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t’s almost time for the 2026 Europe International Championships (EUIC) in London, England! Players from across the globe will showcase their skills in this epic tournament. In anticipation of the event, we’ll examine the decks poised to make waves this season. Our team of experts—Stéphane Ivanoff, Natalie Millar, Tord Reklev, Christopher Schemanske, and Ellis Longhurst—will share insights on the decks expected to shine, especially with the recent announcement that Mega Evolution—Ascended Heroes won’t be Standard-legal until after the EUIC weekend.
There’s much to discuss among these four impactful decks, and it’ll be exciting to see which Trainers emerge victorious at EUIC, slated for February 13–15, 2026. You can catch all the action live on Pokemon.com/Broadcasts.
Following a historic run, Gardevoir ex’s reign in the Standard format is nearing its end. Rarely has any deck maintained such a dominating presence, capturing Championship titles with its remarkable Energy acceleration and synergy with cards like Scream Tail and Drifloon. With its popularity among elite players, Gardevoir ex remains formidable.
The last time Gardevoir ex didn’t win at an International or World Championships was at EUIC 2025. Expect to see multiple Gardevoir ex players in contention for Championship Sunday. As divisions clash, it would be surprising if Gardevoir ex isn’t in the winner’s spotlight.
While there are few innovations to Gardevoir, it stands as the best deck currently—arguably one of the best in Pokémon TCG history. — Christopher Schemanske
Dragapult ex has been a strong contender for a while, recently celebrating success in Europe, including a win at Birmingham Regionals. Its strategy is robust, employing Budew to block Item cards and Drakloak for card draw, making it formidable in matchups. While players typically solidify about 55 to 57 cards for the deck, the remaining slots can be a game-changer.
Look for Munkidori’s Adrena-Brain Ability or Moltres for its ability to damage Gholdengo ex. With evolving matchups and deck optimizations, Dragapult ex is a mainstream choice ahead of London. — Natalie Millar
Though Gholdengo ex didn’t get any new tools from Mega Evolution—Phantasmal Flames, its existing strengths hold it in good stead. Its ability to KO any Pokémon and draw cards continually makes it the crowd favorite at Regional Championships, likely to hold strong at EUIC. However, its linear strategy can lead to struggles against certain situational threats, yet it remains a viable contender for the title. — Stéphane Ivanoff
Charizard ex remains competitive but its efficacy against other leading decks is uncertain. The rise of Noctowl in Charizard ex decks creates vulnerabilities against cards like Team Rocket’s Watchtower. Players may need to deviate from the Noctowl strategy, as seen recently at major tournaments. Expect various interpretations of Charizard ex at EUIC. — Ellis Longhurst
Tord Reklev: The EUIC promises a fierce competition primarily among four strong contenders: Gardevoir ex, Dragapult ex, Gholdengo ex, and Charizard ex. Each deck possesses unique advantages, yet none appear to have a definitive edge over the others, setting the stage for an intriguing showdown.
Christopher Schemanske: While Gardevoir ex is a strong pick, past EUICs have also seen surprises. It will be exciting to see who emerges victorious this year.
Ellis Longhurst: Keep an eye on emerging players, especially those from Japan, whose strategies continue to evolve and impact the global stage. Notable performances from Japanese players at recent championships indicate a force to be reckoned with at the EUIC.
Don’t miss the EUIC action, streaming live on Twitch.tv/PokemonTCG February 13-14 and on Twitch.tv/pokemon for Championship Sunday on February 15! For more Pokémon TCG insights, visit Pokemon.com/Strategy.
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