Triumphant Light featured the most varied gameplay among top decks of any set.Pokemon Pocketcontinues to reduce the importance of the once overly dominant ex Pokemon in Shining Revelry. That’s not to say the best decks won’t still feature ex Pokemon, but more cards are now designed to counter them, helping to level the playing field.
Some deck types from older sets will see improvements thanks to a strong set of trainer cards and Pokemon abilities that fit into a variety of decks. Compared to Triumphant Light, Shining Revelry is likely to favor more defensive-oriented decks or those that rely less on ex Pokemon.
8Darkrai Ex
Has New Pokemon To Partner With That Don’t Need Dark Energy
One of Darkrai ex’s biggest weaknesses is its reliance on energy to deal passive damage, which often leaves the active Pokemon unable to contribute much. Giratina ex helps mitigate this issue by generating its own energy. Throughout the game, Darkrai ex can steadily chip away at the opponent while preparing to take action in the mid-game.
Late game is usually a challenge for Darkrai ex, but Giratina ex helps with its 130-damage attack. Grafaiai, another powerful card from Shining Revelry, also provides support from the bench with its ability to poison opposing Pokemon. Combined with Darkrai ex, these two Pokemon can deal 30 damage per turn without needing to attack.
7Lucario
Can Give Fighting Toolbox An Extra Punch
Lucario has been the star of fighting deckssince the release of Space-Time Smackdown and remains the best fighting Pokemon available. With the rise of Red, a set that focuses on ex Pokemon, Lucario decks stand to benefit since they typically don’t rely on ex Pokemon.
However, a strong option for Lucario decks is including a single ex Pokemon—Lucario ex. This not only increases the chances of evolving Riolu into a more useful form but also provides the deck with extra attack power to overcome obstacles it previously struggled with. Since Red is generally less effective against decks that run only one ex Pokemon, Lucario ex has clearly strengthened the deck.
6Charizard Ex
Has Improved Charmander and Charmeleon
The new Charizard ex has an interesting effect—it can deal 150 damage within two turns of energy buildup thanks to its attack, Stoke. This gives it an advantage over GA Charizard since it isn’t reliant on Moltres ex for energy. However, GA Charizard can still one-shot any Pokemon, ultimately making it the better choice.
The reason Charizard ex decks have clearly improved isn’t due to a better Charizard ex, but rather better versions of Charmander and Charmeleon. These new versions can attack immediately after being summoned thanks to improved energy efficiency, whereas in the past, they were mostly left waiting on the sidelines.
5Druddigon And Magnezone
Stalling For Energy Is A Strong Tactic
Triumphant Light was a varied and offensively oriented format, making stalling-focused Pokemon like Druddigon fall out of favor. However, Druddigon will be the backbone of many successful decks in Shining Revelry, as the set introduces new ways to generate support from the bench.
Giratina ex can build up its energy while Druddigon holds the fort. If you’re lucky enough to evolve into Magnezone, you’ll have two hard-hitting Pokemon that don’t require any energy resources. The flexibility of these Pokemon allows you to mix and match them with any energy type, making for highly adaptable deck strategies.
4One Point Decks
Will Be Extra Resilient Against Red
The main character of the originalPokemon titles, Red, serves as a built-in counter to ex Pokemon. Red’s additional 20 damage has made it a near staple in almost every deck. However, this can be a mistake for many players, as Red becomes a dead card against one-point decks.
One-point decks, such as Barry and Fighter Toolbox, stand to gain a massive advantage in Shining Revelry. Additionally, one of the best cards in the set, Meowscarada, is also a one-point Pokemon.
3Pikachu Ex
Can Now Do Big Damage In One Attack
It’s been a long time since Zapdos ex has seen play. Electric types have fallen out of favor, but Pachirisu might be able to spark some life back into them. Thanks to its attack effect, electric now has a universal energy accelerator—one energy is generated per attack, makingPachirisu not only one of the best cardsin the set but also a fantastic battery for an energy-heavy Pokemon like Zapdos ex.
Many have forgotten how hard-hitting Zapdos ex is, and it can serve as a smoother alternative to running the Magnezone line as a cleanup Pokemon. Shining Revelry also introduces a new Pikachu ex that thrives on energy acceleration. You can even mix in a copy of GA Pikachu ex, giving you one Pikachu suited for the early game and another as a finisher.
2Barry
Can Rush Down Their Opponents With Tanky Pokemon
Snorlax was a sleeper hit in Triumphant Light. When paired with Barry, it can deal 100 damage for just two energy—enough to knock out nearly any Pokemon in a fighting deck. As a basic, hard-hitting Pokemon, Snorlax makes a great partner for Giratina ex.
Like Snorlax, Giratina ex is a basic Pokemon with high HP and strong damage output. Since Giratina ex can generate its own energy, you’ll have plenty of flexibility in how you allocate your energy when using this duo. While the combination of Giratina ex and Snorlax may fly under the radar, it will be a nightmare for most decks in the early game.
1Gallade Ex
Matches Up Well Against Giratina Ex
Many of the strongest tournament decks—such as Arceus/Dialga, Arceus/Crobat, and Gyarados ex—had their lowest win rates against Gallade ex decks. This suggests that Gallade ex was already underplayed during Triumphant Light. However, with the emergence of Giratina ex, Gallade ex may now rise to become the apex fighting Pokemon.
Giratina ex can one-shot every fighting-type Pokemon, including Lucario ex, due to its typing advantage—except for Gallade ex. Additionally, Gallade ex deals 150 damage to a four-energy Giratina ex, making it the best counter available to fighting decks.
