Pokemon TCG Pocket‘s Space-Time Smackdown expansion has shaken up the metagame, which is evident in the rise of several Darkrai ex deck variants. One standout version is the Darkrai ex and Greninja combo, which has maintained a strong win rate since its introduction.
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The concept behind this Pokemon Pocket deck is similar to the Darkrai ex and Magnezone strategy: stall the enemy, whittle down their HP with Darkrai ex, and finish them off with a decisive blow from either Darkrai ex or another damage dealer.
However, in the Darkrai ex & Greninja setup, you amplify the chip damage by setting up two Greninjas and using a Druddigon (with a Rocky Helmet), allowing you to deal up to 100 damage per turn without even attacking the opponent. Here’s the breakdown:
- Druddigon with a Rocky Helmet deals 40 damage.
- Two Greninjas on the board contribute 40 chip damage—20 each.
- One Darkrai ex adds 20 extra damage each time Darkness Energy is attached.
So, 40 + 40 + 20 = 100!
The Best Deck Shell for Darkrai ex & Greninja
The must-have cards for a meta Darkrai ex & Greninja deck include:
- Froakie
- Frogadier
- Greninja
- Darkrai ex
- Druddigon
- Leaf
- Cyrus
- Poke Ball
- Professor’s Research
For the rest of the Trainer Cards, consider adding Potion, Dawn, Rocky Helmet, or Pokemon Communication.
Here’s what a balanced Darkrai ex & Greninja deck looks like:
Darkrai ex & Greninja Deck Details
|
Froakie |
2 |
|
Frogadier |
2 |
|
Greninja |
2 |
|
Darkrai ex |
2 |
|
Druddigon |
2 |
|
Leaf |
2 |
|
Cyrus |
2 |
|
Poke Ball |
2 |
|
Professor’s Research |
2 |
|
Pokemon Communication |
1 |
|
Rocky Helmet |
1 |
Darkrai ex & Greninja Deck Synergies
- Druddigon (or Kangaskhan) are your stallers. Place them in the Active Spot to absorb damage, giving you time to set up Darkrai ex and Greninja.
- Darkrai ex and Greninja are your snipers, using their abilities to deal damage from the Bench.
- Cyrus forces the opponent to play their damaged Pokemon, neutralizing their retreats.
- Leaf helps reduce the retreat cost of your tank, letting you switch damage dealers in and out.
- Pokemon Communication is your deck manipulation tool. If you can’t draw the right cards, you can sacrifice one from your hand for a chance to draw something better.
- Rocky Helmet buffs Druddigon, increasing its chip damage from 20 to 40.
How to Play Darkrai ex & Greninja Decks Effectively
Here are some key notes to keep in mind:
- Build a solid wall and stall. Your top priority should be getting a tank—Druddigon or Kangaskhan—into the Active Spot as early as possible. You might even sacrifice a card or two to draw your tank with Pokemon Communication.
- Maximize chip damage. Once your tank is in place, start setting up Greninja and Darkrai ex on the Bench. Ideally, you’ll have two Greninja and one Darkrai ex to deal 60 chip damage per turn.
- Snipe the weakest enemies. Cyrus helps you target damaged enemies. Use him to bring out the weakest opponent cards and take them out. (You’ll need to plan your retreat discounters like Leaf or X Speed carefully to pull off a perfect sniping move.)
Darkrai ex & Greninja Performance Report
- Tournament Matches: ~ 4,500 (as of February 11, 2025)
- Meta Share: ~ 5%
- Win Rate: ~ 57%
Darkrai ex saw a surge in the metagame after some tournament players paired it with Magnezone. However, this shell was later refined and evolved into a chip-damage-focused lineup with Greninja as the primary supporter/partner.
Currently, Darkrai ex & Greninja decks make up around 5% of the metagame and have appeared in hundreds of tournaments, totaling over 4,500 matches. And with a positive win rate of about 57%, they are some of the highest-performing decks in the meta.
