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Best Zapdos ex Decks and Card List

Pokemon TCG Pocket (PTCGP) Walkthrough Team

Last updated on: December 17, 2025 06:07 AM

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Pokemon TGC Pocket - Zapdos ex Best Deck Build and How to Play

This guide will show you how to build some of the strongest Zapdos ex Decks. We'll cover the best Zapdos ex Deck builds, how to use them, as well how to beat Zapdos ex Decks, and more!

The decks on this page reflect the meta around the Shining Revelry Expansion.

List of Contents

Best Zapdos ex Decks
Zapdos ex Deck Strategy Guide
How to Beat Zapdos ex Decks
Related Guides

Best Zapdos ex Decks

Zapdos ex Deck Variants	Strengths and Weaknesses
Zapdos ex and 18 Trainers Deck [★ Best ★]	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 Energy acceleration and relies on manual Energy attachment.
Raichu and Lt. Surge Deck	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.

Zapdos ex and 18 Trainers Deck

Zapdos ex ×2	Giovanni ×2	Sabrina ×2	Giant Cape ×2
Cyrus ×1	Red ×2	Team Rocket Grunt ×1	Potion ×2
X Speed ×2	Poke Ball ×2	Professor's Research ×2
Energy Used

Zapdos ex serves as the primary attacker of the deck, being its sole option for Pokemon. The Trainer Cards in the deck function as either support to Zapdos ex or as a disruption to the opponent.

Expansions	Cards to Get and Packs to Open
Genetic Apex (A1)	Zapdos ex x 2 (Pikachu Pack) Giovanni x 2 (Mewtwo Pack) Sabrina x 2 (Charizard Pack)
Mythical Island (A1a)	No cards needed from this expansion.
Spacetime Smackdown (A2)	Giant Cape x 2 (Dialga Pack) Cyrus x 1 (Palkia Pack)
Triumphant Light (A2a)	No cards needed from this expansion.
Shining Revelry (A2b)	Red x 2 (Shiny Charizard Pack) Team Rocket Grunt x 1 (Shiny Charizard Pack)
Celestial Guardians	No cards needed from this expansion.
Extradimensional Crisis	No cards needed from this expansion.
Eevee Grove	No cards needed from this expansion.
Wisdom of Sky and Sea	No cards needed from this expansion.
Secluded Springs	No cards needed from this expansion.
Mega Rising	No cards needed from this expansion.
Crimson Blaze	No cards needed from this expansion.
Promo-A	Potion x 2 (Promo-A Pack) X Speed x 2 (Promo-A Pack) Poke Ball x 2 (Promo-A Pack) Professor's Research x 2 (Promo-A Pack)

Raichu and Lt. Surge Deck

Raichu ×2	Pikachu ex ×2	Zapdos ex ×1	Pikachu ×2
Dedenne ×1	Pachirisu ×2	Sabrina ×1	Lt. Surge ×2
Red ×1	X Speed ×2	Poke Ball ×2	Professor's Research ×2
Energy Used

Genetic Apex Pikachu ex and Zapdos ex are used as early to mid-game attackers while Raichu is set up in the Bench. Raichu is used as a finisher, dealing 140 damage with Thunderbolt. Lt. Surge can transfer Energy to Raichu if it needs to attack again.

This deck also contains some useful support Pokemon. Pachirisu can accelerate Energy, while Dedenne can inflict Paralysis.

Expansions	Cards to Get and Packs to Open
Genetic Apex (A1)	Raichu x 2 (Pikachu Pack) Pikachu ex x 2 (Pikachu Pack) Zapdos ex x 1 (Pikachu Pack) Sabrina x 1 (Charizard Pack) Lt. Surge x 2 (Pikachu Pack)
Mythical Island (A1a)	Pikachu x 2 (Mew Pack) Dedenne x 1 (Mew Pack)
Spacetime Smackdown (A2)	No cards needed from this expansion.
Triumphant Light (A2a)	No cards needed from this expansion.
Shining Revelry (A2b)	Pachirisu x 2 (Shiny Charizard Pack) Red x 1 (Shiny Charizard Pack)
Celestial Guardians	No cards needed from this expansion.
Extradimensional Crisis	No cards needed from this expansion.
Eevee Grove	No cards needed from this expansion.
Wisdom of Sky and Sea	No cards needed from this expansion.
Secluded Springs	No cards needed from this expansion.
Mega Rising	No cards needed from this expansion.
Crimson Blaze	No cards needed from this expansion.
Promo-A	X Speed x 2 (Promo-A Pack) Poke Ball x 2 (Promo-A Pack) Professor's Research x 2 (Promo-A Pack)

Zapdos ex Deck Strategy Guide

Boost Zapdos ex's Damage

Thundering Hurricane relies on lucky coin flips to deal a higher amount of damage. It may be good to boost its damage with Supporter Cards to secure KOs. Red can be used against ex Pokemon, while Giovanni can be used for non-ex opponents.

Draw Weaker Pokemon Out

You may also opt to use Sabrina to draw out Benched Pokemon with lower HP. Cyrus can also be used to put damaged Pokemon into the Active Spot, making it easier to secure KOs.

How to Beat Zapdos ex Decks

Fast and Consistent Lightning Decks

Lightning-type decks that do not require much setup can be effective in dealing with Zapdos ex. In addition to the type advantage, they can also attack quickly for consistent damage.

Best Lightning Type Deck and Cards Tier List

OHKO Zapdos ex

Zapdos ex is less bulky compared to other ex Pokemon, making it easier to knock out in one hit. It may be good to use strong single-point attackers for a better point tradeoff.

Pokemon TCG Pocket Related Guides

Decks

Best Meta Decks Tier List

Crimson Blaze Decks

CB Magnezone	Mega Lopunny ex	Mega Charizard Y ex	Mega Venusaur ex
CB Heliolisk	Ariados	CB Ditto	Mega Blastoise ex
Mega Steelix ex	Reuniclus	-	-

Top Decks in the Meta

Tier
Mega Lopunny ex and CB Magnezone Deck	Greninja ex and Suicune ex Deck	CB Magnezone and Pom-Pom Oricorio Deck	-
Tier
Mega Altaria ex and Chingling Deck	Mega Absol ex and Hydreigon Deck	Decidueye ex Deck	-
Tier
Mega Charizard Y ex and Moltres ex Deck	Mega Venusaur ex Deck	Ariados and Whimsicott ex	CB Heliolisk and CB Magnezone Deck
Mega Blaziken ex and Heatmor Deck	-	-	-
Tier
Ditto and Rampardos Deck	Mega Altaria ex and Greninja Deck	Hitmonchan ex and Lucario Deck	-
Tier
Mega Blastoise ex and Manaphy Deck	Mega Steelix ex Deck	Reuniclus and Chingling Deck	-
Tier
Mega Venusaur ex and Leafeon ex Deck	Reuniclus and Gardevoir Deck	-	-

List of All Decks

Core Expansion	Decks
(B1a)	・Ariados ・CB Ditto ・CB Heliolisk ・CB Magnezone ・Mega Blastoise ex ・Mega Charizard Y ex ・Mega Lopunny ex ・Mega Steelix ex ・Mega Venusaur ex ・Reuniclus
(B1)	・Aegislash ・Dragalge ex ・Greninja ex ・Golurk ・Goodra ・Hitmonchan ex ・Hydreigon ・Indeedee ex ・Jolteon ex ・Luxray ・Mega Absol ex ・Mega Altaria ex ・Mega Ampharos ex ・Mega Blaziken ex ・Mega Gyarados ex ・Mega Pidgeot ex ・Mega Pinsir ex ・Melmetal ex ・Rapidash ex ・Tauros ex ・Whimsicott ex
(A4a)	・Altaria ・Celebi ・Dugtrio ・Entei ex ・Galarian Cursola ・Jumpluff ex ・Latios ・Miltank ・Poliwrath ex ・Raikou ex ・Slowking ・SS Eelektross ・Suicune ex ・Zoroark
(A4)	・Crobat ex ・Donphan ex ・Espeon ex ・Ho-oh ex ・Kingdra ex ・Lanturn ex ・Lugia ex ・Magcargo ・Raikou ・Scizor ・Shuckle ex ・Skarmory ex ・Steelix ・Umbreon ex ・WSS Gyarados ・WSS Tyranitar ・Xatu
(A3b)	・Alcremie ・Dragonite ex ・Espeon ・Flareon ex ・Glaceon ・Jolteon ・Leafeon ・Primarina ex ・Slurpuff ・Snorlax ex ・Sylveon ex ・Umbreon ・Vaporeon
(A3a)	・Alolan Dugtrio ex ・Blacephalon ・Buzzwole ex ・Guzzlord ex ・Lycanroc ex ・Naganadel ・Nihilego ・Pheromosa ・Shiinotic ・Silvally ・Stoutland ・Tapu Koko ex ・Ultra Necrozma ex
(A3)	・Alolan Muk ex ・Alolan Ninetales ・Alolan Raichu ex ・Araquanid ・Banette ・Crabominable ex ・Decidueye ex ・Dhelmise ex ・Incineroar ex ・Kommo-o ・Lunala ex ・Mimikyu ・Passimian ex ・Pom-Pom Oricorio ・Rayquaza ex ・Solgaleo ex ・Tsareena ・Turtonator ・Vikavolt ・Wishiwashi ex
(A2b)	・Beedrill ex ・Bibarel ex ・Dondozo ・Gholdengo ・Giratina ex ・Lucario ex ・Meowscarada ・Paldean Clodsire ex ・Pawmot ・SR Charizard ex ・SR Pikachu ex ・Tinkaton ex ・Wugtrio ex
(A2a)	・Abomasnow ・Arceus ex ・Bronzong ・Carnivine ・Crobat ・Donphan ・Garchomp ex ・Gengar ・Glaceon ex ・Heatran ・Houndoom ・Leafeon ex ・Origin Forme Palkia ・Probopass ex ・Snorlax ・Staraptor ・TL Tyranitar
(A2)	・Bastiodon ・Darkrai ex ・Dialga ex ・Empoleon ・Gallade ex ・Garchomp ・Infernape ex ・Lickilicky ex ・Lucario ・Luxray ・Magnezone ・Mesprit ・Mismagius ex ・Pachirisu ex ・Palkia ex ・Porygon-Z ・Rampardos ・Rhyperior ・Togekiss ・Torterra ・Weavile ex ・Yanmega ex
(A1a)	・Aerodactyl ex ・Celebi ex ・Golem ・Gyarados ex ・Mew ex ・Pidgeot ex ・Scolipede
(A1)	・Aerodactyl ・Alakazam ・Arbok ・Arcanine ex ・Articuno ・Articuno ex ・Blastoise ・Blastoise ex ・Centiskorch ・Charizard ・Dragonite ・Exeggutor ex ・Frosmoth ・GA Charizard ex ・GA Gyarados ・GA Pikachu ex ・Gengar ex ・Greninja ・Kabutops ・Kingler ・Lapras ex ・Machamp ex ・Marowak ex ・Melmetal ・Mewtwo ex ・Moltres ex ・Ninetales ・Omastar ・Pidgeot ・Poliwrath ・Primeape ・Raichu ・Starmie ex ・Venusaur ・Venusaur ex ・Weezing ・Wigglytuff ex ・Zapdos ・Zapdos ex

Best Rental Deck Tier List

Deck-Building Guides and Lists

Lists of Decks by Type
Best F2P Beginner Decks	Best Non-ex Decks
Which ex Starter Deck Should You Get?	List of Rental Decks
Best 18 Trainers Decks	Best Trainerless Decks for Solo Battle Missions
List of Meme or Troll Decks	List of Ultra Beast Decks
Best Eeveelution Decks	Best Baby Pokemon Decks
Deck-Building Guides
Deck Building Guide	How Rental Decks Work
Staple Cards for Decks	-
Deck Analyses
Deck Matchup Statistics	10 Match Tests vs Pikachu ex Deck - Statistics

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Best Zapdos ex Decks and Card List

Best Zapdos ex Decks

Zapdos ex and 18 Trainers Deck

Raichu and Lt. Surge Deck

Zapdos ex Deck Strategy Guide

Boost Zapdos ex's Damage

Draw Weaker Pokemon Out

How to Beat Zapdos ex Decks

Fast and Consistent Lightning Decks

OHKO Zapdos ex

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List of All Decks

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