Most Charizard cards breathe fire, but the Obsidian Flames Charizard ex is a Darkness-type Tera Pokémon ex with 330 HP — and that typing twi...
Most Charizard cards breathe fire, but the Obsidian Flames Charizard ex is a Darkness-type Tera Pokémon ex with 330 HP — and that typing twist changes everything about how it attacks, what it fears, and which decks can run it.
What Charizard ex Does
Charizard ex — Stage 2 Darkness Pokémon from Obsidian Flames (card #125 of 197), 330 HP, Double Rare. Evolves from Charmeleon.
Infernal Reign (Ability): When you play this Pokémon from your hand to evolve 1 of your Pokémon during your turn, you may search your deck for up to 3 Basic Fire Energy cards and attach them to your Pokémon in any way you like. Then, shuffle your deck.
Burning Darkness — Cost: Fire + Fire. Damage: 180+. This attack does 30 more damage for each Prize card your opponent has taken.
Weakness: Grass ×2. Resistance: none. Retreat Cost: 2.
Which Decks Want It
Fire decks that want a heavy closer run it as a Stage 2 finisher, usually beside Pidgeot ex for consistency. Because it is Darkness-type here, it also slots into lists that splash Darkness attackers — anywhere that needs one huge, escalating swing to close a game.
Related reading: Charizard ex Deck Guide: Building the Pidgeot ex Fire Engine — keep it open for when you finish this one.
Playing With (and Against) It
Burning Darkness grows by 30 for every Prize card your opponent has taken, so the card is at its scariest late. Played early it is merely big; played from behind, it can one-shot almost anything in the format. Keep its Weakness (Grass ×2) in mind when you choose your matchups.
By the Numbers
Charizard ex is one of 21 Pokémon ex printed at Double Rare in Obsidian Flames. Its 330 HP ranks #2 among those 21 ex on raw bulk. The Pokémon also appears in 151, Paldean Fates in the card data we track, so compare printings before you settle on a favorite — our comparison series does exactly that for the era's repeat stars. Its hardest printed hit is Burning Darkness at 180+ damage — the number every Weakness and Resistance calculation in its matchups starts from.
Verdict: Charizard ex earns its spotlight in Obsidian Flames — a card with a clear job, a clear home, and a clear plan for the turns it is on the table. That is more than most cards in any set can say.
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