As the deuteragonist of Pokemon TCG Pocket’s Space-Time Smackdown expansion, Palkia ex has cemented itself as one of the best ex cards in the current meta. If you’re looking to build a strong and competitive deck around it, this guide is for you. We’ll cover two of the top Palkia ex deck shells from recent tournaments and break down how to play them effectively. But first, let’s explore why Palkia ex stands out as a top-tier contender in Pokemon Pocket.
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Why Palkia ex is a Top-Tier Pokemon in Pocket
There are three reasons:
- Palkia ex synergizes with two key Energy generators. Misty nearly broke the metagame with her Energy generation, and now Manaphy offers a more consistent way to produce extra Water-type Energy. The best part for Palkia ex players is that it works seamlessly with both, allowing for rapid setup while offsetting its Energy-discarding effect.
- The current meta struggles against Bench damage. Palkia ex’s ability to deal up to 60 damage to Benched Pokemon makes it even more threatening. Right now, there aren’t many reliable counters to chip damage on the Bench, which gives Palkia ex a significant edge.
- Palkia ex is an exceptional sniper. With the introduction of Cyrus, Palkia ex’s effect became even more devastating. Its first attack now marks all enemy Pokemon as targets for Cyrus, making it easy to pick them off with your next move.
The Best-Performing Deck: Palkia ex & Vaporeon
The ideal setup for Palkia ex revolves around pairing it with Vaporeon and Manaphy. This combination allows Palkia ex to start dealing damage as early as turn three or four, putting significant pressure on the opponent.
The strategy is simple: get Manaphy into play early to generate as much Energy as possible. Then, use Vaporeon to transfer that Energy to Palkia ex, enabling it to attack while you set up a secondary Palkia ex on the Bench.
Pokemon Shell
|
Eevee |
2 |
|
Vaporeon (A1a) |
2 |
|
Palkia ex |
2 |
|
Manaphy |
2 |
|
Articuno ex |
(optional) |
Must-Have Trainer Cards
- Misty
- Leaf
- Cyrus
- Giant Cape
The Second-Best Deck: Palkia ex & Greninja
Since Palkia ex excels at dealing Bench damage, Greninja is a natural partner. However, the challenge with this duo is their slow setup—Greninja is a Stage Two Pokemon, and Palkia ex needs at least four Energy to attack.
That’s where Druddigon comes in. Equipped with a Rocky Helmet, Druddigon acts as the deck’s primary staller, buying time while you set up your main attackers—Palkia ex and Greninja—on the Bench.
Pokemon Shell
|
Froakie |
2 |
|
Frogadier |
2 |
|
Greninja |
2 |
|
Palkia ex |
2 |
|
Druddigun |
2 |
Must-Have Trainer Cards
- Rocky Helmet
- Misty
- Leaf
- Cyrus
Palkia ex Performance Report
- Tournament Appearance: ~ 9,000
- Win Rate: ~ 51%
- Meta Share: ~ 6.5%
Since the release of the Space-Time Smackdown set, Palkia ex has consistently ranked among the top ten decks in PvP. However, the rise of Darkrai ex and Magnezone in the meta pushed it down to a mid-tier option for tournaments despite its high potential.
Palkia ex’s main weakness is its vulnerability to Bench damage, which has kept it from dominating the meta. However, if Pokemon TCG Pocket introduces more tech cards to counter long-range attacks, Palkia ex could quickly become one of the most formidable cards in the game.
How to Counter Palkia ex Decks
The toughest matchup for Palkia ex decks is a Magnezone & Hitmonlee setup. Recent data shows this duo boasts a 62% win rate against Palkia ex decks, highlighting its effectiveness. Other strong counters include Rampardos & Lucario lineups, which also exceed a 60% win rate in these matchups.
To counter Palkia ex effectively, focus on targeting its Bench with fast-paced attackers. Both Magnezone and Rampardos setups capitalize on sniper cards like Hitmonlee, which can deal early-game long-range damage at a low cost—explaining their dominance against Palkia ex.
