Mega Charizard Y EX & Iron Moth Deck Guide
FireMega Charizard Y EX & Iron Moth is an aggressive Fire build that combines Mega Charizard Y EX's 250-damage Crimson Dive closer with Iron Moth's scaling Thermal Gust pressure. Charmeleon's Ignition ability accelerates Fire energy from the Energy Zone, while Iron Valiant's Future System reduces attack costs on Future Pokémon, letting the deck swing efficiently for huge damage from turn three onward.
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Deck List
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- Mega Charizard Y EX one-shots most threats with Crimson Dive
- Charmeleon's Ignition accelerates Fire energy onto attackers
- Iron Valiant's Future System reduces Future Pokémon attack costs
- Flame Patch recycles Fire energy from the discard for tempo turns
Weaknesses
- Mega Charizard Y EX is a Stage 2 — needs the line on curve
- Crimson Dive self-damages, shortening Charizard's survival
- Three EX attackers stack prize liability
- Vulnerable to Water-type counters and early Sabrina
Key Matchups
- Stage 2 setup decks Favored
- EX-heavy attackers Favored
- Fast Water aggro Unfavored
- Tempo midrange Even
Strategy Overview
Open Charmander and start building the Mega Charizard line, leaning on Iron Moth for early Thermal Gust pressure. Use Charmeleon's Ignition to accelerate Fire energy onto Mega Charizard Y EX, then chain Crimson Dive knockouts while Iron Valiant discounts your Future attackers. Flame Patch keeps the engine alive in longer games.
Gameplay Video
Key Cards
Mega Charizard Y EX
Primary closer — Crimson Dive hits 250 for clean one-shot knockouts.
Charmeleon
Engine — Ignition accelerates Fire energy from the Energy Zone onto Charizard.
Iron Moth
Secondary Fire attacker — Thermal Gust scales damage on coin flips.
Iron Valiant
Future System ability reduces Future Pokémon attack costs by one energy.
Flame Patch
Recycles Fire energy from the discard pile for tempo turns.
Early Game
Bench Charmander and Iron Moth, attach Fire energy, and start applying Thermal Gust pressure while building toward Mega Charizard Y EX. On turn one with Mega Charizard Y EX & Iron Moth, your priority is finding Mega Charizard Y EX or Charmeleon so you can start attaching Fire energy on schedule. If you open with the wrong basic, search aggressively with Professor's Research or Poké Ball before committing energy you might waste. Bench every basic you intend to evolve as early as possible — Mega Charizard Y EX and Charmeleon need time to come online, and an empty bench turn one usually loses you the tempo war. Preserve removal Supporters like Cyrus or Sabrina for the mid game; using them on turn one is rarely worth the lost draw. Against fast aggressive openings hinted at by your unfavored matchups (mega charizard y ex is a stage 2 — needs the line on curve), bench a pivot so a surprise knockout on the active does not strand your evolution line.
Mid Game
Evolve into Charmeleon to trigger Ignition, accelerate Fire energy onto your bench, and promote Mega Charizard Y EX with Iron Valiant supporting from the bench. By the mid game Mega Charizard Y EX & Iron Moth should have Mega Charizard Y EX powered and at least one back-up attacker on the bench. This is the window where the deck's core engine — Mega Charizard Y EX, Charmeleon, Iron Moth — has to actively trade prizes. Sequence your attacks so each knockout sets up the next: leave a damaged opposing Pokémon active for Cyrus, or use Sabrina to drag out a benched threat before it can power up. Track your prize trade carefully. Mega Charizard Y EX & Iron Moth leans on the strengths "Mega Charizard Y EX one-shots most threats with Crimson Dive" and "Charmeleon's Ignition accelerates Fire energy onto attackers", so push the board state that maximises those lines rather than auto-attacking the active. If you fall behind on board, pivot to a single-prize attacker and use this turn to rebuild instead of giving up a multi-prize knockout.
Late Game
Close with chained Crimson Dive knockouts, using Flame Patch and Professor's Research to refill the engine. Late game with Mega Charizard Y EX & Iron Moth is about closing on your terms. Count your remaining prizes and the opponent's, then build the exact attack sequence that wins before they can stabilise. If you are ahead, deny the comeback: knock out their last realistic attacker or use Sabrina to strand a benched Pokémon that cannot retreat. If you are behind, look for an OHKO line using Mega Charizard Y EX — Mega Charizard Y EX & Iron Moth typically wins from behind by chaining a single huge turn rather than grinding back evenly. Be ready to spend every remaining Supporter and energy on the closing turn; holding resources "just in case" after the prize race is decided is the most common way to throw a winning position with this deck.
Mulligan Guide & Opening Priorities
The ideal opener for Mega Charizard Y EX & Iron Moth is Mega Charizard Y EX + Charmeleon in hand with a way to attach Fire energy on the first turn. Mulligan decisions in Pokémon TCG Pocket are limited, so focus on what you keep: prioritise basics that evolve into your key attackers, plus at least one draw Supporter like Professor's Research or Iono. Hold onto Rare Candy or stage-up pieces even if they look dead early — they enable the explosive mid game this deck depends on. Preserve removal cards (Cyrus, Sabrina) for when the opponent has a damaged or vulnerable bench rather than spending them on the first available target.
Common Mistakes
- Benching Mega Charizard Y EX too early without protection, letting the opponent snipe your main attacker before it is powered.
- Attaching Fire energy to a Pokémon that will not attack this game instead of building toward your win condition.
- Spending Cyrus or Sabrina on turn one for tempo when they would have closed a prize two turns later.
- Evolving on curve into Mega Charizard Y EX without first checking whether you have the energy to attack the same turn.
- Ignoring the weakness "Mega Charizard Y EX is a Stage 2 — needs the line on curve" and not boarding a pivot or single-prize back-up in unfavored matchups.
- Auto-attacking the active Pokémon instead of using Sabrina/Cyrus to set up the knockout sequence the deck actually wants.
- Burning Professor's Research with a full hand and losing the cards you still needed for the closing turn.
Card Replacements
Mega Charizard Y EX fills a unique role in Mega Charizard Y EX & Iron Moth (primary closer — crimson dive hits 250 for clean one-shot knockouts.). If you do not own it, the deck cannot be rebuilt around a single swap — consider playing a different Fire archetype until you can craft it.
Charmeleon fills a unique role in Mega Charizard Y EX & Iron Moth (engine — ignition accelerates fire energy from the energy zone onto charizard.). If you do not own it, the deck cannot be rebuilt around a single swap — consider playing a different Fire archetype until you can craft it.
Iron Moth fills a unique role in Mega Charizard Y EX & Iron Moth (secondary fire attacker — thermal gust scales damage on coin flips.). If you do not own it, the deck cannot be rebuilt around a single swap — consider playing a different Fire archetype until you can craft it.
Iono is a strong universal draw Supporter and slots into nearly any deck if you are missing copies of Professor's Research, though it costs you raw card quantity.
Cyrus pulls a damaged bench Pokémon active; Sabrina lets the opponent choose, but still forces a switch and keeps your closing pressure alive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mega Charizard Y EX & Iron Moth beginner friendly?
Mega Charizard Y EX & Iron Moth is a tournament deck build in Tier A. It has a few decision-heavy turns and a real evolution line to manage, so newer players should expect a learning curve before they pilot it well. Read the Early/Mid/Late Game sections above before queuing into ranked.
Is Mega Charizard Y EX & Iron Moth good for ranked ladder?
Yes — Mega Charizard Y EX & Iron Moth sits in Tier A of the current meta, and its strengths (Mega Charizard Y EX one-shots most threats with Crimson Dive, Charmeleon's Ignition accelerates Fire energy onto attackers) line up well against most ladder decks. It is not the absolute top tier, but it is consistent enough to ladder with if you respect its unfavored matchups.
What are the hardest matchups for Mega Charizard Y EX & Iron Moth?
The toughest matchups are Fast Water aggro. These decks attack the parts of your plan flagged in the Weaknesses section — usually mega charizard y ex is a stage 2 — needs the line on curve. Mulligan harder for your fastest opener and lean on single-prize attackers to slow down the prize trade.
What should I craft first for Mega Charizard Y EX & Iron Moth?
Prioritise Mega Charizard Y EX and Charmeleon — these are the cards the deck cannot function without. Draw Supporters (Professor's Research, Iono) and removal (Cyrus, Sabrina) are universal staples and worth crafting even if you later swap archetypes.
Can I play Mega Charizard Y EX & Iron Moth without the main Fire engine?
Not really. Mega Charizard Y EX & Iron Moth is built around Mega Charizard Y EX and the Fire energy line — removing that core turns it into a different deck. If you are missing pieces, check the Card Replacements section above for the closest realistic alternatives, or play a budget archetype until you can craft the missing cards.
Is Mega Charizard Y EX & Iron Moth tournament viable?
Mega Charizard Y EX & Iron Moth has a real tournament track record — its favored matchups against Stage 2 setup decks and EX-heavy attackers cover a meaningful share of the expected field. Bring it if the meta you are reading is heavy on those archetypes.
How long does a game with Mega Charizard Y EX & Iron Moth usually take?
Most games end inside the Pokémon TCG Pocket turn clock once Mega Charizard Y EX is online. The slow games are the ones where you miss the evolution or energy attachment on the key turn — those usually decide themselves before turn six.
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