Let's talk about what happened at the Pokémon World Championships 2025.
If you were watching the streams from Anaheim, you saw one Pokémon deck more than any other: Gholdengo ex deck. If you're searching for the best Pokémon decks 2025, look no further. This powerhouse took center stage at the Pokémon World Championships 2025 in Anaheim, where it was the most-played deck on Day 1. Collectors and players alike are buzzing about its consistency and raw power.
Now, you might be wondering how that happened. Gholdengo ex wasn't a new card, and for a long time, it was seen as a good idea that just didn't quite work. It was a bit slow, a bit clunky. But then the Black Bolt set was released, and a couple of new cards came out that were like the missing pieces to a puzzle. Suddenly, this pokemon deck went from a fun concept to an absolute monster that took over the competitive scene.
I'm going to walk you through comprehensive Gholdengo ex deck guide, we'll break down its rise, strategy, key cards, a sample Gholdengo ex deck list, and tips on how to play or counter it. Whether you're building your own or preparing for tournaments, this guide will help you master the Gholdengo ex Pokémon TCG archetype.
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The Rise of Gholdengo ex in the 2025 Pokémon TCG Meta
The Pokémon World Championships 2025 really put Gholdengo ex on the map as a meta beast. Dropped in the Paradox Rift set, it finally hit its stride after rotation, going from a quirky side project to a full-on tournament crusher. For ages, it felt like a solid idea that just didn't click—setup was sluggish, and energy juggling was a hassle.
But then expansions like Stellar Crown (and power-ups in sets akin to the Black Bolt Set) dropped the perfect fixes, turning everything around. Overnight, Gholdengo ex decks blew up, racking up killer win rates in pre-Worlds events. Its trick of building huge hands and landing one-shot KOs made it a nightmare for opponents in tons of matchups.
If you're scooping up these cards for your collection, stash them in our standard trading card binder—it's spot-on for sorting your Pokémon TCG decks 2025.
How the Gholdengo ex Deck Works: Strategy and Gameplay
The Gholdengo ex deck strategy is beautifully straightforward but packs a punch: draw like crazy, then dump energy for epic damage. This cycle lets you steamroll foes in the Pokémon TCG meta 2025.
Core Abilities and Attacks
Coin Bonus Ability: This is the draw machine's core—pull one card per Gholdengo ex you have out (double if it's Active). Get 3-4 on the field, and you're snagging 4-6 extra cards each turn, pumping your hand full for monster moves.
Make It Rain Attack: Toss Basic Energy from that bloated hand to smack 50 damage per one. Drop 5 for 250 damage or 6 for 300—that's lights out for most ex and V Pokémon.
Before those new cards, consistency was the big headache. Now? It's running smoother than ever.
Setup and Energy Management
Kick things off by evolving Gimmighoul into Gholdengo ex ASAP. Lean on supporters like Crispin to slap on energy and dig deeper. Scoop back dumped energy with Superior Energy Retrieval to fuel the next haymaker.
In real games, shoot for Turn 2 boards loaded with multiple Gholdengo ex. Free retreat goodies let you swap Actives on the fly, cranking your draws to max.
Key Cards in the Gholdengo ex Deck: From Black Bolt Set and Beyond
Those fresh drops from sets like Stellar Crown gave Gholdengo ex the boost to claim its spot among the best Pokémon decks 2025.
Essential Pokémon
Genesect ex: The setup boss. Its Metallic Signal lets you fish out up to two Metal Evolution Pokémon, yanking Gholdengo ex straight from the deck.
Scizor: A sneaky one-of for picking off little pests, easy to grab with Genesect ex.
Solrock and Lunatone (in some builds): Extra draw or pesky disruption.
Fezandipiti ex or Iron Bundle: Fresh tech for speeding up energy or locking down plays.
Crucial Trainers and Tools
Air Balloon: Slashes retreat by 2, setting up free swaps to chain those Coin Bonus draws.
Superior Energy Retrieval: Hauls up to 4 Basic Energy from the trash—key for keeping Make It Rain rolling.
Arven or Ciphermaniac’s Codebreaking: Hunt down tools or vital Pokémon.
Jamming Tower (Stadium): Kills enemy abilities in select versions.
Energy
10-12 Basic Metal/Fighting Energy: The ammo for attacks and dumps.
Sample Gholdengo ex Deck List for 2025 Meta
Pulling from killer lists at the Pokémon World Championships 2025 and post-rotation showdowns, here's a battle-ready Gholdengo ex deck list (tweaked from top finishes):
Pokémon (14):
- 4 Gimmighoul (PAR 87 / similar)
- 4 Gholdengo ex (PAR 139)
- 2 Genesect ex (BLK EN)
- 1 Fezandipiti ex (SFA 38)
- 1 Munkidori (various)
- 1 Iron Bundle (PAR 56)
- 1 Gholdengo (non-ex tech)
Trainers (34):
- 4 Boss's Orders (MEG 114)
- 4 Arven (OBF 186)
- 4 Earthen Vessel (PAR 163)
- 4 Superior Energy Retrieval (PAL 189)
- 2 Ciphermaniac’s Codebreaking (new)
- 2 Professor Turo's Scenario (PAR 171)
- 2 Super Rod (PAL 188)
- 2 Nest Ball (SVI 181)
- 2 Air Balloon (BLK EN 166)
- 1 Tool Scrapper (WHT 85)
- 1 Counter Catcher (PAR 160)
- 1 Picnic Basket (SVI 184)
- 1 Vitality Band (SVI 197)
- 2 Artazon (PAL 171)
- 1 Jamming Tower (TWM 153)
- 1 Pokégear 3.0 (SVI 186)
Energy (12):
- 8 Basic Metal Energy
- 4 Basic Fighting Energy
This setup nails consistency and control.
How to Play the Gholdengo ex Deck: Tips for Success
With Gholdengo and Genesect doing the heavy lifting, the other cards are there to make sure the engine keeps running smoothly.
- Early Game: Mull for Gimmighoul and energy. Use Genesect ex to bench multiple evolutions.
- Mid Game: Build your hand with Coin Bonus chains. Attach Air Balloon for free retreats.
- Late Game: Unleash 250+ damage KOs while recycling energy.
- Common Mistakes: Over-discarding without retrieval ready; prioritize setup over early attacks.
In variants like Gholdengo ex with Dragapult, add Dragapult ex for spread damage, improving matchups against wide benches.
How to Beat Gholdengo ex: Counters and Weaknesses
So, you're in a tournament and you see your opponent put down a Gimmighoul. What do you do? Despite its strength in the Pokémon TCG meta 2025, Gholdengo ex has exploitable flaws:
Fire-Type Weakness
Any decent Fire attacker can usually score a one-hit knockout on Gholdengo ex for very little energy. Decks built around Charizard ex or even Flareon have a natural advantage here.
Hand Disruption
A well-timed Iono can take your opponent's hand of twelve cards and shrink it down to two or three, leaving them without enough energy to attack. It can completely stop them in their tracks.
Ability Lock
Jamming Tower or similar can backfire if opponents use it against you.
Other Counters
Dragapult ex spreads damage to benches; Gardevoir ex out-draws you.
For other pokemon decks to master check out our Charizard ex guide.
Why Gholdengo ex is a Must-Play in 2025
There’s no question that Gholdengo ex deck is one of the top decks in the game right now. Its story is a great lesson in how just one or two new cards from Black Bolt can change the entire meta. You need to understand it, because you’re going to see it. Its dominance at the Pokémon World Championships 2025 proves it's here to stay. Whether you decide to play it yourself or build a deck to counter it, you have to be ready for the gold rush.
Ready to build yours? Browse our full Pokémon TCG accessories to keep your collection pristine. For more guides, check our blog on best Pokémon decks 2025.
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