Best Decks Tier List (December)

These are the best decks in Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket (PTCG Pocket)! Check out our best decks tier list to learn the best decks to use in battles and an in-depth explanation of their strengths and why you should build them!

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Best Decks Tier List

Tier	Deck
Tier
Tier
Tier
Tier
Tier
Tier

The top tiers of this Tier List are Meta Decks that can function with minimal ease for best results. Starmie ex decks, Articuno ex and Pikachu ex are all quick to set up, relatively powerful and are consistent, which is key to a deck's success.

A+ Tier Decks are also at the top of the metagame but may have to work a little harder to compete against the S Tiers.

A Tier Decks are also powerful and can also function at a high level, but may not be as easy to pilot as the S and A+ Tiers.

B Tier Decks are decent, but would require more skill to achieve success with.

C Tier consists of unexplored Rogue decks, which all have potential but would require a skilled pilot to find success with.

D Tier consists of F2P Friendly decks that are good on their own. These decks have specific niches in the metagame and are outclassed by decks in the higher tiers.

These decks have been arranged in such a way that will show players which are good to pick up and which decks can suit their playstyle!

Best Cards Tier List

Tier List Rankings Criteria

Consistency

Powerful decks are able to implement a strategy consistently and effectively. Its ability to be effective at all times is a consideration for a deck's placing on this list.

Energy efficiency and damage all contribute to a deck's overall consistency.

Flexibility

Facing off against specific deck archetypes would require you to strategize and modify strategies to suit different situations. A deck's ability to pivot to different options is considered for its tier list placing.

Pokemon TCG Pocket Meta Guide

S Tier Decks

Game8's Pokemon TCG Pocket Deck Tier List

Pikachu ex Deck

Deck	Commentary
Pikachu ex Deck Deck Type:	Strengths: • Easy to set up and attack with. • Efficient attack and retreat costs. • Positive matchup against Starmie ex and Articuno ex decks. Weaknesses: • Weak to Fighting-type decks. • May lack the necessary damage output against high-HP Pokemon.
Card List

Pikachu ex Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Starmie and Articuno Deck

Deck	Commentary
Starmie and Articuno Deck Deck Type:	Strengths: • Starmie has an inexpensive and strong Attack and has free Retreat • Articuno is also a great sweeper especially if set up quickly • Articuno ex is a strong offensive Basic Pokemon Weaknesses: • Cards are difficult to acquire • Weak to Lightning-type Pokemon.
Card List

Starmie and Articuno Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

A+ Tier Decks

Game8's Pokemon TCG Pocket Deck Tier List

Articuno ex Deck

Deck	Commentary
Articuno ex Deck Deck Type:	Strengths: • Can sweep through teams after a successful Misty. • Has access to all the best Trainer cards. Weaknesses: • Weak to Lightning-type decks. • Difficult to recover if Misty usage is unsuccessful.
Card List

Articuno ex Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Mewtwo and Gardevoir Deck

Deck	Commentary
Mewtwo and Gardevoir Deck Deck Type:	Strengths: • Consistent and powerful. • Simple strategy to implement. Weaknesses: • Weak to Dark-type Pokemon. • Hard to set up Gardevoir
Card List

Mewtwo and Gardevoir Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Charizard ex Deck

Deck	Commentary
Charizard ex Deck Deck Type:	Strengths: • Charizard can take multiple points once set up. • Moltres ex is a great starter that can ramp Energy onto Benched Pokemon. • Charizard ex and Moltres ex have different weaknesses. Weaknesses: • Charizard ex requires setup with lots of Energy. • Moltres ex is a mediocre attacker by itself.
Card List

Charizard ex Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Venusaur ex Deck

Deck	Commentary
Venusaur ex Deck Deck Type:	Strengths: • Pokemon in the deck are incredibly tanky. • Difficult to stop once set up • Exeggutor ex is easy to set up while setting up a Venusaur ex on the Bench. Weaknesses: • Weak to Fire-type decks. • Difficult to set up.
Card List

Venusaur ex Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

A Tier Decks

Game8's Pokemon TCG Pocket Deck Tier List

Raichu and Pikachu ex Deck

Deck	Commentary
Raichu and Pikachu ex Deck Deck Type:	Strengths: • Pikachu ex's attack only costs 2 energy but deals medium damage. • Raichu can deal high damage. Weaknesses: • Raichu discards all its energy when it attacks. • Highly dependent on Lt. Surge.
Card List

Raichu and Pikachu ex Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Dragonite Deck

Deck	Commentary
Dragonite Deck Deck Type:	Strengths: • Very powerful Draco Meteor can win games • Lots of possible partners for Dragonite to help the strategy Weaknesses: • Difficult to set up • High Energy cost
Card List

Dragonite Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Mewtwo ex and Weezing Deck

Deck	Commentary
Mewtwo ex and Weezing Deck Deck Type:	Strengths: • Mewtwo ex can deal 150 damage and can be put on the field immediately. • Weezing can inflict Poison on the opponent's active Pokemon and can easily be swapped out with Koga. Weaknesses: • Weak to Dark-type decks. • Weak to Fighting-type decks • Set up takes time.
Card List

Mewtwo ex and Weezing Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Greninja Deck

Deck	Commentary
Greninja Deck Deck Type:	Strengths: • Can deal damage to benched Pokemon via Articuno ex's Blizzard and Greninja's Water Shuriken. • Articuno ex can be played right away. Weaknesses: • Weak to Lightning-type decks. • Long setup.
Card List

Greninja Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Lapras ex Deck

Deck	Commentary
Lapras ex Deck Deck Type:	Strengths: • Can keep itself healthy with its Bubble Drain Attack. • Has a hefty 140 HP, making it difficult to KO. • Can deal a sizeable 80 damage, allowing it to 2HKO most ex Pokemon, or OHKO most Basic non-exs. Weaknesses: • Weak to Lightning-type decks. • Reliant on lucky Misty flips.
Card List

Lapras ex Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Dragonite and Weezing Deck

Deck	Commentary
Dragonite and Weezing Deck Types:	Strengths: • Very powerful Draco Meteor can win games • Weezing can inflict Poison on the opponent's active Pokemon and can easily be scooped out with Koga. Weaknesses: • Weak to Fighting-type decks. • Difficult to set up. • High Energy cost.
Card List

Dragonite and Weezing Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

B Tier Decks

Game8's Pokemon TCG Pocket Deck Tier List

Blaine Deck

Deck	Commentary
Blaine Deck Deck Type:	Strengths: • Quick and offensive • Easy to set up Weaknesses: • Weak to Water-type decks • Proper damage calculation is necessary for success
Card List

Blaine Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Greninja and Weezing Deck

Deck	Commentary
Greninja and Weezing Deck Types:	Strengths: • Greninja can damage one of the opponent's Pokemon while it's on the bench. • Weezing can inflict Poison on the opponent's active Pokemon and can easily be swapped out with Koga. Weaknesses: • Weak against aggro decks. • Takes time to set up.
Card List

Greninja and Weezing Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Venusaur ex and Weezing Deck

Deck	Commentary
Venusaur ex and Weezing Deck Types:	Strengths: • Venusaur ex can deal 100 damage and heal 30 HP with one attack. • Weezing can inflict Poison on the opponent's active Pokemon and can easily be scooped out with Koga. Weaknesses: • Weak to Fighting-type decks. • Weak to Fire-type decks. • Set up takes time.
Card List

Venusaur ex and Weezing Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Marowak ex Deck

Deck	Commentary
Marowak ex Deck Deck Type:	Strengths: • Marowak can KO most Pokemon with lucky Bonemerang flips. • Kabutops is difficult to set up but can win games if successful. • Energy-efficient and does not need ramp. Weaknesses: • Weak to Grass decks. • Reliant on Marowak's lucky flips. • Difficult to set up Kabutops.
Card List

Marowak ex Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Arbok Lock Deck

Deck	Commentary
Arbok Lock Deck Deck Type:	Strengths: • Disruptive and dangerous • Can 2HKO most Pokemon Weaknesses: • May sometimes not get Ekans start • May sometimes not get Pidgeot when needed
Card List

Arbok Lock Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Zapdos ex Deck

Deck	Commentary
Zapdos ex Deck Deck Type:	Strengths: • Can attack immediately with just 1 Energy. • Has access to all the best Trainer cards. • Can high roll with Thundering Hurricane and deal up to 150 to 200 damage. Weaknesses: • Weak to Lightning-type decks. • No access to any form of ramp and relies on manual Energy attachment.
Card List

Zapdos ex Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Primeape Deck

Deck	Commentary
Primeape Deck Deck Type:	Strengths: • Primeape can deal 100 damage to its attacker If it has damage on it. • Marowak ex is also a powerful attacker. Weaknesses: • Heavily dependent on coin flips to maximize damage. • Primeape struggles against aggro decks due to its low HP.
Card List

Primeape Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

C Tier Decks

Game8's Pokemon TCG Pocket Deck Tier List

Exeggutor ex Deck

Deck	Commentary
Exeggutor ex Deck Deck Type:	Strengths: • Exeggutor ex can evolve and attack as early as turn 2 since it's a Stage 1 and single-energy attacker. • Can consistently heal HP with cards like Erika, Butterfree, and Potion. Weaknesses: • Weak to Fire-type decks. • Deck is dependent on Exeggutor ex, and is limited by Exeggutor ex's effectiveness.
Card List

Exeggutor ex Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Blastoise ex Deck

Deck	Commentary
Blastoise ex Deck Deck Type:	Strengths: • Can be powered up with lucky Misty flips. • Difficult to KO Blastoise ex with its high HP. Weaknesses: • Slow to set up because it is a Stage 2 deck. • Demands plenty of Energy for it to deal bigger damage. • Weak to Lightning-type Pokemon.
Card List

Blastoise ex Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Arcanine ex Deck

Deck	Commentary
Arcanine ex Deck Deck Type:	Strengths: • Can deal high damage with only 1 evolution line, even against other ex Pokemon. • Compared to other Fire-type Pokemon, Arcanine can use its moves without worrying about energy. Weaknesses: • Weak against decks that can't be OHKOed like Mewtwo ex, Charizard ex, and Blastoise ex. • Low durability
Card List

Arcanine ex Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Gengar ex Deck

Deck	Commentary
Gengar ex Deck Deck Type:	Strengths: • Gengar ex's Ability restricts your opponent from using Professor's Research or other Supporter cards. • Can be used in conjunction with Red Card to further limit opponent's hand. Weaknesses: • Weak to Dark-type decks. • It takes time to set up Gengar ex, so it is ineffective against decks can be built up quickly.
Card List

Gengar ex Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Machamp ex Deck

Deck	Commentary
Machamp ex Deck Deck Type:	Strengths: • Can be hard to beat once Machamp is set up. • Efficient Energy curve that allows Machop, Machoke, and Machamp ex to attack every turn. Weaknesses: • Weak to Psychic, which is a common threat.
Card List

Machamp ex Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Wigglytuff ex Deck

Deck	Commentary
Wigglytuff ex Deck Types:	Strengths: • Can win by a landslide if the opponent stays asleep for a few turns. • Can inflict poison to deal damage every turn. Weaknesses: • Low damage output • Success or failure heavily depends on coin flips.
Card List

Wigglytuff ex Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Alakazam and Jynx Deck

Deck	Commentary
Alakazam and Jynx Deck Deck Type:	Strengths: • Alakazam can deal a lot of damage especially to decks that focuses on ramping lots of energies to perform an attack. • Jynx can deal half the damage Alakazam does, but is easier to put into play. Weaknesses: • Weak to Dark-type decks. • Alakazam can be hard to get out if you don't get Abra on your starting hand. • Jynx is not good for tanking damage with its low HP.
Card List

Alakazam and Jynx Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Melmetal Deck

Deck	Commentary
Melmetal Deck Deck Type:	Strengths: • Meltan can accelerate Energy onto itself with Amass. • Melmetal can deal a solid 120 damage with Heavy Impact. • Has Mawile, a disruptive, single-point backup attacker. Weaknesses: • Weak to Fire-type decks. • Meltan is easy to KO. • Melmetal is difficult to set up on the Bench.
Card List

Melmetal Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Koga Deck

Deck	Commentary
Koga Deck Deck Type:	Strengths: • Can protect Pokemon from getting KOd with Koga. • Weezing can inflict Poison on the opponent's active Pokemon without energy cost. Weaknesses: • Lacks damage output • Relies on added effects from Attacks to get damage
Card List

Koga Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Omastar and Articuno ex Deck

Deck	Commentary
Omastar and Articuno ex Deck Deck Type:	Strengths: • Can sweep through teams after a successful Misty. • Can lock oppponents out of attacking with Omastar's disruptive Ancient Whirlpool. Weaknesses: • Weak to Lightning-type decks. • Difficult to recover if Misty usage is unsuccessful.
Card List

Omastar and Articuno ex Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Kingler and Articuno ex Deck

Deck	Commentary
Kingler and Articuno ex Deck Deck Type:	Strengths: • Can do 160 damage if Kingler flips heads twice. • Can sweep through teams after a successful Misty. Weaknesses: • Weak to Lightning-type decks. • Difficult to recover if Misty usage is unsuccessful.
Card List

Kingler and Articuno ex Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Frosmoth Deck

Deck	Commentary
Frosmoth Deck Deck Type:	Strengths: • Frosmoth can disrupt enemy team with Sleep • Tentacruel's Poison can deal continous damage or force a switch Weaknesses: • Reliant on Coin Flip luck • Low overall base damage
Card List

Frosmoth Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Lapras ex and Butterfree Deck

Deck	Commentary
Lapras ex and Butterfree Deck Types:	Strengths: • Difficult to KO thanks to Lapras ex's active healing. • Butterfree can provide passive healing with Powder Heal. • Can make use of Misty to accelerate Energy. Weaknesses: • Weak to Lightning-type decks. • May lack the necessary damage output against high-HP Pokemon.
Card List

Lapras ex and Butterfree Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Poliwrath Deck

Deck	Commentary
Poliwrath Deck Types:	Strengths: • Utilizes single point attackers for favorable point trades. • Can trade points favorably against ex decks. • Water deck that does not need Misty. Weaknesses: • May sometimes lack necessary damage output to take key KOs. • Requires lots of skill to pilot successfully. • Lack of Potions makes Pokemon easy to 2HKO.
Card List

Poliwrath Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Persian and Mawile Deck

Deck	Commentary
Persian and Mawile Deck Types:	Strengths: • Meowth can help with consistency. • Persian and Mawile can limit your opponent's options considerably. • Key Pokemon have different weaknesses. Weaknesses: • Requires lots of skill to pilot successfully. • Lacks damage output for decisive KOs.
Card List

Persian and Mawile Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Lickitung and Primeape Deck

Deck	Commentary
Lickitung and Primeape Deck Types:	Strengths: • Primeape can deal 100 damage to its attacker If it has damage on it. • Lickitung can high roll damage with Continuous Lick. • Key Pokemon have different weaknesses. Weaknesses: • Requires lots of luck to pilot successfully. • Primeape struggles against aggro decks due to its low HP. • Lickitung is reliant on inconsistent lucky flips.
Card List

Lickitung and Primeape Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Gengar ex and Golbat Deck

Deck	Commentary
Gengar ex and Golbat Deck Types:	Strengths: • Gengar ex's Ability restricts your opponent from using Professor's Research or other Supporter cards. • Golbat can deal meaningful damage to Mewtwo ex and other Pokemon that are weak to Darkness. • Key Pokemon have different weaknesses. Weaknesses: • Slow to set up because Gengar ex is a Stage 2.
Card List

D Tier Decks

Game8's Pokemon TCG Pocket Deck Tier List

Frosmoth and Articuno ex Deck

Deck	Commentary
Frosmoth and Articuno ex Deck Deck Type:	Strengths: • Can be very disruptive with Frosmoth's Sleep. • Can be powered up with lucky Misty flips. • Articuno ex is one of the best ex Pokemon. Weaknesses: • Reliant on lucky sleep flips. • Does not have a lot of damage output. • Weak to Lightning-type Pokemon.
Card List

Frosmoth and Articuno ex Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Gyarados Deck

Deck	Commentary
Gyarados Deck Deck Type:	Strengths: • Disrupts the opponent's set up with Gyarados being able to discard the opponent's Energy. • Can be powered up with lucky Misty flips. • Frosmoth is used to stall by putting opponents to Sleep. Weaknesses: • Gyarados is Energy hungry and has a steep retreat cost. • Reliant on lucky sleep flips.
Card List

Gyarados Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Centiskorch and Moltres ex Deck

Deck	Commentary
Centiskorch and Moltres ex Deck Deck Type:	Strengths: • Centiskorch can deal a clean 130 damage once 4 energies are accumulated. • Moltres ex is a great starter that can ramp Energy onto Cenitskorch while on the bench. Weaknesses: • Weak to Water-type decks • Once Moltres ex is defeated, chances of winning will get considerably low. • Have to draw into Moltres ex earlier as possible, or the deck combo won't work.
Card List

Centiskorch and Moltres ex Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Lt. Surge Deck

Deck	Commentary
Lt. Surge Deck Deck Type:	Strengths: • Can deal a huge 140 damage with Raichu's Thunderbolt. • Magneton can power up Raichu using the Lt. Surge Supporter. • Quick and effective Pikachu ex as a secondary attacker. Weaknesses: • Weak to Fighting-type decks. • May lack the necessary damage output against high-HP Pokemon.
Card List

Lt. Surge Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Grapploct and Pidgeot Deck

Deck	Commentary
Grapploct and Pidgeot Deck Deck Type:	Strengths: • Control your opponent’s field with Grapploct and Pidgeot. • Can be completed just by pulling on the Mewtwo Pack. Weaknesses: • Limited by low damage output. • Takes several turns to set up evolutions and Energy.
Card List

Grapploct and Pidgeot Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Cinccino and Weezing Deck

Deck	Commentary
Cinccino and Weezing Deck Deck Type:	Strengths: • Cincinno can deal up to 90 maximum damage depending on how many benched Pokemon you have. • Weezing can inflict Poison on the opponent's active Pokemon and can easily be swapped out with Koga. Weaknesses: • Weak to Fighting-type Decks • Can't OHKO high HP Pokemon cards • Difficult to set up.
Card List

Cinccino and Weezing Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Brock Deck

Deck	Commentary
Brock Deck Deck Type:	Strengths: • Can deal high damage. • Onix and Golem are durable Pokemon. Weaknesses: • Heavily relies on Brock to provide energy. • Golem also does 50 damage to itself when it attacks.
Card List

Brock Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Kabutops Deck

Deck	Commentary
Kabutops Deck Deck Type:	Strengths: • Kabutops is difficult to set up but can win games if successful. • Basic Pokemon in the deck are useful. • Energy-efficient and does not need ramp. Weaknesses: • Difficult to set up Kabutops. • Lacks damage output for decisive KOs. • Weak against Pokemon that can OHKO Kabutops.
Card List

Kabutops Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Aerodactyl and Dragonite Deck

Deck	Commentary
Aerodactyl and Dragonite Deck Deck Type:	Strengths: • Very powerful Draco Meteor can win games • Aerodactyl can be disruptive on lucky heads flips and can sometimes win you games. Weaknesses: • Difficult to set up both Dragonite and Aerodactyl. • High Energy cost.
Card List

Aerodactyl and Dragonite Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Eeveelutions and Ditto Deck

Deck	Commentary
Eeveelutions and Ditto Deck Types:	Strengths: • Has access to multiple types of Energy. • An Eeveelution can be played for different situations. Weaknesses: • May not have the right Eeveelution for specific situations. • Multiple Energy types makes it inconsistent.
Card List

Eeveelutions and Ditto Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Lickitung Deck

Deck	Commentary
Lickitung Deck Deck Type:	Strengths: • Has access to a solid Basic Pokemon in Zapdos ex. • Lickitung can high roll damage with Continuous Lick. Weaknesses: • Lickitung is reliant on inconsistent lucky flips. • May lack necessary damage output because of reliance on lucky flips.
Card List

Lickitung Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Articuno Deck

Deck	Commentary
Articuno Deck Deck Type:	Strengths: • Can make use of Misty to accelerate Energy. • Has access to all the best Trainer cards. • Has a chance to paralyze on a lucky heads flip. Weaknesses: • Weak to Lightning-type decks. • Difficult to recover if Misty usage is unsuccessful. • Outclassed by its ex counterpart.
Card List

Articuno Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Zapdos Deck

Deck	Commentary
Zapdos Deck Deck Type:	Strengths: • Has access to all the best Trainer cards. • Only gives up one point when KOd. • Can deal a solid 100 damage but will deal 30 damage to your Benched Pokemon. Weaknesses: • Weak to Lightning-type decks. • Can't attack until turn 3. • Outclassed by its ex counterpart.
Card List

Zapdos Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Moltres Deck

Deck	Commentary
Moltres Deck Deck Type:	Strengths: • Has access to all the best Trainer cards. • Only gives up one point when KOd. • Can deal lots of damage on lucky heads flips. Weaknesses: • Weak to Lightning-type decks. • Can't attack until turn 3. • Outclassed by its ex counterpart.
Card List

Moltres Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Venusaur Deck

Deck	Commentary
Venusaur Deck Deck Type:	Strengths: • Pokemon in the deck are incredibly tanky. • Difficult to stop once set up • Exeggutor ex is easy to set up while setting up a Venusaur on the Bench. Weaknesses: • Weak to Fire-type decks. • Difficult to set up. • Lacks damage output.
Card List

Venusaur Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Charizard Deck

Deck	Commentary
Charizard Deck Deck Type:	Strengths: • Has high damage output. • Moltres ex is a great starter that can ramp Energy onto Benched Pokemon. Weaknesses: • May lack the necessary firepower compared to its ex counterpart. • Moltres ex is a mediocre attacker by itself.
Card List

Charizard Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

Blastoise Deck

Deck	Commentary
Blastoise Deck Deck Type:	Strengths: • Can be powered up with lucky Misty flips. Weaknesses: • May lack the necessary firepower compared to its ex counterpart. • Weak to Lightning-type Pokemon.
Card List

Blastoise Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

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