Pokémon TCG Pocket Best Decks Tier List - Your Guide to Winning (April 2025)

In the Pokémon TCG Pocket, incorporating top-tier cards can significantly elevate the performance of any deck. These top cards, often called "chase cards" by the community, aren't always the rarest ones—though there is some overlap, they aren't necessarily identical. To help you navigate the evolving meta, we've compiled a comprehensive tier list featuring the best decks available. Each entry includes an analysis of their strengths and weaknesses, alongside tips for constructing these powerful decks for your own use. Stay tuned as we break down the current top-tier decks and what makes them stand out in the Pokémon TCG Pocket.

Top-tier Decks Update: March 2025

The current best decks in Pokémon TCG Pocket are laid out in the following tier list.

S Tier Decks (Top Tier)

• Arceus EX (Steel/Grass): This iconic Pokémon pairs effectively with Dialga and Shaymin, creating a formidable strategy.

 

A+ Tier Decks (Nearly Top Tier)

• Rampardos / Sudowoodo (Fighting): Built specifically to counteract ex Pokémon decks, this aggressive build, often referred to as a glass cannon, delivers powerful attacks but faces challenges in late-game endurance.
• Charizard EX (Fire): This deck capitalizes on Moltres EX to energize Charizard EX through its Inferno Dance ability, enabling impressive damage output by strategically switching between Pokémon.
• Palkia EX (Water): Water-themed decks are currently flourishing in the competitive scene, with Palkia EX standing out as a dominant powerhouse. While it has a high energy requirement, cards like Vaporeon, Manaphy, and Misty help to alleviate this burden.
• Weavile EX / Darkrai EX (Dark): Thanks to the Space-Time Smackdown expansion, this highly potent dark-type deck has made its mark, showcasing a robust early game and impressive damage output.

 

A Tier Decks (High Tier)

• Leafeon EX / Celebi EX (Grass): A revamped version of the classic Celebi deck, enhanced with Triumphant Light cards, Leafeon’s ability to generate energy proves to be highly lethal.
• Celebi EX & Serperior (Grass): This combination excels due to Celebi's ability to amplify its strength with each Grass energy attached. Serperior plays a crucial role by doubling the effectiveness of those energies, creating a formidable force.
• Gyarados EX (Water/Fire): Renowned for its formidable strength and resilience, this deck thrives when paired with Misty, greatly increasing your chances of victory.
• Mewtwo EX (Psychic): At the heart of this strategy is Mewtwo EX, supported by Gardevoir on the bench. Gardevoir's capability to quickly energize Mewtwo allows it to unleash staggering damage on opponents.
• Pikachu EX (Electric): Designed for rapid strikes, this deck emphasizes speed, aiming to inflict damage swiftly before opponents can establish their strategies.
• Dialga EX (Metal): This versatile deck focuses on Dialga, allowing it to transfer energy to Pokémon on the bench, enabling them to unleash powerful attacks sooner than expected.
• Starmie EX & Articuno EX (Water): This versatile deck merges high-speed tactics with potent attacks, utilizing a selection of rare cards. Misty occasionally aids in energizing the entire lineup, enhancing the deck's overall performance. 

B Tier Decks

• Venusaur EX (Grass): While it boasts strong healing capabilities, this deck often encounters challenges during the initial phases of the match.
• Marowak EX (Fighting): A fast and budget-friendly fighting deck that leans heavily on chance with coin flips, making it unpredictable.

There are the current best decks in Pokémon TCG Pocket.  It's important to recognize that the decks listed here often feature some of the most elusive cards in the Pokémon TCG Pocket universe. This is a crucial point to consider; assembling these decks right away may not be feasible. Unless you're prepared to invest a significant amount of gold or happen to strike it lucky with your pack openings, acquiring these cards can be quite challenging.

 

Next, we'll go over the benefits and features of each deck type.

Arceus ex deck (S Tier Decks)

Arceus EX from the Pokémon TCG Pocket's latest expansion, Triumphant Light, stands out as a top-tier card, showcasing various powerful deck configurations.Among these, the synergy between Arceus EX and Dialga EX emerges as a particularly potent strategy. The approach involves initiating the game with Dialga EX, while simultaneously transferring energy to a benched Arceus EX to enhance its capabilities swiftly. 

List of Cards:

• Arceus ex (x2)
• Dialga ex (x2)
• Shaymin (Space-Time Smackdown) (x1)
• Shaymin (Triumphant Light) (x1)
• Poke Ball (x2)
• Potion (x2)
• Giant Cape (x2)
• Rocky Helmet (x1)
• Adaman (x1)
• Cyrus (x1)
• Giovanni (x1)
• Sabrina (x2)
• Professor's Research (x2)

Strengths：

• Synergizes with many Triumphant Light Pokémon.
• Fits well with any due to its Colorless typing.
• Boasts a powerful 130-damage Ultimate Force Attack.

Weaknesses: 

• Vulnerable to Fighting, a common attacking type. 
• Requires 3 Energy to attack. 
• Has a high 2 Retreat Cost.

 

Rampardos/Sudowoodo deck (A+ Tier Decks)

The Rampardos Deck, from the Space-Time Smackdown Set in Pokémon TCG, is a Fighting-type Deck. Despite its seemingly unremarkable appearance, it has been performing exceptionally well since Triumphant Light's release.

List of Cards:

• Sneasel (x2)
• Weavile ex (x2)
• Darkrai ex (x2)
• Spiritomb (x2)
• Dawn (x2)
• Cyrus (x2)
• Professor's Research (x2)
• Pokémon Communication (x2)
• X Speed (x2)
• Poke Ball (x2)

Strengths：

• Rampardos's low-cost attack can OHKO Arceus ex and deal meaningful damage to Pokémon who can tank it.
• Very energy-efficient with low-cost Attacks.

Weaknesses: 

• May struggle to find the Pokémon it needs because Rampardos is a Stage 2.
• Weak to Grass Deck.
• Lower health pools.

 

Charizard ex deck (A+ Tier Decks)

The Charizard EX deck stands out as a formidable fire-type contender, leveraging the immense potential of Moltres to enhance its gameplay. This deck strategy involves keeping Moltres in reserve until the perfect moment arises to unleash its power on the opponent.

List of Cards:

• CardCharmander (x2)    
• Charmeleon (x2)    
• Charizard ex (x2)    
• Moltres ex (x2)
• Shaymin (x1)    
• Sabrina (x1)    
• Leaf (x2)    
• Pokémon Communication (x2)
• Giant Cape (x2)    
• Poke Ball (x2)    
• Professor's Research (x2)    

Strengths：

• Charizard can attack multiple times once set up.
• Moltres ex is a strong starter that can quickly provide Energy to Benched Pokémon.
• Charizard ex and Moltres ex have different weaknesses.

Weaknesses: 

• Charizard ex needs lots of Energy to set up.
• Moltres ex isn't a strong attacker on its own.

 

Palkia ex deck (A+ Tier Decks)

In the world of Pokémon TCG Pocket, the Palkia EX deck has emerged as a powerhouse following the Space-Time Smackdown, validating our earlier predictions about its potential.

List of Cards:

• Palkia EX (x2)
• Manaphy (x2)
• Eevee (Mythical Island/Continuous Steps variant) (x2)
• Vaporeon (Mythical Island/Wash Out Ability variant) (x2)
• Misty (x2)
• Professor's Research (x2)
• Giant Cape (x2)
• Pokémon Communication (x2)
• Poké Ball (x2)
• Cyrus (x1)

Strengths：

• Strong finishing potential in late-game scenarios.
• Excellent energy management capabilities.
• Chance for an early game win with Misty (given the right circumstances).

Weaknesses: 

• May have difficulty taking on speedy Lightning decks.
• A Water deck that is not solely reliant on Misty for acceleration.

 

Weavile ex / Darkrai ex deck (A+ Tier Decks)

The Weavile ex Deck, one of the most powerful and reliable deck archetypes since the release of the Space-Time Smackdown Expansion of Pokemon TCG Pocket.

List of Cards:

• Weavile EX (x2)
• Darkrai EX (x2)
• Spiritomb (x2)
• Dawn (x2)
• Cyrus (x2)
• Professor's Research (x2)
• Pokémon Communication (x2)
• X Speed (x2)
• Poké Ball (x2)

Strengths：

• Consumes minimal energy, as it functions effectively with just one Energy attachment.
• Darkrai ex and Cyrus work together seamlessly, enabling you to replace a damaged Pokémon and secure a decisive knockout.
• Thanks to Weavile ex being a Stage 1 Pokémon, the deck is sufficiently speedy.

Weaknesses: 

• While strong in the early game, it struggles in the late game like most aggressive decks.
• Its Pokémon typically have low HP, making them susceptible to attacks from opponents with higher damage output.
• True to its Dark typing, the deck has difficulty breaking through high-HP targets, often requiring multiple turns to secure knockouts.

 

Leafeon ex deck (A Tier Decks)

The current top-tier decks for the Pokémon TCG in March 2025 feature some exciting strategies, including a standout Celebi EX configuration that effectively utilizes Leafeon EX for enhanced energy generation. This deck is designed to maximize damage output while maintaining a steady flow of energy, making it a formidable choice in competitive play. The synergy between Celebi EX and energy generation cards, particularly Leafeon, is quite compelling.

List of Cards:

• Eevee (Continuous Steps Variant)  (x2)
• Leafeon EX (x2)
• Celebi EX (x2)
• Shaymin (Triumphant Light) (x1)
• Giant Cape (x2)
• Poké Ball (x2)
• X Speed (x2)
• Potion (x1)
• Professor's Research (x2)
• Cyrus (x1)
• Dawn (x1)
• Erika (x2)

Strengths：

• Quick energy acceleration enhances your early and mid-game performance.
• When optimally set up, Celebi EX can exceed the damage output of other cards.
• Offers good resilience and healing capabilities.

Weaknesses: 

• Heavily reliant on drawing Celebi for optimal results.
• Vulnerable to fire-type strategies.

 

Celebi ex deck (A Tier Decks)

The recent addition of the Mythical Island booster has brought a game-changing element to the Pokémon TCG scene, featuring Celebi EX, a formidable Grass-type card that has reshaped competitive play.

List of Cards:

• Celebi EX (x2)
• Snivy (x2)
• Servine (x2)
• Serperior (x2)
• Dhelmise (x1)
• Professor's Research (x2)
• Erika (x2)
• Sabrina (x2)
• Poké Ball (x2)
• X Speed (x2)
• Potion (x1)

Strengths：

• Capable of dealing significant damage.
• Variety of attack strategies available.
• Access to many grass-type Pokémon alternatives like Exeggutor and Lilligant.

Weaknesses: 

• Requires substantial setup time.
• Celebi is a rare card and hard to obtain.
• Fire decks offer a viable counter strategy against certain decks that may be more difficult to acquire.

 

Gyarados ex/Greninja deck (A Tier Decks)

This Gyarados EX deck emphasizes a strategic defensive approach, allowing you to keep Magikarp safely on the bench while utilizing Druddigon and Greninja to fend off your opponents.

List of Cards:

• Froakie (x2)    
• Frogadier (x2)    
• Greninja (x2)    
• Magikarp (x2)
• Gyarados ex (x2)    
• Druddigon (x2)    
• Misty (x2)    
• Leaf (x1)
• Cyrus (x1)    
• Poke Ball (x2)    
• Professor's Research (x2)    

Strengths：

• Gyarados ex's 180 HP makes it highly resistant to heavy attacks.
• Gyarados ex's Rampaging Whirlpool can remove Energy attachments from the opponent's Pokémon.
• Greninja's Water Shuriken has the ability to deal damage to any of the opponent's Pokémon.

Weaknesses: 

• It is vulnerable to aggressive Lightning decks.
• The deck requires time to set up.

 

Best Mewtwo ex deck (A Tier Decks)

In the current Pokémon Trading Card Game scene, the Mewtwo EX deck stands out as a top-tier choice. One of the key strengths of the Mewtwo EX deck is the incorporation of the Mythical Slab card. 

List of Cards:

• Mewtwo EX (x2)
• Ralts (x2)
• Kirlia (x2)
• Gardevoir (x2)
• Potion (x2)
• X Speed (x2)
• Poké Ball (x2)
• Red Card (x1)
• Professor’s Research (x2)
• Mythical Slab (x1)
• Giovanni (x2)

Strengths：

• Consistent, high damage output when properly assembled.
• Both Mewtwo and Gardevoir boast respectable HP.
• This already powerful deck has gained further strength.

Weaknesses: 

• Wonder Pick remains your best option for Mythical Slab.
• Losing Mewtwo can lead to an instant defeat.
• The latest booster set introduces additional counter strategies.

 

Pikachu ex deck (A Tier Decks)

Recent developments in the Pokémon TCG meta have brought about notable changes, particularly with the emergence of new mythical island decks that appear to be designed to counter Pikachu strategies. Although the Pikachu EX deck remains a formidable contender, its previous status as the undisputed top choice has been somewhat diminished.

List of Cards:

• Pikachu EX (x2)
• Zapdos EX (x2)
• Voltorb (x2)
• Electrode (x2)
• Poke Ball (x2)
• Potion (x2)
• Red Card
• X Speed (x2)
• Sabrina (x2)
• Giovanni (x1)
• Professor's Research (x2)

Strengths：

• Easy to set up and attack with.
• Efficient attack and retreat costs.
• Positive matchup against Palkia ex decks.

Weaknesses: 

• Weak to Fighting-type decks.
• May lack the necessary damage output against high-HP Pokémon.

 

Dialga ex deck (A Tier Decks)

The Dialga ex Deck has been one of the most powerful and reliable deck archetypes since the release of the Space-Time Smackdown Expansion of Pokemon TCG Pocket. This deck, combining Grass and Metal types, features Yanmega EX as a key attacker. 

List of Cards:

• Dialga EX (x2)
• Yanma (x2)
• Yanmega EX (x2)
• Burmy (x1)
• Wormadam (x1)
• Leaf Energy (x2)
• Pokémon Communication (x2)
• Potion (x2)
• Poké Ball (x2)
• Rocky Helmet (x1)
• Leaf Energy (x1)
• Professor's Research (x2)

Strengths：

• Dialga ex can boost the power of Pokémon with Colorless or Metal Attack costs.
• Dialga ex can also attack powerfully if set up with 4 Energy.

Weaknesses: 

• Requires two Energy attachments to use Metallic Turbo.
• Its common partners usually share its Fire weakness.

 

Starmie ex/Articuno ex deck (A Tier Decks)

The Starmie EX deck stands out just below the top contenders, focusing on deploying formidable Water-type Pokémon swiftly to deal damage.

List of Cards:

• Staryu (x2)
• Starmie EX (x2)
• Articuno EX (x2)
• Poké Ball (x2)
• Potion (x2)
• X Speed (x1)
• Red Card (x1)
• Misty (x2)
• Giovanni (x2)
• Sabrina (x1)
• Vaporeon (x1)

Strengths：

• Minimal to no retreat costs.
• Strong early-game potential.
• Possibility of a first-turn victory with Misty and Articuno.

Weaknesses: 

• Lacks formidable finishing moves.
• Vulnerable to prevalent electric-type decks.

 

Venusaur ex deck (B Tier Decks)

In the realm of Pokémon TCG Pocket, if you're looking for formidable healing and recovery strategies, Grass decks featuring Venusaur EX stand out as the premier choice. 

List of Cards:

• CardCharmander (x2)    
• Ivysaur (x2)
• Venusaur EX (x2)
• Petilil (x2)
• Lilligant (x2)
• Poké Ball (x2)
• Potion (x1)
• X Speed (x2)
• Erika (x2)
• Professor's Research (x2)
• Sabrina (x1)

Strengths：

• Venusaur serves as a robust tank.
• Erika provides significant healing benefits.
• Lilligant efficiently supplies energy.

Weaknesses: 

• The deck may struggle with offensive output.
• Heavily relies on favorable card draws.

 

Marowak ex deck (B Tier Decks)

For those just starting with Pokémon TCG Pocket, the Fighting-type Marowak EX deck stands out as an accessible choice.

List of Cards:

• Cubone (x2)
• Marowak EX (x2)
• Diglett (x2)
• Dugtrio (x2)
• Poké Ball (x2)
• Potion (x2)
• X speed (x2)
• Sabrina (x2)
• Giovanni (x2)
• Professor's Research (x2)

Strengths：

• Excellent performance in the early stages.
• Effective counter to popular electric-type decks.
• Can dominate when luck favors the coin flips!

Weaknesses: 

• Lacks strength in the later stages of the game.
• Limited in terms of high damage potential.

 

Above are the best deck tier lists and related introductions. Now you can play the Pokémon TCG Pocket on MuMuplayer and complete your best deck according to these lists! If you want to get more updated information about card decks, you can bookmark MuMuPlayer's blog. We will continue to provide you with the latest information.