Space-Time Smackdown introduced a fresh collection of cards to Pokemon TCG Pocket, giving players enough options to finally break away from the Mewtwo ex meta. And while several new archetypes immediately started to vie for dominance, Darkrai ex eventually pulled out as one of the most dominant archetypes in the format.
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The Darkrai ex archetype has several variations, but we’ll give you the lowdown on the most popular one, co-starring Magnezone.
Sample Decklist
There are several versions of the Darkrai ex / Magnezone decklist floating around, but this is the version we use.
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Darkrai ex / Magnezone (Spacetime Smackdown) |
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Magnemite (A2) x2 |
Magneton (A1) x2 |
Magnezone (A2) x2 |
Darkrai ex (A2) x2 |
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Druddigon (A1b) x2 |
Dawn x2 |
Professor’s Research (2) |
Cyrus (1) |
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Sabrina (1) |
Poke Ball (2) |
Giant Cape (1) |
Pokemon Communication (1) |
Since there are multiple legal versions of some cards, this decklist uses the in-game set abbreviations to distinguish between them. Genetic Apex cards are labeled as A1, Mythical Island cards are A1b, and Space-Time Smackdown cards are A2. Trainer cards are unaffected.
Several variations of this deck are available, but the core of two Magnezone lines and two Darkrai exs is ubiquitous. Most also contain at least one Druddigon, but many trade the second Druddigon for a Kangaskhan in order to attack earlier.
Another option is to swap out one or both Dawns for Leaf. Leaf allows every Pokemon in the deck to retreat for free, but Dawn is extremely flexible, allowing you to move Energy in order to retreat, attack earlier, or get an extra attack out of Magnezone.
While we’ve found Pokemon Communication to be an excellent way to search for a missing Magnezone when the deck is stubborn, you could also drop it in favor of Giovanni to get the extra ten damage that might be the key to victory.
Both the Genetic Apex and Space-Time Smackdown Magnetmites have the same HP, but the Space-Time Smackdown Magnemite is much better in this deck, since it can attack with any Energy. Meanwhile, the Genetic Apex version of Magnezone is the only option.
You’re in a bad position if you need to attack with Magnemite, but we were able to secure a first-turn victory against a Gyarados ex deck, proving that minor advantages can make a big difference.
Darkrai ex / Magneton Deck Strategy
The Darkrai ex / Magnezone archetype features dual attackers, both of whom need a couple of turns to set up. Setting up Darkrai ex also damages your opponent’s Pokemon without pesky consequences like triggering Druddigon’s Rough Skin.
Darkrai ex’s Nightmare Aura deals 20 damage to your opponent’s Active Pokemon every time you attach a Darkness Energy to it. Since it needs three Energy to attack and Darkness is the only Energy you’ll want in your Energy Pool, this allows you to deal 60 damage before the first attack.
Make sure you turn off Water, Fire, and Lightning Energy in the deck builder. If you don’t know how, we’ve got you covered.
While you’re dropping your Energy each turn into Darkrai ex, you also need to play a Magnemite and evolve it to Magneton, but do not evolve to Magnezone. Magnezone can only get Lightning Energy from Magneton’s Volt Charge Ability. Keep Magneton on your bench and use Volt Charge every turn that you can.
Extra Energy on Magneton is a good thing: It spends one Lightning Energy to use Thunder Blast as Magnezone, and if you’re running Dawn you can move a Lightning energy to Darkrai to attack a turn early or onto Druddigon to retreat instead of giving up a KO.
Once Druddigon is Knocked Out or you have a safe opportunity to retreat it and snag a KO, switch in Magneton and evolve to Magnezone. It deals more damage than Darkrai ex, has type advantage against more meta decks, and is only worth one Prize Point.
One of the most frustrating challenges with this deck is finding your Magneton. An early Magneton is important to start charging. Use Pokemon Communication to trade a spare Druddigon or a second Magnezone for a shot at Magneton.
Sabrina and Cyrus seem similar, but you’ll often use Sabrina to stall your opponent by forcing them to retreat a threatening Pokemon they’ve heavily invested in. Cyrus allows you to pick a Pokemon that’s already been damaged, ordering up a Pokemon at 10-20 HP, KO it with Nightmare Aura, then attack the next Pokemon.
Finally, Giant Cape is situationally useful on Magnezone, Darkrai ex, and even Druddigon. It takes Magnezone and Darkrai ex to 160 HP, which is enough to survive common threats like Palkia ex’s Dimensional Storm and adds an extra flip for Celebi to KO them.
Darkrai ex / Magnezone Matchups
Water-type decks picked up additional Energy acceleration in the form of Manaphy, who can distribute two Water Energy via Oceanic Gift. This, plus the Mythical Island Vaporeon, allows Palkia to set up by turn three, or sooner with a lucky Misty.
Palkia ex can OHKO Darkrai ex and Magnezone without a Giant Cape, but it loses most of its Energy in the process, forcing it to recharge. Meanwhile, Magnezone’s Thunder Blast, plus 20 damage from Druddigon or Nightmare Aura is enough to score a two-Prize KO without a similar setback.
Celebi ex was an important deck in the Mythical Island meta, but started to decline in Space-Time Smackdown. Celebi ex can OHKO every Pokemon in your deck by flipping three heads, which Serperior’s Jungle Totem makes easy.
But Serperior only has 110 HP, enough for Magnezone to OHKO, and Celebi ex has 130, which you can hit with Thunder Blast and either Nightmare Aura or Rough Skin. Giving Giant Cape to Magnezone or Darkrai ex adds an extra die for Celebi ex to get a KO, which can make all the difference.
Hitmonlee / Magnezone decks aren’t a common encounter, but they’re notable for their high win rate against Darkrai ex decks. Hitmonlee can outpace Darkrai ex’s Nightmare Aura by ten damage per turn, while playing around Druddigon, and can KO Magnemite in two turns if you don’t find Magneton early.
Without Leaf, you’ll need to spend turns attaching Energy to Druddigon in order to get an attacker into position, after which your opponent will attempt to trade with Marshadow’s Revenge against your already weakened Pokemon. But if you KO Hitmonlee with Nightmare Aura, Revenge doesn’t get a damage bonus.
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