The first major Pokemon TCG Pocket event after the Space-Time Smackdown release was overrun by Gyarados ex & Greninja decks, striking fear into many players. However, just a few weeks later, Darkrai ex dethroned them, proving the new expansion is truly reshaping the metagame.
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But how exactly does the Gyarados ex & Greninja meta function in Pokemon TCG Pocket? What makes this setup so powerful, and what are its biggest weaknesses? This analysis breaks it all down, exploring the synergies behind this Water-type duo and assessing their overall performance in the current meta.
The synergy between Gyarados ex and Greninja is simple: one delivers heavy damage, while the other softens up opponents. Of course, you need time to set them up, so you have to use a tank (Druddigon or Kangaskhan) to stall while Greninja weakens enemies enough for Gyarados ex to finish them off.
Ideal Play Line
- Stalling the enemy. Start by placing Druddigon in the Active Spot to slow down the opponent’s offensive momentum.
- Setting up the Bench. Work on evolving Greninja and placing a Gyarados ex on the Bench. Keeping one slot open is usually wise unless you’re going for aggressive chip damage, in which case, having two Greninjas can be beneficial.
- Building up Gyarados ex. Allocate all available Energy each turn to Gyarados ex so it’s fully charged.
- Applying chip damage. Once Greninja is set up, use its ability to chip away at the opponent’s Pokemon, preferably targeting their ex cards.
- Switching to the main attacker. When the enemy’s HP is within Gyarados ex’s attack range (140–160), use Leaf to switch it in and unleash an attack.
- Sniping retreated enemies. If the opponent retreats, play Cyrus on the next turn to force them into sacrificing their weakened Pokemon so you secure the knockout.
The Best Deck Shell for Gyarados ex & Greninja
- Froakie (2)
- Frogadier (2)
- Greninja (2)
- Magikarp (2)
- Gyarados ex (2)
- Druddigon (2)
- Professor’s Research (2)
- Pokemon Ball (2)
- Misty (2)
- Cyrus (1)
- Leaf (1)
The Gyarados ex & Greninja setup is quite rigid in terms of Pokemon and Trainer Cards. It requires 12 essential Pokemon cards, including Greninja and Gyarados ex’s evolution lines, along with Druddigon. Additionally, six Trainer Cards—Professor’s Research, Pokemon Ball, and Misty—are non-negotiable. This leaves only two flexible card slots, which, realistically, should be dedicated to Cyrus and Leaf since there are no better alternatives.
Pros and Cons of Gyarados ex Meta
|
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
|---|---|
|
High chip damage |
Slow build-up |
|
High endurance (tanky setup) |
High Energy consumption |
|
Disruption* |
Inflexible setup (too many Pokemon) |
* Gyarados ex can disrupt the opponent’s Energy distribution by discarding a random Energy after each attack. However, this effect can backfire, as it may also remove one of your own Energies.
Gyarados ex & Greninja Performance Report
- Tournament Appearance: +6,000
- Meta Share: 5.45%
- Win Rate: ~ 50.00%
The Gyarados ex & Greninja shell has consistently ranked among the top five best-performing decks in Pokemon Pocket tournaments since the release of the Space-Time Smackdown set. Despite achieving a solid 50% win rate and numerous tournament victories, it struggles against specific deck archetypes.
Matchup data shows that Gyarados ex & Greninja decks have a hard time winning against Darkrai ex & Magnezone decks, as well as anti-meta Magnezone & Hitmonlee lineups. In fact, Gyarados ex has an abysmal 17.75% win rate against the latter. On the other hand, it performs best against Exeggutor ex lineups, boasting a win rate of up to 52%.
The stats in this post are based on Pocket’s recent tournaments and may have changed by the time you’re reading this.
Why Darkrai ex Outperforms Gyarados ex
One notable aspect of Pocket’s meta during the Space-Time Smackdown era is its focus on Bench (or long-range) damage. Two standout Pokemon in this strategy are Gyarados ex and Darkrai ex, both relying on a stall-and-amass approach to deal heavy damage. However, despite using similar tactics, Darkrai ex has outperformed Gyarados ex in the metagame.
The key reason for Darkrai ex’s superiority is its efficiency. As a Basic Pokemon with 140 HP, it can start applying chip damage immediately after gaining its first Energy. In contrast, Gyarados ex is a Stage One Pokemon that depends on a Stage Two Pokemon for chip damage. This build-up gap significantly slows down Gyarados ex, allowing Darkrai ex to dominate the meta.
Why Gyarados ex’s Recent Success Is Important
Gyarados ex maintaining its status as a top contender in Pokemon Pocket’s meta is a phenomenon that shouldn’t be overlooked. Its success highlights three key aspects of the game’s PvP landscape:
- Bench damage is breaking the game. The dominance of Greninja, Hitmonlee, and Darkrai ex suggests a clear trend: long-range damage is incredibly difficult to counter. In fact, it could be argued that Bench damage has created an imbalance in the current metagame.
- Pocket lacks tech cards. There’s a noticeable absence of Trainer Cards that can mitigate long-range damage. A Tool like Rocky Helmet that protects both Active and Benched Pokemon would be a step in the right direction. Without such “Bench protection” options, chip-damage decks like Gyarados ex & Greninja’s will continue to skew the meta.
- Supporters can shape the meta. Without one specific Supporter card, Gyarados ex & Greninja would be demolished by Darkrai ex decks. However, Cyrus’s inclusion in the game has kept them viable, proving that Supporters can drastically influence PvP. And moving forward, deck-building in Pokemon TCG Pocket will likely hinge on these key Trainer Cards. The challenge, however, lies in balancing powerful Supporters, as seen with the backlash against Cyrus.
