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InPokemon TCG Pocket’s battle format, ex Pokemon are a bigger threat, but they come with a catch: losing one gives your opponent two points instead of one. This drawback has led many players to embrace the “non-ex archetype,” which, as the name suggests, revolves around building competitive decks without any ex Pokemon.
If you’re considering this archetype, we’ve selected three of the best non-ex decks in the current meta. This guide will walk you through how to build these lineups and their core strategies. Before exploring them, though, here are some key tips for constructing your own non-ex decks inPokemon TCG Pocket.
Follow these tips to build a strong non-ex deck:
The Best-Performing Non-ex Deck: Magnezone & Hitmonlee
InPokemon TCG Pocket’s current meta, theMagnezone & Hitmonlee shellstands out as the best non-ex setup. The deck’s strategy is to disrupt the enemy’s evolutions with Hitmonlee while building Magnezone on the Bench using Magneton’s self-supplying Energy. You also have aggressive cards like Marshadow and Hitmonchan, which help pressure the opponent early, setting the stage for Magnezone’s finishing blow.
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Must-Have Trainer Cards
The Second-Best Non-ex Deck: Magnezone & Skarmory
A reliable non-ex deck inPocketis the Magnezone & Skarmory lineup. The strategy is simple: Use Skarmory (equipped with a Rocky Helmet) to stall and deal early damage. At the same time, work onpowering up Magnezone on the Benchusing Magneton’s Energy-generating ability. Additionally, channel any extra Energy to Heatran (with a Giant Cape) to turn it into your secondary damage dealer.
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The High-Aggro Non-ex Deck: Rampardos & Lucario
The duo of Rampardos and Lucario gained popularity inPocket’s meta shortly after the release of the Space-Time Smackdown set. The reason for its rise was simple: high damage. Lucario’s ability to buff all Fighting-type Pokemon’s attacks unlocked new synergies and provided Rampardos with a supporting cast of high-damage, low-cost cards to counterbalance its slow build-up.
