Gather enough Energy to destroy your opponent with the help of Giratina ex!
This Giratina ex deck in Pokémon TCG Pocket can get you to Master Ball rank within days — as long as you know how to play it right!
After the disappointing copies of Giratina in the Space-Time Smackdown and the Triumphant Light sets, we get to play a powerful version of the Renegade Pokémon in Shining Revelry as Giratina ex became one of the most used decks of the A2 Season.
Giratina ex is a powerful Psychic-type that can dish out 130 damage, enough to take down most of the non-ex Pokémon in the game. Although its Chaotic Impact has a recoil damage of 20, its 150 HP can keep it alive for a few turns — or maybe longer with the right Item and Tool cards.
For this Giratina ex deck build, we’ll show you a common variant that many players use today in ranked matches: The Giratina-Darkrai variant.
Giratina ex deck build: Giratina-Darkrai variant
This deck features Giratina ex and Darkrai, arguably the most terrifying card in the entire Space-Time Smackdown set:
- x2 Giratina ex
- x2 Darkrai ex
- x2 Professor’s Research
- x1 Red
- x1 Pokémon Center Lady
- x1 Sabrina
- x1 Cyrus
- x1 Mars
- x1 Leaf
- x2 Poke Ball
- x2 Potion
- x2 Giant Cape
- x2 Rocky Helmet
How to play the Giratina ex deck in Pokémon TCG Pocket
Despite being Energy-hungry cards, Giratina ex and Darkrai ex can survive the early turns with the use of various Trainer cards that either restore or increase their HP.
The best advantage of this deck is that the first Pokémon you get in the first turn doesn’t matter. Both Giratina ex and Darkrai ex’s abilities can work regardless of whether they’re in the Active or Bench spot, and as long as you get enough Energy for any of them, you can keep spamming their moves until you win.
Keep in mind that although this deck uses Psychic- and Dark-type Pokémon, you can have your Energy Zone generate only Dark Energy as Giratina ex can provide itself with the Psychic Energy it needs for the Chaotic Impact.
During the early game, use Darkrai ex’s ability to deal damage to the opposing Pokémon while you gather for Energy. To delay your opponent’s offensive strategy, take advantage of Supporters like Sabrina, Cyrus, or Mars.
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Other notable cards in the deck
Giant Cape can help nullify the recoil damage of Chaotic Impact the first time you use it (assuming Giratina ex hasn’t received any damage yet), and Rocky Helmet can provide extra damage in conjunction with Darkrai ex’s Nightmare Aura.
Pokémon Center Lady and Potion both amplify Giratina ex and Darkrai ex’s survivability and make them less susceptible to Special Conditions.
Red can be treated more as a cheese card than an essential piece, as you can only use it if your opponent’s Active Pokémon is an ex card.
Strengths
This deck is quite aggressive even in the early turns, as your Pokémon can do something other than become a sitting duck while gathering Energy. As already mentioned, you don’t have to worry if you got the right Pokémon at the start of a game since your setup will work with either Giratina ex or Darkrai ex.
Weaknesses
Considering the release of Celestial Guardians, there’s no doubt that this deck will get bricked by Oricorio. You got no other Pokémon apart from two Pokémon ex, so Oricorio’s Safeguard will render both of your Pokémon moves useless.
You might also avoid using this deck against Pokémon that excel in having their enemies use more Energy cards, like Alakazam, Gallade ex, and Alolan Raichu ex.
Stay tuned to esports.gg for more powerful deck builds and the latest updates on Pokémon TCG Pocket.
