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

Best Arceus ex Decks

Arceus ex Deck Variants	Strengths and Weaknesses
Arceus ex and Dialga ex Deck [★ Best ★]	Strengths: • Dialga can quickly power up Arceus ex. • Arceus ex is a reliable Colorless attacker that can consistently deal 130 damage. • Pokemon in the deck do not share a Weakness. Weaknesses: • Dialga ex needs two Energy attachments to use Metallic Turbo, making going first highly disadvantageous. • Arceus ex needs three Energy to attack, making it difficult to set up without Dialga ex.
Carnivine and Arceus ex Deck	Strengths: • Carnivine can deal 50 damage for only one Energy as long as you have an Arceus in play. • Has multiple ways to reduce Retreat Costs. Weaknesses: • Not drawing Arceus ex early can be disadvantageous.
Giratina ex and Arceus ex Deck	Strengths: • Has multiple powerful ex Pokemon available. • Giratina ex works as Energy acceleration, with Energy that it can transfer to Arceus ex with Dawn. Weaknesses: • Weak to Dark-type Pokemon with cheap attack costs. • Chaotic Impact also damages Giratina ex, making it easier to KO.
Meowscarada and Arceus ex Deck	Strengths: • Has Meowscarada for combating ex Pokemon, and Arceus ex for KOing non-exs. • Has access to Carnivine, which can deal an easy 50 damage if Arceus ex is on your Bench. Weaknesses: • Makes use of Stage 2 Pokemon, which may require multiple turns to set up.
Exeggutor ex and Arceus ex Deck	Strengths: • Exeggutor ex can evolve and attack as early as turn 2 since it's a Stage 1 and single-energy attacker. • Can be difficult to KO because of its high HP. • Is able to consistently deal 40 to 80 damage. Weaknesses: • Weak to Fire-type decks. • Lacks necessary damage output to KO higher HP threats.
Crobat and Arceus ex Deck	Strengths: • Dialga ex can effectively power up Arceus ex, who can then attack with its Colorless-costing Ultimate Force. • Crobat can deal 30 damage using its Cunning Link Ability if Arceus ex is in play. • Arceus ex is a solid attacker with an attack that can max out at 130 damage. Weaknesses: • Makes use of Stage 2 Pokemon, which may require multiple turns to set up. • May sometimes miss KOs on 140 HP Pokemon without damage modifiers.
Heatran and Infernape ex Deck	Strengths: • Infernape ex can finish off low HP Pokemon that have been damaged by Heatran. • Low Energy requirements for both primary attackers. • Arceus ex can also go on the offensive when necessary. Weaknesses: • Heatran can be an easy KO for opponents if it can't Retreat in time. • Water-types can threaten KOs on Heatran. • Reliant on Infernape ex for big KOs.
Abomasnow and Arceus ex Deck	Strengths: • Abomasnow can be set up quicker as long as Arceus is on the field. • Both Palkia and Arceus can deal an immense amount of damage once set up. Weaknesses: • Abomasnow can't fully utilize its ability if Arceus is drawn late.

Arceus ex and Dialga ex Deck

Shaymin ×2				Dialga ex ×2				Arceus ex ×2				Sabrina ×1
Leaf ×2				Giant Cape ×2				Rocky Helmet ×1				Cyrus ×1
Red ×2				Potion ×1				Poke Ball ×2				Professor's Research ×2
Energy Used

Dialga ex can consistently power up an Arceus ex, which can attack for as much as 130 the following turn. Because Arceus ex is a basic, it doesn't need to find evolutions like the other Dialga ex partners.

Space-Time Smackdown Shaymin is useful for helping your Pokemon stay out of KO range.

Carnivine and Arceus ex Deck

Rotom ×1				Carnivine ×2				Rotom ×1				Shaymin ×1
Arceus ex ×2				Giovanni ×1				Sabrina ×1				Leaf ×1
Pokemon Communication ×1				Giant Cape ×1				Rocky Helmet ×2				Cyrus ×1
Dawn ×1				Poke Ball ×2				Professor's Research ×2
Energy Used

Carnivine with Arceus ex is used in this deck because of their ability to deal a good 50 damage on your first turn.

Use Carnivine to weaken your opponent's Pokemon. Having Arceus ex on the Bench will boost Carnivine's damage output, making it deal 50 damage for only one Energy. When the opponent's Pokemon are at low health, switch in Meowscarada to finish them off.

Space-Time Smackdown Rotom works similar to Carnivine because of its low-cost, but situational attack. Triumphant Light Rotom can snipe an opponent's Bench, putting Pokemon into Arceus ex's KO range.

Triumphant Light Shaymin can reduce the Retreat Costs of your Basic Pokemon, which can prove useful on turns where you need a different attacker.

Giratina ex and Arceus ex Deck

Shaymin ×2				Arceus ex ×2				Giratina ex ×2				Sabrina ×1
Leaf ×2				Giant Cape ×2				Cyrus ×1				Dawn ×2
Red ×2				Poke Ball ×2				Professor's Research ×2
Energy Used

This Giratina ex deck enables Arceus ex to deal 130 damage as early as your second turn (or third if you went first) through the Giratina ex's Ability and Dawn. Shaymin's role is to fill the bench to increase Arceus ex's damage and heal Giratina ex from the damage inflicted by Chaotic Impact to itself.

Meowscarada and Arceus ex Deck

Carnivine ×2				Arceus ex ×2				Sprigatito ×2				Floragato ×2
Meowscarada ×2				Erika ×2				Giant Cape ×2				Red ×2
Poke Ball ×2				Professor's Research ×2
Energy Used

Carnivine with Arceus ex is used in this deck as well, because of their ability to deal a good 50 damage on your first turn.

If the opponent's Pokemon is an ex, you can use the Meowscarada and Red combo to deal take a KO.

Exeggutor ex and Arceus ex Deck

Exeggcute ×2				Exeggutor ex ×2				Carnivine ×1				Arceus ex ×2
Erika ×2				Sabrina ×1				Leaf ×2				Pokemon Communication ×1
Giant Cape ×2				Cyrus ×1				Poke Ball ×2				Professor's Research ×2
Energy Used

Exeggutor ex proves to be a consistent threat, being able to hit for 40 to 80 damage and being able to take lots of hits before going down. Celebi ex and Arceus ex are great for closing out games, while Exeggutor ex takes over early to mid games.

Crobat and Arceus ex Deck

Zubat ×2				Golbat ×2				Dialga ex ×2				Crobat ×2
Arceus ex ×2				Giovanni ×1				Sabrina ×1				Leaf ×2
Rocky Helmet ×2				Poke Ball ×2				Professor's Research ×2
Energy Used

This deck makes use of Dialga ex to power up an Arceus ex on the Bench, with Crobat providing offensive support through Cunning Link's 30 damage. Arceus ex with a full Bench and a Crobat will max out your damage at 160!

Heatran and Infernape ex Deck

Monferno ×2				Infernape ex ×2				Heatran ×2				Arceus ex ×1
Chimchar ×2				Leaf ×1				Pokemon Communication ×2				Rocky Helmet ×2
Dawn ×2				Poke Ball ×2				Professor's Research ×2
Energy Used

Arceus ex isn't featured as heavily in this deck, used mainly to give Heatran free retreat. It also functions as a backup attacker that does not require you to evolve like Infernape ex.

Abomasnow and Arceus ex Deck

Palkia ex ×2				Manaphy ×2				Snover ×2				Abomasnow ×2
Arceus ex ×2				Misty ×2				Leaf ×2				Irida ×2
Poke Ball ×2				Professor's Research ×2
Energy Used

Abomasnow synergizes with Arceus ex in this deck, using its Link Ability to reduce the cost of Mega Punch. Palkia ex is also in the deck, which serves as a way to swing for big damage when Abomasnow's 80 isn't enough. Arceus ex once again is used as an attacker that does not require you to lose resources.

Arceus ex Deck Strategy Guide

Set Arceus ex Up with Energy

Arceus ex benefits greatly from any form of Energy acceleration.

Dialga ex is a frequent partner for Arceus ex, that's able to set it up with Energy using Metallic Turbo. Just one use of Metallic Turbo and an Energy attachment for turn can get Arceus ex ready to attack.

Manaphy can also attach Energy to Arceus ex, despite it not being a Water-type because Manaphy does not have a condition that specifies that it can only attach to Water-types.

Using Dawn to transfer an Energy from a Benched Pokemon to Arceus ex can also help it attack one turn sooner.

Increase Arceus ex's Damage Output

Cards that can increase Arceus ex's damage are valuable to have. Red can help you KO 150 HP Pokemon like a fresh Giratina ex, while Giovanni can help Arceus ex OHKO Meowscarada.

How to Beat Arceus ex Decks

Attack It for Weakness

Fighting-types are often difficult for Arceus ex to face off against. Gallade ex can easily knock Arceus ex out if it is already set up with three Energy, while Marshadow can OHKO it if a Pokemon was KOd the previous turn, and with the use of Red.

Best Gallade ex Decks and Card List

Use Single Point Pokemon

A deck with Pokemon like Magnezone and Skarmory can outpace Arceus ex decks with Skarmory's early pressure and Magnezone's ability to 2HKO Arceus ex with Thunder Blast.

Meowscarada can also KO Arceus ex with the help of Red, with Arceus ex being unable to KO it back without the use of Giovanni.

Best Meowscarada Decks and Card List

Pokemon TCG Pocket Related Guides

Best Meta Decks 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 Misty Decks	Best Erika Decks
Best 18 Trainers Decks	Best Trainerless Decks for Solo Battle Missions
List of Meme or Troll Decks	-
Deck-Building Guides
Deck Building Guide	How Rental Decks Work
Staple Cards for Decks	Aggro Decks Explained
Deck Analyses
Deck Matchup Statistics	10 Match Tests vs Pikachu ex Deck - Statistics

Meta Decks

S Tier Decks
Giratina ex
A+ Tier Decks
Arceus ex	Gyarados ex	Weavile ex
Gallade ex	Articuno ex	Charizard ex
Meowscarada	-	-
A Tier Decks
Palkia ex	Rampardos	Clodsire ex
Charizard ex	Wugtrio ex	Dialga ex
Darkrai ex	Magnezone	Carnivine
Starmie ex	Origin Forme Palkia	-
B Tier Decks
Pikachu ex	Lucario ex	Beedrill ex
Gholdengo	Exeggutor ex	Pachirisu ex
Celebi ex	Yanmega ex	Leafeon ex
Garchomp ex	Probopass ex	Crobat
Donphan	Heatran	Infernape
C Tier Decks
・Tinkaton ex Deck ・Bibarel ex Deck ・Dondozo Deck ・Pawmot Deck ・Mewtwo ex Deck ・Blaine Deck ・Genetic Apex Pikachu ex Deck ・Pidgeot ex Deck ・Scolipede and Weezing Deck ・Golem Deck ・Dialga ex and Bastiodon Deck ・Lucario Deck ・Garchomp Deck ・Togekiss Deck ・Porygon-Z Deck ・Volkner Deck ・Rhyperior Deck ・Magnezone Deck ・Empoleon Deck ・Torterra Deck ・Lake Trio Deck ・Glaceon ex Deck ・Bronzong Deck ・Abomasnow Deck ・Staraptor Deck ・Tyranitar Deck ・Snorlax Deck ・Houndoom Deck

Off Meta Decks

Core Expansion	Decks
(A2)	・Darkrai ex and Weezing Deck ・Dialga ex and Lickilicky ex Deck ・Magnezone and Marshadow Deck ・Magnezone Deck ・Lake Trio Deck ・Rhyperior Deck
(A1a)	・Aerodactyl ex Deck ・Gyarados ex and Vaporeon Deck ・Mew ex and Weezing Deck ・Vaporeon and Articuno ex Deck ・Volcarona and Arcanine ex Deck
(A1)	・Aerodactyl and Dragonite Deck ・Alakazam and Jynx Deck ・Arbok Lock Deck ・Articuno Deck ・Blastoise Deck ・Blastoise ex Deck ・Brock Deck ・Centiskorch and Moltres ex Deck ・Charizard Deck ・Cinccino and Weezing Deck ・Dragonite Deck ・Dragonite and Weezing Deck ・Eeveelutions and Ditto Deck ・Exeggutor and Alakazam Deck ・Frosmoth Deck ・Gengar ex and Golbat Deck ・Gengar ex Deck ・Grapploct and Pidgeot Deck ・Greninja and Articuno ex Deck ・Greninja and Weezing Deck ・Gyarados Deck ・Kabutops Deck ・Kingler and Articuno ex Deck ・Koga Deck ・Lapras ex and Butterfree Deck ・Lapras ex Deck ・Lickitung and Primeape Deck ・Lickitung Deck ・Lt. Surge Deck ・Machamp ex Deck ・Melmetal Deck ・Mewtwo ex and Weezing Deck ・Moltres Deck ・Omastar and Articuno ex Deck ・Persian and Mawile Deck ・Pikachu ex and Raichu Deck ・Poliwrath Deck ・Primeape Deck ・Tentacruel and Greninja Deck ・Venusaur Deck ・Venusaur ex and Weezing Deck ・Venusaur ex Deck ・Victreebel and Exeggutor ex Deck ・Zapdos Deck ・Zapdos ex Deck

Premade Decks

Core Expansion	Decks
Starter Decks	・Pinsir Starter Deck ・Rapidash Starter Deck ・Sandslash Starter Deck
Genetic Apex Rental and Theme Decks	・Koga Rental Deck ・Brock Rental Deck ・Kanto Fossils Rental Deck ・Nidoking and Nidoqueen Rental Deck

Best Rental Deck Tier List