turn off pesky abilities and get the job done with Make It Rain or Treasure Rush.

Wrapping Up

As we continue to explore the depths of Gholdengo EX’s Coin Bonus potential and prepare for the Sylveon meta, remember that adaptability is key. Whether you're going all-in with Metal energies or experimenting with new tech cards like Galarian Perserker V, Gholdengo EX is here to make it rain on your competition.

Finally, I’d like to share a brand-new YouTube short: "Four Charizards Are Better Than One!" While not directly relevant to today’s newsletter, it highlights my latest match against a top meta Charizard / Pidgeot EX deck in Pokémon TCG Live. It’s a fiery showdown that you won’t want to miss!

Here is that Firey Link: https://youtu.be/OAwqQbevUbg

Thanks for tuning in, I hope you had a BLAST ! Stay pixelated, stay retro, and remember—even the most unexpected cards can lead you to victory!

Keep collecting those coins, and I’ll see you in the next edition of Pixel Press!