The Kabutops Deck is a Tanky Beatdown Deck featuring Kabutops 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

Kabutops Deck Guide

Deck Evaluation

Ace Pokemon						Tier Ranking
Kabutops Genetic Apex (A1)			Kangaskhan Genetic Apex (A1)
						Energy Type(s)
						F2P Friendly?
						✔️
						Deck Difficulty
						★★★
Deck Strengths
Kabutops is difficult to set up but can win games if successful. Basic Pokemon in the deck are useful. Energy-efficient and does not need ramp.
Deck Weaknesses
Difficult to set up Kabutops. Lacks damage output for decisive KOs. Weak against Pokemon that can OHKO Kabutops.

Best Meta Decks Tier List

List of Cards

Kabutops Deck List
Pokemon Cards
Kabuto ×2				Kabutops ×2				Meowth ×2				Kangaskhan ×2
Trainer Cards
Dome Fossil ×2				Giovanni ×2				Potion ×2				X Speed ×2
Poke Ball ×2				Professor's Research ×2

Deck Building Guide

Packs Required for Kabutops Deck

Pack	Featured Card

How to Play Kabutops Deck

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

Kabutops Deck Core Combos and Interactions

Early Game Tank	Wincon	Description
Kangaskhan	Kabutops	・Kangaskhan can deal good damage for only 1 Energy while being able to be an effective tank. ・Meowth is a great starting Pokemon for evolution decks. ・Kabutops makes for a win condition that's difficult to KO.

Best Starting Hand

Best Starting Hand

Meowth is an excellent starting Pokemon as it can draw valuable cards for you with Pay Day. Focus on benching a Dome Fossil as quickly as possible and evolving it into Kabuto the following turn.

Other Good Starting Cards

Recommended Starting Hand

Kangaskhan is also a good starting Pokemon. It can tank damage and high roll up to 60 damage with Dizzy Punch. Like previously mentioned, focus on finding your Dome Fossils and Kabuto early on in the game.

Best Cards Tier List

Kabutops Deck Strategies

Kabutops Deck Strategies
Kangaskhan Early Game Kabutops Wincon

Strategy 1: Kangaskhan Early Game

Kangaskhan Early Game

Kangaskhan is the best starter for this deck as it can immediately put offensive pressure with its 1-Energy Dizzy Punch which can high roll for 60 damage. It can also take a good amount of damage thanks to its 100 HP. Keep Kangaskhan active for as long as you need until your Dome Fossil is set up into Kabutops

Use X Speed to get Meowth out of the Active Spot after it has drawn you a sufficient amount of cards, or use it to lessen Kangaskhan's hefty Retreat Cost once Kabutops is ready.

Strategy 2: Kabutops Wincon

Kabutops in the end game can be frustratingly hard to take out and can often take over games. Be sure quickly remove Pokemon that can OHKO Kabutops like Mewtwo ex with its Psydrive!

Game Phases

Early Game

Key Card(s) Required
Step	Description
1	Start with either Meowth or Kangaskhan and Bench a Dome Fossil.
2	Use Professor's Research to dig for Dome Fossil if you don't have it in your opening hand.

Mid-Game

Key Card(s) Required
Step	Description
1	Keep drawing cards with Meowth or attacking with Kangaskhan.
2	Evolve Dome Fossil into Kabuto.
3	Retreat when Kabutops is ready.

Late Game

Key Card(s) Required
1	Retreat your active Pokemon and send Kabutops out.
2	Use Giovanni to increase Kabutops's damage and healing.
3	Use Potion to keep Kabutops healthy.
4	Attach Energy to your Benched Kangaskhan so that you can retreat it later on should you need to send it out from an opponent's Sabrina.

Kabutops Deck Best and Worst Matchups

Best Matchups

Deck	Commentary
Blastoise Decks	Type: ・Is just as slow as Kabutops. ・Requires more resources to OHKO Kabutops.

Worst Matchups

Deck	Commentary
Venusaur Decks	Type: ・Cannot trade damage favorably because of its type disadvantage against Grass. ・Cannot consistently KO Venusaur ex or Exeggutor ex.

Overall Consistency

This deck relies on its Colorless Basic Pokemon to survive long enough for you to set up Kabutops. Without Kabutops, the deck's chances of winning are significantly less.

Kabutops's inevitability however, can help win games if your opponents can't OHKO it.

Kabutops Deck F2P & Substitutes

Kabutops Deck Card Substitutes

Card	Explanation
Farfetch'd	・ Farfetch'd can be slotted into the deck and work as a 1-Energy Attacker which can deal damage while Dratini is in the bench setting up. However it does not have much HP and can easily give up a point.

Pokemon TCG Pocket Meta Guide

Kabutops Deck Other Viable Options

Card	Possible Cuts
Hitmonlee	・ Gives the deck a sniping option with Stretch Kick.
Hitmonchan	・Can immediately apply offensive pressure against Pikachu ex decks. ・Makes the Mewtwo ex matchup even more difficult because of its type disadvantage.

F2P Kabutops Deck List

F2P Kabutops Deck List
Pokemon Cards
Kabuto x2	Kabutops x2	Hitmonlee x1	Hitmonchan x1
Meowth x2
Trainer Cards
Dome Fossil x2	Giovanni x2	Potion x2	X Speed x2
Poke Ball x2	Professor's Research x2

The free-to-play version of the deck makes use of Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan as quick and efficient Basic Pokemon for the early game. Meowth still makes an appearance as it is always a useful asset for evolution decks thanks to Pay Day's draw.

The Trainer suite remains similar to the non free-to-play version, only including necessities.

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	Lt. Surge
Dragonite	Articuno ex	Alakazam and Jynx

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	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	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