Best Pokemon TCG decks in 2024: Meta cards & strategies explained
The Pokemon CompanyHere are the best Pokemon TCG decks to dominate your opponents in April 2024, including Stallax, Gardevoir ex, and Miraidon ex.
Pokemon TCG offers a lot of possibilities for players to try, so choosing the best decks can be a difficult task. Some of the best Pokemon TCG decks are versatile and easy to use, allowing you to adapt to any strategy you might be facing.
Here are the best Pokemon TCG decks, along with every meta card and a look at how they’re meant to function in battle.
Contents
- Best Pokemon TCG Meta decks (April 2024)
- Snorlax Stall (Stallax)
- Gardevoir ex w/Kirlia Mirage Step
- Charizard ex (ArvenZard)
- Giratina VSTAR w/Comfey
- Miraidon ex w/Flaffy
Pokemon TCG best decks (April 2024)
To build the best Pokemon TCG decks, players must combine several meta-defining cards, many of which are in high demand. It’s worth mentioning that as the current meta shifts and new sets are released, it’s getting harder and harder to acquire the game’s top tier cards.
To make things easier, here are some of the best meta Pokemon decks you can build with the cards that are in stock at the moment.
Pokemon TCG: All cards in Snorlax Stall (Stallax) deck
The Pokemon CompanyThe Pokemon TCG Snorlax Stall deck, also known as Stallax, is one of the strongest meta picks in 2024. It relies heavily on its main Pokemon, Snorlax, and a series of Supporter Trainer cards that interfere with your opponent’s play.
The Stallax deck’s win condition is achieved by stalling your opponent and extending the game until your opponent has no available cards to draw, thus losing the match.
This condition for a win may not happen often as your opponent will usually be able to draw cards from their deck. However, if you manage to force them to discard enough cards, and keep their active Pokemon trapped, this strategy becomes a menace for any unprepared player.
Stallax was the star of the show during the Gdansk Regional Championships where Lukasz Mazurkiewicz took home a victory using this strategy.
To build a Stallax deck you will require the following cards:
| Card name | Amount | Type | Collection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snorlax | 4 | Pokemon | Pokemon GO |
| Crabominable V | 1 | Pokemon | Fusion Strike |
| Pidgeot V | 1 | Pokemon | Lost Origin |
| Mimikyu | 1 | Pokemon | Paldea Evolved |
| Rotom V | 1 | Pokemon | Crown Zenith |
| Spiritomb | 1 | Pokemon | Paldea Evolved |
| Arven | 4 | Trainer/Supporter | Obsidian Flames |
| Penny | 3 | Trainer/Supporter | Scarlet & Violet |
| Boss’s Orders (Ghetsis) | 2 | Trainer/Supporter | Paldea Evolved |
| Erika’s Invitation | 2 | Trainer/Supporter | Mew VMAX |
| Iono | 2 | Trainer/Supporter | Paldea Evolved |
| Miss Fortune Sisters | 2 | Trainer/Supporter | Lost Origin |
| Avery | 1 | Trainer/Supporter | Chilling Reign |
| Cyllene | 1 | Trainer/Supporter | Astral Radiance |
| Giacomo | 1 | Trainer/Supporter | Paldea Evolved |
| Peonia | 1 | Trainer/Supporter | Chilling Reign |
| Sidney | 1 | Trainer/Supporter | Fusion Strike |
| Team Yell’s Cheer | 1 | Trainer/Supporter | Brilliant Stars |
| Temple of Sinnoh | 3 | Trainer/Stadium | Astral Radiance |
| Counter Catcher | 4 | Trainer/Item | Paradox Rift |
| Nest Ball | 4 | Trainer/Item | Scarlet & Violet |
| Pokegear 3.0 | 4 | Trainer/Item | Scarlet & Violet |
| Bravery Charm | 3 | Trainer/Pokemon Tool | Paldea Evolved |
| Pal Pad | 2 | Trainer/Item | Paldea Evolved |
| Switch Cart | 2 | Trainer/Item | Astral Radiance |
| Battle VIP Pass | 1 | Trainer/Item | Fusion Strike |
| Echoing Horn | 1 | Trainer/Item | Chilling Reign |
| Forest Seal Stone | 1 | Trainer/Item | Silver Tempest |
| Hisuian Heavy Ball | 1 | Trainer/Item | Astral Radiance |
| Lost Vacuum | 1 | Trainer/Item | Crown Zenith |
| Luxurious Cape | 1 | Trainer/Pokemon Tool | Paradox Rift |
| Super Rod | 1 | Trainer/Item | Paldea Evolved |
| Water Energy | 1 | Energy Card | Several Sets |
The main strategy for this deck consists mainly of defensive plays, which is why it only has a single Energy Card needed to activate Crabominable V’s Trigger Avalanche.
The majority of your turns will be spent using Snorlax’s Block Ability, and using Miss Fortune Sisters to prevent your opponent from getting items to disrupt your strategy. Your main draw source will be the Rotom V card, with its Instant Charge ability, which allows you to draw three cards per turn.
You can find a detailed strategy guide for this deck on The Pokemon Company’s official page.
Pokemon TCG Gardevoir ex & Kirlia Mirage Step deck
The Pokemon CompanyGardevoir ex comes with a unique ability called Psychic Embrace that allows you to attach any number of Psychic Energy cards from the discard pile, with the downside of adding two damage counters on each Pokemon you attach an Energy to.
This set creates the perfect draw strategy, ensuring you always come out on top during your turn. You’ll have all the resources you need to consistently damage your opponent’s Pokemon.
Then, Zacian V and Gardevoir with their Energy-boosted abilities cause more damage the more Energy cards they have.
To build a Gardevoir ex deck you’ll need the following cards:
| Card name | Amount | Type | Collection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cresselia | 1 | Pokemon | Lost Origin |
| Gardevoir ex | 2 | Pokemon | Paldean Fates |
| Zacian V | 1 | Pokemon | Celebrations |
| Gardevoir | 2 | Pokemon | Chilling Reign |
| Kirlia | 3 | Pokemon | Silver Tempest |
| Kirlia | 1 | Pokemon | Chilling Reign |
| Ralts | 4 | Pokemon | Astral Radiance |
| Screaming Tail | 1 | Pokemon | Paradox Rift |
| Manaphy | 1 | Pokemon | Brilliant Stars |
| Radiant Greninja | 1 | Pokemon | Astral Radiance |
| Lumineon V | 1 | Pokemon | Brilliant Stars |
| Jirachi | 1 | Pokemon | Paradox Rift |
| Iono | 4 | Trainer/Supporter | Paldea Evolved |
| Avery | 1 | Trainer/Supporter | Chilling Reign |
| Worker | 1 | Trainer/Supporter | Silver Tempest |
| Boss’s Orders (Ghetsis) | 1 | Trainer/Supporter | Paldea Evolved |
| Professor Turo’s Scenario | 1 | Trainer/Supporter | Paradox Rift |
| Level Ball | 4 | Trainer/Supporter | XY – Ancient Origins |
| Ultra Ball | 4 | Trainer/Stadium | Paldea Evolved |
| Fog Crystal | 3 | Trainer/Item | Chilling Reign |
| Super Rod | 3 | Trainer/Item | Paldea Evolved |
| Counter Catcher | 2 | Trainer/Item | Scarlet & Violet |
| Nest Ball | 1 | Trainer/Item | Scarlet & Violet |
| Pal Pad | 1 | Trainer/Item | Sword & Shield |
| Collapsed Stadium | 1 | Trainer/Stadium | Brilliant Stars |
| Artazon | 1 | Trainer/Stadium | Paldea Evolved |
| Psychic Energy | 10 | Energy/Basic Energy | Several Sets |
| Reversal Energy | 2 | Energy/Special Energy | Paldea Evolved |
The most important thing you should know before playing this deck is when to drop Zacian V into the field. Its Roar of the Sword Ability might seem like the safest choice, but risking its introduction in the early game isn’t always a great idea.
Instead, you can drop single-Prize Pokemon like Ralts, and Cresselia, and use Kirlia’s draw Ability to keep your draw engine working, supporting Gardevoir and Cresselia when needed.
Ralts’ Teleportation Burst is a great countermeasure against Snorlax Stall decks, and the Mirage Step Kirlia can help you overcome disruptions in your play. Gardevoir ex and Gardevoir are the fundamental elements of this deck, so if you find yourself short on one, you can use Super Rod to pick one up.
Charizard ex (ArvenZard) deck in Pokemon TCG
The Pokemon CompanyThe Charizard ex deck, otherwise known as ArvenZard, is a Pokemon TCG set that relies on the powerful Charizard ex card from the Obsidian Flames collection, and the Arven Trainer Card as the main pivot.
The Charizard ex set is great for early and late game situations when it’s less prone to having its path blocked. The cons are that it’s weak during the middle stages of the game and if your opponent knows how to counter the deck’s strategy, it could be game over for you.
However, its ability to re-draw thanks to the powerful Iono cards and Arven’s ability compensate for any shortcomings if played correctly.
Here are the cards you need for this deck:
| Card name | Amount | Type | Collection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charizard ex | 3 | Pokemon | Obsidian Flames |
| Charmander | 4 | Pokemon | Obsidian Flames |
| Charmeleon | 1 | Pokemon | Obsidian Flames |
| Entei V | 1 | Pokemon | Brilliant Stars |
| Lumineon V | 1 | Pokemon | Brilliant Stars |
| Manaphy | 1 | Pokemon | Brilliant Stars |
| Mew | 1 | Pokemon | Celebrations |
| Pidgeot ex | 1 | Pokemon | Obsidian Flames |
| Pidgey | 2 | Pokemon | 151 |
| Radiant Charizard | 1 | Pokemon | Crown Zenith |
| Arven | 4 | Trainer/Supporter | Obsidian Flames |
| Battle VIP Pass | 3 | Trainer/Item | Fusion Strike |
| Boss’s Orders (Cyrus) | 3 | Trainer/Supporter | Brilliant Stars |
| Choice Belt | 1 | Trainer/Pokemon Tool | Paldea Evolved |
| Collapsed Stadium | 1 | Trainer/Stadium | Brilliant Stars |
| Defiance Band | 1 | Trainer/Pokemon Tool | Scarlet & Violet |
| Escape Rope | 1 | Trainer/Item | Battle Styles |
| Forest Seal Stone | 1 | Trainer/Item | Silver Tempest |
| Iono | 2 | Trainer/Supporter | Paldea Evolved |
| Lost City | 1 | Trainer/Stadium | Lost Origin |
| Lost Vacuum | 1 | Trainer/Item | Lost Origin |
| Nest Ball | 3 | Trainer/Item | Scarlet & Violet |
| Penny | 1 | Trainer/Supporter | Scarlet & Violet |
| Professor’s Research (Professor Sada) | 1 | Trainer/Supporter | Scarlet & Violet |
| Rare Candy | 4 | Trainer/Item | Scarlet & Violet |
| Super Rod | 2 | Trainer/Item | Paldea Evolved |
| Ultra Ball | 3 | Trainer/Item | Scarlet & Violet |
| Fire Energy | 8 | Energy/Basic | Several Sets |
You’ll want to keep your game rolling with Arven until you have at least one Charmander or one Pidgey prepared on your bench. Then, rely on the strength of your Trainer cards to evolve Pidgey as fast as you can, to take advantage of Pidgeot ex’s Quick Search which allows for an extra draw per turn.
Once you have this basic play set, your main attacker should be either Entei V or Lumineon V, then the Forest Seal Stone comes into play by allowing you to draw an extra card per turn.
If your strategy fails to work by the fourth or fifth turn, you can always use Ultra Balls and Nest Balls to get the cards you need. Meanwhile, you’ll disrupt your opponents’s play by using the Boss’s Orders cards.
Once you evolve your first Charmeleon into Charizard ex, take advantage of its Fire Reign ability to prepare your Pokemon for nonstop attacking. If your opponent has the upper hand, you can use either Choice Belt or Defiance Band to regain the advantage.
Pokemon TCG Giratina VSTAR & Comfey deck cards
The Pokemon CompanyThe Giratina VSTAR Pokemon TCG set has a lot of strengths, which include the ability to OHKO any active card with few setbacks. Of course, this powerful ability has certain requirements as you need various types of Energy cards and you’ll need to have at least ten cards in your Lost Zone.
With that in mind, this set has been carefully modified to offer diverse utility and secondary routes to victory. This set also relies on Colress’s Experiment to ensure your strategy will work. Here are the cards you need for this deck to succeed:
| Card name | Amount | Type | Collection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comfey | 4 | Pokemon | Lost Origin |
| Cramorant | 1 | Pokemon | Lost Origin |
| Giratina V | 3 | Pokemon | Lost Origin |
| Giratina VSTAR | 3 | Pokemon | Lost Origin |
| Manaphy | 1 | Pokemon | Brilliant Stars |
| Radiant Greninja | 1 | Pokemon | Astral Radiance |
| Sableye | 2 | Pokemon | Lost Origin |
| Battle VIP Pass | 4 | Trainer/Item | Fusion Strike |
| Boss’s Orders (Ghetsis) | 1 | Trainer/Supporter | Paldea Evolved |
| Colress’s Experiment | 4 | Trainer/Supporter | Lost Origin |
| Energy Recycler | 1 | Trainer/Item | Battle Styles |
| Escape Rope | 2 | Trainer/Item | Battle Styles |
| Lost City | 1 | Trainer/Stadium | Lost Origin |
| Mirage Gate | 4 | Trainer/Item | Lost Origin |
| Ordinary Rod | 1 | Trainer/Item | Sword & Shield |
| Path to the Peak | 2 | Trainer/Stadium | Chilling Reign |
| Quick Ball | 4 | Trainer/Item | Sword & Shield |
| Scoop Up Net | 4 | Trainer/Item | Rebel Clash |
| Switch | 2 | Trainer/Item | Sword & Shield |
| Ultra Ball | 2 | Trainer/Item | Brilliant Stars |
| Capture Energy | 1 | Energy/Special | Rebel Clash |
| Grass Energy | 6 | Energy/Basic | Sun & Moon |
| Psychic Energy | 6 | Energy/Basic | Sun & Moon |
This deck relies heavily on your Lost Zone, so it is key that you start the match using Comfey, then use Flower Selecting to look at the top two cards of your deck. Ideally, you should discard unnecessary picks and keep valuable cards like Battle VIP Pass, Colress’s Experiment, or Energy Recycler.
Once you get it, play Colress’s Experiment to look at the top five cards of your deck. Choose the tree cards that could synergize well with your current plan, and throw the others in the Lost Zone.
Keep track of your Lost Zone cards during the match. If you have seven cards in the LZ, put Giratina VSTAR in your active spot and use a Mirage Gate card to accelerate its energy intake. Then blast away rival Pokemon using Lost Impact. Switch to the broken Star Requiem to OHKO bigger threats like Charizard ex or Crescent Moon ex.
Miraidon ex & Flaaffy deck cards in Pokemon TCG
The Pokemon CompanyThe Pokemon TCG Miraidon ex deck is already powerful, but with Flaaffy’s energy draw ability, it becomes incredibly difficult to deal with.
Flaaffy’s Dynamotor is even more broken when used alongside Electric Generator, a card that lets you look at the top five cards of your deck and attach up to two Lightning Energy from them to your Bench Lightning Pokemon. While this move has a high rate of failing, having 14 Electric Energy will increase its success rate to an astounding level.
Miraidon ex is all about speed and Electric Type Pokemon and if you want to go fast and dominate your opponent at the same time, then this deck is for you. Here’s what you need to build it:
| Card name | Amount | Type | Collection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flaaffy | 3 | Pokemon | Silver Tempest |
| Mareep | 3 | Pokemon | Evolving Skies |
| Miraidon ex | 4 | Pokemon | Scarlet & Violet |
| Radiant Greninja | 1 | Pokemon | Astral Radiance |
| Raichu V | 1 | Pokemon | Brilliant Stars |
| Arven | 1 | Trainer/Supporter | Scarlet & Violet |
| Boss’s Orders (Ghetsis) | 2 | Trainer/Supporter | Scarlet & Violet |
| Choice Belt | 2 | Trainer/Pokemon Tool | Paldea Evolved |
| Electric Generator | 4 | Trainer/Item | Scarlet & Violet |
| Forest Seal Stone | 1 | Trainer/Item | Silver Tempest |
| Judge | 3 | Trainer/Supporter | BREAKthrough |
| Level Ball | 4 | Trainer/Item | Ancient Origins |
| Nest Ball | 4 | Trainer/Item | Scarlet & Violet |
| Pal Pad | 1 | Trainer/Item | Paldea Evolved |
| Professor’s Research (Professor Turo) | 4 | Trainer/Supporter | Scarlet & Violet |
| Roxanne | 1 | Trainer/Supporter | Astral Radiance |
| Temple of Sinnoh | 3 | Trainer/Stadium | Astral Radiance |
| Trekking Shoes | 4 | Trainer/Item | Astral Radiance |
| Lightning Energy | 14 | Energy/Basic | Sun & Moon |
If you want to make use of the Miraidon ex deck’s full power, you will need to consider several key points.
Flaaffy’s only function is to gather Energy from your discard pile while you prepare and charge Miraidon ex on your bench, and stall your opponent with Boss Order’s cards. Radiant Greninja’s ability is useful to pump up your draw, but you won’t be using it to attack. If your Raichu is active, you can attach the Forest Seal Stone to it for extra utility.
Keep boosting Miraidon until it’s ready for combat. Once Miraidon jumps into the active spot, it’s time for knockouts. Attach Choice Belt if your opponent brings VSTAR Pokemon to battle, especially if you see them drop a VSTAR Giratina. Use Photon Blaster to take it down as soon as possible.
Judge, Roxxane, and Arven can be quite disruptive and help you regain the upper hand when your opponent has taken the lead. Just remember you can only use Roxxane’s broken ability when your opponent has taken at least three more Prize cards than you.
Don’t forget, you can always refer to the best Booster Packs available to fill in the blanks in your collection.
That’s all you need to know about the best decks for Pokemon TCG in 2024. For more information, you can also check out some of our other guides:
Pokemon TCG Twilight Masquerade set: Release date, Ace Spec & new cards, more| Pokemon TCG Scarlet & Violet 151 set | Pokemon TCG “My First Battle” set | Pokemon TCG Paldean Fates set | Pokemon TCG Combined Powers Premium Collection | Pokemon TCG Shiny Treasure ex set
