Pikachu ex is one of the most popular decks in Pokémon TCG Pocket, and it’s both great for beginners and one of the best competitive options in the early format—which feels like a match made in heaven. Even after the introduction of Mythical Island, it stands up against most competitors.
Pokémon’s main mascot is a popular first deck for many players as the cards are easy to add to a collection without breaking the bank. It’s fast-paced and powerful, despite having a couple of quirks to contend with. Here’s the best Pikachu ex Pocket deck build list to pick up and play today.
The best Pikachu ex Pokémon TCG Pocket deck
In this Pocket deck, the main damage dealer is Pikachu ex, which can deal a solid 90 damage for two Electric Energy so long as you have three Pokémon on your bench.
It’s decently quick to get this deck into position with the right background setup, working alongside Zapdos ex as a great secondary damage dealer for certain matchups. Dedenne joins the Voltorb line for additional support, providing a paralysis route to create an alternate win condition.
Below, you’ll find the complete deck list, including card quantities, card number, and how you can track each one down in the game.
| Image | Card | Amount | Set | Card Number | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Pikachu ex | x2 | Genetic Apex (Pikachu) | 96/226 | 500 Pack Points |
 |
Zapdos ex | x2 | Genetic Apex (Pikachu) | 104/226 | 500 Pack Points |
 |
Voltorb | x2 | Genetic Apex (Pikachu) | 99/226 | 35 Pack Points |
 |
Electrode | x2 | Genetic Apex (Pikachu) | 100/226 | 70 Pack Points |
 |
Dedenne | x1 | Mythical Island | 30/68 | 35 Pack Points |
 |
Sabrina | x2 | Genetic Apex (Charizard) | 225/226 | 70 Pack Points |
 |
X Speed | x2 | Promo-A | 2/P-A | x2 Shop Tickets |
 |
Potion | x2 | Promo-A | 1/P-A | x2 Shop Tickets |
 |
Poké Ball | x2 | Promo-A | 5/P-A | x2 Shop Tickets |
 |
Professor’s Research | x2 | Promo-A | 7/P-A | x2 Shop Tickets |
 |
Giovanni | x1 | Genetic Apex | 223/226 | 70 Pack Points |
Our Pikachu ex deck list prioritizes quick set up and heavy damage output, but there are plenty of other variations that you can try out. Common inclusions for a Pikachu ex Pocket list are:
- The Magneton line from Genetic Apex, usually with Lt. Surge alongside it
- Raichu from Genetic Apex to act as a secondary damage dealer
- The Zebstrika line from Genetic Apex for sniping and secondary damage
- The Galvantula line from Mythical Island for control and secondary damage
You can vary your Item and Supporter card quantities with this deck list, too. The best decks in Pocket are created through experimentation and testing, so take our deck list for a spin and see if there are any variations that could make it fit your personal playstyle even more.
How the deck works
Pikachu ex is the main damage dealer of this deck thanks to its cheap yet powerful Circle Circuit attack. Unlike most heavy-hitting attacks in Pocket, this attack does not require any Energy taxes or other penalties for being used, making it a unique card to build a deck around.
Provided you can keep your backline in place, you can deal a solid 90 damage per turn and take out a Pokémon or two before your opponent has any chance of setting up for a quick victory.
It’s a fast-paced and punchy card, but it does come with a level of risk due to Pikachu ex’s low health bar. Compared to other cards with the same level of damage output and threat, Pikachu ex is quite squishy and can easily be taken out in one hit by a strong ex opponent.
That’s where Zapdos ex comes in. The attack Thundering Hurricane costs three Electric Energy Tokens and is reliant on RNG, dealing 50 damage for every heads flipped out of four coins. Being able to theoretically deal 200 damage makes it one of the strongest Electric-types in the game.
Equally, Electrode is a perfectly flexible damage dealer, its main draw being its zero retreat cost. You can place an Electrode in the backline for those cheeky Sabrina plays from your opponent. With Electrode leading, you can also retreat it out either for your Pikachu ex or Zapdos ex that has been slowly getting Energy in the backline without having to use an X Speed.
Dedenne also provides plenty of support with Thunder Shock. The damage is essentially non-existent, dealing 10 damage a pop, but the move also inflicts paralysis with a successful coin flip.
Special Conditions are immensely strong in Pocket, allowing complete control over an opponent and preventing them from being able to set up a counter to your deck.
Strengths and weaknesses
This Pikachu ex deck offers multiple routes to victory. If you find yourself struggling to get Pikachu ex into position for whatever reason, it’s still possible to achieve a Knock Out and rack up points by working with your secondary damage dealers.
Additionally, setting up with this list is quick and easy. It’s a relatively accessible deck that doesn’t require too much upfront game knowledge, making it worth trialling if you’re a new player who wants to get stuck into the action from the get-go.
Pikachu ex is also in a solid position with regards to resistances and weaknesses