Certain deck types had very little support during the first set inPokemon Pocket. However, with the launch of Time-Space Smackdown, nearly every Pokemon typing now has a viable strategy or a strong enough Pokemon to build a competitive deck around. The overall balance of the game has shifted, making previously underrepresented decks more relevant in the meta.
Dark and steel decks are among the biggest winners, gaining powerful new options that significantly enhance their playability. Meanwhile, already strong decks, such as water, have received even more improvements, solidifying their dominance. Players now have more flexibility in building decks that can keep up with the evolving competitive landscape.
Disables supporters, deck searching
Deck Weaknesses
Subpar evolutionary line, low damage
Pokemon Pocket now features a large rotation of powerful Supporter cards, with Cyrus, Mars, and Dawn further expanding the options. Currently, Gengar ex is the only Pokemon capable of disabling Supporter card usage. While Alakazam and Mewtwo ex have made it difficult to justify running Gengar ex in competitive play, the increasing importance of Supporters is carving out a niche for it at a casual level.
Gengar ex benefits greatly from Pokemon Communication, especially since it also works with Mythical Slab. This allows Gengar ex to cycle through its deck much faster than other Stage 2-oriented builds. Additionally, Mismagius ex is a solid Stage 1 Pokemon that complements Gengar ex by Confusing opponents, adding disruption to its playstyle. While Gengar ex won’t surpass Mewtwo ex as the top psychic deck, its value is rising as more Supporter cards become relevant in the meta.
Energy generation, energy reallocation, high HP
Slow speed
The least-used starter from Kanto may be on the verge of a resurgence. Blastoise ex is a high-HP Pokemon capable of dealing significant damage, though it requires five energy to hit for 160. However, Manaphy has made this drawback much more manageable by improving energy acceleration. Additionally, Dawn serves as a low-commitment energy reallocation option for those who can’t fit Mythical Island Vaporeon into their deck.
Another major drawback of Blastoise ex is that it is a Stage 2 Pokemon, which can make setup difficult. Fortunately, Pokemon Communication provides a significant boost to all Stage 2 decks, helping them find key pieces more efficiently. Blastoise ex also pairs well with Vaporeon or Palkia ex, both of which can provide strong early- and mid-game support while you assemble the full Blastoise ex evolutionary line.
Versatile options, strong effects, energy generation
Slow speed, early game
Dialga ex’s ability to generate two energy is a major boost for any colorless ex, benefiting options like Wigglytuff ex, Lickilicky ex, and Pidgeot ex. Pidgeot ex, in particular, scales off the opponent’s bench, allowing it to deal up to 140 damage while boasting a solid 170 HP. If Pidgeot ex isn’t available, Mew ex or another copy of Dialga ex can serve as alternative targets for the extra energy.
Pokemon Communication helps accelerate the setup by making it easier to find Pidgeot ex’s evolution pieces. Additionally, the standard Pidgeot from Genetic Apex provides another layer of control, allowing players to manage their opponent’s board without relying solely on Cyrus.
One point cards, early game, deceptive damage
Low hp, lack of ex options, Pokemon Tool reliant
Fighting continues to be a type that overwhelms opponents with mid-tier Pokemon rather than relying on a single powerful ex Pokemon. Lucario plays a key role in this strategy with its passive ability, which increases the attack power of all Fighting-type Pokemon by 20, including itself. Since Lucario’s effect stacks, there will be situations where Fighting Pokemon gain a 40-damage boost, allowing even weaker attackers to take down high-HP threats.
Pokemon Tools such as Giant Cape and Rocky Helmet pair well with many Fighting Pokemon. Variants of Primeape and Marshadow tend to have high attack power but low HP, making Rocky Helmet particularly useful for expanding their knockout range. Additionally, Hitmonlee triggers Cyrus’s effect, enabling players to drag out a weakened Pokemon for a finishing blow.
Late game, high damage, high hp
During the Mythical Island set, Charizard ex had fallen out of favor due to the faster-paced Arcanine ex. However, Space-Time Smackdown has introduced new cards that have improved the viability of energy-intensive Stage 2 cards, breathing new life into Charizard ex. Dawn allows for efficient energy transfer, making it possible to move energy between Charizard ex and benched Moltres ex, which can help accelerate Charizard ex’s setup.
Pokemon Communication helps get rid of unneeded cards and search for key pieces to complete Charizard ex’s evolution, reducing the risk of bricking. Infernape ex, a major fire-type addition in Space-Time Smackdown, has brought support for Charizard ex as well. Nearly every new tech card that works with Infernape ex also synergizes with Charizard ex’s deck, with Charizard ex arguably being the superior boss monster due to its potential for high damage output and overall versatility.
Energy generation, mid game, Pokemon Tools
Reliant on trainers, late game, limited pool of steel-types
Before the launch of Space-Time Smackdown,Steel had one of the smallest pools of Pokemonto choose from, rivaled only by Dragon types. While Steel’s pool is still limited, it now has a proper boss monster in Dialga ex. Dialga ex’s ability to generate two energy for the bench makes energy-intensive boss Pokemon like Melmetal more viable while also enabling consistent setups for big plays. Dialga ex can also recharge another copy of itself, and since it’s a basic Pokemon, it allows you to alternate between two 100-damage attackers reliably.
Skarmory is a key complementary Pokemon for Steel decks. When equipped with tools, Skarmory can deal 50 damage for just one energy, putting it on par with the damage output of Mythical Island Primeape. Although not a Steel type, Mew also synergizes well with Dialga ex, helping to deal with high-damage threats like Mewtwo ex and further strengthening the deck’s versatility.
Fast speed, strong against water, energy efficient
Low hp, late game, inconsistent damage
The addition of more Pokemon cards capable of dealing 120 damage in a reasonable amount of time should be a concerning development for Pokemon ex decks. However, Pikachu ex’s glass cannon nature means it benefits significantly from Giant Cape’s added HP, making it much harder to take down. When equipped with Giant Cape, Pikachu ex is no longer in the kill range of Arcanine ex and Ninetales, even when they’re buffed by Blaine.
Pachirisu ex also pairs well with tools, turning it into a two-energy attacker that deals 80 damage when equipped with Giant Cape. Furthermore, Space-Time Smackdown Electrode offers a one-energy attack that deals 50 damage, boosting Pikachu ex’s speed and power, especially in the early game, making it a more threatening force overall.
Energy generation, energy reallocation, bench damage, fast speed
Squishy early game, inconsistent damage
Water decks have reached an exceptional level of flexibility in energy management. While Mythical Island Vaporeon found some success in the previous set, the introduction ofManaphy has further strengthened Water strategiesby allowing two energy to be generated directly onto the bench. In Pokemon Pocket, two extra energy is a major advantage, and Vaporeon’s ability ensures that energy can be allocated to any target as needed.
The most common recipient of this energy boost is Palkia ex, whose secondary attack deals 150 damage while also hitting benched Pokemon for 20. The ability of Palkia ex and Articuno ex to damage benched Pokemon makes Cyrus an especially effective card in decks that utilize Mythical Island Vaporeon, allowing for greater control over the opponent’s board.
Passive damage, Energy efficient, strong against Mewtwo and Mew
Low damage, late game
Dark Pokemon often revolve around hit-and-run tactics, board control, and status effects like Poison. However, the biggest hurdle preventing Dark decks from becoming competitive has been their lack of damage. Space-Time Smackdown addresses this issue by introducing two new ex Pokemon, Weavile and Darkrai, which finally provide Dark decks with enough offensive power to take down other boss monsters.
For ex Pokemon, Weavile and Darkrai don’t hit particularly hard, but both can deal damage with just one energy. Darkrai ex passively chips away at opponents with each energy it receives, not only wearing them down but also making them vulnerable to Cyrus. Meanwhile, Weavile ex deals extra damage to already injured Pokemon, making it a perfect follow-up to Darkrai’s effect. Additionally, Genetic Apex Weezing’s Poison, combined with Darkrai’s passive damage, allows Dark decks to rack up significant damage without even attacking directly.
Energy generation, passive damage, fast speed
Low damage, mixed energy
Traditionally,Genetic Apex Magneton wasn’t the centerpiece of a deckbut rather a supporting card for Pikachu ex. However, with its new evolution into Magnezone, it now has the ability to deal 110 damage using energy it passively accumulates over time. This upgrade makes Magneton a more viable option than just being an enabler for other Electric-type Pokemon.
The biggest reason why Genetic Apex Magneton and Magnezone are so significant is their synergy with non-Electric Pokemon like Darkrai ex. Darkrai ex requires a steady energy supply to activate its passive ability, and Magneton provides that without disruption. Additionally, Dawn can further enhance Darkrai ex’s chip damage, making the combination even more effective.
