The Best Pokemon TCG Standard Meta Decks (July 2025)
What are the best Pokemon TCG standard decks now that Destined Rivals is available everywhere?
After plenty of high profile tournaments, we have a solid understanding of what the strongest decks are in the Destined Rivals format of the Pokemon TCG standard meta game.
Below, we’ll be looking at the decks that are topping tournaments around the world, and sharing some tips on how you can pilot these decks to success in your own matches.
#1 Dragapult ex is the top Pokemon TCG deck
-
Pokémon: 20
4 Dreepy TWM 128
4 Drakloak TWM 129
3 Dragapult ex TWM 130
2 Munkidori TWM 95
2 Budew PRE 4
1 Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex TWM 141
1 Latias ex SSP 76
1 Fezandipiti ex SFA 38
1 Hawlucha SVI 118
1 Maractus JTG 8
Trainer: 31
4 Professor's Research JTG 155
4 Iono PAL 185
4 Boss's Orders PAL 172
3 Brock's Scouting JTG 146
2 Professor Turo's Scenario PAR 171
4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144
4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
3 Counter Catcher PAR 160
2 Night Stretcher SFA 61
1 Jamming Tower TWM 153
Energy: 9
4 Luminous Energy PAL 191
2 Fire Energy SVE 10
2 Psychic Energy SVE 13
1 Neo Upper Energy TEF 162
Dragapult ex is doing its best to continue to define the Pokemon TCG standard meta. With a combination of insanely high HP, powerful damage spread capabilities (made worse via Munkidori’s powerful Adrena-Brain ability) and backed by a plethora of handy Basic Pokemon, Dragapult ex is just one tough deck to beat.
It’s not like it doesn’t have any weaknesses out there. Technically it can be taken out in a single blow via Lillie’s Clefairy ex, for example. However, given the current matchup spread this deck is seeing by far the greatest playshare in the entire meta, forcing players to either play it themselves or learn how to play against it. Indeed, the next two decks on this list are so high ranked in part because of their favorable matchup into Dragapult ex.
The nice thing for new players is that a competitively viable Dragapult ex deck can be upgraded from the basic League Battle Deck with relative ease, showing just how accessible Pokemon is as a TCG.
#2 Gardevoir ex
1st Place NAIC 2025, New Orleans - Isaiah Bradner
-
Pokémon: 15
3 Ralts SVI 84
2 Kirlia SVI 85
2 Gardevoir ex SVI 86
4 Munkidori TWM 95
1 Scream Tail PAR 86
1 Lillie's Clefairy ex JTG 56
1 Mew ex MEW 151
1 Fezandipiti ex SFA 38
Trainer: 34
4 Professor's Research JTG 155
4 Iono PAL 185
2 Arven OBF 186
1 Boss's Orders PAL 172
4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
3 Earthen Vessel PAR 163
2 Nest Ball SVI 181
2 Rare Candy SVI 191
2 Night Stretcher SFA 61
1 Super Rod PAL 188
1 Counter Catcher PAR 160
1 Energy Switch SVI 173
1 Secret Box TWM 163
2 Technical Machine: Evolution PAR 178
1 Technical Machine: Turbo Energize PAR 179
1 Bravery Charm PAL 173
2 Artazon PAL 171
Energy: 11
7 Psychic Energy SVE 13
4 Darkness Energy SVE 15
At this point, Gardevoir ex is the longest standing threat in the Pokemon TCG meta, having proven itself as one of the greats of the Scarlet & Violet era no matter what new sets (or rotations) throw at us.
Indeed, the deck has been performing very well in the Destined Rivals format, with higher percentages of play share among the top placements at major events than even the meta hevy weight that is Dragapult ex.
While this deck may not fair very well against Marnie’s Grimmsnarl ex, it does have a solid matchup against one of the other top decks – Dragapult ex – thanks in part to the powerful Lillie’s Clefairy ex tech.
Lillie’s Clefairy ex
Meanwhile, this deck’s strategy works much like before, using Gardevoir’s “Psychic Embrace” to power-up single prize attackers and Munkidori to move damage around strategically and enable a favorable prize trade.
#3 Marnie’s Grimmsnarl ex
-
Pokémon: 19
4 Marnie's Impidimp DRI 134
3 Marnie's Grimmsnarl ex DRI 136
3 Munkidori TWM 95
2 Snorunt TWM 51
2 Froslass TWM 53
2 Marnie's Morgrem DRI 135
1 Maractus JTG 8
1 Budew PRE 4
1 Shaymin DRI 10
Trainer: 33
4 Iono PAL 185
4 Arven OBF 186
3 Professor's Research JTG 155
1 Boss's Orders PAL 172
3 Counter Catcher PAR 160
2 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144
2 Rare Candy SVI 191
2 Night Stretcher SFA 61
1 Secret Box TWM 163
1 Super Rod PAL 188
1 Energy Search SVI 172
1 Ultra Ball SVI 196
1 Rescue Board TEF 159
1 Bravery Charm PAL 173
1 Technical Machine: Devolution PAR 177
1 Technical Machine: Evolution PAR 178
2 Spikemuth Gym DRI 169
2 Artazon PAL 171
Energy: 8
8 Darkness Energy SVE 15
Marnie’s Grimmsnarl ex is showing itself to be the hot new deck of Destined Rivals. With insane damage spread potential thanks to combining it with Froslass and Munkidori, Marnie’s Grimmsnarl ex’s ability to accelerate energy onto itself and other Marnie’s Pokemon combined with an effective Shadow Bullet is helping it edge out the competition.
Marnie’s Grimmsnarl ex
While it initially showed tremendous promise in online tournaments, once we got to the big, in card events we found out that this deck certainly has the gas to be a presence in the meta, even if not an overwhelming one.
Still, it’s always an exciting event when a new deck breaks into the upper echelons of the standard format, especially decks as fun and creative as this one.
Learn more about how to play Marnie’s Grimmsnarl ex in the guide.
#4 Raging Bolt ex
1st Place Singapore Master Ball League - Anselm Sim
-
Pokémon: 20
2 Hoothoot SCR 114
1 Hoothoot PRE 77
3 Noctowl SCR 115
3 Teal Mask Ogerpon ex TWM 25
2 Raging Bolt ex TEF 123
2 Fan Rotom SCR 118
1 Raging Bolt SCR 111
1 Ditto MEW 132
1 Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex TWM 141
1 Budew PRE 4
1 Mew ex MEW 151
1 Fezandipiti ex SFA 38
1 Latias ex SSP 76
Trainer: 29
4 Professor Sada's Vitality PAR 170
2 Crispin SCR 133
1 Judge DRI 167
1 Iono PAL 185
1 Boss's Orders PAL 172
4 Nest Ball SVI 181
4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
3 Earthen Vessel PAR 163
2 Night Stretcher SFA 61
1 Prime Catcher TEF 157
1 Counter Catcher PAR 160
1 Energy Switch SVI 173
1 Superior Energy Retrieval PAL 189
2 Area Zero Underdepths SCR 131
1 Jamming Tower TWM 153
Energy: 11
5 Grass Energy SVE 9
3 Lightning Energy SVE 12
3 Fighting Energy SVE 14
Although once a relatively straightforward turbo/aggro deck looking to quickly power up Raging Bolt ex for OHKOs against opposing two-prize decks, it’s evolved a lot following recent sets and innovations. Today, Raging Bolt ex is anything but simple, with the likes of the Noctowl “Jewel Seeker” effect bringing considerably higher levels of precision into play as you’ll be searching your deck for exactly the right trainer at exactly the right time.
One huge advantage Raging Bolt ex still maintains when compared with the competition is that it can take out stage 2 Pokemon with a single hit and with relative ease, making it an absolute menace against Dragpult ex and Gardevoir ex in the right situations.
However, unlike both of those decks which excel at spreading damage around the board, Raging Bolt ex remains a full frontal attacker – sacrificing utility for an all out assault via Bellowing Thunder.
That’s pretty refreshing for a lot of players who love setting up for one big attack, and clearly (from this first place deck) good enough to top a major event.
#5 Eevee Toolbox
13th Place NAIC 2025, New Orleans - Nathan Ginsburg
-
Pokémon: 22
4 Hoothoot SCR 114
4 Noctowl SCR 115
1 Eevee SSP 143
1 Eevee MEW 133
2 Flareon ex PRE 14
1 Sylveon ex SSP 86
1 Leafeon ex PRE 6
2 Fan Rotom SCR 118
1 Eevee ex PRE 75
1 Mew ex MEW 151
1 Fezandipiti ex SFA 38
1 Latias ex SSP 76
1 Lillie's Clefairy ex JTG 56
1 Terapagos ex SCR 128
Trainer: 29
3 Crispin SCR 133
2 Iono PAL 185
2 Boss's Orders PAL 172
1 Professor Turo's Scenario PAR 171
1 Cyrano SSP 170
1 Briar SCR 132
4 Nest Ball SVI 181
3 Ultra Ball SVI 196
2 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144
2 Night Stretcher SFA 61
1 Super Rod PAL 188
1 Tera Orb SSP 189
1 Switch SVI 194
1 Counter Catcher PAR 160
1 Sparkling Crystal SCR 142
2 Area Zero Underdepths SCR 131
1 Gravity Mountain SSP 177
Energy: 9
2 Fire Energy SVE 10
2 Water Energy SVE 11
2 Lightning Energy SVE 12
2 Psychic Energy SVE 13
1 Grass Energy SVE 9
Last but not least we have Eevee Toolbox! Essentially the contemporary way to build Tera Box, this build leverages all of the many advantages of using Tera Pokemon but with an emphasis on the powerful Eeveelution engine introduced to the game in Prismatic Evolutions.
For those unfamiliar, a Toolbox deck is a type of deck focused more on its ability to counter other top meta decks than for its own adherence to a specific strategy. And while all of the decks above include some sort of tech to help stand out in particular matchups, this deck is all about dealing with the meta rather than pushing its own agenda.
Leafeon ex
In Leafeon ex, for example, you have a solid attacker capable of dishing out a decisive blow against Marnie’s Grimmsnarl ex while simultaneously healing the bench. Versus Dragapult ex you’ll be grateful to have Lillie’s Clefairy ex around to take an OHKO as well. Meanwhile, Flareon ex can help with getting your other attackers powered up more reliably (easing the burden of a tool box deck like this) and Sylveon ex can disrupt your opponent’s board beyond recovery.
This deck’s creativity and malleability make it a fantastic deck to leverage against the meta, while at the same time it will take the right, skilled pilot to use it to its utmost effect.
