Pokémon TCG Product Guide: Marnie and Steven Rival Battle Deck + Upgraded Lists!

After the exciting Journey Together set, which reintroduced the Trainer's Partner mechanic, as well as the most recent base set, Destined Rivals, the Pokémon Company decided to release another new product in the west in May.

Remember, at the 2024 Honolulu Pokémon World Championship, the Pokémon Company announced the return of Trainer's Partners with Marnie's Grimmsnarl. It was one of the first cards they revealed.

A bit later, they released a product called "Scarlet & Violet Starter Set ex: Marnie's Morpeko & Grimmsnarl ex / Scarlet & Violet Starter Set ex: Steven's Beldum & Metagross ex" in Japan. It was released on February 21st, 2025, in fact.

Then, on February 26th, they announced this product would be released in the west, most likely on May 16th, 2025.

Japanese version:

Western/Global version:

This product includes:

- A guide for the "starter deck" and another strategy sheet that shows how you can upgrade it.

- A 7-dice set (one, bigger coinflip die, and six other damage counter dice).

- A thematic metallic coin (also meant for coinflips).

- A Deck Box.

- A thematic playmat.

- A digital code for Pokémon TCG Live, so you can access this product on this platform.

The main difference between the international product and a few local products, like the Brazilian one, is that, in certain countries, this product doesn't include the thematic dice, damage counters, or the deck box. It just includes an adapted cardboard box.

In some countries, as well, the Pokémon Company hasn't announced when they'll release it.

Abroad, this product will cost around US$29.99. In Brazil, distributed by Copag, it should cost around US$22.86, considering it won't include some items/accessories. Copag itself usually removes these items to "adapt" it to the Brazilian market.

If you're Brazilian and prefer the original English version, just pray Galápagos brings it to Brazil and sets the same price in dollars.

Product Details: Box, Playmat, and Accessories

Steven

Marnie

Decklists

Steven Decklist

Pokémon: 16

(2x) Steven's Baltoy

(2x) Steven's Claydol

(1x) Steven's Carbink

(2x) Steven's Skarmory

(3x) Steven's Beldum -Regular Art-

(1x) Steven's Beldum -Illustration Rare Art-

(3x) Steven's Metang

(2x) Steven's Metagross ex

Trainers: 29

(4x) Professor's Research [Professor Turo]

(2x) Iono

(2x) Boss's Orders [Ghetsis]

(3x) Drayton

(2x) Granite Cave

(4x) Ultra Ball

(3x) Buddy-Buddy Poffin

(3x) Rare Candy

(1x) Energy Recycler

(1x) Super Rod

(1x) Exp. Share

(3x) Switch

Energies: 15

(7x) Basic Psychic Energy

(8x) Basic Metal Energy

Marnie Decklist

Pokémon: 18

(2x) Marnie's Purrloin

(2x) Marnie's Liepard

(2x) Marnie's Scraggy

(1x) Marnie's Scrafty

(4x) Marnie's Impidimp

(3x) Marnie's Morgrem

(2x) Marnie's Grimmsnarl ex

(1x) Marnie's Morpeko -Regular Art-

(1x) Marnie's Morpeko -Illustration Rare Art-

Trainers: 28

(4x) Professor's Research [Professor Sada]

(2x) Iono

(2x) Boss's Orders [Ghetsis]

(3x) Drayton

(2x) Spikemuth Gym

(4x) Ultra Ball

(3x) Buddy-Buddy Poffin

(3x) Rare Candy

(1x) Energy Recycler

(1x) Super Rod

(1x) Exp. Share

(2x) Switch

Energies: 14

(14x) Basic Darkness Energy

New Cards Review

Pokémon: Steven

Beldum, Metang, & Metagross ex

Beldum

- Attack: Ram (M)(C) - deal 10 damage.

Metang

- Attack: Metal Slash (M)(C) - deal 70 damage. This Pokémon won't be able to attack the next turn.

Metagross ex

- Ability: X-Boot - during your turn, you may look in your deck for a Basic Psychic Energy sv3pt5 207, a Basic Metal Energy SFA 99, or one of each and attach them to your Pokémon, Psychic or Metal. Then, shuffle your deck.

- Attack: Metal Stomp (M)(C)(C) - deal 200 damage.

Carbink

- Ability: Stone Palace - while this Pokémon is on your bench, all of Steven's Pokémon take 30 less damage (after applying weakness and resistance). You can't stack this ability.

- Attack: Magical Shot (P)(C)(C) - deal 80 damage.

Baltoy & Claydol

Baltoy

- Attack: Convening Sign (C) - look in your deck for 2 basic Steven's Pokémon and put them on your bench. Next, shuffle your deck.

- Attack: Psychic Sphere (P) - deal 20 damage.

Claydol

- Attack: Eerie Light (P) - deal 20 damage and the opponent's active Pokémon is Confused.

- Attack: Clay Blast (P)(P)(C) - deal 220 damage and discard all energies attached to this Pokémon.

Skarmory

- Attack: Razor Wing (C)(C) - deal 20 damage.

- Attack: Sonic Double (M)(M)(C) - deal 50 damage to two of your opponent's Benched Pokémon (don't apply weakness or resistance to the bench.)

Pokémon: Marnie

Impidimp, Morgrem & Grimmsnarl ex

Impidimp

- Attack: Filch (C) - draw a card.

- Attack: Corkscrew Punch (D) - deal 10 damage.

Morgrem

- Attack: Corkscrew Punch (D)(D) - deal 60 damage.

Grimmsnarl ex

- Ability: Punk Up - when you play Marnie's Grimmsnarl ex from your hand to evolve one of your Marnie's Morgrem during your turn, you may look in your deck for 5 Basic Darkness Energy SFA 98 and attach them to your Marnie's Pokémon as you'd like. Then, shuffle your deck.

- Attack: Shadow Bullet (D)(D) - deal 180 damage and 30 damage to one of your opponent's Benched Pokémon (don't apply weakness or resistance to the bench.)

Morpeko

- Attack: Spiky Wheel (C)(C)(C) - deal 20 damage plus 40 extra damage for each Darkness energy attached to this Pokémon.

Purrloin & Liepard

Purrloin

- Attack: Sharp Nail (D) - deal 20 damage. If the opponent's active Pokémon is a Pokémon ex, deal an extra 40 damage.

Liepard

- Attack: Pointy Claws (D)(D) - deal 70 damage. If the opponent's active Pokémon is a Pokémon ex, deal an extra 70 damage.

Scraggy & Scrafty

Scraggy

- Attack: Crunch (D)(D)(C) - deal 50 damage and discard one energy from the opponent's active Pokémon.

Scrafty

- Attack: Rear Kick (D) - deal 40 damage.

- Attack: Wild Tackle (D)(D)(C) - deal 160 damage. This Pokémon is then dealt 30 damage.

Trainer: Item

Energy Recycler is a reprint for the Scarlet & Violet block, and is important for the meta in other decks. All we need to find out now is if it will be in the official Destined Rivals card list, or if it will be exclusive to this product.

Trainer: Exclusive Stadiums

- Granite Cave: Steven's Pokémon (yours and your opponent's) take 30 less damage from attacks of your opponent's active Pokémon.

- Spikemuth Gym: in both player's turns, you can look for one of Marnie's Pokémon, reveal it, and put it in your hand. Then, shuffle your deck.

Pokémon

Fezandipiti ex

This Pokémon was first released in Shrouded Fable and then reprinted in the League Battle Deck: Dragapult ex. It stands out for its ability, Flip the Script, which lets you draw three extra cards whenever one of your Pokémon is Knocked Out by enemy attacks.

It is an essential card draw and makes decks more dynamic, particularly in archetypes with "baby" Pokémon because they die more easily. This way, you'll activate this effect constantly.

It will be great in Steven and Marnie decks.

Pecharunt ex

In Marnie's deck, Pecharunt ex SFA 39 will stand out because of its ability, Subjugating Chains, which lets you swap your Benched Darkness Pokémon with your active Pokémon for free. However, it will be Poisoned.

It might seem too much of a drawback, but this will interact with Binding Mochi SFA 55. Essentially, this tool will make your Poisoned Pokémon deal 40 extra damage to the opponent's active Pokémon.

It is critical for Marnie's Grimmsnarl ex, as, with it, it will deal 220 damage instead of 180!

Mundikori

Its ability, Adrena-Brain, lets you move 3 damage counters from your Pokémon to one of your opponent's Pokémon if this Pokémon has one Darkness energy attached.

It will be exceptional in Marnie's deck because, thanks to Grimmsnarl ex's ability (which lets you get up to 5 basic Darkness energies and attach them to Marnie's Pokémon however you like when you evolve Morgrem), then you just have to use Energy Switch sv1 173 to move one of these energies to Munkidori TWM 95 and use its ability.

Trainers

Supporter

This card, besides giving you Items like Ultra Ball and Buddy-Buddy Poffin, will be critical for tools like Technical Machine: Evolution sv4 178.

Stadium

This Stadium lets you look for basic "baby" Pokémon, and, as such, set up the game, but doesn't limit you to only looking for Pokémon with 70 HP, like Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144. We recommend you use at least one copy in these lists, and combine it with their thematic stadiums.

"ACE SPEC" Items

Prime Catcher TEF 157 is an offensive card: it catches your opponent off-guard because it lets you move a key Pokémon from their spot, so you'll be able to use it to Knock them Out whenever you need. It is a way to be more aggressive.

As for Precious Trolley SSP 185, it helps you set up Pokémon on the first few turns. It will most likely be popular among most players that build these thematic decks.

Tools

Technical Machine

With Technical Machine: Evolution sv4 178, you'll evolve key "baby" Pokémon in these decks, namely Steven's Metagross ex and Marnie's Grimmsnarl ex.

Steven - Decklist

Pokémon: 18

(2x) Steven's Baltoy

(2x) Steven's Claydol

(1x) Steven's Carbink

(1x) Steven's Skarmory

(4x) Steven's Beldum

(3x) Steven's Metang

(2x) Steven's Metagross ex

(1x) Mimikyu sv2 97

(1x) Fezandipiti ex SFA 38

(1x) Flutter Mane TEF 78

Trainers: 31

(3x) Iono

(2x) Boss's Orders [Ghetsis]

(3x) Arven sv3 186

(2x) Granite Cave

(1x) Artazon sv2 171

(4x) Ultra Ball

(3x) Buddy-Buddy Poffin

(2x) Nest Ball sv1 181

(3x) Rare Candy

(1x) Night Stretcher SFA 61

(1x) Energy Recycler

(1x) Super Rod

(2x) Switch

(2x) Technical Machine: Evolution sv4 178

(1x) Precious Trolley SSP 185

Energies: 11

(7x) Basic Psychic Energy

(4x) Basic Metal Energy

Marnie - Decklist

Pokémon: 17

(2x) Marnie's Purrloin

(2x) Marnie's Liepard

(4x) Marnie's Impidimp

(3x) Marnie's Morgrem

(2x) Marnie's Grimmsnarl ex

(1x) Marnie's Morpeko

(1x) Fezandipiti ex SFA 38

(1x) Pecharunt ex SFA 39

(1x) Munkidori TWM 95

Trainers: 31

(3x) Iono

(2x) Boss's Orders [Ghetsis]

(4x) Arven sv3 186

(2x) Spikemuth Gym

(1x) Artazon sv2 171

(3x) Ultra Ball

(1x) Nest Ball sv1 181

(3x) Buddy-Buddy Poffin

(3x) Rare Candy

(1x) Energy Recycler

(1x) Super Rod

(1x) Night Stretcher SFA 61

(2x) Energy Switch sv1 173

(2x) Binding Mochi SFA 55

(1x) Technical Machine: Evolution sv4 178

(1x) Precious Trolley SSP 185

Energies: 12

(12x) Basic Darkness Energy

Steven's list is very consistent, particularly when you need to attach energies to your Pokémon. Please note that it is also not limited to a specific archetype, so you can use other "common Pokémon" as attackers, both Metal and Psychic, but preferably basic, to progress your game plan.

You can also invest in some exotic combinations, like Hop's Zacian ex JTG 111.

As for Marnie's list, we have to mention it was quite relevant in Japan. As there aren't many "Bench Blockers" in the format, Grimmsnarl ex's "sniper" attack is efficient. Purrloin and its evolution, Liepard, which deal extra damage against Pokémon ex, could become proper contenders against Mega Gardevoir ex in the future.

What did you think of these lists? Tell us your thoughts in our comment section below.

Thank you for reading, and see you next time!