The 11 Best Pokemon TCG Decks (May 2024)

What are the best Pokemon TCG meta decks in May?

As a little background, this list will be looking at the current game’s meta – meaning the decks and strategies that are most popular in competitive play, and those that tend to perform the best.

Whether you are looking for your next deck to build, or what deck counters the meta, here are the best Pokemon decks of the 2024 standard format.

Updated May 3, 2024 to Temporal Forces.

Charizard ex is the best Pokemon TCG deck

Tord's Charizard ex deck — *1st place at EUIC by Tord Reklev*

Pokémon: 20
4 Charmander OBF 26
1 Charmeleon PAF 8
3 Charizard ex PAF 54
2 Pidgey MEW 16
2 Pidgeot ex OBF 164
1 Radiant Charizard CRZ 20
1 Bidoof CRZ 111
1 Bibarel BRS 121
1 Rotom V CRZ 45
1 Lumineon V BRS 40
1 Cleffa OBF 80
1 Manaphy BRS 41
1 Jirachi PAR 126
Trainer: 34
3 Arven OBF 186
3 Iono PAF 80
2 Boss's Orders PAL 172
2 Professor Turo's Scenario PAR 171
1 Roxanne ASR 150
1 Team Yell's Cheer BRS 149
4 Rare Candy PAF 89
4 Ultra Ball PAF 91
4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144
2 Super Rod PAL 188
1 Nest Ball PAF 84
1 Counter Catcher PAR 160
1 Prime Catcher TEF 157
1 Lost Vacuum CRZ 135
1 Forest Seal Stone SIT 156
1 Choice Belt PAL 176
1 Defiance Band SVI 169
1 Collapsed Stadium BRS 137
Energy: 6
6 Fire Energy 2

Charizard ex not only has retained its dominance and top deck status post rotation, it has gotten even stronger. It’s won major events just about everywhere at this point, forcing the meta to become very lopsided: either you play Charizard ex or you play a deck that does well against Charizard ex.

While many Charizard ex decks are built differently, the strongest deck still runs Pidgeot ex to maximize consistency.

To help you get started playing this version of Charizard ex, take a look at our Charizard ex deck list and strategy.

Charizard ex really is the star of the show for this deck. It can do almost everything, with massive energy acceleration inherently combined with one of the strongest attacks in the game that only gets stronger as the battle continues.

Just how long will Charizard ex dominate the meta? Well, it could be for a while. However, a new deck is showing promise in Twilight Masquerade to give Charizard ex a run for its money, and that deck is none other than Dragapult ex.

Dragapult ex

Pokémon: 20
4 Dreepy SV6 79
4 Drakloak SV6 80
3 Dragapult ex SV6 81
2 Natu PAF 25
2 Xatu PAF 26
1 Manaphy BRS 41
1 Tatsugiri SV6 82
1 Rotom V CRZ 45
1 Lumineon V BRS 40
1 Radiant Alakazam SIT 59
Trainer: 33
4 Arven OBF 186
3 Iono PAF 80
2 Boss's Orders PAL 172
4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144
3 Ultra Ball PAF 91
3 Nest Ball PAF 84
2 Earthen Vessel PAR 163
2 Rare Candy PAF 89
1 Counter Catcher PAR 160
1 Super Rod PAL 188
1 Scoop Up Cyclone PLB 95
1 Forest Seal Stone SIT 156
1 Technical Machine: Devolution PAR 177
1 Technical Machine: Evolution PAR 178
1 Rescue Board TEF 159
1 Handy Fan SV6 95
2 Temple of Sinnoh ASR 155
Energy: 7
4 Psychic Energy 5
3 Fire Energy 2

While Dragapult ex isn’t actually available around the world yet, it’s already gained a ton of attention thanks to top finishes at tournaments in Japan. Dragapult has a lot going for it as both a card and deck archetype. First of all, Dragapult ex has a high HP stat. Secondly, Dragapult ex has an attack that has the benefit of not only dishing out 200 damage right off the bat: it’s bolstered by an effect that lets you strategically place damage counters around your opponent’s Pokemon.

To get the best benefit out of this extra damage output, many decks are running Radiant Alakazam. Alakazam lets you move damage around to the Pokemon where it can have the greatest impact.

Dragapult ex will become availabe in the US and around the world with the release of Twilight Masquerade on May 24th. You can read about how to play this powerful new archetype in our Dragapult ex deck guide.

Lugia VSTAR

Pokémon: 20
4 Minccino BRS 124
3 Cinccino TEF 137
4 Archeops SIT 147
3 Lugia V SIT 138
3 Lugia VSTAR SIT 139
1 Snorlax LOR 143
1 Lumineon V BRS 40
1 Mew ex MEW 151
Trainer: 24
3 Iono PAF 80
3 Boss's Orders PAL 172
2 Morty's Conviction TEF 155
2 Professor's Research PAF 88
1 Serena SIT 164
1 Jacq SVI 175
4 Ultra Ball PAF 91
4 Capturing Aroma SIT 153
2 Great Ball PAL 183
1 Prime Catcher TEF 157
1 Collapsed Stadium BRS 137
Energy: 16
4 Jet Energy PAL 190
4 Gift Energy LOR 171
3 Double Turbo Energy BRS 151
3 Mist Energy TEF 161
1 Therapeutic Energy PAL 193
1 V Guard Energy SIT 169

After winning a major tournament in Japan, it’s clear to see that rotation has been good for Lugia, with new and powerful additions from Temporal Forces bolstering its effectiveness as well.

Most notably, Lugia VSTAR is helped by Mist Energy and Cinccino. Cinccino makes taking OHKOs much more possible than with Lugia alone while Mist Energy adds a defensive layer against other top tier decks out there.

Other than that, Lugia VSTAR still works largely the way it always has – setting up quickly, accelerating energies, and using the powerful Snorlax from Lost Origin to get favorable prize trades against single prize decks.

It’s nice to see this powerful deck back making waves in the standard format once again, and it’s sure to be a popular deck for some time.

Read our Lugia VSTAR deck list and guide for more info.

Lost Zone Giratina VSTAR

Pokémon: 17
4 Comfey LOR 79
3 Giratina V LOR 130
3 Giratina VSTAR LOR 131
1 Raikou V BRS 48
1 Cramorant LOR 50
1 Radiant Greninja ASR 46
1 Manaphy BRS 41
1 Iron Leaves ex TEF 25
1 Sableye LOR 70
1 Iron Hands ex PAR 70
Trainer: 28
4 Colress's Experiment LOR 155
2 Boss's Orders PAL 172
1 Iono PAF 80
4 Mirage Gate LOR 163
4 Nest Ball PAF 84
3 Switch Cart ASR 154
2 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144
2 Super Rod PAL 188
1 Lost Vacuum CRZ 135
1 Counter Catcher PAR 160
1 Prime Catcher TEF 157
1 Forest Seal Stone SIT 156
1 Artazon PAF 76
1 Beach Court SVI 167
Energy: 15
4 Jet Energy PAL 190
3 Water Energy 3
3 Psychic Energy 5
3 Grass Energy 1
2 Lightning Energy 4

Other than being my personal favorite Pokemon TCG meta deck, Giratina VSTAR has proven itself as a defining deck of the Sword and Shield era of Pokemon TCG, and is still quite powerful today.

After Temporal Forces, Giratina VSTAR in many ways has gotten more powerful. While it may no longer have access to Path to the Peak or Escape Rope, it gains the phenomenally powerful Prime Catcher, capable of letting you switch in your Pokemon and switch out one of your opponent’s. This is even stronger than the Counter Catcher card that helped propel Giratina to the very top after Paradox Rift.

Additionally, players are teching in the new and impressive Iron Leaves ex, capable of taking out Roaring Moon ex or Charizard ex in a single blow.

It’s clear to see that decks this strong die hard. Giratina VSTAR is likely going to be a force to be reckoned with for the next exciting season of Pokemon TCG.

To help you stand out in the current meta playing this killer deck, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide on the Giratina VSTAR deck list strategy.

Colress’s Experiment is one of the strongest cards in the Giratina VSTAR deck list, enabing you to draw extra cards while also bolstering your Lost Zone. This is going to be essential in order for you to start accelerating energies onto your Giratina VSTAR and in order to use its all-powerful Star Requiem VSTAR Power – instantly knocking out the opposing Pokemon.

Ancient Box

Pokémon: 13
4 Roaring Moon TEF 109
4 Koraidon TEF 119
4 Flutter Mane TEF 78
1 Radiant Greninja ASR 46
Trainer: 39
4 Professor Sada's Vitality PAR 170
4 Explorer's Guidance TEF 147
4 Earthen Vessel PAR 163
4 Pokégear 3.0 SVI 186
4 Nest Ball PAF 84
4 Ultra Ball PAF 91
3 Counter Catcher PAR 160
2 Super Rod PAL 188
1 Superior Energy Retrieval PAL 189
1 Pal Pad SVI 182
1 Awakening Drum TEF 141
4 Ancient Booster Energy Capsule TEF 140
3 PokéStop PGO 68
Energy: 8
6 Darkness Energy 7
2 Fighting Energy 6

Ancient Box is the new kid on the block, and is part of the recent Temporal Forces expansion of the Scarlet & Violet era of Pokemon TCG. This deck leverages the Ancient Pokemon system like no other deck has before, with a plethora of new support via cards like Ancient Drum that benefit from running all Ancient Pokemon in your deck.

One of the best things about this deck is the fact that it is a single prize deck that dishes out crazy amounts of power, getting a favorable prize trade. It also doesn’t hurt that the new Roaring Moon released in Temporal Forces has a maximum power output of 350 damage, making it quite fearsome to deal with.

Read our Ancient Box deck list and strategy guide for more specifics on how to pilot this new deck.

Lost Zone Box with Paradox Pokemon

*2nd Place Regional São Paulo - Nicolas Galaz*

Pokémon: 13
4 Comfey LOR 79
1 Roaring Moon ex PAR 124
1 Hoopa ex PAR 98
1 Sableye LOR 70
1 Raikou V BRS 48
1 Mew ex MEW 151
1 Iron Hands ex PAR 70
1 Cramorant LOR 50
1 Radiant Greninja ASR 46
1 Iron Bundle PAR 56
Trainer: 37
4 Colress's Experiment LOR 155
1 Roxanne ASR 150
1 Boss's Orders PAL 172
4 Super Rod PAL 188
4 Nest Ball PAF 84
4 Switch Cart ASR 154
4 Mirage Gate LOR 163
3 Switch SVI 194
3 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144
2 Lost Vacuum CRZ 135
1 Prime Catcher TEF 157
1 Pokégear 3.0 SVI 186
1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
1 Rescue Board TEF 159
1 Forest Seal Stone SIT 156
2 Artazon PAF 76
Energy: 10
4 Darkness Energy 7
3 Water Energy 3
2 Lightning Energy 4
1 Psychic Energy 5

The Lost Box deck has had a profound impact on the Pokemon TCG meta since its debut, and has proven itself worthy of its standing as one of the best Pokemon decks in the current standard format thanks to countless victories at every level of competition. With an answer to virtually any scenario, and bolstered by the fact it’s a single prize deck, taking longer for your opponent to whittle away their prize cards, Lost Zone Box continues to be relevant in vastly different meta than the one it entered into. This deck list placed highly at a major tournament and features some of the latest and greatest cards to come out of the Pokemon TCG.

Read our guide to playing the Lost Zone Box deck and get the deck list.

Gardevoir ex

*3rd Place Regional Orlando, FL - Joshua Frink*

Pokémon: 18
4 Ralts ASR 60
4 Kirlia SIT 68
2 Gardevoir ex PAF 29
1 Drifloon SVI 89
1 Scream Tail PAR 86
1 Mimikyu PAF 37
1 Flutter Mane TEF 78
1 Klefki SVI 96
1 Radiant Greninja ASR 46
1 Manaphy BRS 41
1 Jirachi PAR 126
Trainer: 33
4 Arven OBF 186
4 Iono PAF 80
1 Boss's Orders PAL 172
1 Professor Turo's Scenario PAR 171
1 Eri TEF 146
4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144
3 Ultra Ball PAF 91
3 Counter Catcher PAR 160
2 Nest Ball PAF 84
2 Super Rod PAL 188
1 Earthen Vessel PAR 163
1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
2 Technical Machine: Evolution PAR 178
1 Hero's Cape TEF 152
1 Luxurious Cape PAR 166
1 Bravery Charm PAL 173
1 Collapsed Stadium BRS 137
Energy: 9
9 Psychic Energy 5

Many thought Gardevoir ex’s time at the top was over after 2024 rotation. But if anything, Gardevoir only got stronger. Now it has access to powerful basic attackers like Screaming Tail and Drifloon bolstered by Hero’s Cape and also there’s no Path to the Peak to shut down Psychic Embrace. Gardevoir ex has proven itself as a top tier deck since rotation, taking top finishes at major tournamnets around the world, and it will likely only get stronger with some of the cards coming out in Twilight Masquerade like Tatsugiri.

Read our Gardevoir ex deck list and guide to learn how to play this deck.

Arceus VSTAR with Giratina VSTAR

7th Place Regional São Paulo - Lucas Matheus

Pokémon: 20
4 Arceus V BRS 122
4 Arceus VSTAR BRS 123
3 Bidoof CRZ 111
3 Bibarel BRS 121
2 Giratina V LOR 130
2 Giratina VSTAR LOR 131
1 Iron Leaves ex TEF 25
1 Skwovet SVI 151
Trainer: 26
4 Iono PAF 80
4 Boss's Orders PAL 172
3 Judge SVI 176
1 Eri TEF 146
4 Nest Ball PAF 84
4 Ultra Ball PAF 91
1 Switch SVI 194
1 Prime Catcher TEF 157
1 Lost Vacuum CRZ 135
3 Lost City LOR 161
Energy: 14
5 Grass Energy 1
4 Psychic Energy 5
4 Double Turbo Energy BRS 151
1 Jet Energy PAL 190

If you missed this combo, you might be happy to hear that rotation plus Temporal Forces are bringing the Arceus VSTAR/Giratina VSTAR deck back into the fold, only with some impressive improvements this time around.

Arceus VSTAR/Giratina VSTAR as a deck benefits from the fact it doesn’t rely on low HP Pokemon, making it harder for your opponent to snag easy KOs and stay ahead in the prize trade. Meanwhile, incorporating Iron Leaves ex helps deal with the Charizard ex threat, while Giratina VSTAR, of course, OHKOs anything out there with Star Requiem and hits hard as it is with Lost Impact.

To help you out, we’ve put together an Arceus VSTAR deck guide to help you navigate this complex and powerful deck archetype.

Future Hands

*14th Place Regional Orlando, FL - Baldemar Merlo*

Pokémon: 10
4 Iron Crown ex TEF 81
3 Iron Hands ex PAR 70
2 Miraidon TEF 121
1 Mew ex MEW 151
Trainer: 34
4 Arven OBF 186
4 Professor's Research PAF 88
3 Iono PAF 80
2 Boss's Orders PAL 172
4 Electric Generator PAF 79
4 Techno Radar PAR 180
2 Counter Catcher PAR 160
2 Pokégear 3.0 SVI 186
1 Lost Vacuum CRZ 135
1 Nest Ball PAF 84
1 Prime Catcher TEF 157
4 Future Booster Energy Capsule TEF 149
2 Heavy Baton TEF 151
Energy: 16
14 Lightning Energy 4
2 Psychic Energy 5

Before Temporal Forces, it was nearly impossible to think of a deck that was actually focused on Iron Hands as the main attacker. However, thanks to Iron Crown ex, that’s now certainly a possibility. What makes this deck work is combining Iron Crown ex’s Cobalt Command with Iron Hands ex’s Amp You Very Much Attack. Now, if you have plenty of Iron Crown ex in play, your Iron Hands is actually hitting pretty hard. While it may take two hits from an Iron Crown ex to topple bigger Pokemon, it’s actually worth it because of the positive prize trade: you only need to take two KOs with Iron Hands to win the game.

It will be interesting to see if other Future focused decks do well in the Pokemon TCG meta. For now, this is the best example of a Future Pokemon deck that really works, and soon its going to be getting a major buff thanks to Iron Thorns ex in upcoming Twilight Masquerade decks.

Read our Iron Hands ex deck list and guide for more info.

Roaring Moon ex

Pokémon: 14
4 Roaring Moon TEF 109
3 Roaring Moon ex PAR 124
3 Dunsparce TEF 128
3 Dudunsparce TEF 129
1 Radiant Greninja ASR 46
Trainer: 37
4 Professor Sada's Vitality PAR 170
4 Explorer's Guidance TEF 147
1 Boss's Orders PAL 172
1 Penny SVI 183
4 Dark Patch ASR 139
4 Earthen Vessel PAR 163
4 Nest Ball PAF 84
3 Trekking Shoes CRZ 145
2 Ultra Ball PAF 91
1 Prime Catcher TEF 157
1 Counter Catcher PAR 160
1 Super Rod PAL 188
4 Ancient Booster Energy Capsule TEF 140
2 Artazon PAF 76
1 Temple of Sinnoh ASR 155
Energy: 9
9 Darkness Energy 7

It was only a matter of time until Roaring Moon ex showed back up on this list of top Pokemon decks post rotation. A powerful attacker like Roaring Moon ex can’t be overlooked. Capable of taking a knockout in one hit against any deck that’s not running Mist Energy, Roaring Moon ex is a remarkable attacker in the current meta.

While it might have lost some versatility by Galarian Moltress V rotating out, it’s found new advantages in the likes of Dudunsparce, Roaring Moon from Temporal Forces, Prime Catcher and new support for Ancient Pokemon.

Read our guide on how to play the Roaring Moon ex deck.

Chien-Pao ex

3 Chien-Pao ex PAL 61
3 Frigibax PAL 57
2 Bidoof CRZ 111
2 Bibarel BRS 121
2 Baxcalibur PAL 60
1 Iron Hands ex PAR 70
1 Radiant Greninja ASR 46
4 Irida ASR 147
1 Iono PAF 80
4 Ultra Ball PAF 91
4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144
4 Superior Energy Retrieval PAL 189
4 Nest Ball PAF 84
3 Rare Candy PAF 89
3 Super Rod PAL 188
2 Pokégear 3.0 SVI 186
2 Earthen Vessel PAR 163
1 Counter Catcher PAR 160
1 Prime Catcher TEF 157
1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
3 PokéStop PGO 68
8 Water Energy 3
1 Lightning Energy 4

Last on this list we have Chien-Pao ex. Chien-Pao is mega popular in the online Pokemon scene right now, with a big win at a large online tournament under its belt already. It’s been largely bolstered by rotation and Temporal Forces and not phased much by cards rotating out, making it a strong contender for best deck in format. This deck list runs Bibarel for added draw support and the mighty Iron Hands ex so players can chase that elusive extra-prize KO.