There are many F2P Beginner Decks available on the Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket (PTCGP), such as the Articuno ex Deck and the Pikachu ex Deck. Check out our tier list of the best F2P Beginner Decks, learn how they work, and see a sample deck list for each!
| Pokemon TCG Pocket Tier Lists | ||
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F2P Guide: How to Play Without Spending
The F2P Decks featured here are designed for straightforward, aggressive play and are easy to build.
We’ll focus on decks that don’t require multiple rarity. Instead, we highlight ex Pokémon decks you can reliably obtain, either by rerolling for two copies or by securing them in your first pack.
| The top tiers of this Tier List are Decks that can function with minimal ease for best results. |
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| | 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 Tiers. |
| B Tier Decks are decent, but would require more skill to achieve success with. |
| C Tier consists of the game's Rogue Decks. These are great for countering specific threats but required skilled pilots to succeed 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. |
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.
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.
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Mewtwo ex Rental Deck Deck Type:
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Strengths: • High damaging Psychic Pokemon • Mewtwo ex's Psydrive can KO most Pokemon Weaknesses: • Strong Pokemon like Mewtwo ex and Gengar are hard to consistently get out • Would benefit from going second so that it can start attaching Energy right away |
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Mewtwo ex Rental Deck Strategy Guide and Card List
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Pikachu ex Rental Deck Deck Type:
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Strengths: • Pokemon have Energy-efficient Attacks • Pikachu ex's Circle Circuit can deal good damage Weaknesses: • Lacks damage output • Needs to start attacking right away or else it will lose tempo |
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Pikachu ex Rental Deck Strategy Guide and Card List
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| Deck | Commentary |
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Koga Rental Deck Deck Type:
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Strengths: • Can protect Pokemon from getting KOd with Koga • Darkness Pokemon in the deck don't have shared Weaknesses Weaknesses: • Lacks damage output • Relies on added effects from Attacks to get damage |
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Koga Rental Deck Strategy Guide and Card List
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Lt. Surge Rental Deck Deck Type:
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Strengths: • Effective Stage 1 Pokemon • Can be efficient with Energy with Lt. Surge • Consistent Evolution lines Weaknesses: • Lacks damage output • Can fall behind on Points mid-game |
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Lt. Surge Rental Deck Strategy Guide and Card List
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Kanto Fossils Rental Deck Types:
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Strengths: • Stage 2 Fossil Pokemon and Basic Colorless Pokemon in the deck are powerful • Difficult to stop once set up Weaknesses: • May be hard to consistently set up Fossils in battle • Fossils do not do anything until they evolve |
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Kanto Fossils Rental Deck Strategy Guide and Card List
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Blastoise ex Rental Deck Deck Type:
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Strengths: • Can power up Water Pokemon quickly with Misty • Strong Basic Pokemon in the deck Weaknesses: • Can be sometimes inconsistent and hard to power up • Stage 1s in the deck aren't too powerful |
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Blastoise ex Rental Deck Strategy Guide and Card List
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Charizard ex Rental Deck Deck Type:
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Strengths: • Simple and effective • Charizard ex's Crimson Storm can KO most Pokemon Weaknesses: • Pokemon's Attacks don't have too many additional effects • Stage 1s in the deck aren't too powerful |
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Charizard ex Rental Deck Strategy Guide and Card List
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Venusaur ex Rental Deck Deck Type:
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Strengths: • Tanky Pokemon that are hard to KO • Lots of HP recovery in the deck Weaknesses: • Pokemon's Attack costs are high • Stage 1s in the deck aren't too powerful |
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Venusaur ex Rental Deck Strategy Guide and Card List
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Greninja Deck Deck Type:
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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. |
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Greninja Deck Strategy Guide and Card List
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Greninja and Weezing Deck Types:
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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. |
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Greninja and Weezing Deck Strategy Guide and Card List
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Brock Rental Deck Deck Type:
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Strengths: • Good Evolution Pokemon • Pokemon in the deck have high Retreat Costs Weaknesses: • Pokemon's Attack costs are high • May be inconsistent |
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Brock Rental Deck Strategy Guide and Card List
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Blaine Rental Deck Deck Type:
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Strengths: • Powerful Stage 1 Pokemon • Can boost damage with Blaine • Consistent Evolution lines Weaknesses: • Cannot keep up against a dedicated Water-type deck • Needs to start attacking right away or else it will lose tempo |
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Blaine Rental Deck Strategy Guide and Card List
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Nidoqueen and Nidoking Rental Deck Deck Type:
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Strengths: • Stage 2 Pokemon in the deck are synergistic • Difficult to stop once set up • High supporting Trainer Card count Weaknesses: • May be hard to consistently set up both Nidoqueen and Nidoking in battle • Needs to evolve into Nidoqueen and Nidoking to be effective |
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Nidoqueen and Nidoking Rental Deck Strategy Guide and Card List
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Machamp ex Rental Deck Deck Type:
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Strengths: • Solid Stage 1s in the deck • Machamp ex's Mega Punch is energy efficient Weaknesses: • May be hard to consistently find Machamp • Needs Machamp ex for damage output • Deck has a low Trainer Card count |
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Machamp ex Rental Deck Strategy Guide and Card List
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| Deck | Commentary |
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Exeggutor ex Deck Deck Type:
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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. |
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Exeggutor ex Deck Strategy Guide and Card List
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Arcanine ex Deck Deck Type:
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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 |
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Arcanine ex Deck Strategy Guide and Card List
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Gengar ex Deck Deck Type:
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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. |
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Gengar ex Deck Strategy Guide and Card List
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Wigglytuff ex Deck Types:
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Strengths: • Can win by a landslide if the opponent stays asleep for a few turns. • Can inflict poison to deal damage every turn. Weaknesses: • Weak damage. • Victory or defeat heavily depends on the coin flip. |
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Wigglytuff ex Deck Strategy Guide and Card List
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Alakazam and Jynx Deck Deck Type:
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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. |
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Alakazam and Jynx Deck Strategy Guide and Card List
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Melmetal Deck Deck Type:
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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. |
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Melmetal Deck Strategy Guide and Card List
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Pinsir Starter Deck Deck Type:
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Strengths: • Pinsir is a Basic Pokemon that does not need evolving. • Parasect is an effective attacker that can do a solid 80 damage. Weaknesses: • Weak to Fire-type decks. • A good starter deck but will fall behind more focused decks. • Needs additional cards to improve the deck's performance. |
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Pinsir Starter Deck Strategy Guide and Card List
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Gyarados Deck Deck Type:
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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. |
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Gyarados Deck Strategy Guide and Card List
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Lt. Surge Deck Deck Type:
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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. |
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Lt. Surge Deck Strategy Guide and Card List
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Grapploct and Pidgeot Deck Deck Type:
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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. |
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Grapploct and Pidgeot Deck Strategy Guide and Card List
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Primeape Deck Deck Type:
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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. |
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Primeape Deck Strategy Guide and Card List
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Cinccino and Weezing Deck Deck Type:
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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. |
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Cinccino and Weezing Deck Strategy Guide and Card List
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Rapidash Starter Deck Deck Type:
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Strengths: • Rapidash can deal 40 damage with only 1 Energy. • Use Magmar to inflict damage when Rapidash is not available. Weaknesses: • Weak to Water-type decks • Needs additional cards to improve the deck's performance. |
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Rapidash Starter Deck Strategy Guide and Card List
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Sandslash Starter Deck Deck Type:
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Strengths: • Sandslash can deal a good 70 damage at the cost of 2 Energy. • Use Onix to inflict damage when Sandslash is not available. Weaknesses: • Weak to Psychic, which is a common threat. • Needs additional cards to improve the deck's performance. |
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Sandslash Starter Deck Strategy Guide and Card List
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Why is Blaine in the Exeggutor EX deck?