Pokemon TCG Pocket (PTCGP)

Best Ho-oh ex Decks and Card List

Pokemon TCG Pocket (PTCGP) Walkthrough Team

Last updated on: November 6, 2025 09:36 PM

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

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

The decks on this page reflect the meta around the Wisdom of Sea and Sky Expansion.

List of Contents

Best Ho-oh ex Decks
Ho-oh ex Deck Strategy Guide
How to Beat Ho-oh ex Decks
Related Guides

Best Ho-oh ex Decks

Ho-oh ex Deck Variants	Strengths and Weaknesses
Ho-oh ex and Snorlax ex Deck [★ Best ★]	Strengths: • Ho-oh ex can set Snorlax ex up for a sweep with Phoenix Turbo. • Snorlax ex is a solid tank that can also be scooped up by Ilima. • Darkrai ex can deal passive damage through Energy attachments with its Nightmare Aura Ability. Weaknesses: • Needs multiple turns to set up the deck's ex Pokemon. • Has a difficult but winnable matchup against Pom-Pom Oricorio decks.
Ho-oh ex and Celebi ex Deck [★ New ★]	Strengths: • Ho-oh ex can set Celebi ex and Snorlax ex up for a sweep with Phoenix Turbo. • Celebi ex can deal huge damage on lucky heads flips. • Snorlax ex is a solid tank that can also be scooped up by Ilima. Weaknesses: • Can take a few turns to set up attackers.
Ho-oh ex and Lugia ex [★ New ★]	Strengths: • Ho-oh ex can set Lugia ex up for a sweep with Phoenix Turbo. • Lugia ex can deal a huge 180 damage with Elemental Blast, knocking out most Pokemon in the game. • Has multiple ways to generate Energy through Zeraora and Pichu. Weaknesses: • All ex Pokemon in the deck share a Weakness to Lightning. • Needs multiple turns to set up Ho-oh ex and Lugia ex.
Ho-oh ex and Dragonite ex Deck [★ New ★]	Strengths: • Ho-oh ex can set Dragonite ex up for a sweep with Phoenix Turbo. • Dragonite ex can do a huge 180 damage with Giga Impact at the cost of not being able to Attack the following turn. Weaknesses: • Needs multiple turns to set up Ho-oh ex and Dragonite ex. • Dragonite ex requires multiple Energy types to use Giga Impact, making it inconsistent.

Ho-oh ex and Snorlax ex Deck

Darkrai ex ×1	Komala ×1	Snorlax ex ×2	Ho-Oh ex ×2
Sabrina ×1	Leaf ×1	Rocky Helmet ×2	Pokemon Center Lady ×2
Ilima ×2	Lyra ×1	Poke Ball ×2	Red Card ×1
Professor's Research ×2
Energy Used

Use Snorlax ex to soak up damage as you set up your benched Ho-oh ex, or deal passive damage with Darkrai ex. After Snorlax ex has taken enough damage, use Ilima to return it to your hand, play it onto your bench, then attach Energy to it using Ho-oh ex's Phoenix Turbo.

This deck is very flexible with plenty of switching options in Lyra, Leaf, or even a means to scoop up Snorlax ex with Ilima.

Expansions	Cards to Get and Packs to Open
Genetic Apex (A1)	Sabrina x 1 (Charizard Pack)
Mythical Island (A1a)	Leaf x 1 (Mew Pack)
Spacetime Smackdown (A2)	Darkrai ex x 1 (Dialga Pack) Rocky Helmet x 2 (Palkia Pack)
Triumphant Light (A2a)	No cards needed from this expansion.
Shining Revelry (A2b)	Pokemon Center Lady x 2 (Shiny Charizard Pack)
Celestial Guardians	Komala x 1 (Solgaleo Pack) Ilima x 2 (Lunala Pack)
Extradimensional Crisis	No cards needed from this expansion.
Eevee Grove	Snorlax ex x 2 (Eevee Pack)
Wisdom of Sky and Sea	Ho-Oh ex x 2 (Ho-Oh Pack) Lyra x 1 (Lugia Pack)
Secluded Springs	No cards needed from this expansion.
Mega Rising	No cards needed from this expansion.
Promo-A	Poke Ball x 2 (Promo-A Pack) Red Card x 1 (Promo-A Pack) Professor's Research x 2 (Promo-A Pack)

Ho-oh ex and Celebi ex Deck

Celebi ex ×2	Snorlax ×1	Snorlax ex ×1	Magby ×2
Ho-Oh ex ×2	Sabrina ×1	Leaf ×1	Giant Cape ×1
Cyrus ×1	Mars ×1	Pokemon Center Lady ×1	Ilima ×2
Poke Ball ×2	Professor's Research ×2
Energy Used

The deck's main attacker is Celebi ex, who can be loaded up with lots of Energy by Magby's Toasty Toss and Ho-oh ex's Phoenix Turbo.

Snorlax ex and Triumphant Light Snorlax are also run in this deck as Colorless attackers who can make use of Energy of any type, with the latter being a single point option to use against Pom-Pom Oricorio.

Expansions	Cards to Get and Packs to Open
Genetic Apex (A1)	Sabrina x 1 (Charizard Pack)
Mythical Island (A1a)	Celebi ex x 2 (Mew Pack) Leaf x 1 (Mew Pack)
Spacetime Smackdown (A2)	Giant Cape x 1 (Dialga Pack) Cyrus x 1 (Palkia Pack) Mars x 1 (Palkia Pack)
Triumphant Light (A2a)	Snorlax x 1 (Arceus Pack)
Shining Revelry (A2b)	Pokemon Center Lady x 1 (Shiny Charizard Pack)
Celestial Guardians	Ilima x 2 (Lunala Pack)
Extradimensional Crisis	No cards needed from this expansion.
Eevee Grove	Snorlax ex x 1 (Eevee Pack)
Wisdom of Sky and Sea	Magby x 2 (Ho-Oh Pack) Ho-Oh ex x 2 (Ho-Oh Pack)
Secluded Springs	No cards needed from this expansion.
Mega Rising	No cards needed from this expansion.
Promo-A	Poke Ball x 2 (Promo-A Pack) Professor's Research x 2 (Promo-A Pack)

Ho-oh ex and Lugia ex Deck

Zeraora ×2	Ho-Oh ex ×2	Pichu ×1	Lugia ex ×1
Leaf ×2	Pokemon Communication ×1	Giant Cape ×2	Dawn ×2
Guzma ×1	Elemental Switch ×2	Poke Ball ×2	Professor's Research ×2
Energy Used

Ho-oh ex can easily power up a benched Lugia ex with Phoenix Turbo. This can be achieved quickly with Zeraora's Thunderclap Flash Ability and Elemental Switch.

Pichu is also in the deck as another option to accelerate Energy onto Ho-oh ex and Lugia ex.

Because this deck's strategy hinges on its setup, it is important to find your Basic Pokemon as early as possible, preferably on the first turn.

Expansions	Cards to Get and Packs to Open
Genetic Apex (A1)	No cards needed from this expansion.
Mythical Island (A1a)	Leaf x 2 (Mew Pack)
Spacetime Smackdown (A2)	Pokemon Communication x 1 (Dialga Pack) Giant Cape x 2 (Dialga Pack) Dawn x 2 (Dialga Pack)
Triumphant Light (A2a)	No cards needed from this expansion.
Shining Revelry (A2b)	No cards needed from this expansion.
Celestial Guardians	Guzma x 1 (Lunala Pack)
Extradimensional Crisis	Zeraora x 2 (Buzzwole Pack)
Eevee Grove	No cards needed from this expansion.
Wisdom of Sky and Sea	Ho-Oh ex x 2 (Ho-Oh Pack) Pichu x 1 (Lugia Pack) Lugia ex x 1 (Lugia Pack) Elemental Switch x 2 (Lugia Pack)
Secluded Springs	No cards needed from this expansion.
Mega Rising	No cards needed from this expansion.
Promo-A	Poke Ball x 2 (Promo-A Pack) Professor's Research x 2 (Promo-A Pack)

Ho-oh ex and Dragonite ex Deck

Zeraora ×2	Dratini ×2	Dragonite ex ×2	Ho-Oh ex ×2
Pokemon Communication ×1	Dawn ×1	Rare Candy ×2	Elemental Switch ×2
Lyra ×2	Poke Ball ×2	Professor's Research ×2
Energy Used

Ho-oh ex can easily power up a benched Dragonite ex with Phoenix Turbo.

This can be achieved quickly with Zeraora's Thunderclap Flash Ability and Elemental Switch, as well as Dawn.

Do note that Ho-oh ex can only accelerate Energy to Basic Pokemon, so consider evolving Dratini into Dragonite ex after receiving Energy from Phoenix Turbo.

Lyra lets you switch out a damaged Pokemon. This is relevant because a switch won't use up your one Retreat for the turn.

Expansions	Cards to Get and Packs to Open
Genetic Apex (A1)	No cards needed from this expansion.
Mythical Island (A1a)	No cards needed from this expansion.
Spacetime Smackdown (A2)	Pokemon Communication x 1 (Dialga Pack) Dawn x 1 (Dialga Pack)
Triumphant Light (A2a)	No cards needed from this expansion.
Shining Revelry (A2b)	No cards needed from this expansion.
Celestial Guardians	Rare Candy x 2 (Any Pack)
Extradimensional Crisis	Zeraora x 2 (Buzzwole Pack)
Eevee Grove	Dratini x 2 (Eevee Pack) Dragonite ex x 2 (Eevee Pack)
Wisdom of Sky and Sea	Ho-Oh ex x 2 (Ho-Oh Pack) Elemental Switch x 2 (Lugia Pack) Lyra x 2 (Lugia Pack)
Secluded Springs	No cards needed from this expansion.
Mega Rising	No cards needed from this expansion.
Promo-A	Poke Ball x 2 (Promo-A Pack) Professor's Research x 2 (Promo-A Pack)

Ho-oh ex Deck Strategy Guide

Set Up Ho-oh ex with Partners that Accelerate Energy

Partners that can ramp Energy onto itself like Zeraora are ideal for Ho-oh ex. These Pokemon can then get their Energy transfered with Elemental Switch.

New Baby Pokemon like Pichu and Magby can also help with your setup.

Once Ho-oh ex is ready, it can then power up its benched partners, like Lugia ex and Dragonite ex as long as it is still a Dratini.

How to Beat Ho-oh ex Decks

Wall it with Pom-Pom Oricorio

Pom-Pom Oricorio matches up favorably against Ho-oh ex decks because Pokemon in these decks share a weakness to Lightning.

Additionally, Pom-Pom Oricorio's Safeguard Ability protects it from getting damaged by the ex Pokemon in Ho-oh ex decks.

Best Pom-Pom Oricorio Decks and Card List

Pokemon TCG Pocket Related Guides

Decks

Best Meta Decks Tier List

Mega Rising Decks

Top Decks in the Meta

Tier
Mega Altaria ex and Chingling Deck	Greninja ex and Suicune ex Deck	Mega Absol ex and Hydreigon Deck	-
Tier
Mega Blaziken ex and Heatmor Deck	Pom-Pom Oricorio and Magnezone Deck	Decidueye ex Deck	-
Tier
Mega Absol ex and Pom-Pom Oricorio Deck	Mega Absol ex and Weezing Deck	Hydreigon Deck	Espeon ex and Indeedee ex Deck
Tier
Mega Blaziken ex and Entei ex Deck	Mega Gyarados ex and Milotic Deck	Indeedee ex and Giratina ex Deck	Luxray Deck
Pom-Pom Oricorio and Greninja Deck	Giratina ex and Darkrai ex Deck	Guzzlord ex and Naganadel Deck	-
Tier
Mega Pinsir ex and Leafeon ex Deck	Mega Ampharos ex and Raikou ex Deck	Hitmonchan ex and Lucario Deck	Jolteon ex and Jolteon Deck
Tapu Koko ex and Pom-Pom Oricorio Deck	SR Pikachu ex and Pom-Pom Oricorio Deck	Crobat and Arceus ex Deck	Goodra and Indeedee ex Deck
Tier
Rapidash ex and Ninetales Deck	Tauros ex and Hydreigon Deck	Whimsicott ex and Meowscarada Deck	Dragalge ex and Nihilego Deck
Golurk Deck	Aegislash and Togedemaru Deck	Mega Pidgeot ex and Raikou ex Deck	-

List of All Decks

Core Expansion	Decks
(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

Comment

Anonymous 4 months

Con for Ho-Oh/Dragonite EX: Need to load the energy onto Dratini NOT Dragonite otherwise it is a Non-bo.

Post (1 Comments)

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Mega Altaria ex	Indeedee ex	Greninja ex	Mega Blaziken ex
Mega Absol ex	Mega Gyarados ex	Hydreigon	Jolteon ex
Mega Ampharos ex	Melmetal ex	Luxray	Goodra
Mega Pinsir ex	Hitmonchan ex	Dragalge ex	Whimsicott ex
Rapidash ex	Tauros ex	Golurk	Mega Pidgeot ex

Best Ho-oh ex Decks and Card List

Best Ho-oh ex Decks

Ho-oh ex and Snorlax ex Deck

Ho-oh ex and Celebi ex Deck

Ho-oh ex and Lugia ex Deck

Ho-oh ex and Dragonite ex Deck

Ho-oh ex Deck Strategy Guide

Set Up Ho-oh ex with Partners that Accelerate Energy

How to Beat Ho-oh ex Decks

Wall it with Pom-Pom Oricorio

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