Sure, here it goes:
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You know that feeling when you walk into a room and can’t remember why you’re there? That’s sorta how I felt diving into the world of Pokemon TCG Pocket’s Eevee Grove set. It’s been out for a bit, like just over two weeks, so not exactly ancient history. And honestly, if you’re not clutching on to those crucial cards for your decks, maybe it’s time to save your Hourglasses. A new expansion looms at the end of July. What a suspense, right? Nobody knows what’s cooking in that pot yet. Gen 2 and Gen 3 characters seem to be whispering contenders. I mean, they’ve barely shown their faces lately. What we really need, though, is some banging Fighting cards. Triumphant Light left us hanging in that department.
It’s not that the Fighting decks are lousy, but they’re sort of… stuck. Like gum on a shoe. Only two competitive decks make the cut right now. Space-Time Smackdown and Triumphant Light are their go-tos. And let’s be real, nothing new has really shaken things up since those days. Lucario Ex peaked interest with Shining Revelry but didn’t exactly take over the world. Maybe it was shy? Nowadays, it’s Rampardos and Garchomp Ex or bust.
And speaking of Rampardos—dang. It’s like the gold standard for Fighting cards. Been around since January 2025 with Space-Time Smackdown. This card just doesn’t quit. Packs 150 HP without being an Ex, and it hits hard with 130 damage using just one Fighting Energy. Sure, you get a bit of backlash if you KO the opponent—50 recoil damage—but honestly, it’s like stubbing your toe, bearable.
Rampardos, the rock star that it is, plays well into those Fighting themes. Fast and furious but here’s the catch: it’s a Stage 2 card. You need to play Skull Fossil to get it rolling. But wait—Rare Candy swoops in to save the day from Celestial Guardians. Boom, you’re attacking by turn two. Ain’t that something? Team it with Silvally for a real one-two punch. Even though it dropped with Extradimensional Crisis, that combo hasn’t aged a day. Silvally might be labeled Normal-type, but who cares—it’s a winning team.
And if boosters are your thing, crack open those from Space-Time Smackdown. Hunting for Rampardos and other gems is quite the thrill. But let’s not mint Rampardos as the pinnacle forever. The next set needs to bring something just as spicy to keep Fighting in the, well, fight.
Now jumping tracks, Garchomp Ex is another star player. Popped out of Triumphant Light and still rocking. With 170 HP, it’s a juggernaut as a Stage 2 Ex Pokemon. It’s got two killer moves: Linear Attack packs a punch at 50 damage to any opposing Pokemon—yes, benches too. Then Dragon Claw comes in with a 100-damage smackdown.
Pair this beauty with Rampardos, and wow, you’ve got a powerhouse. Being Stage 2 pals, they thrive with Lillie as a Supporter, doing a 60-damage heal. Throw in Cyrus Supporter for Garchomp’s sake, and you’ve got yourself a lethal bench-damaging deck. Bring your opponent’s benched Pokemon to the spotlight and knock ’em out.
So, there it is. Two decks, oldies but goodies. Whether it’s Rampardos or Garchomp Ex leading the charge, they’ve set the kind of high bar new cards need to clear. Keeps the game from getting stale, you know?
