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Best Darkrai Decks and Card List

Pokemon TCG Pocket (PTCGP) Walkthrough Team

Last updated on: March 26, 2026 11:42 PM

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Pokemon TGC Pocket - Darkrai Best Deck Build and How to Play

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

List of Contents

Best Darkrai Decks
Darkrai Deck Strategy Guide
How to Beat Darkrai Decks
Related Guides

Best Darkrai Decks

Darkrai Deck Variants	Strengths and Weaknesses
Darkrai and Mega Altaria ex Deck [★ Best ★]	Strengths: • Darkrai synergizes with Igglybuff, who is able to put the opponent's Active Pokemon to Sleep. • Mega Altaria ex's Mega Harmony can deal up to 130 damage with a full Bench for only 2 Energy. Weaknesses: • Prone to bad starts if you open with Darkrai. • Can have trouble finding Mega Altaria ex from the deck.
Darkrai and Mega Absol ex Deck [★ New ★]	Strengths: • Darkrai synergizes with Igglybuff, who is able to put the opponent's Active Pokemon to Sleep. • Mega Absol ex has an inexpensive Attack in Darkness Claw, which can 2HKO most ex Pokemon. Weaknesses: • Prone to bad starts if you open with Darkrai. • Only runs 1 Darkrai, making the Igglybuff and Darkrai strategy a little less powerful.

Darkrai and Mega Altaria ex Deck

Igglybuff ×2	Mega Altaria ex ×2	Swablu ×2	Darkrai ×2
Leaf ×1	Rocky Helmet ×1	Cyrus ×1	Mars ×2
Copycat ×1	Lisia ×1	Training Area ×1	Poke Ball ×2
Professor's Research ×2
Energy Used

Darkrai and its Bad Dreams Ability synergizes with Igglybuff's Sleepy Lullaby which puts the defending Pokemon to Sleep.

This is a powerful early-game strategy that's usable as early as turn 1.

Mega Altaria ex can score KOs in the late-game, giving this deck an advantage at any point in the game.

Expansions	Cards to Get and Packs to Open
Genetic Apex (A1)	No cards needed from this expansion.
Mythical Island (A1a)	Leaf x 1 (Mew Pack)
Spacetime Smackdown (A2)	Rocky Helmet x 1 (Palkia Pack) Cyrus x 1 (Palkia Pack) Mars x 2 (Palkia Pack)
Triumphant Light (A2a)	No cards needed from this expansion.
Shining Revelry (A2b)	No cards needed from this expansion.
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	Igglybuff x 2 (Suicune Pack)
Mega Rising	Mega Altaria ex x 2 (Mega Altaria Pack) Swablu x 2 (Mega Altaria Pack) Copycat x 1 (Mega Gyarados Pack) Lisia x 1 (Mega Altaria Pack)
Crimson Blaze	No cards needed from this expansion.
Fantastical Parade	Training Area x 1 (Mega Gardevoir Pack)
Paldean Wonders	No cards needed from this expansion.
Mega Shine	Darkrai x 2 (Mega Gengar Pack)
Promo-A	Poke Ball x 2 (Promo-A Pack) Professor's Research x 2 (Promo-A Pack)

Darkrai and Mega Absol ex Deck

Darkrai ex ×1	Igglybuff ×2	Mega Absol ex ×1	Darkrai ×1
Sabrina ×1	Leaf ×1	Giant Cape ×1	Rocky Helmet ×2
Cyrus ×1	Mars ×1	Pokemon Center Lady ×1	Copycat ×1
Lucky Ice Pop ×1	Starting Plains ×1	Poke Ball ×2	Professor's Research ×2
Energy Used

Darkrai and its Bad Dreams Ability synergizes with Igglybuff's Sleepy Lullaby which puts the defending Pokemon to Sleep.

Darkrai ex and Rocky Helmet can help pile on damage for a big KO later in the game.

Giant Cape and Starting Plains are used to give your Pokemon some staying power, especially against opposing Darkrai decks with Igglybuff.

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) Giant Cape x 1 (Dialga Pack) Rocky Helmet x 2 (Palkia Pack) Cyrus x 1 (Palkia Pack) Mars x 1 (Palkia Pack)
Triumphant Light (A2a)	No cards needed from this expansion.
Shining Revelry (A2b)	Pokemon Center Lady 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	Igglybuff x 2 (Suicune Pack)
Mega Rising	Mega Absol ex x 1 (Mega Gyarados Pack) Copycat x 1 (Mega Gyarados Pack)
Crimson Blaze	No cards needed from this expansion.
Fantastical Parade	Lucky Ice Pop x 1 (Mega Gardevoir Pack) Starting Plains x 1 (Mega Gardevoir Pack)
Paldean Wonders	No cards needed from this expansion.
Mega Shine	Darkrai x 1 (Mega Gengar Pack)
Promo-A	Poke Ball x 2 (Promo-A Pack) Professor's Research x 2 (Promo-A Pack)

Darkrai Deck Strategy Guide

Use Igglybuff with Darkrai

This is a powerful one-two combo that can deal as much as 30 to 50 damage as early as your first turn. Besides the high damage, the disruptiveness of Sleep also plays a huge part and can swing a game's momentum in your favor.

Sweep with Mega Altaria ex in the Late Game

Mega Altaria ex and its Mega Harmony Attack can consistently deal 130 damage for only 2 Energy. This can cleanly KO most Pokemon, especially after taking damage from Darkrai and Igglybuff.

How to Beat Darkrai Decks

Use Cards that Heal Status

Pokemon Center Lady can heal a Pokemon from Sleep and get it back into the battle right away. Comfey can protect your Pokemon from Sleep if they have Psychic Energy attached. These are effective techs to have ready against other Darkrai decks.

Snipe and KO Darkrai

Darkrai has a hefty 2 Retreat Cost and a steep 3 Attack Cost. Stranding it in the Active Spot can often be disadvantageous for Darkrai players and can help you catch up to their board state.

Pokemon TCG Pocket Related Guides

Decks

Best Meta Decks Tier List

Mega Shine Decks

Darkrai	Mega Scizor ex	Mega Slowbro ex	Mega Manectric ex
Mega Charizard X ex	Mega Gengar ex	Haxorus	-

Top Decks in the Meta

Tier
Mega Altaria ex and Greninja Deck	Mega Altaria ex and Gourgeist Deck	Mega Absol ex and Hydreigon Deck	-
Tier
Bellibolt ex and CB Magnezone Deck	Chien-Pao ex and Baxcalibur Deck	Mega Absol ex and Greninja Deck	-
Tier
Greninja ex and Suicune ex Deck	CB Magnezone and Pom-Pom Oricorio Deck	Mega Blaziken ex and Heatmor Deck	-
Tier
Meowscarada ex and Pheromosa Deck	Chandelure Deck	Teal Mask Ogerpon ex and Leafeon ex Deck	Mega Charizard Y ex and Entei ex Deck
Decidueye ex Deck	-	-	-
Tier
Gourgeist and Houndstone Deck	Mega Kangaskhan ex and Greninja Deck	Alolan Ninetales ex and Crawdaunt Deck	Mega Venusaur ex Deck
Jolteon ex and Jolteon Deck	-	-	-

List of All Decks

Core Expansion	Decks
(B2b)	・Darkrai ・Haxorus ・Mega Charizard X ex ・Mega Gengar ex ・Mega Manectric ex ・Mega Scizor ex ・Mega Slowbro ex
(B2a)	・Armarouge ex ・Baxcalibur ・Bellibolt ex ・Chien-Pao ex ・Gholdengo ex ・Meowscarada ex ・PW Pawmot ・Skeledirge
(B2)	・Alolan Ninetales ex ・Blacephalon ex ・Chandelure ・Galarian Obstagoon ・Gourgeist ・Gigalith ex ・Maushold ・Mega Gardevoir ex ・Mega Kangaskhan ex ・Mega Mawile ex ・Mega Medicham ex ・Mega Swampert ex ・Mimikyu ex ・Teal Mask Ogerpon ex ・Toxtricity ex ・Tyrantrum
(B1a)	・Ariados ・CB Ditto ・CB Heliolisk ・CB Porygon-Z ・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 Darkrai Decks and Card List

Best Darkrai Decks

Darkrai and Mega Altaria ex Deck

Darkrai and Mega Absol ex Deck

Darkrai Deck Strategy Guide

Use Igglybuff with Darkrai

Sweep with Mega Altaria ex in the Late Game

How to Beat Darkrai Decks

Use Cards that Heal Status

Snipe and KO Darkrai

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Mega Shine Decks

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List of All Decks

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