Kabutops Deck Strategy Guide and Card List

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!

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

Meta Decks

Best Meta Decks
Starmie ex Deck	Mewtwo ex Deck	Dragonite Deck
Articuno ex Deck	Arbok Lock Deck	Venusaur ex Deck
Blaine Deck	Pikachu ex Deck	Marowak ex Deck
Charizard ex Deck	Machamp ex Deck	Blastoise ex Deck
Frosmoth Deck	Exeggutor ex Deck	Centiskorch and Moltres ex Deck
Arcanine ex Deck	Gengar ex Deck	Gyarados Deck
Wigglytuff ex Deck	Melmetal Deck	Lt. Surge Deck
Alakazam and Jynx Deck	Zapdos ex Deck	Greninja Deck
Primeape Deck	Grapploct Deck	Cinccino and Weezing
Raichu and Pikachu ex Deck	Mewtwo ex and Weezing	Greninja and Weezing Deck
Venusaur ex and Weezing	Lapras ex Deck	Brock Deck
Dragonite and Weezing	Kabutops	Aerodactyl and Dragonite
Omastar and Articuno ex	Eeveelutions and Ditto	Kingler and Articuno ex
Lickitung	Articuno	Zapdos
Moltres	Venusaur	Charizard
Blastoise	Lapras ex and Butterfree	Poliwrath
Tentacruel and Greninja

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