Some describe him as Sabrina on steroids, while others argue he’s one of the most broken cards in Pokemon TCG Pocket. Whatever you call him, Cyrus is a meta-shifting Supporter card here to stay. And you’ll want to learn how to include him in your decks now—unless you don’t care about the competitive scene in Pokemon Pocket.
Related
Pokemon TCG Pocket: Gyarados ex & Greninja Meta, Explained
Gyarados ex and Greninja have been dominating Pokemon Pocket’s meta for a while, but their success comes with notable vulnerabilities.
This guide covers two of the best deck builds for Cyrus, how he fits into the current meta, and whether he’s truly broken or just part of a deeper issue with OP cards in Pocket’s roster.
-
-
An Overview of Cyrus
- Text: Switch in 1 of your opponent’s Benched Pokemon that has damage on it to the Active Spot.
- Set & Pack: Space-Time Smackdown’s Palkia pack
- Variants: two-diamond and two-star
Cyrus Vs. Sabrina
The key difference between Cyrus and Sabrina lies in how they force a retreat. Sabrina can only push the opponent’s Active Pokemon to the Bench, making them bring out a new one of their choice. Cyrus, on the other hand, targets damaged Pokemon, forcing the opponent to retreat their Active Pokemon and replace it with one of their damaged ones. If they have multiple damaged Pokemon, you get to choose which one they must bring to the front.
The Highest-Performing Cyrus Deck: Darkrai ex Shells
Whether paired with Magnezone or Greninja, Cyrus holds immense value in Darkrai ex decks. This new Supporter lets Darkrai ex players target their opponents after chipping away at their HP.
With Cyrus in hand, all you need to do is stall long enough for one of the enemy’s main attackers—usually an ex Pokemon—to drop to 80 HP. That’s when you play Cyrus, put Darkrai ex in the Active Spot, and finish them off with minimal effort.
Related
Pokemon TCG Pocket: The Magnezone & Darkrai ex Meta, Explained
With a win rate above 50%, Magnezone-Darkrai ex is currently the most powerful deck in Pokemon TCG Pocket’s metagame—here’s how it works.
One of the ideal decks for Cyrus is the new anti-meta setup featuring Magnezone & Hitmonlee. His role here is the same as in Darkrai ex decks: a snipe enabler. While you build up Magneton on the Bench to power Magnezone, you start marking Magnezone’s targets with Hitmonlee.
Once Magnezone is in the Active Spot, you can play Cyrus to select its target. Magnezone’s 110-130 damage might not always be enough to one-shot enemies, giving them a chance to retreat. Cyrus adds consistency to this setup by pulling back any targets that survive the first strike.
How to Play Cyrus Effectively
Keep these notes in mind:
- Mark your targets with chip damage. Cyrus only works on damaged enemies. If your opponent keeps their key cards on the Bench, use Bench-targeting Pokemon to turn them into Cyrus’s targets.
- Keep the targets within your attack range. If the opponent has a damaged Pokemon on the Bench that you can one-shot with a primary attack, leave it alone. Create the illusion that you’re focused on their Active Pokemon, only to surprise them with Cyrus.
- Don’t rush playing Cyrus. Use Cyrus mainly on the enemy’s main damage dealers or ex Pokemon. That’s when it really shines. If they haven’t revealed their key cards yet, it’s better to hold off and avoid wasting Cyrus on their early plays.
Is Cyrus Actually Overpowered?
It’s safe to say that Cyrus has been a meta-breaking card. However, the card’s effect isn’t the real cause of the devastation it’s caused; if anything, it’s Pokemon Pocket’s lack of tech cards that create this unbalanced environment, allowing cards like Cyrus to dominate the meta.
Imagine there was a Pokemon Tool that could stop Cyrus from pulling your Benched cards into the Active Spot or an Item Card that halted all retreats—whether forced or by choice—for the next turn. Having tech options like these to counter or respond to Cyrus-esque cards would balance the game and prevent Supporters from breaking it. Right now, the environment is entirely in favor of Cyrus, solidifying his status as an OP card.
