Destined Rivals prints theme decks inside the set, and Cynthia's is the most complete: her Gible, Gabite, Garchomp ex, and even Cynthia...
Destined Rivals prints theme decks inside the set, and Cynthia's is the most complete: her Gible, Gabite, Garchomp ex, and even Cynthia's Roserade all carry her name, and the cards are designed to be played together.
The Core Cards
- Cynthia's Garchomp ex — Stage 2 Fighting, 330 HP, from Destined Rivals. Attacks: Corkscrew Dive, Draconic Buster.
- Cynthia's Roserade — Stage 1 Grass, 130 HP, from Destined Rivals. Ability: Cheer On to Glory; Attacks: Leaf Step.
- Cynthia's Gible — Basic Fighting, 70 HP, from Destined Rivals. Attacks: Rock Hurl.
- Cynthia's Gabite — Stage 1 Fighting, 100 HP, from Destined Rivals. Ability: Champion's Call; Attacks: Dragonslice.
The Game Plan
The plan is a classic Stage 2 climb with thematic support at every step: Cynthia's Roserade line contributes from the Bench while the Garchomp line assembles (read the printed text on each — the set's coverage has them all). Garchomp ex itself is the payoff: 330 HP of Fighting pressure that shrugs off the trades other closers lose. Because every key card is in one set, this is one of the most self-contained builds in the Scarlet & Violet era.
Related reading: Cynthia's Garchomp ex Card Spotlight: A 330 HP Fighting Flagship — keep it open for when you finish this one.
The Prize Map
Every deck should know its own scoreboard. Your flagship, Cynthia's Garchomp ex, gives up 2 Prizes when it falls, so the route to six usually runs through it exactly twice, with single-Prize support taking the early trades. The core above is drawn from Destined Rivals, which is also your shopping list in order: flagship first, evolution line second, support last.
Testing Checklist
- Goldfish test: is Cynthia's Garchomp ex in play and powered by turn three in at least 8 of 10 solo runs?
- First-Prize test: which Pokémon takes the first Prize while Cynthia's Garchomp ex is still developing?
- Recovery test: after Cynthia's Garchomp ex is Knocked Out, who takes the next two Prizes — and is that plan in the deck, or in your hopes?
Budget Roles and Alternatives
Staying inside one set is the budget strategy here: Destined Rivals boosters build this deck by accident. If Garchomp ex is the missing piece, other Fighting Stage 2 attackers can hold the flagship role while you complete the set — the support cast does not care who finishes.
Build the engine first, goldfish the first three turns until they are boring, and only then start swapping in tech. Every deck in this series rewards that order of operations.
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