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.

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.

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) Marowak ex

Relying on coin flips in Pokémon TCG Pocket can be risky, but when it falls in your favor, the payoff is incredible. Marowak ex is a deck that requires solid Energy management and a little bit of luck, with both Marowak ex and Machamp ex taking center stage.

Machamp ex has the attack Mega Punch, which costs three Fighting Energy and does 120 damage without any additional effects. It’s expensive, but if you manage to set it up quickly, it can be a One Hit Knock Out for most opposing Pokémon.

Marowak ex has access to Bonemarang, which only costs two Fighting Energy and has the potential to deal 160 damage. To use it, you’ll need to flip two coins, dealing 80 damage for each heads. It’s a luck-dependent attack, but when it works, it’s lethal.

To work alongside these two powerhouse Pokémon ex cards, this deck also features Cubone for damage reduction, Hitmonchan for cheap damage output, and the rest of the Machamp line for additional damage.

There are plenty of Supporters in this deck too, with Sabrina, Giovanni, X Speed, Poké Ball, and Professor’s Research to help you find the cards you need and control your opponent’s actions somewhat. It’s not the most Supporter-heavy deck on this list, but the cards do the trick.

6) 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.

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.

5) 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 to stop it.

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. Some variants may include the Arcanine ex line, too, as Arcanine ex is a sturdy attacker.

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.

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. The addition of Moltres ex makes it even more lethal.

4) 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 fits into the Mewtwo ex deck list perfectly, offering unparalleled control and easy set-up.

It’s not 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.

The inclusion of a Pokémon like Hypno could prove to be valuable, for example, thanks to its ability’s chance to put an enemy ‘mon to sleep.

There aren’t too many Mewtwo ex variants kicking around the game right now, although this is likely to change as the meta develops further. Mewtwo ex has remained one of the most popular cards in the game so far, thanks to its damage output and its immersive card design.

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 Pokémon TCG 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.

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 Pokémon TCG Pocket, this is arguably the best deck you can start off building to get into the game.

2) Articuno ex

As the meta in Pokémon TCG Pocket is starting to find its feet, competitive players are starting to discover the benefits of experimenting with low-Pokémon decks.

The best example of this is the Articuno ex deck, as 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.

Frosmoth having the ability to inflict sleep makes it even more lethal. Sleep is arguably 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 Pokémon TCG Pocket right now. 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 a little 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 irritating combination of Giovanni and Red Card to help your Pokémon hit even harder and prevent the opponent from being able to set up effectively.

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. A solo mode features 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.

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.