Best decks in Pokémon TCG Pocket, ranked

Building a deck in Pokémon TCG Pocket is completely different from the standard TCG, as the strategy, card quantity, and playstyle are unique to the mobile app. While it is possible to perform well with any of the decks in the game, some stand out from the crowd as must-plays.

Here’s a complete tier list for the best decks in Pokémon TCG Pocket, including the key cards for each entry and tips on how to play them effectively. We’ve also included the best solo decks in Pocket to help you speed through the game’s solo battle feature and claim plenty of prizes.

Pokémon TCG Pocket best decks tier list

As decks in Pokémon TCG Pocket only have 20 cards, you’ll likely be able to build most of the decks in this list or at least find a working variant of them. Full card lists will vary depending on where you look, but we’ll include our best deck lists as we create them, so check back.

If you’re missing a key card and you’re out of packs or points, take a look at Wonder Pick and see if you can spin the wheel to get a copy from a friend.

It’s not guaranteed that you’ll get the card you need, of course, but strong cards can appear in Wonder Pick, so it’s worth checking. There are often events in-game surrounding the Wonder Pick feature too, so this feature is important to keep an eye on as a competitive player.

We’ve ranked these competitive decks from worst to best, but all seven are competitively viable and worth trying out if you have the cards ready to go. They all have vastly different playstyles, with some being purely offensive and others offering solid control over your opponent.

7) Venusaur ex

Out of all the starter Pokémon decks, Venusaur ex stands out from the crowd. It has high potential damage, alongside plenty of Energy control and self-healing abilities. It’s also fun to play, offering plenty of flexibility and survivability.

Featuring the maximum copies of Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, and Venusaur ex, this deck usually features the Lilligant line for extra Energy movement or the Victreebel line for additional control. Venusaur ex is a tank in terms of HP, and the extra utility of Giant Bloom healing while doing damage is invaluable.

Erika and Sabrina should be at the top of the list if you’re planning to play this deck. Erika’s ability to top up Grass-type Pokémon with 50 HP can come in handy while setting up, and Sabrina is inarguably one of the most essential Supporters in the game.

6) Charizard ex

Charizard ex is a powerhouse in the standard form of the Pokémon TCG, and it’s already made a splash in Pokémon TCG Pocket. It’s a bit of a technical deck to get onto the battlefield, but once it’s in motion, it’s hard for an opponent to take it out in one go.

A good Charizard deck list in Pokémon TCG Pocket should feature two copies of Charmander, Charmeleon, and Charizard ex, along with one or two Moltres ex copies. Variants may include the Arcanine ex line, too, as Arcanine ex is a sturdy attacker that can take a few hits.

Charizard ex is the star of the show in terms of damage output and survivability, and the inclusion of Moltres ex provides an extra source of damage if needed.

Sabrina is an essential Trainer for this deck, giving the user control over the opponent’s cards. Adding a Red Card or two into the mix can make this even more effective, stopping your opponent from being able to find their cards or get key players into position.

Charizard ex can struggle to get off the ground thanks to its high Energy requirements, but with the right Trainers and support, it’s a fun deck that can do a solid amount of damage, although it’s not as powerful as it once was with the addition of new cards in Mythical Island.

5) Mewtwo ex

With a similar ability to its standard Pokémon TCG counterpart, Gardevoir is one of the most interesting Stage Two Pokémon that you can add to a Psychic-type deck. It does take a minute to set up, but once it’s in motion, it’s a fantastic tool.

It fits into the Mewtwo ex deck list perfectly, offering unparalleled control and easy set-up, and it also works brilliantly in a Mew ex deck list, too. Both are viable and worth experimenting with, but in terms of sheer power, Mewtwo ex with a Mew ex support takes this spot on our list.

Gardevoir isn’t the most lethal in terms of damage, but being able to move Energy around so freely every turn makes setting up a breeze—and it’s an incredible tool to have on hand when trying to set up Mewtwo ex with Psydrive, too.

Plenty of variants on the best Mewtwo ex deck list exist, featuring everything from the Weezing line to one of the Legendary birds.

If you’re planning to play this deck, we’d suggest keeping it as simple as possible, utilizing the Gardevoir line to get Mewtwo ex in position and ready to deal out heavy attacks. Mew ex can be a worthy addition to this deck as mentioned, but if you don’t have it, a solo Mewtwo ex deck still works wonders.

4) Celebi ex

Joining the game with the Mythical Island themed booster pack on Dec. 17, 2024, Celebi ex is the best Grass-type deck in Pocket.

This deck is centered around the stacking attack Powerful Bloom, which lets the user flip a coin for every Energy Token attached to Celebi ex. It deals 50 damage for every heads, which has the potential to deal lethal damage for just two Energy tokens.

The other Pokemon in this deck usually include Dhelmise and the Serperior line. Dhelmise can deal a potential 90 damage for just one Energy Token, which can be a Knock Out in the early game and still make a considerable dent in the later stages.

Serperior has Energy efficiency for days with Jungle Totem, claiming double Energy Tokens to help it set up for Solar Beam easier. In our best Celebi ex deck list, we opted to scrap Dhelmise and focus exclusively on the Serperior line, as it’s performing beautifully in competitive matches right now.

To complement the heavy-hitters in this list, there are plenty of useful supporting cards to help get Celebi ex set up and into position. Erika helps with healing Grass-type ‘mons and Sabrina offers control over the opponent’s Pokemon, while X Speed provides a quick retreat if needed.

Despite having a reliance on coin flips to enter Knock Out territory, Celebi ex is still a surprisingly consistent deck. Other variants of it exist that feature everything from Mew ex to Exeggutor, showcasing how versatile this card can be.

3) Pikachu ex

Seeing Magneton, Pikachu ex, and Zapdos ex lumped together may look strange at first, but this is currently one of the biggest decks in Pocket. It’s quick, it hits hard, and it’s enjoyable to play as well.

This trio of zappy critters has the potential to one-shot a large portion of opponents thanks to the Circle Circuit and Thundering Hurricane attacks. Magneton is an easy set-up choice, too, thanks to its Volt Charge ability, and Supporters like Lt. Surge help to make Energy movement painless.

If you’re keen on playing fast-paced decks that involve a little RNG, make sure to take a look at our guide to the best Pikachu ex deck list in the game. Our list features the Electrode line alongside Zapdos and Zapdos ex to maximize potential damage output, keeping it fast and deadly.

It’s a lot of fun to bring to a battle, and it’s not overly complex or heavy on set-up requirements, either. If you’re just getting started with Pocket, this is arguably the best deck you can start off building to get into the game.

2) Articuno ex

The meta in Pocket has already shifted dramatically since the arrival of Mythical Island, with many players discovering how beneficial it can be to move away from Pokémon-heavy decks. With only 20 card slots in a deck, leaving a few Pocket Monsters at home can make a real difference.

The best example of this is the Articuno ex deck, because it tends to feature Articuno ex, either paired with Frosmoth or as a solo deck. Ideally, it should feature the maximum copies of Misty, Sabrina, and Giovanni, along with plenty of Item cards to set up with.

Relying on a couple of Pokémon to get the job done can feel risky, but Articuno ex is one of the most impressive ‘mons in the game thanks to Blizzard’s Bench sniping capabilities and high HP.

It’s also hard to get rid of in one go, meaning it can be swapped out easily with an item like X Speed and healed back up on the Bench while another Pokémon takes the Active Position.

Frosmoth having the ability to inflict sleep makes it even more lethal. Sleep is the most valuable Special Condition in the game, offering you the chance to completely neutralize a threat and swing the match back in your favor.

1) Starmie ex

Following on from the Articuno deck, Starmie ex is the unlikely hero of Pocket, taking the title of the best Water-type deck in the game. With no Retreat Cost and a remarkably cheap 90 damage attack, this strange aquatic critter is a lethal weapon on the battlefield.

Pairing it with Articuno ex—and sometimes the Greninja line for Bench sniping capabilities—makes this deck incredibly aggressive. Articuno ex can whittle away at Benched Pokémon while dealing 80 damage to the Active, and it’s sturdy enough to survive a few hits.

Misty is an invaluable addition to this deck, and she’s one of the most impressive Supporters in the game alongside Sabrina. Despite being RNG-dependent with the coin flipping, this Trainer can theoretically set up either Starmie ex or Articuno ex in an instant.

Alongside Misty and Sabrina, this deck usually features the combination of Giovanni and Red Card to help your Pokémon hit even harder and prevent the opponent from being able to set up effectively. It’s Energy-rich and fast-paced, which is just what a good Pocket deck needs.

Best solo decks in Pokémon TCG Pocket

It’s not just PvP matches in Pocket that require you to have a good deck list at your disposal. The solo mode features various matches of Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, and Expert difficulty, and having the right card list is crucial if you want to win.

The deck that you face off against in these matches will vary each time—for example, the first two decks you battle in Beginner mode are starter decks featuring Ivysaur, Charmeleon, and Wartortle—so the best deck for each match will vary based on type.

Additionally, each battle’s Battle Tasks (small missions or quests) will vary. If you’re hoping to get as many Shop Tickets and other rewards out of the solo mode as possible, pay attention to these—they’re visible in the top section of the solo battle screen, next to the deck preview image.

Some may task you with achieving a Knock Out with a Fire-type Pokémon specifically, for example, or winning the battle by a particular turn. Taking a few different decks into the solo mode is worthwhile, as it gives you more flexibility to complete the Battle Tasks and counter any difficult match-ups.

It is possible to stick to just one deck when doing solo matches, though, provided you’re happy to skip a few rewards or change your card list after each match. The best decks that we’d suggest for Pocket’s solo mode are:

• Charizard ex, featuring Arcanine ex and Moltres ex
• Mewtwo ex, with Gardevoir
• Starmie ex, either solo or with Articuno ex
• Marowak ex, with Machamp ex

These decks are fun to play and consistent for the most part, with Marowak’s coin flips being the only true luck-based element on the list. We’d suggest using different decks throughout your solo adventure, though, to maximize rewards and complete the Battle Tasks as quickly as possible.

It’s a great way to test your skills and learn how to play new decks that you might not have picked up in the first place. As an added bonus, trying out new card lists in Pokémon TCG Pocket can help you understand your opponents more effectively in PvP matches.