Andrew Hedrick dragapult: 2026 Regional Deck Guide

Andrew Hedrick’s Dragapult ex list is a control-oriented Pokémon TCG deck built around steady evolution, targeted damage placement, and energy disruption. The recorded list contains 18 Pokémon, 32 Trainer cards, and 10 Energy cards. Its structure favors repeated setup through Drakloak, while Munkidori helps reposition damage counters during longer exchanges.

The list was associated with Andrew Hedrick’s first-place finish at the 2026 Los Angeles Regional Championships. It also emphasizes a less common Dragapult approach: four Crushing Hammer copies, a compact three-color Energy base, and several cards designed to keep resources available into the late game.

Video Highlights:

• Andrew Hedrick played a Dragapult list featuring Crushing Hammer disruption.
• The semifinal match demonstrated careful damage-counter placement against another Dragapult deck.
• Munkidori helped convert scattered damage into meaningful knockout threats.
• Unfair Stamp and Boss’s Orders created pressure during the closing sequence.
• The match ended with Andrew advancing 2–0 in the featured semifinal.

Deck Structure

The evolution line is the deck’s most consistent foundation. Four Dreepy and four Drakloak maximize the chance of developing multiple attackers, while three Dragapult ex provide the primary attacking force without overloading the list with high-stage Pokémon.

The supporting Pokémon each have a distinct role:

• Munkidori moves damage counters and helps convert earlier attacks into later knockouts.
• Dunsparce and Dudunsparce provide additional draw access through the list’s Runaway Draw engine.
• Meowth ex offers a way to find a Supporter when the hand needs a specific effect.
• Fezandipiti ex can refresh the hand after a difficult exchange.
• Budew supports early disruption through Item-lock pressure.

The published Andrew Hedrick list is compact but highly deliberate. Search cards are present in full playsets, while disruption and draw Supporters are distributed to support different game states. This gives the deck several ways to begin a turn: establish a new attacker, refresh the hand, disrupt opposing Energy, or target a vulnerable Pokémon.

Pokémon Line

The four-four-three Dragapult line is the clearest consistency choice. The deck wants to place several Dreepy early, evolve them over consecutive turns, and maintain more than one potential Dragapult ex. This matters because a single damaged attacker can become a poor place to invest a scarce Energy attachment.

Munkidori is especially important in the featured mirror. Damage placed on the board does not always need to remain on the Pokémon that first received it. Moving counters can create a knockout on an opposing support Pokémon, finish a damaged attacker, or protect the deck from an awkward prize sequence.

Trainer Package

The four Crushing Hammers are the most noticeable tactical choice. They are not merely included as occasional disruption; they form a meaningful part of the deck’s plan. Removing an Energy can delay an attack, force an awkward retreat, or make an opponent choose between powering an attacker and maintaining a damaged support Pokémon.

Crispin is equally important because the deck uses Psychic, Fire, and Darkness Energy. Its value increases when the player has already thinned unnecessary cards from the deck and knows which Energy remains available. The featured match repeatedly showed how difficult it can be to find the needed Fire Energy at the exact moment, making careful deck tracking essential.

The deck rewards a measured opening rather than rushing every Pokémon onto the board. Your first objective is to create multiple evolution paths while preserving enough search and recovery to survive disruption.

Opening Priorities

The featured semifinal also illustrated the value of sequencing cards at the end of a turn. Holding Dreepy in hand until the board plan is clear can reduce the time an opponent has to react to the developing position. This is a small habit, but it matters in open-decklist tournament play, where both players can anticipate likely lines.

When the opponent is under Item pressure, prioritize cards that remain usable. Supporters such as Lillie’s Determination can rebuild a weak hand, while Meowth ex can locate a needed Supporter if the board still offers a safe opportunity to use it. Avoid discarding recovery or Energy cards simply to improve a short-term search unless the exchange clearly improves your next attack.

Dragapult ex matches are often decided before the final attack. The important choices involve where damage is placed, which Energy is removed, and whether a damaged attacker should remain active or retreat.

Tactical Comparison

The featured mirror showed why damage should be distributed with a purpose. Andrew Hedrick repeatedly positioned counters so that a later Phantom Dive could threaten multiple targets. This approach can make the opponent’s next turn uncomfortable: attaching to the active Pokémon may leave a benched Pokémon exposed, while retreating can consume Energy that was needed for an attacker.

Munkidori adds another layer. If an opposing Pokémon already carries damage, moving those counters may create a knockout without using the main attacker’s damage placement. However, the Darkness Energy used for this effect also represents a resource that cannot be attached elsewhere during the same turn. The correct play depends on whether the transfer changes the prize race or merely shifts damage without producing a concrete advantage.

Crushing Hammer should be evaluated in context. A successful flip can remove the only Energy from an attacker, force an opponent to use Crispin defensively, or strand a Pokémon in the active position. In the Los Angeles semifinal, a heads result against a key Energy helped swing the game after both players had spent several turns building their boards.

Late-Game Checklist

The recorded 2026 Los Angeles Regional performance highlights a broader lesson for Dragapult players: a strong list still requires disciplined planning. Andrew Hedrick’s build had several turns where the needed Fire Energy did not appear immediately, yet the deck remained competitive because its other resources were preserved.

The list’s three Boss’s Orders create a reliable targeting package, while four Poké Pad copies help recycle Supporters after the first wave of setup. Night Stretcher is limited to two copies, so discarded Pokémon and Energy should be treated as meaningful late-game resources rather than disposable search costs.

For the full card-by-card reference, see the Andrew Hedrick Dragapult decklist on Limitless.

Key Matchup Lessons

Recommended Play Pattern

Start by building Dreepy and Drakloak access. Next, identify which attacker can safely receive the Fire Energy requirement. Use Crushing Hammer when removing Energy changes the opponent’s immediate attack plan, not merely because the card is available. Then place Phantom Dive damage so that Munkidori, Boss’s Orders, or a second attack can convert the spread into prizes.

This deck is most effective when each turn supports the next two turns. Search cards should improve future access, Energy should remain flexible, and damage should be placed with a known target in mind. That approach mirrors the controlled endgame shown in the featured semifinal, where Andrew secured multiple winning routes rather than relying on one narrow topdeck.