Before the release of Pokemon TCG Pocket‘s Triumphant Light set, rumors about Garchomp ex sparked excitement among players, especially since, theoretically, it could form a powerful synergy with Cynthia. However, post-release stats quickly dashed these hopes, as Garchomp ex struggled to compete with most meta decks, particularly those from the Triumphant Light set. For example, one deck we’ll discuss later has won 75% of its matches against Garchomp ex, highlighting its poor performance.
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Pokemon TCG Pocket: The Best Arceus ex Decks
Arceus ex took over Pokemon TCG Pocket’s metagame in less than a week with a fun yet deadly deck that leverages Dialga ex’s underrated power.
In this post, we’ll explore why Garchomp ex failed to make an impact in TCG Pocket‘s meta despite its potential. But first, here’s a quick overview of Garchomp ex and a deck shell that capitalizes on its strengths. We’ve also included a performance report analyzing Garchomp ex’s recent PvP matches in international tournaments to help you decide if it’s worth your investment.
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Garchomp ex Card Overview
- Rarity: four-diamond, two-star
- HP: 170
- ATK: 100
- Text: This attack does 50 damage to 1 of your opponent’s Pokemon.
- ATK Energy: One Fighting-type for basic attack, two Fighting and one Colorless for the ultimate
- Retreat Cost: One
- Weakness: Grass-type
The Best Deck for Garchomp ex
An ideal deck shell for Garchomp ex features a basic Fighting-type setup with Lucario. The goal is to leverage Lucario’s buff to offset Garchomp ex’s below-average ATK. In the best case, you’ll have two Lucario on the Bench and one Active Garchomp ex to maximize damage.
The table below outlines the Pokemon and Trainer Cards needed for this deck:
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Must-Have Pokemon |
Must-Have Trainer Cards |
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Garchomp ex Deck Synergies and Tactics
- Riolu is the ideal starter, and you’ll want a second copy on the Bench to evolve into Lucario.
- Evolve into Garchomp ex as quickly as possible and switch it into the Active Spot.
- Your primary lineup consists of one or two Lucario on the Bench with an Active Garchomp ex. Once set up, this combo will deal 120 to 140 base damage, which can increase to 160 if the opponent is weak to Fighting-type Pokemon.
- Take advantage of the synergy between Garchomp ex’s Linear Attack and Cyrus to snipe enemies. Use Garchomp ex to target Benched Pokemon, then pull them into the Active Spot with Cyrus to finish them off.
Garchomp ex Performance Report
- Matches: ~ 500
- Meta Share: ~ 2%
- Win Rate: ~ 46%
Garchomp has failed to make it into the top ten decks of Triumphant Light in TCG Pocket‘s meta. With just a 2% meta share and fewer than 500 matches, it has been one of the least popular new decks since the release of the A2a pack. Even worse, most Garchomp ex deck variants have a negative win rate, with only a few surpassing the 50% mark.
The most notable Garchomp ex deck variant—the one featuring Lucario—has also underperformed. In around 200 matches, this variant has only won 41.86% of the time, a stark contrast to the top-performing deck of the expansion (Arceus ex & Dialga ex), which has a win rate of about 59%.
How to Counter Garchomp ex
Recent matchups in Pokemon TCG Pocket tournaments reveal that Garchomp ex decks have been struggling against the newly popular Leafeon ex & Celebi ex decks. The Grass-type duo has won nearly 75% of matches against Garchomp ex.
Another strong counter for Garchomp ex is the meta-dominating Arceus ex & Dialga ex deck. According to recent stats, this setup has won 64% of battles against Garchomp ex.
The Reason Why Garchomp ex is Mediocre
There are several reasons why Garchomp ex failed to meet players’ expectations. For one, its ATK stats are below average, making it weak against most other meta cards. Other factors contributing to Garchomp ex’s underperformance include its lack of synergy with Cynthia, slow buildup, and the availability of better Fighting-type deck options.
Here’s a detailed breakdown:
- Garchomp ex’s stats are below average. Its ultimate attack deals only 100 damage, making it less appealing in the current metagame. Cards like Arceus ex dominate PvP, dealing much higher damage within the same Energy range. Had Garchomp ex’s damage been in the 130 to 150 range, it likely would have had a more significant impact on the metagame.
- Garchomp ex doesn’t work with Cynthia. For some reason, Cynthia’s +50 ATK buff doesn’t apply to Garchomp ex, wasting a potential synergy. To make matters worse, the Fighting-type archetype lacks strong exclusive Supporters, making it harder for Garchomp ex to thrive.
- Garchomp ex is a Stage Two Pokemon, occupying six deck slots while still requiring Supporter Pokemon. As a result, you often have to sacrifice key Trainer Cards to make a functioning Garchomp ex deck, which leads to inefficient setups.
- Garchomp ex is not a must-have card. The Fighting-type archetype is already performing well without it. Specifically, the refined Rampardos & Lucario deck with Sudowoodo has had better matchups and is shaping up to be the first anti-meta deck of the Triumphant Light set.
