Miraidon ex Joltik Box (Destined Rivals)

I've decided to start making Destined Rivals decks now since it comes out tomorrow on PTCGL and on May 30th in real life, so why not start off with my favorite deck Miraidon ex! (Technically Joltik Box but I still consider it a Miraidon deck). Anyways, Joltik Box doesn't gain anything notable in Destined Rivals so it's a list that's similar to Journey Together.

Strategy: Alright, so like every other Miraidon ex deck and Joltik Box, always go second. This deck relies on going second

I've decided to start making Destined Rivals decks now since it comes out tomorrow on PTCGL and on May 30th in real life, so why not start off with my favorite deck Miraidon ex! (Technically Joltik Box but I still consider it a Miraidon deck). Anyways, Joltik Box doesn't gain anything notable in Destined Rivals so it's a list that's similar to Journey Together.

Strategy: Alright, so like every other Miraidon ex deck and Joltik Box, always go second. This deck relies on going second but if you go first due to your Opponent forcing you, that will be covered in the description. Anyways, onto the strategy assuming you're going second, for your First Turn, attempt to get out Miraidon ex, then get out either Pikachu and Joltik, Hands and Joltik, or Pikachu/Hands/Joltik and a 2nd Miraidon with Miraidon's Tandem Unit. Combining two Tandem Unit's can be quite helpful but your bench space is REALLY important. However, if you get Area Zero Underdepths, your Bench Space can open a lot more options and increases Lillie's Clefairy's Damage Output. Anyways, try to get an Energy onto your Joltik to use Jolting Charge to get an Amp You Very Much ready for your Next Turn or to set up your other Attackers like Pikachu, Future Galvantula, or something like Miraidon. Now if you can't get Joltik out and may brick, that's where Maractus comes in, it'll force them to remove it but when they KO it you can force damage onto them, it'll also help as a trap card if you need to slow them down. Now if you're forced to go first, do NOT get Joltik out, it is really risky and can let your Opponent take the first prize which you do not want. So get out Maractus into the Active and use Tandem Unit to get Hands and Pika, keep an Energy in hand to be able to use Jolting Charge on Joltik when you get it out with Tandem Unit that next turn. Now Crispin is a great card in Joltik Box because you can get out Clef's Attack instantly, could set up scenarios like getting the Metal Energy for Pika and much more! It's important to try to get Crispin, Boss, and Arven. Arven is self-explanatory along with Boss's Orders. Now for the Tech Cards excluding Maractus as that was already explained:

1.) Area Zero Underdepths serves the purpose as another Stadium to have for Stadium Bumps since a bunch of Stadiums are being played a lot like Jamming Tower, Artazon, Town Store, and so on. Additionally, it brings your total Bench Space to 8 which gives you a lot more space to have the Pokémon you need and can increase Full Moon Rondo's damage output.

2.) Gravity Mountain serves as a purpose to allow Pikachu's Topaz Bolt to OHKO Stage Two ex's like Zard, Pult, and Gardy being the main examples this is really important as you may need it to win the game.

3.) Lillie's Clefairy ex serves as an option to OHKO Pult which is still a threat in Destined Rivals and can help against your Raging Bolt matchup since that is one of your Toughest Matchups.

4.) Now last but not least, Iron Leaves ex, I decided it's worth to add it in Destined Rivals, because Charizard ex has been making a huge return in Japan thanks to Shaymin helping against the Pult matchup protecting your Charmander's and Pidgey's. So being able to OHKO Zard with Leaves is really helpful.

Now back onto the strategy, you don't need to use Lillie's Clef to OHKO Pult, in fact, you could use Mew ex's Genome Hacking with Clef in play to copy Pult's Phantom Dive, swing Pult for 400 and spread damage onto them, make them suffer. Mew can also use Genome Hacking to copy many other Attacks like Mimikyu's to prevent yourself from being walled or something else like Crustle or Aeigislash but Galvantula already deals with them. FBEC helps Hands swing for 140 with Amp so it can OHKO things like Duraludon. Bravery Charm is really helpful as it increases your Pokémon's HP. The ACE SPEC of choice, Prime Catcher, is a wonderful Gust Option as it can allow you to take an insane lead in certain scenarios. Anyways, feel free to make any changes or to leave any suggestions!

Matchups:

This section is no longer going to show percentages as they're kind of inaccurate since changes keep happening.

Pult: Kind of a favorable matchup due to Clef giving Pult a Weakness to Psychic Types like Mew, Latias, or Clef. Full Moon Rondo or Genome Hacking Pult, and in the Early Game, just spam Amp You Very Much the Dreepy's. Also, you could use Gravity Mountain to OHKO Pult with Pikachu.

Zard: Overall you're at a bit of a disadvantage, Dusknoir forces you to take a prize and since you're a Turbo Deck, Burning Darkness gets stronger really quickly. Their Shaymin doesn't need to be worried about but it is a free Amp You Very Much, also try to Amp You Very Much the Pidgeot ex if they decided to get it out anyways. There are 3 ways to deal with Zard:

1.) Galvantula, if you can get it out properly, if you can attach either a Lightning or Grass Energy, you can Nuke Zard.

2.) Iron Leaves ex: Use the Ability when you get it from hand onto the Bench to take either 2 Grass, 1 Lightning, or 3 Grass, then attack for 180 which does like 360 to Zard due to Weakness. You can always retreat thanks to FBEC or Latias ex to get it back onto the Bench.

3.) Gravity Mountain + Pika's Topaz Bolt, like explained earlier on, this allows Pikachu to be able to OHKO almost anything.

Also, do be wary with Mew and Latias on the bench as they're free prizes for Zard.

Gardy: Basically a free win unless you let the get set up enough. Shaymin doesn't do much since you're not spreading damage. All you need is Hands to Amp You Very Much all their single prize Attackers but in the upcoming Black & White Set that Jellicent will be quite scary. Also, you could OHKO Gardy with Gravity Mountain and Pika's Topaz Bolt. Munkidori is a bit scary so try to Amp that as well.

Archaludon ex: Not really have seen much of this in Destined Rivals but if they play Hop's Zacian,  you can't really OHKO it with anything besides Pika's Topaz Bolt which is not that great so you could add in like a Vitality Band to be able to OHKO them with Photon Blaster. Pika OHKO's Archalduon with Topaz Bolt, do try to not let them take KO's as much as well since that attack that deals 220 is a bit of a threat. Don't get Clef, Mew and Latias would need Bravery Charm to not get OHKO'd same goes for Miraidon and Fez. If they play the Donk variant, try to avoid getting Joltik in the Active at the start but it's not likely for them to Donk you at all. Leaves isn't that needed but you could use it as a late game attacker.

Raging Bolt ex: This deck is overall even in strength as Bolt so do try to take second from them. Clef can deal with Bolt, Photon Blaster OHKO's Ogerpon, and use Amp You Very Much from Hands to deal with their single prize Pokémon like Noctowl. Do not try and use Area Zero Underdepths as it does give them a bit more of an advantage but you could use it to bump something like Jamming Tower. Be careful against them.

Gholdengo: Amp You Very Much their Gimmighoul's, Dunsparce's (If it's the Dudunsparce Build), Dreepy's (if it's the Pult Buid), and Munkidori since that damage spread does ruin your Resolute Heart on Pika. Gholdengo can be a bit tough so be wary.

Joltik Box: Basically depends on who goes second and takes the first two prizes, but anyways, try to get second to get Jolting Charge to set up your Attackers, also Maractus could slow them down a bit so do take advantage of that. Overall depends on luck.

Roaring Moon: They can't typically Donk you unless you start with Joltik in the Active but they can OHKO basically all your Pokémon with Moon. Galvantula, Leaves, and Maractus hit Moon for weakness so Galvantula and Leaves can OHKO Moon. Maractus is just used if you need to slow down the game a bit.

Terabox: Not a deck you'll face much but you hit Wellspring for weakness and can take 3 prizes with Amp on Hands, Teal Mask gets OHKO'd by Miraidon, Cornerstone is a bit of a threat but just attack it with Hands. Terapagos is a bit scary as well since you can't OHKO it so maybe Vitality Band could be added so Miraidon can OHKO it.

Festival Lead: A way too easy matchup but you won't play against this deck much. Just set up Hands and spam Amp to win the game.

Pidgeot Control: Their main attacker is weak to this deck, just use any Lightning Pokémon to OHKO Pidgeot. Maractus is quite helpful here as well and if they get Budew out it's a bit annoying.

Froslass Box: Try to not get too many Ability Pokémon into play besides that Hands sweeps through this.

Greninja ex: This deck isn't played much but has some decent success like the N's Zoroark draw engine and Blaziken so try to Amp N's Zorua, Torchic, and Froakie. If they get Greninja ex, all hope is not lost if you can somehow find Gravity Mountain get it out into play and try to Topaz Bolt their Greninja or Blaziken.

Ancient Box: Amp You Very Much basically sweeps them.

Future Box: Take second from them otherwise it'll be a bit more difficult. Try to Amp their Single Prize Miraidon if possible, and Photon Blaster can OHKO Crown and Hands. This matchup depends on whoever goes second.

Ceruledge: I don't know much about this matchup as Ceruledge hasn't seen much play since Rotation so just try to Amp their Charcadet's and Squawk along with Munkidori. Topaz Bolt OHKO's Ceruledge.

N's Zoroark: Take out their Benched Pokémon, get rid of the N's Castle to annoy them, Amp their Single Prizers like N's Zorua and Darumaka earlier on. Topaz Bolt, Galvantula, and Leaves all OHKO N's Zoroark. Overall, it's not that difficult of a matchup but do be cautious because if they can get set up they'll pose a threat.

Terapagos: Also, not that sure of this but Topaz Bolt will be really helpful and try to use Gravity Mountain to lessen their Benched Pokémon.

Eevee Box: I haven't played against many Eevee Box's but Topaz Bolt annhilates Flareon and Sylveon, Terapagos is the main problem but Topaz Bolt could deal with that as well but do also Amp their single prizers and try to get rid of Fez.

Slaking ex: Basically, try and Amp their single prizers and getting rid of Team Rocket's Watch Tower doesn't really matter but using Topaz Bolt and Gravity Mountain is quite nice.

Wall Deck: Not a deck you'll face much but that Crustle is a bit scary. Milotic is just a free prize, Farigiraf gets countered by Galvantula, Crustle can be OHKO'd by Galvantula as well but is basically the main threat of Wall Deck along with Cornerstone. Though, Hands can deal with that since it can 2 Shot it.

CTC:

There are many cards that could be added into this deck. So here's a list with some explanations:

- Vitality Band: Allows you to let Miraidon to OHKO Pokémon with 230 HP, or to let Pikachu OHKO Pokémon with 340 HP when you have Gravity Mountain in play.

- 6th Lightning Energy - Helps with overall consistency and since you lose your Energy a bit easily is quite helpful.

- Powerglass - Allows you for recover an Energy after using Topaz Bolt.

- Exp. Share - Another way to keep an Energy if a Pokémon of yours I KO'd.

- Genesect - A decent tech card to shut off their ACE SPEC in the Early Game.

- 3rd Pokégear - Probably recommend to make it easier to find supporters but I personally prefer 2.

- 2nd Gravity Mountain - For overall better consistency.

- Counter Catcher - I don't personally use it often but it does help out sometimes.

- Night Stretcher - An alternative recovery option as opposed to Super Rod.

- Iono serves as an Option to get more cards into your Hand and to Disrupt your Opponent in the Late Game. This is pretty essential at winning the game and is quite helpful in general.

Now for a card to cut to add one of these cards in would to just remove Area Zero Underdepths since it's only purpose is to have more Bench Space but if you want to keep AZU, cut something out like Super Rod.

Extras:

Link to the Journey Together Joltik Box (Also, an Alternative Build as it's still a good build for Destined Rivals): https://pokemoncard.io/deck/miraidon-ex-joltik-box-journey-together-123874

Edits:

Edit #1: Removed a Pokégear for an Area Zero Underdepths. This change has been made since having Bench Space is really important but the consistency with Pokégear is essential.