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The author reports roughly a 65% win rate on Pokémon TCG Live with Empoleon ex, using its 320 HP, attack-effect immunity and 60-damage reduction to withstand opposing attackers.
Andrew Hedrick’s Dragapult ex defeated Diego Cassiraga’s Alakazam in the 2026 Worlds final after Dragapult represented 43% of the field.
The World Championships 2026 Finals. Diego Cassiraga's vs Andrew Hedrick's . One of the strongest in history against the strongest of today. Hedrick's
Isaiah Cheville compares Crushing Hammer and Dusknoir builds for Louisville Regionals, favoring Hammer's comeback potential in the Dragapult ex mirror and questioning Dusknoir's consistency.
Gabriel Smart finished 14th among over 2,900 players with an 11-2-1 record, choosing Alakazam to target Dragapult builds without Special Red Card.
Alakazam/Dusknoir took both finalist spots at Frankfurt Regionals after Mateusz Łaszkiewicz's Worlds Top 8 run. The build uses three Strange Timepiece, but Dragapult remains a tough matchup.
Alakazam / Dusknoir won Frankfurt Regionals and Arboliva ex won Recife, showing room for alternatives ahead of Louisville despite Dragapult ex and Basic Box remaining leading decks.
Alakazam / Dusknoir won Frankfurt Regionals and Arboliva ex won Recife, highlighting alternatives to Dragapult ex and Basic Box ahead of Louisville.
Mega Excadrill ex took just over 4% of the Worlds field and earned no Top 32 finishes despite its 340 HP, 330-damage attack and favorable Dragapult ex matchup.
Grant Manley argues Blaziken ex improves Dragapult ex by countering Lillie’s Clefairy ex, Mega Excadrill ex, Hydrapple ex, and other difficult matchups.
Andrew Hedrick won the 2026 World Championships with Dragapult ex after a 2-2 start, while Crustle posted a 40% Day 2 conversion rate and Alakazam placed eight decks in the Top 32.
Andrew Hedrick’s Dragapult ex defeated Diego Cassiraga’s Alakazam in the 2026 Worlds final after Dragapult represented 43% of the field.
Andrew Hedrick won the 2026 World Championships with Dragapult ex, while Raging Bolt ex reached the Masters Top 8 and Seniors finals.
Gabriel Smart ranks Slowking fifth among his best decks entering the 2026–2027 season after his Worlds run ended in the win-and-in round in San Francisco.
Dragapult ex reportedly comprised roughly 50% of the 2026 Worlds field, pairing its 320 HP and Phantom Dive attack with Drakloak’s repeatable draw engine.
Andrew Hedrick won the TCG Masters division with Dragapult in San Francisco, while Jake N. and Yuta Araki took the Senior and Junior titles.
Andrew Hedrick swept the best-of-three Masters final after a Stadium removal rescued game one and a Red Card disrupted Diego Cassiraga’s hand-based Alakazam strategy in game two.
Isaiah Cheville argues Raging Bolt is a strong counterplay option for Worlds 2026, where Dragapult ex could reach 40–50% of the field based on post-rotation usage.
Michael Bio outlines scouting and deckbuilding methods for the 2026 Worlds in San Francisco, using Crustle’s 25%+ NAIC conversion rate as a case study in countering predictable metas.
Dragapult is projected to comprise 40–50% of the Worlds meta in San Francisco, with N’s Zoroark, Slowking, Festival Lead and Mega Excadrill among its leading challengers.
Gabriel Smart argues Slowking could exploit a Worlds field where Dragapult may represent 30–45% of the metagame, while warning that Shaymin is a major counter.
Dragapult ex and Festival Lead rank first and second among contenders for Worlds, running August 28–30 at San Francisco’s Chase Center.