One of the standout cards introduced in the new Space-Time Smackdown expansion of Pokémon TCG Pocket is Palkia ex. This powerful Legendary Water-type Pokémon has its own dedicated pack alongside the Dialga ex packs, while also being the centerpiece of a highly effective deck that can compete against many current meta builds.
Since the launch of Pokémon TCG Pocket, Water-type decks have thrived, largely due to the incredibly strong Misty card. This powerhouse was further boosted with the addition of a new Vaporeon from the Mythical Island expansion, and it continues to grow with several impactful cards in the Space-Time Smackdown. Among the new Water-type decks, Palkia ex stands out as the most formidable, and here’s a look at one of the best decks that incorporates it.
Palkia Ex Cards Overview
Essential Support Cards for Palkia ex
The Palkia ex card is particularly powerful for two main reasons. Firstly, it features a basic attack, Slash, which requires just one energy and deals 30 damage—allowing it to take out weaker Pokémon early in a match. However, its true strength lies in its signature move, Dimensional Storm, which inflicts 150 damage and can easily knock out most Pokémon in a single hit. In a well-constructed deck, Articuno ex serves as a backup powerhouse in case you struggle to set up Palkia quickly, although some players prefer using Starmie ex instead.
Other Pokémon mainly serve as support and energy providers. Manaphy is particularly helpful with its Oceanic Gift attack, which distributes two Water energies to Pokémon on your bench. Vaporeon can also be beneficial as it lets you move Water energy between your Pokémon, crucial for switching between your primary attackers.
|
Card |
Type |
Quantity |
|---|---|---|
|
Palkia ex |
Water |
2 |
|
Manaphy |
Water |
2 |
|
Eevee |
Normal |
2 |
|
Vaporeon |
Water |
2 |
|
Articuno ex |
Water |
1 |
|
Misty |
Supporter |
2 |
|
Cyrus |
Supporter |
2 |
|
Leaf |
Supporter |
2 |
|
Professor’s Research |
Supporter |
2 |
|
Pokeball |
Supporter |
2 |
|
Giant Cape |
Tool |
1 |
Like many of the top decks in Pokémon TCG Pocket, a variety of item cards are essential for success. Naturally, Professor’s Research and Pokeball are critical for quickly drawing the Pokémon you need. Misty continues to be indispensable for Water decks, enabling swift energy acquisition.
Depending on personal preference, you may replace Giant Cape with Rocky Helmet to ensure that Manaphy can inflict some damage while setting up other Pokémon.
Leaf allows all your Pokémon to retreat without losing energy. Cyrus is a new game-changing addition near the end of battles, similar to Sabrina, but with better control, allowing you to switch a damaged Pokémon into the active position. The new Tool, Giant Cape, grants any Pokémon an additional 20 HP.
Winning Strategy for a Palkia Ex Deck
Misty, Manaphy, and Vaporeon: Keys to Victory
The primary strategy for the Palkia ex deck revolves around using three key cards to quickly access and distribute energy to your main powerhouse Pokémon. Ideally, I start with Manaphy as my active Pokémon, as it allows for rapid buildup of Palkia ex or one of the backup options like Vaporeon or Articuno ex. Attaching the new Giant Cape tool to Manaphy can facilitate the distribution of two or three energy to your bench Pokémon.
After the first few turns, Vaporeon can reallocate energy as needed, so if you require a retreat for Palkia ex at any time, you can shift the energy to another Pokémon in just one turn.
Vaporeon can also serve as a solid attacker with its Wave Splash move, dealing 60 damage while boasting 120 HP to absorb hits.
If drawing Manaphy at the start proves difficult, Palkia ex performs admirably as your active Pokémon thanks to its Slash attack, allowing for quick points. Its bulkiness enables it to withstand several hits, and retaining the Leaf card provides an option for retreating when necessary. Although using Dimensional Storm causes it to discard three energy, you can employ Misty to help quickly restore its power.
Cyrus adds an extra layer of threat towards the end of matches, especially considering that Palkia ex inflicts 20 damage to bench Pokémon. This ability can easily set up a weak Pokémon for a knockout, clinching the win. While it may face challenges against fast Electric-type decks, Palkia ex can effectively dominate many other prominent decks in Pokémon TCG Pocket. The optimal Palkia ex deck leverages support cards to accelerate its development, enabling it to challenge several top competitors in the game.
