Since its release in November 2024, Pokémon TCG Pocket has taken the trading card game world by storm. Players are constantly crafting strategic and powerful decks to dominate their matches, and one card stands out: Gyarados EX.
This ferocious Water-type Pokémon, a staple since the first generation, becomes even more formidable in Pokémon TCG Pocket thanks to the Mythical Island expansion, which introduced its EX version. Here’s how to build the best Gyarados EX deck and maximize its potential.
Gyarados EX Deck Build for Pokémon TCG Pocket
This Gyarados EX deck adheres to the game’s rule of 20 cards per deck, consisting of 8 Pokémon cards and 12 Trainer cards.
Pokémon Cards
- Gyarados EX ×2
- Magikarp ×2
- Eevee ×2
- Vaporeon ×2
Trainer Cards
- Misty ×2
- Sabrina ×2
- Professor’s Research ×2
- Poké Ball ×2
- Potion ×2
- X Speed ×2
Card Breakdown and Strategy
Key Pokémon
- Magikarp & Gyarados EX
Magikarp serves as the evolution base for Gyarados EX. While Magikarp itself is weak, evolving it into Gyarados EX unlocks tremendous power. Gyarados EX’s primary move, Rampaging Whirlpool, requires four Energies (three Water) and deals 140 damage while discarding a random Energy from all Pokémon on the field, including yours and your opponent’s. - Eevee & Vaporeon
Vaporeon’s ability allows you to transfer a Water Energy from any of your Benched Pokémon to your Active Water Pokémon, ensuring Gyarados EX can attack consistently. Pairing Eevee and Vaporeon with Gyarados EX creates excellent synergy for energy management.
Trainer Cards
- Misty
This Trainer card lets you flip coins until you get tails. For every head, attach one Water Energy to a Water-type Pokémon. It’s an efficient way to quickly charge Gyarados EX with the necessary Energies. - Sabrina
Sabrina forces your opponent to swap their Active Pokémon with a Benched Pokémon, giving you a tactical advantage in battle. - Professor’s Research
Draw two extra cards to maintain your deck’s momentum and keep options available during gameplay. - Poké Ball, Potion, and X Speed
These versatile cards help round out the deck by improving Pokémon retrieval, healing, and boosting attack speed.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Weaknesses
Being a Water-type deck, the Gyarados EX deck is vulnerable to Electric-type Pokémon like Pikachu EX or Zapdos EX, which can exploit Gyarados EX’s Electric weakness for devastating damage.
Strengths
Water-type Pokémon excel against Fire-type decks, making this build highly effective against Charizard EX and other Fire Pokémon. With proper strategy and energy management, this deck can overpower Fire types while mitigating its weaknesses.
Tips for Success
- Energy Management: Use Vaporeon and Misty strategically to stack Energies on Gyarados EX for continuous attacks.
- Anticipate Opponents: Pay attention to your opponent’s type and plan your moves accordingly to exploit type advantages.
- Optimize Trainer Usage: Since you can only play one Supporter card per turn, choose the timing of Misty and Sabrina carefully to maximize impact.
Conclusion
The Gyarados EX deck is a powerhouse in Pokémon TCG Pocket, offering a mix of strategic energy management and high-damage attacks. While it requires careful play against Electric-type Pokémon, it dominates Fire decks with ease. Build this deck, refine your strategy, and watch as Gyarados EX leads you to victory in your next match!