Delta Reign: The Talonflame ex Deck

Delta Reign brings a fast deck built around Talonflame ex. The Stage 2 Pokémon goes straight from your hand onto the Bench as soon as a Colorless Mega Evolution Pokémon ex is in play, and hits for 150 right away. The set releases on November 6, 2026.

The attacker: Talonflame ex

Talonflame ex from Delta Reign
Talonflame ex, so far only as an English scan.
  • Stage 2, 280 HP, Colorless type, no Retreat Cost
  • Ability Excited Dive: If Talonflame ex is in your hand and you have a Colorless Mega Evolution Pokémon ex in play, you put it straight onto your Bench.
  • Claw Hunt for two Colorless Energy: 150 damage, and you search your deck for up to 2 cards of your choice.

Because Talonflame ex has no Retreat Cost, it can switch out at any time. With Energy Switch it takes the Energy from another Pokémon and attacks in the same turn.

The Mega partners

Mega Rayquaza ex 084/103 from Delta Reign
Mega Rayquaza ex 084/103 powers itself up when you play it.
  • Mega Rayquaza ex (Delta Reign 084/103): Its Ability Gebrüll des Herrschers looks at the top 4 cards when you play it onto your Bench and attaches a Basic Energy from among them to Mega Rayquaza ex. Sturmsmaragd does 50 damage for each Fire and Lightning Energy attached to all of your Pokémon.
  • Mega Kangaskhan ex (Mega Evolution 104/132): Run Errand draws 2 cards once per turn while it is in the Active Spot. It is the deck's draw engine.

Both are Colorless Mega Evolution Pokémon ex, so both unlock Talonflame ex's Excited Dive.

Mega Kangaskhan ex 104/132 from Mega Evolution
Mega Kangaskhan ex draws two cards in the Active Spot.

Energy and switching

  • Ethan's Ho-Oh ex (Destined Rivals): Golden Flame attaches up to 2 Basic Fire Energy from your hand to one of your Ethan's Pokémon on the Bench once per turn.
  • Abenteuerlaterne (Delta Reign 090/103): puts a Basic Fire Energy and a Basic Lightning Energy from your deck into your hand.
  • Latias ex (Surging Sparks): With Skyliner your Basic Pokémon have no Retreat Cost. That moves Mega Kangaskhan ex in and out of the Active Spot for its Ability.
  • Meowth ex (Perfect Order) finds a Supporter card, Fezandipiti ex draws 3 cards when one of your Pokémon is Knocked Out.
Ethan's Ho-Oh ex 230/182 from Destined Rivals
Ethan's Ho-Oh ex speeds up the Fire Energy.

The new Stadium: Legendäre Lavaröhre

Legendäre Lavaröhre 094/103 from Delta Reign
The left half of Legendäre Lavaröhre, 094/103.

Delta Reign introduces Stadium cards made of two halves that can only be played together. Legendäre Lavaröhre (094/103 and 095/103) makes Evolution Pokémon in play have no Abilities, on your side and your opponent's. That hits popular engines like Dudunsparce, Dusknoir or Blaziken ex. The Talonflame deck itself loses almost nothing: its Mega Evolution Pokémon ex are Basic Pokémon, and Talonflame ex uses its Ability from the hand.

The complete deck list

Pokémon: 14

  • 4x Mega Kangaskhan ex (Mega Evolution)
  • 2x Talonflame ex (Delta Reign)
  • 2x Mega Rayquaza ex (Delta Reign)
  • 2x Latias ex (Surging Sparks)
  • 2x Ethan's Ho-Oh ex (Destined Rivals)
  • 1x Fezandipiti ex (Ascended Heroes)
  • 1x Meowth ex (Perfect Order)

Trainer cards: 30

  • 3x Cyrano (Surging Sparks)
  • 3x Boss's Orders (Ascended Heroes)
  • 2x Matt (Surging Sparks)
  • 2x Lillie's Determination (Mega Evolution)
  • 2x Richter (Perfect Order)
  • 4x Energy Switch (Mega Evolution)
  • 4x Ultra Ball (Ascended Heroes)
  • 2x Switch (Mega Evolution)
  • 2x Abenteuerlaterne (Delta Reign)
  • 1x Unfair Stamp (Twilight Masquerade)
  • 2x Legendäre Lavaröhre 094/103 (Delta Reign)
  • 2x Legendäre Lavaröhre 095/103 (Delta Reign)
  • 1x Belebtes Stadion (Surging Sparks)

Energy cards: 15

  • 10x Basic Fire Energy
  • 5x Basic Lightning Energy

As published, the list adds up to 59 cards. The strategy section of the source also names Reshiram ex (White Flare) as a late-game attacker. Its attack Flammen-Ausbruch does 130 damage plus 50 for each Prize card your opponent has already taken. It is very likely the missing 60th card.

Is the deck worth it?

Talonflame ex and Mega Rayquaza ex are the new cards from Delta Reign, the rest comes from sets that are already out. The deck lives on tempo: Mega Kangaskhan ex draws cards, Talonflame ex enters play without evolving and searches two cards every turn with Claw Hunt. More about the set is in Delta Reign: Everything you need to know.

Delta Reign is largely based on the Japanese expansion Storm Emeralda. You can already get it from us as a Japanese display with 30 booster packs. Want the German version at release? Sign up via the contact form or join our Discord.

Source: PokeZentrum, October 24, 2026. Card texts taken from the card scans, Talonflame ex only as an English scan; card and attack names without a confirmed English name are kept in German. Differences from the source: the list counts 14 instead of the stated 15 Pokémon, the text calls the Stadium “Legendärer Lavasee” while the card reads Legendäre Lavaröhre, and Mega Rayquaza ex is listed under Storm Emeralda there, meaning the German Delta Reign card. According to the card, Ethan's Ho-Oh ex attaches the Energy to an Ethan's Pokémon on the Bench.

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