Pokemon’s ruler of time, Dialga, has arrived in TCG Pocket, allowing players to accelerate Energy production and fast-forward in time. But how can Pokemon Pocket players make the most of this ramp-friendly ability? This guide provides the blueprint for building what appears to be the most consistent Dialga ex deck in the current meta.
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Dialga ex Card Overview
- HP: 150
- Move #1: 30 DMG (Two Metal Energy)
- Move #2: 100 DMG (Two Metal + Two Colorless Energy)
- Text: Take 2 Steel Energy from your Energy Zone and attach it to one of your Benched Pokemon.
- Weakness: Fire
- Retreat Cost: Two
Dialga ex is a ramp card that can generate two extra Steel Energy using its first move. This makes it a valuable Energy provider for both Steel and Colorless decks. However, its average HP as an ex Pokemon and the requirement to be in the Active spot make it a somewhat risky play.
The Best Deck for Dialga ex
Since Dialga ex specializes in providing Energy for Steel Pokemon, it’s a perfect fit for the previously struggling Melmetal deck. To build a solid deck around this synergy, pair Dialga ex and Melmetal with the following cards: Meltan, Leaf, Dawn, Skarmory, Giovanni, Giant Cape, Rocky Helmet, Poke Ball, and Professor’s Research. (See the table below for card quantities.)
|
Dialga ex Deck |
|
|---|---|
|
Dialga ex |
2 |
|
Meltan |
2 |
|
Melmetal |
2 |
|
Skarmory |
1 |
|
Rocky Helmet |
1 |
|
Leaf |
2 |
|
Dawn |
2 |
|
Giovanni |
2 |
|
Poke Ball |
2 |
|
Professor’s Research |
2 |
|
Giant Cape |
2 |
Dialga ex Deck Synergies
- If you go first, start with Skarmory and equip it with the Rocky Helmet to absorb damage, chip away the enemy’s HP, and stall.
- Once Dialga ex has two Energies, switch it in. (If you go second, open with Dialga ex.)
- Use Dialga ex’s ability to ramp up Melmetal on the bench.
- If possible, retreat Dialga ex with Leaf and use Dawn to transfer its Energy to your active Pokemon, Melmetal.
- Start dealing damage with Melmetal.
- Equip Giant Cape to make Melmetal even tankier.
How to Play Dialga Effectively
Here are some key points to keep in mind when playing Dialga ex:
- Use Dialga ex for ramping, not damage. While it can hit for up to 100 damage, Dialga ex isn’t the best attacker. To maximize its value, focus on its Energy acceleration and switch it out once your primary attacker is ready.
- Exploit free retreats with Dawn. The Leaf and Dawn combo allows you to transfer Dialga ex’s Energy to your Active Pokemon after retreating.
- Have a backup plan for going first. One of Dialga ex’s biggest weaknesses is its reduced effectiveness when going first. Make sure your deck includes an alternative opener, like Skarmory, to compensate.
How to Counter Dialga ex
The newly revamped Fire-type Charizard ex and Moltres ex deck is a strong counter to most Dialga ex setups. To optimize this counter strategy, add Shaymin and Dawn, along with Pokemon Communication and Giant Cape, to the classic Charizard ex and Moltres ex decklist.
Given the current meta, Darkrai ex is also a reliable counter to Dialga ex. Alternatively, Gyarados ex and Greninja ex offer another solid option, as they can disrupt Dialga ex’s bench and interfere with the opponent’s ramp strategy.
I analyzed an 8-event sample of the highest-player-count Pokemon TCG Pocket tournaments to assess Dialga ex’s metagame performance. Based on my research, Dialga ex is averaging a #20 ranking, trailing behind its Space-Time Smackdown set competitors, Palkia ex and Darkrai ex.
Notably, no tournament in my sample was won with a Dialga ex deck, while six events (75% of the sample) were dominated by either a Palkia ex or Darkrai ex setup. While this isn’t enough to declare Dialga ex the biggest loser of the latest metagame, it does indicate that the Steel-type archetype continues to struggle against top-tier meta decks in Pokemon Pocket.
