Pikachu ex Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

The Pikachu ex Deck is a Lightning Aggro Deck Archetype featuring Pikachu ex from the Genetic Apex Set in Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket (PTCG Pocket). Read on for the complete list of cards in this deck, basic information on the deck, how to play the deck, and optimal matchups for it!

Related Decks

Pikachu ex Deck Guide

Deck Evaluation

Ace Pokemon						Tier Ranking
Pikachu ex Genetic Apex (A1)			Zapdos ex Genetic Apex (A1)
						Energy Type(s)
						F2P Friendly?
						❌
						Deck Difficulty
						★
Deck Strengths
Easy to set up and attack with. Efficient attack and retreat costs. Positive matchup against Starmie ex and Articuno ex decks.
Deck Weaknesses
Weak to Fighting-type decks. May lack the necessary damage output against high-HP Pokemon.

Best Meta Decks Tier List

List of Cards

Pikachu ex Deck List
Pokemon Cards
Pikachu ex ×2				Zapdos ×1				Zapdos ex ×2				Blitzle ×2
Zebstrika ×2
Trainer Cards
Giovanni ×1				Sabrina ×2				Potion ×2				X Speed ×2
Poke Ball ×2				Professor's Research ×2

Deck Building Guide

Packs Required for Pikachu ex Deck

Pack	Featured Card
Any Pack

Pikachu ex and Raichu Comparison

Pikachu ex vs Raichu
Raichu	Pikachu ex
Single-point attacker	ex attacker
Needs 3 Energy to attack	Needs 2 Energy to attack
Maxes out at 150 damage with Giovanni	Maxes out at 100 damage with Giovanni
Discards all Energy when attacking	Does not need to discard Energy

Pikachu ex with Basics like Zapdos and Zapdos ex has more deck slots for Trainer cards and other Pokemon lines, whereas Raichu needs space for Pikachu, Raichu itself, as well as Lt. Surge and Magneton. Its advantage over Pikachu ex is its ability to deal 140 damage, whereas Pikachu ex can only consistently deal 90.

Raichu and Pikachu ex Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

How to Play Pikachu ex Deck

How to Play Pikachu ex Deck
Core Combos and Interactions Starting Hand Deck Strategies Game Phases

Pikachu ex Deck Core Combos and Interactions

Primary Attacker	Secondary Attacker	Description
Pikachu ex	Zapdos ex	・Pikachu ex is the deck's primary attacker, able to do 90 damage easily with Circle Circuit. ・The deck's secondary attacker is Zapdos ex, who is able to do a quick 20 damage with Peck, and deal big damage with Thundering Hurricane but is dependent on lucky flips.

Best Starting Hand

Best Starting Hand

Either Pikachu ex or Zapdos ex are great starters for the deck. Against Water decks, it is good to start with Zapdos ex, as it can immediately apply pressure with super-effective Peck.

Using Peck + Giovanni can OHKO Staryu, if they're unlucky enough to start with it.

Other Good Starting Cards

Recommended Starting Hand

Blitzle is a decent enough single-point attacker that can also KO Staryu with a Giovanni. This evolves into Zebstrika, a great Pokemon for knocking out low HP Pokemon that Pikachu ex can't finish off.
Best Cards Tier List

Pikachu ex Deck Strategies

Pikachu ex Deck Strategies
Pikachu ex Start Zapdos's Thundering Hurricane

Strategy 1: Pikachu ex Start

Pikachu ex Start

This deck would usually want to start with either Zapdos ex or Pikachu ex. Starting with Pikachu ex would usually mean that it would take damage from a one-Energy attacker from the opponent's side. Use Potion to keep Pikachu ex healthy, and swing with Circle Circuit as soon as it's ready!

Strategy 2: Zapdos's Thundering Hurricane

In some occasions, you would really need to get a lucky OHKO on opponents when 2HKOing them will not win you the game. Try your luck with Zapdos ex's Thundering Hurricane!

Do reserve this as a last-ditch strategy, however, as Thundering Hurricane requires several lucky flips for its big damage.

Game Phases

Early Game

Key Card(s) Required
Step	Description
1	Start with any of the deck's effective starters.
2	Use Potion if your starting Pokemon took damage the previous turn.

Mid-Game

Key Card(s) Required
Step	Description
1	Load up your Pokemon with Energy and be sure to switch out if any of your Pokemon are in danger of getting 2HKOd.

Late Game

Key Card(s) Required
1	Finish the game with your choice of attacker.
2	Make use of Giovanni if you need an extra damage boost, or Sabrina if you need to pick up a KO from a Benched Pokemon.

Pikachu ex Deck Best and Worst Matchups

Best Matchups

Deck	Commentary
Water Decks	Type: ・Positive type matchup against Water decks. ・Always trades damage favorably.

Worst Matchups

Deck	Commentary
Blaine Decks	Type: ・Pokemon like Rapidash and Ninetales from Blaine decks can be used in tandem with each other to score 2HKOs or OHKOs on our Pokemon. ・Unfavorable point trades.

10 Match Tests vs Pikachu ex Deck - Matchup Statistics

Overall Consistency

Pikachu ex is quick and easy to set up. All the Pokemon in the deck are similar, with inexpensive Attack and retreat costs. This deck is always a good pick as it is consistent and efficient and matches up favorably against top Water decks.

Pikachu ex Deck F2P & Substitutes

Pikachu ex Deck Card Substitutes

Card	Explanation
Zapdos	・The non-ex Zapdos can be a usable substitute to Zapdos should you need another single point attacker.

Pokemon TCG Pocket Meta Guide

Pikachu ex Deck Other Viable Options

Card	Possible Cuts
Raichu	・ A Raichu line can work in place of Zapdos and Pincurchin, however this would also necessitate the use of Lt. Surge and Magneton.
Magneton	・ Magneton and an accompanying Lt. Surge can quickly feul a Raichu as a secondary, single-point attacker ・ These are great options, but would need several slots in the deck.

F2P Pikachu ex Deck List

F2P Pikachu ex Deck List
Pokemon Cards
Pikachu ex x1	Voltorb x2	Electrode x2	Blitzle x2
Zebstrika x2
Trainer Cards
Potion x2	X Speed x1	Poke Ball x2	Professor's Research x2
Giovanni x2	Sabrina x2

Zebstrika is an Energy-efficient Attacker that can finish off damaged Pokemon on the Bench should they survive Pikachu ex's Circle Circuit.

Electrode also fulfills a bigger role in the F2P build, as it is even more necessary for the deck's offense with the lack of a second Pikachu ex and two Zapdos ex.

Pokemon TCG Pocket Beginner's Guide

Pikachu ex Rental Deck

Pikachu ex Rental Deck Evaluation

Ace Pokemon						Tier Ranking
Pikachu ex Genetic Apex (A1)
						Energy Type(s)
						F2P Friendly?
						✔️
						Deck Difficulty
						★★
Deck Strengths
Pokemon have Energy-efficient Attacks Pikachu ex's Circle Circuit can deal good damage
Deck Weaknesses
Lacks damage output Needs to start attacking right away or else it will lose tempo

Pikachu ex Rental Deck List

Pikachu ex Rental Deck List
Pokemon Cards
Pikachu ex ×1				Voltorb ×2				Electrode ×1				Blitzle ×2
Zebstrika ×1				Tynamo ×2				Eelektrik ×2				Eelektross ×1
Helioptile ×2				Heliolisk ×1
Trainer Cards
X Speed ×1				Poke Ball ×2				Professor's Research ×2

The Pikachu ex Rental Deck is a pre-made theme deck recipe featuring similar cards to the Meta Deck.

How to Unlock Pikachu ex Rental Deck

Mission	Reward
Collect the highlight card for Pikachu ex Deck (Genetic Apex)	Pikachu ex Rental Deck (10x Uses)
Collect the cards for Pikachu ex Deck (Genetic Apex)	Pikachu ex Rental Deck

The Pikachu ex Rental Deck can be unlocked by completing the Deck Missions related to this Rental Deck.

Collecting the Highlight Card, Pikachu, gives you 10 Uses of the Rental Deck, while collecting all the cards within the Deck gives you the Recipe, allowing you to use the Rental Deck at any time.

List of Deck Missions

Packs Required for Pikachu ex Rental Deck

Pack	Featured Card
Any Pack

Pokemon TCG Pocket Related Guides

Deck Building Guide

All Deck Tier Lists

Deck Articles

Meta Decks

Best Meta Decks
Starmie ex Deck	Mewtwo ex Deck	Dragonite Deck
Articuno ex Deck	Arbok Lock Deck	Venusaur ex Deck
Blaine Deck	Pikachu ex Deck	Marowak ex Deck
Charizard ex Deck	Machamp ex Deck	Blastoise ex Deck
Frosmoth Deck	Exeggutor ex Deck	Arcanine ex Deck
Gengar ex Deck	Wigglytuff ex Deck	Melmetal Deck
Alakazam and Jynx Deck	Zapdos ex Deck	Greninja Deck
Primeape Deck	Raichu and Pikachu ex Deck	Mewtwo ex and Weezing
Raichu and Pikachu ex Deck	Mewtwo ex and Weezing	Greninja and Weezing Deck
Venusaur ex and Weezing	Lapras ex Deck	Dragonite and Weezing

Off Meta Decks

Omastar and Articuno ex	Kingler and Articuno ex	Lapras ex and Butterfree
Poliwrath	Tentacruel and Greninja	Victreebel and Exeggutor ex
Frosmoth and Articuno ex Deck	Gyarados Deck	Centiskorch and Moltres ex Deck
Lt. Surge Deck	Grapploct Deck	Cinccino and Weezing
Brock Deck	Kabutops	Aerodactyl and Dragonite
Eeveelutions and Ditto	Lickitung	Articuno
Zapdos	Moltres	Venusaur
Charizard	Blastoise	Persian and Mawile
Lickitung and Primeape	Gengar ex and Golbat

Rental Decks

All Rental Decks
Venusaur ex Rental Deck	Charizard ex Rental Deck	Blastoise ex Rental Deck
Pikachu ex Rental Deck	Mewtwo ex Rental Deck	Machamp ex Rental Deck
Nidoking and Nidoqueen Rental Deck	Kanto Fossils Rental Deck	Koga Rental Deck
Brock Rental Deck	Blaine Rental Deck	Lt. Surge Rental Deck

Starter Decks

All Starter Decks
Pinsir Starter Deck	Rapidash Starter Deck	Sandslash Starter Deck