Mega Lucario ex Igglybuff Deck Guide
FightingMega Lucario ex Igglybuff is a creative Fighting tempo build that adds Igglybuff and Darkrai as sleep + chip-damage tools alongside Mega Lucario ex's heavy hitting. Igglybuff's Sleepy Lullaby puts the opponent to Sleep for tempo, while Darkrai's Bad Dreams ability adds 20 damage to sleeping Pokémon at the end of each turn. Korrina, Sabrina and Cyrus round out the disruption package and Arena of Antiquity boosts damage against ex Pokémon by 20.
Tournament List · Limitless Decklist
Deck List
Get the list on DiscordStrengths
- Mega Lucario ex hits 140+ with Korrina against ex Pokémon
- Igglybuff puts the active Pokémon to Sleep for tempo
- Darkrai's Bad Dreams adds 20 damage to sleeping Pokémon every end of turn
- Arena of Antiquity adds +20 damage to attacks against ex Pokémon
Weaknesses
- Mega Lucario ex is a 2-prize liability
- Vulnerable to Psychic counters
- Sleep can be flipped off on the opponent's turn
- Bricks without early Korrina or Sabrina
Key Matchups
- Ex-heavy meta decks Favored
- Slow setup decks Favored
- Psychic decks Unfavored
- Single-prize aggro Even
Strategy Overview
Open Riolu and Igglybuff, attach Fighting energy and dig for Korrina. Use Sleepy Lullaby to put the opponent to Sleep, bench Darkrai for passive 20 damage every end of turn, then evolve into Mega Lucario ex for heavy Fighting Pulse swings boosted by Korrina + Arena of Antiquity. Sabrina forces awkward switches and Cyrus pulls damaged threats for the knockout. Detailed matchup data will be updated as the format develops.
Gameplay Video
Key Cards
Mega Lucario ex
Main attacker — Fighting Pulse hits 90+ damage with an extra Fighting energy.
Igglybuff
Disruption — Sleepy Lullaby puts the opponent's active Pokémon to Sleep.
Darkrai
Chip damage — Bad Dreams adds 20 damage to sleeping Pokémon at the end of each turn.
Korrina
Boosts Fighting attackers by +30 damage against ex Pokémon.
Arena of Antiquity
Stadium — attacks against ex Pokémon do an extra 20 damage.
Early Game
Bench Riolu, Igglybuff and Darkrai, attach Fighting energy and chain draw Supporters for tempo. On turn one with Mega Lucario ex Igglybuff, your priority is finding Mega Lucario ex or Igglybuff so you can start attaching Fighting 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 Lucario ex and Igglybuff 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 lucario ex is a 2-prize liability), bench a pivot so a surprise knockout on the active does not strand your evolution line.
Mid Game
Use Sleepy Lullaby + Bad Dreams chip damage while Mega Evolving into Mega Lucario ex on the bench. By the mid game Mega Lucario ex Igglybuff should have Mega Lucario ex powered and at least one back-up attacker on the bench. This is the window where the deck's core engine — Mega Lucario ex, Igglybuff, Darkrai — 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 Lucario ex Igglybuff leans on the strengths "Mega Lucario ex hits 140+ with Korrina against ex Pokémon" and "Igglybuff puts the active Pokémon to Sleep for tempo", 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 Korrina-boosted Fighting Pulse + Cyrus, using Arena of Antiquity to seal OHKOs against ex Pokémon. Late game with Mega Lucario ex Igglybuff 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 Lucario ex — Mega Lucario ex Igglybuff 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 Lucario ex Igglybuff is Mega Lucario ex + Igglybuff in hand with a way to attach Fighting 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 Lucario ex too early without protection, letting the opponent snipe your main attacker before it is powered.
- Attaching Fighting 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 Lucario ex without first checking whether you have the energy to attack the same turn.
- Ignoring the weakness "Mega Lucario ex is a 2-prize liability" 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 Lucario ex fills a unique role in Mega Lucario ex Igglybuff (main attacker — fighting pulse hits 90+ damage with an extra fighting energy.). If you do not own it, the deck cannot be rebuilt around a single swap — consider playing a different Fighting archetype until you can craft it.
Igglybuff fills a unique role in Mega Lucario ex Igglybuff (disruption — sleepy lullaby puts the opponent's active pokémon to sleep.). If you do not own it, the deck cannot be rebuilt around a single swap — consider playing a different Fighting archetype until you can craft it.
Darkrai fills a unique role in Mega Lucario ex Igglybuff (chip damage — bad dreams adds 20 damage to sleeping pokémon at the end of each turn.). If you do not own it, the deck cannot be rebuilt around a single swap — consider playing a different Fighting 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 Lucario ex Igglybuff beginner friendly?
Mega Lucario ex Igglybuff 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 Lucario ex Igglybuff good for ranked ladder?
Yes — Mega Lucario ex Igglybuff sits in Tier A of the current meta, and its strengths (Mega Lucario ex hits 140+ with Korrina against ex Pokémon, Igglybuff puts the active Pokémon to Sleep for tempo) 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 Lucario ex Igglybuff?
The toughest matchups are Psychic decks. These decks attack the parts of your plan flagged in the Weaknesses section — usually mega lucario ex is a 2-prize liability. 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 Lucario ex Igglybuff?
Prioritise Mega Lucario ex and Igglybuff — 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 Lucario ex Igglybuff without the main Fighting engine?
Not really. Mega Lucario ex Igglybuff is built around Mega Lucario ex and the Fighting 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 Lucario ex Igglybuff tournament viable?
Mega Lucario ex Igglybuff has a real tournament track record — its favored matchups against Ex-heavy meta decks and Slow setup decks 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 Lucario ex Igglybuff usually take?
Most games end inside the Pokémon TCG Pocket turn clock once Mega Lucario 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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