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The first majorPokemon TCG Pocketevent after the Space-Time Smackdown release was overrun by Gyarados ex & Greninja decks, striking fear into many players. However, just a few weeks later, Darkrai ex dethroned them, proving the new expansion is truly reshaping the metagame.
But how exactly does the Gyarados ex & Greninja meta function inPokemon TCG Pocket? What makes this setup so powerful, and what are its biggest weaknesses? This analysis breaks it all down, exploring the synergies behind this Water-type duo and assessing their overall performance in the current meta.
How the Gyarados ex & Greninja Meta Works
Thesynergy between Gyarados ex and Greninjais simple: one delivers heavy damage, while the other softens up opponents. Of course, you need time to set them up, so you have to use a tank (Druddigon or Kangaskhan) to stall while Greninja weakens enemies enough for Gyarados ex to finish them off.
Ideal Play Line
The Best Deck Shell for Gyarados ex & Greninja
The Gyarados ex & Greninja setup is quite rigid in terms of Pokemon and Trainer Cards. It requires 12 essential Pokemon cards, including Greninja and Gyarados ex’s evolution lines, along with Druddigon. Additionally, six Trainer Cards—Professor’s Research, Pokemon Ball, and Misty—are non-negotiable. This leaves only two flexible card slots, which, realistically, should be dedicated to Cyrus and Leaf since there are no better alternatives.
High chip damage
Slow build-up
High endurance (tanky setup)
Disruption*
Inflexible setup (too many Pokemon)
- Gyarados ex can disrupt the opponent’s Energy distribution by discarding a random Energy after each attack. However, this effect can backfire, as it may also remove one of your own Energies.
Gyarados ex & Greninja Performance Report
The Gyarados ex & Greninja shell has consistently ranked among the top fivebest-performing decks inPokemon Pockettournamentssince the release of the Space-Time Smackdown set. Despite achieving a solid 50% win rate and numerous tournament victories, it struggles against specific deck archetypes.
Matchup data shows that Gyarados ex & Greninja decks have a hard time winning againstDarkrai ex & Magnezone decks, as well as anti-meta Magnezone & Hitmonlee lineups. In fact, Gyarados ex has an abysmal 17.75% win rate against the latter. On the other hand, it performs best against Exeggutor ex lineups, boasting a win rate of up to 52%.
The stats in this post are based onPocket’s recent tournaments and may have changed by the time you’re reading this.
Why Darkrai ex Outperforms Gyarados ex
One notable aspect ofPocket’s meta duringthe Space-Time Smackdown erais its focus on Bench (or long-range) damage. Two standout Pokemon in this strategy are Gyarados ex and Darkrai ex, both relying on a stall-and-amass approach to deal heavy damage. However, despite using similar tactics, Darkrai ex has outperformed Gyarados ex in the metagame.
The key reason for Darkrai ex’s superiority is its efficiency. As a Basic Pokemon with 140 HP, it can start applying chip damage immediately after gaining its first Energy. In contrast, Gyarados ex is a Stage One Pokemon that depends on a Stage Two Pokemon for chip damage. This build-up gap significantly slows down Gyarados ex, allowing Darkrai ex to dominate the meta.
Why Gyarados ex’s Recent Success Is Important
Gyarados ex maintaining its status as a top contender inPokemonPocket’s metais a phenomenon that shouldn’t be overlooked. Its success highlights three key aspects of the game’s PvP landscape:
