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Updated June 9, 2026Mega Scizor ex and Skarmory Deck Guide in Pokémon TCG Pocket
A tanky metal build that rewards constant switching to swing for big single-turn damage.
This deck builds a slow, durable metal wall around Mega Scizor ex and uses constant switching to land oversized hits. Mega Scizor ex evolves directly from Scyther and rewards you for moving it from the Bench into the Active Spot on the same turn, so the entire game plan is about positioning the right attacker at the right moment. The win condition is simple: stall behind tools and Skarmory ex while you set up, then start swinging for 150 every time Mega Scizor ex re-enters the Active Spot.
The decklist
How it works
Scyther is the Basic that makes the whole deck function, and it is more than
just an evolution target. With 70 HP and a single
Colorless for U-turn, it deals 10 damage and switches
itself with one of your Benched Pokémon. That switch effect matters because it
lets you pull a fresh attacker into the Active Spot for free while sending
Scyther to safety. Early on you want one Scyther active and another on the
Bench so you always have an evolution line ready, even if your opponent
targets the first one.
Mega Scizor ex is the centerpiece and a Stage 1 that evolves straight from
Scyther, so it comes online quickly without any extra setup pieces. It has 200
HP, a fire weakness, and a retreat cost of 2. Its attack, Bullet Slugger,
costs Metal, Colorless for a base 100 damage, and
if this Pokémon moved from your Bench to the Active Spot this turn it does 50
more damage for a total of 150. That conditional bonus is the heart of the
deck: you want to evolve a Benched Scyther into Mega Scizor ex and bring it
up, or use a switch effect to move an already-evolved copy into the Active
Spot, so that nearly every Bullet Slugger lands at 150 rather than 100.
Skarmory ex is your secondary attacker and the wall that buys time while you
build Mega Scizor ex. It is a Basic with 140 HP, a fire weakness, and a
retreat cost of 2. Steel Wing costs Metal for 70
damage, and during your opponent's next turn this Pokémon takes 20 less damage
from attacks. That reduction is excellent for stalling: an attacker that would
deal 90 to it only deals 70, which keeps Skarmory ex alive an extra turn while
you assemble your line and energy. Because both attackers are metal, energy
never goes to waste when you switch between them.
Metal Core Barrier is one of the tools that turns this from a fragile evolution deck into a metal grindfest. Running two copies, plus Giant Cape, Rocky Helmet, and Lum Berry, gives you a deep tool package for Mega Scizor ex and Skarmory ex so they survive hits they otherwise would not. The plan is to keep one attacker parked while you charge a second copy on the Bench, then rotate the healthy threat into the Active Spot to trigger Bullet Slugger's bonus. Field Blower strips an opponent's tool when their defensive tech threatens to slow your damage race.
Matchups
| Matchup | Favorability | How to play it |
|---|---|---|
| Mega Gardevoir ex | Favored | Skarmory ex walls their early attackers well thanks to the 20 damage reduction from Steel Wing, so trade slowly and stay patient. Keep a Mega Scizor ex on the Bench ready to switch in for a 150-damage swing once they commit their main attacker. |
| Darkrai ex spread | Favored | Your high HP attackers shrug off chip damage, and tools like Metal Core Barrier and Giant Cape make their spread math fall apart. Use Acerola to reset a damaged attacker if they start stacking counters faster than you can switch. |
| Solgaleo ex metal | Even | This is a slow grind where retreat costs and energy efficiency decide the game. Prioritize landing 150 from a freshly switched Mega Scizor ex and use Guzma to strip their defensive Tools before the big swing. |
| Lunala ex control | Even | They want the game to go long, which is fine since your wall is just as durable. Apply steady pressure with Skarmory ex first, then close with Mega Scizor ex before their late-game engine comes online. |
| Mega Lucario ex aggro | Unfavored | They hit harder and faster than you set up, so lean on Steel Wing's 20 damage reduction plus Potion and Acerola to stay alive. Try to race with switched-in 150 Bullet Sluggers rather than trading blow for blow. |
| Charizard ex | Heavily unfavored | Both of your attackers carry a fire weakness, so a single big fire attack can erase a tank instantly. Use Acerola and Potion to extend your bodies, and use Guzma to strip any Tools propping up their attackers rather than racing the Charizard line head on. |
Tech options and swaps
The single-copy trainers are your flex slots. Rocky Helmet punishes opponents who attack into your high HP wall, but against decks that never go for big single hits it can sit dead, so it is the first tool to cut for a second Poké Ball or another switching piece. Field Blower is excellent against tool-heavy metas but becomes a blank when the opponent runs none, making it another easy swap. Giant Cape and Lum Berry are more universally useful, so keep those before trimming the situational tech.
How to pilot it
- Opening priorities: you want Scyther in your opening hand so you can start the evolution clock, ideally alongside Professor's Research or Poké Ball to dig for the second piece.
- Opening turns: lead with Scyther active and put a second Scyther on the Bench. Use U-turn for 10 damage and the free switch if you need to reposition, and start attaching metal energy toward Skarmory ex or your Bench Scyther.
- Stabilize with Skarmory ex: if you are under pressure, get Skarmory ex active and use Steel Wing for 70 so that the 20 damage reduction blunts their next attack while your Mega Scizor ex comes together on the Bench.
- Energy sequencing: Bullet Slugger needs Metal, Colorless and Steel Wing needs Metal, so prioritize loading the attacker you intend to swing with next turn and use switching effects to move a charged body into the Active Spot.
- Trigger the bonus: the most common misplay is attacking with an already-active Mega Scizor ex for only 100. Instead, keep a charged copy on the Bench and switch or evolve it up the turn you attack so Bullet Slugger lands at 150.
- Close the game: once your wall is stable, alternate switched-in 150-damage hits, use Guzma to clear the Tools inflating their HP before the knockout turn, and Acerola to recycle a battered attacker back to full so you never run out of bodies.
Deck strengths
- Mega Scizor ex evolves directly from Scyther with no extra pieces, so it sets up faster than most Stage attackers.
- Bullet Slugger reaches 150 damage every time you switch a copy into the Active Spot, which is strong for a Stage 1.
- A deep tool package plus Skarmory ex's 20 damage reduction makes the deck extremely durable.
- Both attackers share metal energy, so switching between them never wastes your setup.
Deck weaknesses
- Both Mega Scizor ex and Skarmory ex have a fire weakness, so fire decks pressure you hard.
- Bullet Slugger only hits 100 if you forget to move into the Active Spot that turn, which costs you tempo.
- The deck relies on switching tricks, and if you cannot reposition you lose the 50-damage bonus.
- It is reactive and slow, so the fastest aggro decks can outrace your setup.
Is it worth building?
This is a fair build to pick up if you enjoy a patient, switch-heavy metal deck and already own the key pieces. The resource cost centers on two Mega Scizor ex and two Skarmory ex, and the rest leans on widely available trainers and tools, so it is not demanding to assemble. It rewards careful sequencing and punishes careless attacking, which makes it satisfying for players who like to play around damage and positioning. Just go in knowing the fire weakness is real and that very fast decks will test your patience, so it suits a grinder more than someone chasing the quickest knockouts.
