Arceus EX & Iron Jugulis Deck Guide

Strategy Overview

Open Iron Jugulis or Zubat and develop a wide bench using Lisia and Starting Plains. Rare Candy into Crobat to trigger Cunning Link every turn while Iron Jugulis tanks in the Active Spot, punishing every swing with Automated Combat. Once Arceus EX is set up, promote it and unleash Ultimate Force for scaling damage, supported by Rocky Helmet and Cyrus disruption.

Gameplay Video

Early Game

Bench Zubat, Iron Jugulis, and Arceus EX, attach Darkness energy, and use Lisia and Starting Plains to widen the bench. On turn one with Arceus EX & Iron Jugulis, your priority is finding Arceus EX or Crobat so you can start attaching Darkness 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 — Arceus EX and Crobat 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 (arceus ex and iron jugulis are both 2-prize liabilities), bench a pivot so a surprise knockout on the active does not strand your evolution line.

Mid Game

Rare Candy into Crobat to start Cunning Link chip and let Iron Jugulis stall in the Active Spot, returning damage with Automated Combat. By the mid game Arceus EX & Iron Jugulis should have Arceus EX powered and at least one back-up attacker on the bench. This is the window where the deck's core engine — Arceus EX, Crobat, Iron Jugulis — 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. Arceus EX & Iron Jugulis leans on the strengths "Arceus EX cannot be affected by Special Conditions thanks to Fabled Luster" and "Crobat's Cunning Link adds 30 free chip every turn while Arceus is in play", 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

Promote Arceus EX and chain Ultimate Force for scaling damage, using Cyrus and Sabrina to convert built-up chip into knockouts. Late game with Arceus EX & Iron Jugulis 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 Arceus EX — Arceus EX & Iron Jugulis 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 Arceus EX & Iron Jugulis is Arceus EX + Crobat in hand with a way to attach Darkness 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 Arceus EX too early without protection, letting the opponent snipe your main attacker before it is powered.
• Attaching Darkness 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 Arceus EX without first checking whether you have the energy to attack the same turn.
• Ignoring the weakness "Arceus EX and Iron Jugulis are both 2-prize liabilities" 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.