This guide will show you how to build a Pikachu ex Deck, one of the most powerful and reliable deck archetypes since the launch of Pokemon TCG Pocket. We'll cover the best Pikachu ex Deck builds, how to use them, as well how to beat Pikachu ex Decks, and more!

Best Pikachu ex Decks

Best Pikachu ex Deck Variants
Pikachu ex and Zebstrika [★ Best ★]	• Has low cheap and efficient attackers. • Pokemon in the deck have inexpensive Retreat Costs. • Can 2HKO most exs and OHKO most unevolved Basics.
Pachirisu ex	• Has two effective 2-Energy Attackers in Pachirisu ex and Pikachu ex. • Can attack and retreat for cheap costs. • Can 2HKO most exs and OHKO most unevolved Basics.
Pikachu ex and Raichu	• Still has access to Pikachu ex and its consistency. • Needs three attachments to make use of Raichu. • Has access to a huge 140 damage Thunderbolt from Raichu.

Pikachu ex and Zebstrika ex (Best)

Pikachu ex ×2				Zapdos ex ×1				Blitzle ×2				Zebstrika ×2
Rotom ×1				Sabrina ×1				Blue ×1				Giant Cape ×1
Cyrus ×1				Dawn ×2				X Speed ×2				Poke Ball ×2
Professor's Research ×2

Energy Used

With a few additions from the Space-Time Smackdown Expansion, Pikachu ex X Zebstrika is still a very viable deck. This deck works primarily by building Pikachu on the bench and using Zebstrika to target your opponent's benched Pokemon, which can then be pulled in via Cyrus to finish them off.

Additionally, Rotom can help damage opponents quicker for equipping the Giant Cape or other tools, while Dawn can be used as a means of transferring energy from a benched Pokemon to the one in your active spot, allowing you to attack with your Ace card quicker.

Deck Building Guide

Pikachu ex and Pachirisu ex

Pikachu ex ×2				Zapdos ex ×2				Pachirisu ex ×2				Sabrina ×1
Giant Cape ×2				Rocky Helmet ×2				Cyrus ×2				Dawn ×1
X Speed ×2				Poke Ball ×2				Professor's Research ×2

Energy Used

This deck gives you a few different options to attack quickly with either Pikachu or Pachirisu and deal quick damage, depending on which one presents itself quicker. Zapdos can be used to damage a Pokemon early on, allowing you to retreat and use Dawn on the next time to attack with one of the other two.

The deck's main strength is its versatility, since you only need a Pokemon Tool equipped and two energy to deal 80 damage with Pachirisu, or a loaded bench to do 90 with Pikachu. Rocky Helmet can be used to deal chip damage to an attacking Pokemon, which you could potentially switch back in for a finishing blow later on with Cyrus.

Pachirisu ex Deck

Pikachu ex and Raichu

Pikachu x2	Raichu x2	Pikachu ex x2	Dedenne x1
Sabrina x2	Lt. Surge x2	Giant Cape x2	X Speed x2
Poke Ball x2	Professor's Research x2	Cyrus x1

Energy Used

The Pikachu ex and Raichu Deck is centered around building up your benched Pokemon while paralyzing the opponent's active Pokemon with Dedenne. Having Pikachu ex still allows you to deal 90 damage to a single Pokemon with just 2 energies and a loaded bench, at which point you can retreat to send in Raichu, then use Lt. Surge to deal a devastating 140 damage to your opponent's active Pokemon.

Pikachu ex and Raichu Deck

Pikachu ex Deck Guide

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 Palkia ex decks.
Deck Weaknesses
Weak to Fighting-type decks. May lack the necessary damage output against high-HP Pokemon.

Pikachu ex Deck Strategies

Pikachu ex Deck Strategies
Pikachu ex Start Secondary Attackers

Strategy 1: 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 Giant Cape to keep Pikachu ex healthy, and swing with Circle Circuit as soon as it's ready!

Strategy 2: Secondary Attackers

The deck has plenty of secondary attackers to choose from that are all useful for different points in the game.

Zebstrika is a great option for sniping around Druddigon decks, while Zapdos can work as a last-ditch effort to get a big KO.

How to Beat Pikachu ex Deck

Attack with Type Advantage

Other than Zapdos, all Lightning Pokemon in the Pikachu deck are weak to Fighting type cards. In the case of Marshadow, it can deal 100 damage on the turn after one of that player's Pokemon were knocked out, but thanks to weakness, this will do 120 to most Lightning Pokemon, enough to one-shot a Pikachu ex.

The Pikachu player can attempt to counter this by either relying on Zapdos against Fighting decks, or by equipping Giant Cape to their Pikachu, but generally speaking it is a tough matchup for Pikachu ex users.

Aerodactyl ex and Primeape Deck

Use Tanky Heavy Hitters

Barring type weakness, the most damage Pikachu ex can deal in a single hit is 90. Therefore, having Pokemon that can tank Circle Circuit and follow up with a killing blow gives a huge advantage. Cards such as Mewtwo ex or Charizard ex will be capable of withstanding its attack, only to one-shot it the next turn, giving decks like Mewtwo ex and Gardevoir a strong advantage.

Deny Pikachu ex KOs

In addition to having Pokemon that can tank hits, cards that heal HP like Erika can turn 2HKOs into 3HKOs, making it tough for Pikachu ex to enact its gameplan. Blue and Giant Cape can also deny it important KOs, which can allow you to attack Pikachu on the following turn.

Don't Spend Energy on Lower HP Pokemon

While it is important to build up the cards that will be able to knock out Pikachu, you should avoid wasting energy on Pokemon that have 90 HP or less, as they can very easily be KO'd by a Pikachu attack. In many cases, it may even be best to put one of them into the active spot while you build up a benched Pokemon, which can be sent in as soon as the weaker Pokemon is knocked out.

Pokemon TCG Pocket Related Guides

Best Meta Decks Tier List

Meta Decks

S Tier Decks
Arceus ex
A+ Tier Decks
Carnivine	Rampardos	Crobat
Magnezone and Skarmory	Exeggutor ex	Heatran
Charizard ex	Palkia ex	Darkrai ex
Weavile ex	Yanmega ex	Origin Forme Palkia
A Tier Decks
Leafeon ex	Garchomp ex	Probopass ex
Infernape ex	Pachirisu ex	Gyarados ex and Greninja
Pikachu ex	Dialga ex	Articuno ex
Gallade ex	Abomasnow	Celebi ex
B Tier Decks
Glaceon ex	Bronzong	Tyranitar
Staraptor	Donphan	Starmie ex and Articuno ex
Mewtwo ex and Gardevoir	Golem	Pidgeot ex
Scolipede and Weezing	Garchomp	Porygon-Z
Arcanine ex	Dialga ex and Bastiodon	-
C Tier Decks
・Houndoom Deck ・Snorlax Deck ・Lucario Deck ・Pikachu ex and Raichu Deck ・Venusaur ex Deck ・Volkner Deck ・Togekiss Deck ・Aerodactyl ex Deck ・Alakazam and Jynx Deck ・Dragonite Deck ・Machamp ex Deck ・Blastoise ex Deck ・Marowak ex Deck ・Torterra Deck ・Empoleon Deck ・Mismagius ex Deck ・Volcarona and Arcanine ex Deck ・Wigglytuff ex Deck ・Gengar ex Deck

Off Meta Decks

(A2)
・Dialga ex and Lickilicky ex Deck ・Lake Trio Deck ・Rhyperior Deck ・Togekiss Deck
(A1)	(A1a)
・Arbok Lock Deck ・Brock Deck ・Cinccino Deck ・Frosmoth Deck ・Kingler and Articuno ex Deck ・Lt. Surge Deck ・Melmetal Deck ・Mewtwo ex and Weezing Deck ・Primeape Deck ・Venusaur ex and Weezing Deck ・Victreebel and Exeggutor ex Deck	・Gyarados ex and Vaporeon Deck ・Mew ex and Weezing Deck ・Vaporeon and Articuno ex Deck

Deck-Building Guides and Articles

All Deck Guides
Deck Building Guide	Best Cards Tier List
Best Rental Deck Tier List	Best F2P Beginner Decks
Deck Articles
How Rental Decks Work	Staple Cards for Decks
Aggro Decks Explained	Deck Matchup Statistics
Best 18 Trainers Decks	Best Misty Decks
Best Erika Decks	10 Match Tests vs Pikachu ex Deck - Statistics
List of Meme or Troll Decks	-