Dialga ex and Palkia ex are the two mascots of each booster pack for Time-Space Smackdown. Both of these Pokemon are just as powerful in Pokemon Pocket as they were in Pokemon Platinum. Dialga ex is the first card to bring relevancy to Steel types, while Palkia ex continues Water types’ dominance by gaining high-quality cards.
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Both Dialga ex and Palkia ex are competitive Pokemon that will see much success in Pokemon Pocket tournaments. They serve as centerpieces of their respective deck types and can be paired with a variety of off-meta Pokemon. Along with Darkrai ex, they are among the most powerful Pokemon in Time-Space Smackdown.
7
Durability
Dialga ex
Both Dialga ex and Palkia ex are basic Pokemon with 150 HP. They rank alongside Mewtwo ex as some of the tankiest basic Pokemon, capable of withstanding attacks from Pidgeot ex, Pikachu ex, and Raichu.
Dialga ex and Palkia ex are nearly tied in terms of effective tankiness, though Dialga ex has a slight edge due to its typing. Being weak to electricity is generally more problematic than being weak to fire, as Pikachu ex is a stronger deck than any fire-based deck currently in the meta.
6
Damage
Palkia ex
Dialga ex deals a respectable 100 damage, though it requires four energy to do so. While this allows it to knock out most Pokemon in two hits, it lacks the firepower to one-shot any ex Pokemon. Dialga ex excels at pressuring early-game monsters but tends to get outscored as the match progresses. Its Steel typing offers little offensive advantage, as very few Pokemon are weak to Steel.
Palkia ex, on the other hand, deals 150 damage, putting it on par with top-tier sweepers like Mewtwo ex. It can one-shot the three legendary birds, Mewtwo ex, Pikachu ex, Dialga ex, and even itself. Additionally, it deals 20 damage to every benched Pokemon, potentially reaching a total of 210 damage, making it an incredibly powerful board-controlling threat.
5
Speed
Tie
Palkia ex and Dialga ex are both basic Pokemon, so they can both be searched with Pokeballs. Dialga ex can reach a late-game strategy faster since it can generate its energy, but it is dormant in the early games, unlike Palkia ex.
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Palkia ex can hit for 30 damage on one energy, giving it the best Poking attack of any ex Pokemon. Palkia ex is reliant on other Pokemon to use its second, higher damaging attack, but Water-type has a lot of support to make that possible.
4
Energy
Dialga ex
Dialga ex is one of the best energy accelerators in Pokemon Pocket. For the cost of two energy, it can generate two additional energy for any benched Pokemon. Since its effect isn’t restricted by Pokemon type, Dialga ex can support a variety of decks, including those that rely on colorless energy, such as Mew ex and Yanmega ex. It also works well with other metal types, as well as powerful normal Pokemon like Pidgeot ex and Wigglytuff ex.
Palkia ex, on the other hand, is highly energy-intensive. Its Dimensional Storm attack requires four energy and forces you to discard three. While it has a solid one-energy attack in Slash, Palkia ex depends on external energy acceleration from cards like Manaphy and Misty to maintain its effectiveness.
3
Supporting Cards
Palkia ex
Water has more Pokemon than any other type, giving Palkia ex plenty of support options. Its energy-intensive playstyle is balanced by the efficiency of versatile Pokemon like Starmie ex, as well as water-exclusive energy accelerators such as Mythical Island Vaporeon and Manaphy. These cards help Palkia ex stay competitive despite its high energy costs.
Steel, on the other hand, remains one of the least supported deck types, second only to Dragon. Dialga ex is the first truly powerful Pokemon in its type, but it lacks dedicated trainer cards to enhance its performance. However, it does benefit from the flexibility of Dawn, which helps manage its energy efficiently. While Dialga ex’s typing offers some defensive advantages, it provides little offensive benefit.
2
Versatility
Dialga ex
Although there are many ways to build a water deck in Pokemon Pocket, Palkia ex remains largely confined to its typing. It can be paired with options like Starmie ex, Articuno, or even an unorthodox choice like Blastoise ex, but its effectiveness is still dependent on other water Pokemon. This limits its flexibility compared to other top-tier Pokemon.
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Dialga ex, on the other hand, functions as a versatile tool with near-unlimited potential. While it is a key piece in metal decks, it may not even perform best in that role. Dialga ex pairs well with a variety of non-metal Pokemon, including Mew ex, Pidgeot ex, Yanmega ex, Mythical Island Tauros, and Lickilicky ex, making it one of the most adaptable energy accelerators in the game.
1
Winner
Dialga ex
Dialga ex and Palkia ex are incredibly close in terms of overall strength. Early in Time-Space Smackdown, Palkia ex decks will likely outperform Dialga ex decks, but this is largely due to water decks having more established support and a well-defined role in Pokemon Pocket. In contrast, Dialga ex remains underexplored, as metal types were previously a niche deck choice.
Dialga ex has the potential to be meta-defining. Not only is it the first true core piece for metal decks, but it is also an ex energy accelerator that can fit into multiple archetypes. There are likely several top-tier builds featuring Dialga ex that have yet to be discovered. While it may initially appear weaker than Palkia ex in Time-Space Smackdown, its long-term potential suggests it could eventually outscale Palkia ex as the game continues to evolve.
- Released
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October 30, 2024
- Publisher(s)
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The Pokemon Company
- Multiplayer
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Online Multiplayer