Pokemon TCG Pocket’s Most Hated Deck Got a Buff, But With an Asterisk Attached

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Summary

  • Extradimensional Crisis expansion reshaped the meta with strong cards like Buzzwole Ex and Silvally.
  • Giratina Ex and Darkrai Ex remain powerful with a new buff, but struggle against Buzzwole Ex and Pheromosa.
  • Buzzwole Ex and Pheromosa dominate by countering Darktina decks and dealing massive damage to key cards.

In the Pokemon TCG Pocket game, you’ll encounter more than a thousand collectible cards, yet not all of them prove to be effective for constructing competitive decks, whether immediately or over time. Some cards are often considered “filler,” while highly sought-after rares like Passimian Ex seldom make it into competitive play due to their stats or the way the game’s meta (overall strategy) functions. Conversely, there are cards that have made a significant impact since their introduction, and Pokemon TCG Pocket has many of these standouts – including some notorious pairs frequently used in top-tier decks.

With the unveiling of the Extradimensional Crisis expansion for Pokemon TCG Pocket, the existing meta underwent significant changes. Cards such as Buzzwole Ex and Silvally demonstrated exceptional power and consistency throughout gameplay. Meanwhile, decks utilizing cards from previous sets, like Charizard Ex with Incineroar Ex, continue to show strength. Interestingly, Solgaleo Ex found a formidable ally in Shiinotic from the Extradimensional Crisis set. Since its debut alongside Shining Revelry, Giratina Ex has been one of the strongest cards, particularly when paired with Darkrai Ex. This duo has earned notoriety for its passive, stall-focused playstyle, and while it received a boost with the new expansion, this improvement comes at a steep price.

Pokemon TCG Pocket’s Giratina Ex and Darkrai Ex Got a Buff Instead of a Nerf

Giratina EX and Darkrai EX decks are among the top performing in the game due to their dependability and immense power. They’ve held the number one spot in the meta since Shining Revelry was released. Despite Celestial Guardians having several potential counters for the “Darktina” deck, like Oricorio, Tapu Lele, and Decidueye EX, the deck remained unbeatable.

The event known as Extradimensional Crisis boosted the power of the deck, thanks to the introduction of Nihilego from the Pokemon TCG Pocket, enhancing its Poison strategies. Darktina continues to be one of the top decks in the current game environment. However, the combination of Nihilego with Extradimensional Crisis and Poison Barb with Celestial Guardians only makes Darktina more formidable than ever. Nevertheless, it’s important to note that Buzzwole EX and Pheromosa decks are dominating the meta right now, serving as effective counters to Darktina.

How Buzzwole Ex and Pheromosa Dominate The Meta in Pokemon TCG Pocket

To begin with, Darkrai EX has a vulnerability to Grass-type attacks, making both Buzzwole EX and Pheromosa capable of causing serious damage to its Health Points (HP). Specifically, if no Giant Cape is in play, Buzzwole EX can eliminate Darkrai EX in one hit. However, there are ways to counter it through Supporter cards like Red and Guzma. This is due to the fact that Buzzwole EX’s Big Beat attack delivers 120 damage, which is sufficient to instantly knock out Darkrai EX, Nihilego, and inflict significant harm on Giratina EX as well. Moreover, Pheromosa inflicts additional damage on Darkrai EX and deals 20 damage to Pokémon on the bench. This means that neither Nihilego nor Giratina EX are immune to harm.

When Giratina EX uses its attack, it inflicts 20 damage on itself. This means that the damage dealt by Pheromosa later on could pose a significant threat to Giratina EX. Additionally, Buzzwole EX is capable of either knocking out Giratina EX or leaving it with minimal health.

Beyond its existing power, incorporating Nihilego and Poison Barb into Darktina decks provides a significant edge against most competitors, inflicting additional passive damage. However, it might not always prevail against Buzzwole Ex and Pheromosa due to the latter’s use of two Celesteela cards for swapping Ultra Beasts in and out. This allows them to eliminate status conditions, including Poison, making Darktina less effective. Despite this, Darktina continues to be an overpowered deck in Pokemon TCG Pocket, but it seems it may have found a worthy rival.

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2025-06-02 23:24