The Zapdos ex Deck is a ex Focused Deck featuring Zapdos 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

Zapdos ex Deck Guide

Best Counter to Lapras ex Drop Event

This deck is an effective counter to Lapras ex and the different missions in this Event.

Its Lightning type advantage can hit all of the Pokemon in Lapras ex's deck for super-effective.

Lapras ex Drop Event Guide: Best Decks to Counter

Deck Evaluation

Ace Pokemon						Tier Ranking
Zapdos ex Genetic Apex (A1)
						Energy Type(s)
						F2P Friendly?
						❌
						Deck Difficulty
						★★
Deck 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.
Deck Weaknesses
Weak to Lightning-type decks. No access to any form of ramp and relies on manual Energy attachment.

Best Meta Decks Tier List

List of Cards

Zapdos ex Deck List
Pokemon Cards
Zapdos ex ×2
Trainer Cards
Old Amber ×2				Giovanni ×2				Sabrina ×2				Potion ×2
X Speed ×2				Hand Scope ×2				Poke Ball ×2				Red Card ×2
Professor's Research ×2

Deck Building Guide

Packs Required for Zapdos ex Deck

Pack	Featured Card

How to Play Zapdos ex Deck

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

Zapdos ex Deck Core Combos and Interactions

Primary Attacker	Disruption	Description
Zapdos ex	Red Card	・Zapdos ex serves as the primary attacker of the deck, being its sole option for Pokemon. ・Red Card when used in conjunction with Hand Scope can be great at disrupting evolution-centric strategies.

Best Starting Hand

Best Starting Hand

Make use of Hand Scope to check if your opponent has useful cards in their hand. Use this information to decide if it would be effective to use Red Card to disrupt them. Use Poke Ball to quickly get your second Zapdos ex out of the deck, then finish your turn with Professor's Research.

Attach an Energy and attack if you are going second.

Best 18 Trainer Decks

Other Good Starting Cards

Recommended Starting Hand

Use Sabrina to pull out vulnerable low-HP Pokemon from your opponent's Bench. Use Potion to keep Zapdos ex out of KO range.

Giovanni can allow Zapdos to quickly KO Staryu before it evolves into Starmie ex.

Best Cards Tier List

Zapdos ex Deck Strategies

Zapdos ex Deck Strategies
Hand Scope and Red Card Zapdos ex Offense

Strategy 1: Hand Scope and Red Card

Hand Scope and Red Card

Hand Scope and Red Card are a great one-two combo for disrupting your opponents' hands. This is especially effective against evolution-heavy decks.

Strategy 2: Zapdos ex Offense

Zapdos ex can immediately start attacking with only one Energy. Attach an Energy and immediately start swinging!

Game Phases

Early Game

Key Card(s) Required
Step	Description
1	Use Hand Scope and Red Card to disrupt your opponent.

Mid-Game

Key Card(s) Required
Step	Description
1	Use Professor's Research to dig for more resources.
2	Send a Fossil out into the Active Spot if Zapdos ex isn't ready. This works as a Basic Pokemon that can be discarded instead of retreating, making it a useful tool for buying us a valuable turn. Do note that knocking out a Fossil scores a point.

Late Game

Key Card(s) Required
1	Use Sabrina to gust up vulnerable Pokemon or Giovanni for an extra 10 damage boost to Zapdos ex's damage.

Zapdos 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
Pikachu ex Decks	Type: ・ Zapdos exs in the deck are all weak to Lightning. ・ Difficult counterplay to disadvantageous damage trades.

Overall Consistency

A Zapdos ex deck with no backup attackers maximizes consistency in exchange of flexibility with Pokemon options. This deck maximizes its Trainer card options however, so every card in your hand is usable most of the time.

Zapdos ex Deck F2P & Substitutes

Zapdos ex Deck Card Substitutes

Card	Explanation
Zapdos	・ A non-ex Zapdos can give you a single-point 100 HP option that can tank and deal damage when loaded up with Energy. Zapdos cannot attack immediately, however, as it needs 3 Energy to use Raging Thunder.

Pokemon TCG Pocket Meta Guide

Zapdos ex Deck Other Viable Options

Card	Possible Cuts
Pikachu ex	・ Pikachu ex is another efficient Pokemon ex that can deal a consistent 90 at the cost of 2 Energy. However, Pikachu ex would necessitate more Basic Pokemon in the deck for it to be effective.
Electrode	・ Electrode is an effective single-point attacker with free retreat.
Old Amber	・ Fossils work like Basic Pokemon that can be discarded instead of retreating, making it a useful tool for buying us a valuable turn. Do note that knocking out a Fossil scores a point.

Zapdos ex and Eelektross Deck Options

Eelektross and Zapdos ex Deck List
Pokemon Cards
Zapdos ex ×2
Trainer Cards
Old Amber ×2				Giovanni ×2				Sabrina ×2				Potion ×2
X Speed ×2				Hand Scope ×2				Poke Ball ×2				Red Card ×2
Professor's Research ×2

This list makes use of Eelektross as a payoff for three Energy. Thunder Fang can deal 80 damage with a chance of paralyzing opposing Pokemon. Eelektrik is also a decent attacker, dealing 40 for 1 Energy, which can KO Staryus and Farfetch'd or put offensive pressure on Lightning-weak Pokemon.

F2P Zapdos ex Deck List

F2P Zapdos ex Deck List
Pokemon Cards
Zapdos ex x1	Zapdos x1	Voltorb x2	Electrode x2
Electabuzz x1	Pincurchin x1
Trainer Cards
Potion x2	Poke Ball x2	Professor's Research x2	Lt. Surge x2
Giovanni x2	Sabrina x2

This F2P Zapdos ex list makes use of non-ex Zapdos sa well as strong and efficient single-point attackers like Electrode, Electabuzz, and Pincurchin. This list also makes use of Lt. Surge which can transfer Energy to your Electrode or Electabuzz, allowing you to be more flexible and explosive with your attackers.

Pokemon TCG Pocket Beginner's Guide

Pokemon TCG Pocket Related Guides

Deck Building Guide

All Deck Tier Lists

All Tier Lists
Best Cards Tier List	Best Meta Deck Tier List
Best Rental Deck Tier List	Best F2P Beginner Decks

Deck Articles

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 Non-ex Decks

Meta Decks

Best Meta Decks
Mewtwo ex	Celebi ex and Serperior	Pikachu ex
Mew ex and Weezing	Vaporeon and Articuno ex	Volcarona and Arcanine ex
Scolipede and Weezing	Starmie ex	Arcanine ex
Blaine	Pikachu ex and Raichu	Gyarados ex and Vaporeon
Pidgeot ex	Venusaur ex	Charizard ex
Aerodactyl ex and Primeape	Exeggutor ex	Articuno ex
Dragonite

Off Meta Decks

Dragonite and Weezing	Lapras ex	Greninja
Mewtwo ex and Weezing	Marowak ex	Primeape
Venusaur and Weezing	Arbok Lock	Zapdos ex
Blastoise ex	Gengar ex	Machamp ex
Wigglytuff ex	Alakazam and Jynx	Melmetal
Koga	Omastar and Articuno ex	Kingler and Articuno ex
Frosmoth	Lapras ex and Butterfree	Poliwrath
Tentacruel and Greninja	Victreebel and Exeggutor ex	Gengar ex and Golbat
Persian and Mawile	Lickitung and Primeape	Exeggutor ex and Alakazam
Frosmoth and Articuno ex	Gyarados	Centiskorch and Moltres ex
Lt. Surge	Grapploct	Cinccino and Weezing
Brock	Kabutops	Aerodactyl and Dragonite
Eeveelutions and Ditto	Lickitung	Articuno
Zapdos	Moltres	Venusaur
Charizard	Blastoise

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