Pokemon TCG Pocket's best decks to build and play with
Here are some of the best decks to build right now in Pokemon TCG Pocket, with suggestions of alternative free-to-play cards to use in the interim while you wait to pull those rare ex cards.
UPDATE 18/11/24: We've been hard at work putting together more Pokemon TCG Pocket deck build guides that include cards from the Mythical Island mini-set introduced on 17 December 2024.
Pokemon TCG Pocket currently boasts over 200 cards for players to collect, and with enough of those — and plenty of duplicates — players can build some impressive decks to battle with. Consisting of just 20 cards, these decks don’t require all that much on paper, but the best decks in the casual, mobile TCG require a lot of good luck given the rare cards they feature.
Most of the best decks in Pokemon TCG Pocket are built around rare ex cards, such as Mewtwo ex or Charizard ex, and even if you’ve only one of these to spare, there are still plenty of alternative ‘mons to use alongside them while you wait for the luck of the draw to be on your side. Here are some of the best Pokemon TCG Pocket decks to build and play with, with suggestions of alternate free-to-play friendly cards you can use while you continue your hunt for rare cards.
Best Pokemon TCG Pocket decks to play with
The best Pokemon TCG Pocket decks can be quite costly to build, with many requiring you to have multiple of the same rare cards to really make the most of it. Take the below Charizard ex and Blastoise ex decks, for example, which both require you to have two Charizard ex’s or two Blastoise ex’s respectively, among other cards you may not already have.
With this in mind, we have attempted to offer alternative free-to-play friendly cards in these deck build guides, so that you can experiment with these decks while waiting to pull the remaining cards you need.
On top of that, we’ve also worked on providing some free-to-play friendly deck guides with our Rapidash/Ninetales deck, but these still require that you have many duplicates of Common/Uncommon cards. If you have any other suggestions for free-to-play friendly decks and cards, do let us know in the comments!
Don’t forget that you can also craft cards you need using Pack Points, but be careful not to spend all of these at once; they’re best spent on Trainer Cards before you start saving up for the Pokemon you want.
Pokemon TCG Pocket Charizard ex deck
The best Charizard ex deck in Pokemon TCG Pocket is currently one of the best decks in the game, largely due to the fact that Charizard ex’s Crimson Storm attack is one of the only attacks that can knock out opposing ex Pokemon in a single turn.
- 2x Charizard ex
- 2x Charmeleon
- 2x Charizard
- 2x Moltres ex OR 2x alternative Pokemon
- 1x Meowth
- 2x Professor’s Research
- 2x Poke Ball
- 2x Sabrina
- 2x X Speed
- 1x Red Card
- 2x Potion
Given that Charizard ex is so powerful, he does require a lot of setting up, and a lot of Energy. If you happen to have Moltres ex and get the cards you require early on in the battle, the victory is pretty much all yours unless something goes horribly wrong.
Charizard ex can also be played with other Fire-types that aren’t Moltres ex, but attaching the Energy that Charizard ex requires will take significantly longer, so bear that in mind.
Pokemon TCG Pocket Mewtwo ex deck
The best Mewtwo ex deck in Pokemon TCG Pocket relies on Gardevoir to consistently stack Energy on Mewtwo ex, so they can continuously use their Psydrive attack.
- 2x Mewtwo ex
- 2x Ralts
- 2x Kirlia
- 2x Gardevoir
- 1x Meowth
- 2x Poke Ball
- 2x Potion
- 2x X Speed
- 2x Professor’s Research
- 2 x Sabrina
- 1x Red Card
A free-to-play alternative to this deck, outlined in the above guide, swaps the Gardevoir evolution chain for Weezing. While this deck is not as powerful and will take longer to set up, it’s worth trying if you want to put your Mewtwo ex to work.
Pokemon TCG Pocket Venusaur ex deck
The best Venusaur ex deck in Pokemon TCG Pocket is a personal favorite of mine. This Grass-type deck uses Lilligant to stack Energy onto our primary Pokemon, Venusaur ex, who can attack while healing itself, making it quite the annoying opponent.
- 2x Venusaur ex
- 2x Ivysaur
- 2x Bulbasaur
- 2x Lilligant (can be swapped for 2x Exeggutor ex, or 1x Butterfree)
- 2x Petilil (can be swapped for 2x Exeggcute, or 2x Caterpie and 1x Metapod)
- 2x Poke Ball
- 2x X Speed
- 2x Professor’s Research
- 2x Sabrina
- 2x Erika (can be swapped for 2x Potion)
Accompanying this deck with Erika means you can regularly heal up your Pokemon, making Venusaur ex hard to knock out. You can also attempt this deck with the likes of Exeggutor or Butterfree if you do not have Lilligant, but ultimately, Lilligant is the best ‘mon to use alongside Venusaur ex right now.
Pokemon TCG Pocket Blastoise ex deck
The best Blastoise ex deck in Pokemon TCG Pocket focuses solely on the Water-type ‘mon, but brings along Lapras ex — a high damage, high HP, self-healing Water-type — to tank damage for us while we set Blastoise up.
- 2x Squirtle
- 2x Wartortle
- 2x Blastoise ex
- 1x Lapras ex
- 1x Meowth
- 2x X Speed
- 2x Misty
- 2x Sabrina
- 2x Professor’s Research
- 1x Potion
- 1x Poke Ball
We also bring along Meowth in case worst comes to worst and we need to draw more cards to complete the Blastoise evolution chain. Though, with Professor’s Research and Poke Balls to hand, you could always swap this for another Lapras ex if you’ve got one, or even Articuno ex.
Pokemon TCG Pocket Gengar ex deck
The best Gengar ex deck in Pokemon TCG Pocket isn’t too costly to build provided you have at least two Gengar ex’s already. Paired with Hypno or an alternate Pokemon capable of messing with opponents — be it Jigglypuff, Pigeot, or Weezing — this Gengar ex deck is anti-supporter, and will put many opposing decks in an awkward spot.
- 2x Gengar ex
- 2x Haunter
- 2x Gastly
- 2x Drowzee
- 2x Hypno - you can swap Drowzee/Hypno for Weezing OR Pidgeot evolution chains
- 2x Poke Ball
- 2x Professor’s Research
- 2x Sabrina
- 2x X Speed
- 2x Potion OR 2x Giovanni
Even if you only have one Gengar ex, you can use standard Gengar cards in the meantime. This will make the deck less powerful given that Gengar has less attack power and HP than Gengar ex, but you will still be preventing opposing players from using the likes of Sabrina, Blaine, Misty, and more, which is
Pokemon TCG Pocket Blaine Fire-type deck
The best Blaine deck in Pokemon TCG Pocket is the one of the most free-to-play friendly deck on this list. It transforms the Rapidash deck (one of three decks that can be given to you at the beginning of your time in Pocket) and turns it into a relatively strong Fire-type deck. Though, this arguably has nothing on the Charizard ex deck listed above.
- 2x Ninetales
- 2x Vulpix
- 2x Ponyta
- 2x Rapidash
- 1x Growlithe and 1x Arcanine ex OR 2x Magmar - or you can use Fossil Cards instead
- 2x Poke Ball
- 2x X Speed
- 2x Professor’s Research
- 2x Blaine
- 2x Sabrina
Ninetales and Rapidash are your main damage-dealers here, with Blaine able to bolster their damage even further. There’s plenty of opportunity to customise this deck too. Have Moltres ex to hand? Use them over Arcanine ex. Have neither? Use Magmar to make the most of the Blaine Trainer Card, or even Fossil Cards to keep your main ‘mons safe while you set up.
Pokemon TCG Pocket Lapras ex deck
The best Lapras ex deck in Pokemon TCG Pocket uses just four Pokemon cards; two Lapras ex, and one Staryu/Starmie ex. This is all you need, and it makes for one formidable deck that has had my opponent's constantly conceding whenever I've been using it.
- 2x Lapras ex
- 1x Staryu
- 1x Starmie ex
- 2x Fossil Cards
- 2x Misty
- 2x Sabrina
- 2x Giovanni
- 2x X Speed
- 2x Professor’s Research
- 2x Poke Ball
- 2x Potion
This deck relies on the Misty Supporter Card to quickly stack Lapras ex with Energy. If you're in luck, you can conclude a battle by the time turn three or four rolls around if your opponent unfortunately has no Pokemon on their bench.
Once Lapras ex has energy and can use its Bubble Drain attack, they can dish out damage while healing themselves for 20 HP each attack. If their HP runs too low and you've ran out of Potion Item Cards, you can then switch to the reliable Starmie ex, who needs just two Energy for their 90 damage attack. This deck is, honestly, silly levels of simple, yet incredibly overpowered.
Pokemon TCG Pocket Starmie ex deck
The best Starmie ex deck in Pokemon TCG Pocket needs no introduction, as you have no doubt come across this deck in PvP battles countless times already. This deck uses the Misty Supporter Card to stack Energy on either Articuno ex or Lapras ex while Starmie ex gets to work depleting the opposing Pokemon's HP.
- 2x Staryu
- 2x Starmie ex
- 2x Articuno ex (or 2x Lapras ex)
- 1x Froakie
- 1x Frogadier
- 1x Greninja
- 1x Fossil Card
- 2x Poke Ball
- 2x Professor’s Research
- 2x Misty
- 2x Sabrina
- 1x Giovanni
- 1x X Speed
Given Starmie ex's lack of retreat cost, and the fact it only requires two Energy to do 90 damage, makes them an incredibly powerful Pokemon to use. Once their HP runs low, you can simply switch in the Lapras ex or Articuno ex you have built to finish off the battle. You can do this the other way round, too, if you get lucky with Misty early or draw Articuno ex/Lapras ex before Starmie ex.
Pokemon TCG Pocket Zapdos ex deck
The best Zapdos ex deck in Pokemon TCG Pocket relies on Zapdos ex as our main attacker, but also recruits the likes of Raichu and Lt. Surge to deal a huge attack on an opponent once Zapdos ex' HP runs low.
- 2x Zapdos ex (can swap one of these for Pikachu ex)
- 2x Voltorb
- 2x Electrode
- 1x Pikachu
- 1x Raichu
- 2x Fossil Cards (can swap for 1x Eevee and 1x Jolteon, if needed)
- 2x Lt. Surge
- 2x Poke Ball
- 2x Professor’s Research
- 2x Sabrina
- 2x Potion
You want to put Zapdos ex to work as quickly as possible with this deck, but can use Voltorb and Electrode to dish out damage in the interrim. Fossil Cards act as our counter to the opponent using the Sabrina Supporter Card, so we don't put a low HP Zapdos ex or our Raichu at risk.
When there's only one Pokemon left to knock out, we can then put Raichu into the Active Spot and use Lt. Surge to feed them Energy before dishing out one final devastating attack. That's if our Zapdos ex doesn't manage to do the job quick enough.
Pokemon TCG Pocket Pikachu ex deck
The best Pikachu ex deck in Pokemon TCG Pocket is one that features a lot of rare ex cards, namely multiple copies of Pikachu ex and Zapdos ex. That said, players can also run Pikachu ex alongside Raichu and Lt. Surge for a riskier deck that is a lot of fun to play with, and themed around fan-favourite 'mon, Pikachu.
- 2x Pikachu ex
- 2x Zapdos ex
- 2x Voltorb
- 2x Electrode
- 2x Giovanni
- 2x Potion
- 2x Poke Ball
- 2x Professor’s Research
- 2x Sabrina
- 2x X Speed
If the meta deck outlined above features a few too many rare cards you don't yet have, namely Zapdos ex, then switch out the Zapdos ex and Giovanni cards for Pikachu and Raichu cards. Then, switch out your Potions for Lt. Surge Supporter Cards.
You'll use Pikachu ex in the same way as you would a meta deck, making them do damage while having your bench filled with Electric-type Pokemon, but you can then use Raichu and Lt. Surge to end the battle with a 140 damage attack where needed.
Pokemon TCG Pocket Machamp deck
The best Machamp deck in Pokemon TCG Pocket is free-to-play friendly for the most part, with the two rarest cards you need being copies of Machamp. That said, this deck can easily be made more powerful than it already is by swapping Machamp for Machamp ex, or swapping Mankey and Primeape for Cubone and Marowak ex, if you have them.
- 2x Machamp
- 2x Machoke
- 2x Machop
- 2x Mankey
- 2x Primeape
- 2x Poke Ball
- 2x Professor’s Research
- 2x Sabrina (can be swapped if running Grapploct)
- 2x X Speed
- 2x Potion
All in all, this is a challenging but fun deck to play with when the luck of the draw is on your side. You get to use Primeape to dish out plenty of damage while building Machamp, and given that they're both capable of dealing 100+ damage, they're solid competition for most meta decks if you can get the cards you need fast enough.
Pokemon TCG Pocket Dragonite deck
A Dragonite deck can be built in multiple different ways in Pokemon TCG Pocket given that the Pokemon requires both Electric and Water Energy to use its main attack. Which deck is for you will largely depend on the cards you have available to you, but in our opinion, a Dragonite Water-type deck is the best route to go down if you have some Water-type ex Pokemon.
- 2x Dragonite
- 2x Dragonair
- 2x Dratini
- 2x Lapras ex (can swap for more free-to-play friendly cards)
- 2x Fossil Card
- 2x Poke Ball
- 2x Professor’s Research
- 2x Sabrina
- 2x X Speed
- 2x Potion
If you don't have Water-type ex Pokemon such as Starmie ex, Lapras ex, or Articuno ex, then try Dragonite alongside Electric-type Pokemon such as Pikachu ex, Zapdos ex, and easier to attain Pokemon such as Electrode or Pincurchin.
Pokemon TCG Pocket Alakazam deck
The best Alakazam deck in Pokemon TCG Pocket uses Alakazam to take on opponents, and Hypno to put our opponents to sleep so that they, hopefully, don't attack us back. The great thing about Alakazam is how they punish opposing Pokemon who require multiple Energy, such as Mewtwo ex or Charizard ex.
- 2x Abra
- 2x Kadabra
- 2x Alakazam
- 2x Drowzee
- 2x Hypno
- 2x Poke Ball
- 2x Professor’s Research
- 2x Sabrina
- 2x X Speed
- 2x Potion
Hypno can coin flip from the bench and provided it successfully lands on heads, you can send your opponent's Pokemon to bed. This gives Abra, Kadabra, and Alakazam ample time to build their Energy, evolve, and attack the opposing Pokemon, with Alakazam dealing damage depending on the Energy your opponent's Active Pokemon has. This makes light work of most ex Pokemon.
Pokemon TCG Pocket Vileplume deck
It doesn't get more off meta than a Vileplume deck in Pokemon TCG Pocket, but I've found myself pleasantly surprised by how well this deck can perform against formidable opponents, such as Mewtwo ex and Zapdos ex. Using just two Pokemon evolutions, Lilligant and Vileplume, this deck is all about putting your opponents to sleep and hoping they stay that way.
- 2x Vileplume
- 2x Gloom
- 2x Oddish
- 2x Lilligant
- 2x Cottonee
- 2x Poke Ball
- 2x Professor’s Research
- 2x Erika
- 2x Potion
- 2x Sabrina
Provided the luck of the draw is on your side, you want to have Lilligant poking at opposing Pokemon while loading Vileplume with Energy. When Vileplume is ready or Lilligant is low, switch in Vileplume, attack, and watch your opponent's doze off. Now, you also need to hope they stay asleep!
Pokemon TCG Pocket Celebi ex deck
With the launch of the Mythical Island mini-set comes new deck possibilities in Pokemon TCG Pocket, and this Celebi ex deck — which uses Serperior to double up on Energy — is one of them, quickly putting Grass-type decks such as Venusaur ex to shame.
- 2x Celebi ex
- 2x Serperior
- 2x Servine
- 2x Snivy
- 2x Dhelmise
- 2x Professor’s Research
- 2x Erika
- 2x Poke Ball
- 2x Sabrina
- 2x X Speed
That said, those still collecting cards could try throwing either 'mon — Celebi ex, or Serperior — into their current Grass-type decks and likely still benefit from Serperior's Jungle Totem ability (provided you build them in time!), which makes all Grass-type Energy count as two Energy when attached to a Grass-type Pokemon.
Pokemon TCG Pocket Gyarados ex deck
Gyarados from the Genetic Apex set in Pokemon TCG Pocket is alright, but Gyarados ex — and some new Water-type cards such as Vaporeon — make a Gyarados-focused deck a real possibility. The sea creature requires a lot of Energy to attack, which makes using them over stronger ex cards (such as Articuno ex or Lapras ex) not the greatest of ideas.
- 2x Magikarp
- 2x Gyarados ex (or 2x Gyarados)
- 2x Eevee
- 2x Vaporeon
- 2x Articuno ex
- 2x Misty
- 2x Sabrina
- 2x Leaf (or 2x X Speed)
- 2x Professor’s Research
- 2x Poke Ball
This has changed with the introduction of Mythical Island's Vaporeon and it's Wash Out Ability, which lets you transfer Water-type Energy from your Benched Pokemon onto your Active Pokemon. Use Articuno ex, or whatever strong Water-type you feel like using to kick things off before retreating them. Then, move your Gyarados ex into the Active Spot, transfer the Energy over using Vaporeon, and have them finish off the fight!
For more on Pokemon TCG Pocket, take a look at how to add Flair to your cards, as well as what the rarest cards in the game are.