Build a Budget Minior Deck in Pokémon TCG

In TCG ·

Minior card art from Guardians Rising (SM2-77) showing the vibrant Fighting-type Pokémon in a dynamic pose

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Meet Minior: a budget-friendly powerhouse in Expanded formats ⚡

For players chasing a lean, budget-conscious deck that still hits hard, Minior from Guardians Rising (SM2) is a fascinating option. This tiny Basic Fighting-type Pokémon comes with a high-risk, high-reward payoff: a reliable early damage option via Swift and a devastating burst with Cosmicsplosion that can swing games in a single in-game turn. With 70 HP, a modest retreat cost, and a respectable resistance, Minior embodies the spirit of a budget strategy—work with what you have, maximize efficiency, and strike decisively when the moment is right.

Card snapshot: what Minior brings to your binder and bench

  • Name: Minior
  • Set: Guardians Rising (SM2)
  • Rarity: Rare
  • Type: Fighting
  • HP: 70
  • Stage: Basic
  • Attacks:
    • Swift – Cost: Colorless; 20 damage. Important note: This attack’s damage isn’t affected by Weakness, Resistance, or any other effects on your opponent’s Active Pokémon.
    • Cosmicsplosion – Cost: Fighting, Fighting, Fighting; 190 damage. This Pokémon is Knocked Out.
  • Weakness: Lightning x2
  • Resistance: Fighting -20
  • Retreat: 1
  • Illustrator: Naoki Saito
  • Legal in Expanded (not standard as of latest update)
  • Card variants: Normal, Reverse, and Holo

In the art and lore of the Pokémon TCG, Minior’s shell-tight silhouette hides a core that can detonate with cosmic force—an energy burst that translates nicely to a ladder-climbing tactic on the table: chip away early, threaten a game-ending play, and entice your opponent into overextending. Naoki Saito’s artwork for this card captures that compact, meteor-red urgency that makes Minior a memorable addition to any deck—especially one built on a shoestring budget.

“Cosmicsplosion isn’t just a big number; it’s a calculated risk. If you’ve set up the right moment, you can slam a game-wide problem with one explosive attack—at the cost of leaving Minior KO’d.”

Budget deckbuilding: how to make Minior sing without breaking the bank

Minior’s low cost to attack (Swift for a safe 20 and Cosmicsplosion as a heavy-hitting finisher) makes it an attractive centerpiece for fledgling Expanded decks. The budget angle comes from focusing on value cards that convincingly support a quick, consistent setup and a clean, one-turn payoff with Cosmicsplosion. Here are practical guidelines to build around Minior without overspending:

  • Early-stage tempo with Swift: Use Swift to poke at opponent’s Active Pokémon while you assemble your bench. Because Swift’s damage isn’t altered by weaknesses or resistances, you’re banking on clean, predictable output that helps you stay in the game while you search for energy and support to enable Cosmicsplosion.
  • Energy tempo and acceleration: Prioritize attaching basic Fighting Energy efficiently and consider budget-friendly energy support that helps you reach three Fighting energies quickly. In Expanded, you’ll find cost-effective energy tools and supporters that keep your hand refreshed and your engine firing without inflating the price tag.
  • Bench diversification with low-cost fighters: Fill the bench with inexpensive, readily accessible Fighting types that can trade efficiently and keep Minior safe from sledgehammer KO threats. The goal is to weather early trades and align your Cosmisplosion window when the opponent’s key threats are damaged or prize-traded.
  • Prize trade awareness: Cosmicsplosion is a knockout, so plan for a deliberate prize trade: you’ll likely give up Minior to finish the match, but the payoff can swing the game in your favor if you’ve cornered the opponent’s board with your other attackers or stoppers.
  • Supporters and draw on a budget: Lean on affordable draw engines and search options available in Expanded to stay consistent—think cards that help you find Minior, energy, and basic attackers without piling on cost.
  • Repairing and recovery: In a cheap build, recovery options help you keep pressure even after you lose Minior. Put differently, you want a plan that keeps pressure on your opponent while you rebuild energy and attackers for the next push.

For collectors and players, Minior also offers a neat value proposition. The card’s pricing in modern markets is approachable, with Cardmarket showing average values around 0.53 EUR for non-holo copies and holo variants often hovering under a couple dollars depending on condition and market trends. On TCGPlayer, holo and reverse-holo copies can dip to the low single digits, with mid prices commonly around $0.46 and highs that might peak around $2 for highly sought-after runs. That makes Minior a fantastic entry point into a fun, competitive expanded deck without demanding a wallet-splitting investment.

Art, collectability, and market vibes

Beyond raw numbers, the Minior you’re picking up contributes to a broader Guardians Rising collection narrative. The set is known for its vibrant energy and diverse mechanics, and Naoki Saito’s dynamic illustration on this card captures the kinetic moment of a meteor storm—perfect for fans who love explosive artwork and a bit of cosmic flavor in their binders. Whether you’re chasing a normal print, a reverse holo, or a truly shiny holo, Minior’s presence in your deck is a small but bright beacon of playability and collectability in Expanded environments.

Putting it all together: a practical, budget-friendly approach

In practice, a budget Minior deck thrives on a tight, consistent engine and a decisive, high-damage finisher. If you’re aiming to learn Expanded play patterns while keeping costs down, start with a few Minior copies, keep your energy ratio manageable, and cultivate a strategy that pressures your opponent’s board while you secure the late-game Cosmo-finisher. The payoff is a deck that feels fast, hits hard when needed, and remains approachable for players new to the Expanded format.

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