Pokemon TCG Pocket’s first ex card after the Space-Time Smackdown expansion is Cresselia ex. And since it was introduced as a free card through promotion packs, many players have already added it to their collections.
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Pokemon TCG Pocket: Best Water Type Decks
Players seeking options for some of the best Water-type decks in Pokemon TCG Pocket can discover the most viable options through this guide.
But can Cresselia ex fit into any reliable decks? Is it meta-relevant? This guide answers these questions by providing three competitive deck blueprints built around Cresselia ex’s abilities, along with a quick overview of its performance in Pokemon Pocket’s metagame.
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Cresselia ex Card Overview
- HP: 140
- ATK: 80
- Text: Whenever you attach a Psychic Energy from your Energy Zone to this Pokemon, heal 20 damage from this Pokemon.
- ATK Cost: Three (two Psychic, one Colorless)
- Retreat Cost: Two
- Weakness: Darkness
- Set & Pack: Space-Time Smackdown; obtained from the Cresselia ex Drop Event (Promo-A Vol. 4 Packs)
Cresselia ex is a self-healing Pokemon introduced as the featured card in Pokemon Pocket’s February Drop Event, alongside Skarmory, Misdreavus, Turtwig, and Electivire.
Many players have compared Cresselia ex to Darkrai ex due to their similar abilities. However, Darkrai ex has emerged as the stronger option, as its ability—dealing 20 damage for each Energy it receives—is far more competitive than Cresselia ex’s healing effect.
The Best Deck for Cresselia ex
The most consistent deck for Cresselia ex features a Mewtwo ex lineup paired with Gardevoir. In this setup, Cresselia ex acts as a tank, slowing down the enemy while you build up Mewtwo ex. To enhance its effectiveness, you can pair Cresselia ex with a Rocky Helmet, allowing it to absorb damage while also chipping away at the enemy’s HP.
Cresselia ex & Mewtwo ex Deck Details
|
Cresselia ex |
2 |
|
Ralts |
2 |
|
Kirlia |
2 |
|
Gardevoir |
2 |
|
Mewtwo ex |
2 |
|
Professor’s Research |
2 |
|
Poke Ball |
2 |
|
Leaf |
1 |
|
Rocky Helmet |
1 |
|
Mythical Slab |
2 |
|
X Speed |
1 |
|
Cyrus |
1 |
You can swap out one copy of Cresselia ex for another tech or utility card.
Alternative Decks for Cresselia ex
In addition to the standard Mewtwo ex shell, two other decks are benefiting from Cresselia ex: the Lightning-type Magnezone lineup and the Confusion-focused Mismagius ex setup.
One of the more interesting combinations is the Magnezone deck, featuring Magnemite and Magneton (from Genetic Apex). The strategy here is to use only Psychic Energy, with Magneton energizing itself from the Bench. Basically, Cresselia ex stalls the enemy with its self-healing while you build up two Magnezones on the Bench.
In the Mismagius ex deck, Cresselia ex pairs with the Basic Cresselia, which also has a self-healing move. The concept mirrors that of the Magnezone deck: Stall with both Cresselia and Cresselia ex, confuse the enemy with Misdreavus (Promo-A), and deal damage with Mismagius ex.
How to Counter Cresselia ex
Any anti-stall deck with the ability to snipe the opponent’s Bench can counter Cresselia ex. In most setups, Cresselia ex functions as a tank, absorbing initial damage while the main damage dealers are built up on the Bench. If you target the backline with cards like Hitmonlee, Greninja, or Zebstrika, you can disrupt Cresselia ex’s strategy.
A meta Darkness deck can also counter most Cresselia ex decks. For example, a Scolipede & Weezing combo would be an ideal response.
Is Cresselia ex Worth It?
Cresselia ex is a free promotional card, so there’s no need to overthink whether to get it or not. However, if you’re focused on collecting only the most competitive Pokemon in TCG Pocket, you can easily skip Cresselia ex.
Given the current metagame trends, it’s unlikely that this Pokemon will find a meta-relevant role. Instead, it will become an alternative to Druddigon, mainly used as a card to stall the enemy.
