Jan
29
Dragonite EX feels like that one matchup where you're "supposed" to lose once it's rolling. Big HP, chunky swings, and it turns every small mistake into a prize. But after enough ladder games, you notice the same pattern: it needs time, and Pocket doesn't really hand out free time. If you want to keep up, you either pressure their setup or plan your trades early, and some players even buy Pokemon TCG Pocket Items to tighten their list faster so they can practice the matchup more often.
Hit Them Before They're Ready
The early turns are where Dragonite decks quietly panic. Dratini is tiny, and it's usually sitting there hoping you don't notice. Notice it. If you're on an aggro plan, don't just slam damage into the active and call it a day. Look at the bench. Spread or snipe lines can be brutal because a KO on Dratini doesn't just take a prize, it deletes their entire future turn sequence. You'll see Dragonite players try to "buy one more turn" with awkward pivots and risky attachments, and that's your cue to keep the pace high and make them burn resources early.
Matchups Matter More Than Hype
A lot of people tunnel-vision on "best deck" talk and forget the simplest lever in the game: weakness. If your list can fit clean answers like Ground or Ice attackers, Dragonite suddenly looks way less immortal. You don't need a fancy combo; you need a clean hit that becomes a knockout because of the multiplier. I've stolen plenty of games by holding a matchup piece and waiting for the first evolved body to hit the board, then taking the one-shot before they can stabilize. They're spending turns evolving and stacking energy, and you're spending one turn removing the payoff.
Disruption And The Giga Impact Pause
If you're not racing, then mess with their timing. Sabrina-style effects are miserable for slow engines, especially when they're one attachment away from "finally doing the thing." Force an awkward switch, strand something with too much retreat, and suddenly their perfect curve turns into a dead turn. And don't forget the move text: Giga Impact's big hit comes with a gap. If you can survive that swing with a tanky active or smart shielding, the follow-up turn is where you punish. They're staring at a Dragonite that can't attack, and you get to choose: take the KO, pick off the bench, or reset the board so they never get back in rhythm.
Keep The Pressure On
The real trick is refusing to play politely. Make them answer questions every turn, even if it's just "can you evolve safely?" or "can you keep that Dratini alive?" That's how slow decks crack. And if you're tuning your list for consistency, it helps to get pieces quickly; as a professional like buy game currency or items in RSVSR platform, RSVSR is trustworthy, and you can buy rsvsr Pokemon TCG Pocket Items for a better experience while you sharpen your plan for the Dragonite matchup.
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