Pokemon TCG Rogue Decks – Anti-Meta (2024)
This post is a long time in coming – mostly because my favorite Pokemon TCG decks are actually the strong rogue ones. With a few big exceptions, I’ve actually primarily used rogue or anti-meta decks, and some of my best successes have been with these decks.
Let’s take a look at the strongest anti-meta/rogue decks in the Pokemon TCG standard format. As the game changes all the time, we’ll be updating this deck with decks different rogue decks that can counter the meta overtime.
#1 Gouging Fire ex
Gouging Fire ex is the strongest anti-meta deck right now in my opinion. I’m actually a smidge surprised more players aren’t playing this powerful deck given how consistent it is, and how decently it fairs against the current meta.
This aggressive deck his hard right out of the gate, being more than capable of taking turn one KOs. With Maximum Belt it’s also able to OHKO most Pokemon out there, especially when combined with Munkidori.
If all of that weren’t reason enough to play this deck, it also has good type advantage against Ogerpon ex – a card that is being played in many decks right now.
You can learn more about the Gouging Fire ex deck I’ve been playing via my deep dive into the Gouging Fire ex deck strategy.
#2 Iron Valiant ex
1st of 105 by Jared Bailey – Pokemon Battle Park
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Pokémon: 12
4 Iron Crown ex TEF 81
3 Iron Valiant ex PAR 89
2 Miraidon TEF 121
1 Mew ex MEW 151
1 Iron Bundle PAR 56
1 Iron Thorns ex TWM 77
Trainer: 39
4 Arven OBF 186
4 Professor's Research PAF 88
2 Boss's Orders PAL 172
2 Iono PAF 80
1 Kieran TWM 154
4 Switch SVI 194
4 Switch Cart ASR 154
4 Techno Radar PAR 180
3 Trekking Shoes CRZ 145
1 Earthen Vessel PAR 163
1 Lost Vacuum CRZ 135
1 Reboot Pod TEF 158
1 Counter Catcher PAR 160
1 Nest Ball PAF 84
4 Future Booster Energy Capsule TEF 149
1 Technical Machine: Devolution PAR 177
1 Exp. Share SVI 174
Energy: 9
6 Psychic Energy 5
3 Lightning Energy 4
Iron Valiant ex has seen some mainstream success as a supporter Pokemon but as the star of its own deck it has only ever been a rogue deck. While most players assume it lost all of its competitive viability after Medicham V and its powerful Yoga Loop attack rotated out, it’s still quite strong and has had significant success in online tournaments.
This deck can be extraordinarily deadly. For example, turn one you have some serious donking capabilities if your opponent manages to only play a low HP Pokemon in the active, and it’s the only deck capable of taking a win on the very first turn of the game without needing to attack.
Apart from that, Iron Valiant ex is a strong attacker, and has a host of powerful Future cards supporting it. It’s main weakness is that it requires three energy to get its attack off. But you have Miraidon for energy acceleration and the powerful Reboot Pod as well.
Dive into this Iron Valiant ex deck guide for more details on how to pilot this powerful deck archetype.
#3 Gholdengo ex
80th at NAIC by Pedro Hernandez
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Pokémon: 14
2 Gimmighoul PAR 87
2 Gimmighoul PAR 88
4 Gholdengo ex PAR 139
1 Varoom OBF 154
1 Revavroom PAF 65
1 Origin Forme Palkia V ASR 39
1 Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR ASR 40
1 Manaphy BRS 41
1 Radiant Greninja ASR 46
Trainer: 35
3 Irida ASR 147
3 Ciphermaniac's Codebreaking TEF 145
2 Boss's Orders PAL 172
1 Cyllene ASR 138
1 Roxanne ASR 150
4 Superior Energy Retrieval PAL 189
3 Earthen Vessel PAR 163
3 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144
3 Nest Ball PAF 84
2 Ultra Ball PAF 91
1 Switch SVI 194
1 Canceling Cologne ASR 136
1 Energy Retrieval SVI 171
1 Counter Catcher PAR 160
1 Hyper Aroma TWM 152
1 Super Rod PAL 188
1 Pal Pad SVI 182
1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
1 Enhanced Hammer TWM 148
1 PokéStop PGO 68
Energy: 11
7 Water Energy 3
4 Metal Energy 8
No current anti-meta Pokemon deck guide would be complete without Gholdengo ex. Gholdengo ex is a little different than the other decks above in that it has enjoyed more mainstream success. Indeed, this deck is pretty well known among strong players for being an anti-meta deck capable of winning some pretty solid matchups.
The deck shown above placed highly at NAIC. While clearly not the strongest deck right now, a good player can use this deck to get the element of surprise. One of the things I like about this current way of playing Gholdengo ex is how solid its draw support is. Using a mixture of “Make it Rain” and Revavroom’s Rumbling Engine ability you have plenty of options to draw the cards you need to win. This also pairs well with Codebreaking which lets you put any of the cards you need onto the top of your deck.
#4 Greninja ex
123rd Place NAIC 2024, New Orleans - Zach Elliott
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Pokémon: 20
4 Snorunt PAR 37
4 Froslass TWM 53
3 Froakie OBF 56
1 Froakie TWM 56
1 Frogadier TWM 57
3 Greninja ex TWM 106
1 Pidgey MEW 16
1 Pidgeot ex OBF 164
1 Rotom V CRZ 45
1 Munkidori TWM 95
Trainer: 31
4 Professor's Research PAF 88
3 Arven OBF 186
2 Iono PAF 80
4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144
4 Rare Candy PAF 89
3 Ultra Ball PAF 91
1 Counter Catcher PAR 160
1 Earthen Vessel PAR 163
1 Nest Ball PAF 84
1 Super Rod PAL 188
1 Unfair Stamp TWM 165
2 Exp. Share SVI 174
2 Technical Machine: Devolution PAR 177
1 Forest Seal Stone SIT 156
1 Collapsed Stadium BRS 137
Energy: 9
5 Water Energy 3
2 Double Turbo Energy BRS 151
2 Darkness Energy 7
Last but not least we have a popular Pokemon who has seen little play in the competitive scene. And that’s a shame given how strong this deck can be. This particular deck did pretty well at NAIC recently, piloted by the ingenious Zach Elliott to a 123rd finish.
This deck leverages many of the new cards from Twilight Masquerade to dish out serious damage to Pokemon with abilities, while leaning into Greninja ex to dish out a lot of damage. Of course, this deck also runs Munkidori which makes it easier for its player to move damage counters around. Adrena-Brain combined with Froslasss’s Freezing Shroud makes it relatively easy to deal with bench protecting Manaphy Pokemon, thus enabling Greninja ex to clear the board.
That’s it for now from the best rogue decks in the Pokemon TCG. Of course, these decks aren’t seeing a ton of play so if you pick one of them up, you could be one of the very first to top a major tournament using your favorite deck!
#5 Hydrapple ex
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Pokémon: 13
1 Rabsca TEF 24
2 Hydrapple ex SCR 14
2 Thwackey TWM 15
2 Teal Mask Ogerpon ex TWM 211
2 Dipplin TWM 18
1 Fezandipiti ex SFA 38
1 Rellor TEF 23
2 Grookey TWM 14
1 Cleffa OBF 80
1 Teal Mask Ogerpon ex TWM 190
4 Applin TWM 17
1 Dipplin TWM 170
1 Rillaboom TWM
Trainer: 12
4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144
1 Energy Retrieval SVI 171
1 Counter Catcher PAR 160
1 Grand Tree SCR 136
1 Lacey SCR 139
1 Lana's Aid TWM 219
1 Vitality Band SSH 185
3 Iono PAF 80
4 Ultra Ball CRZ 146
4 Bug Catching Set TWM 143
2 Boss's Orders PAL 172
3 Festival Grounds TWM 149
Energy: 1
13 Basic {G} Energy Energy 1
Despite the fact that Hydrapple ex is something of a crowd favorite, it’s not seen mainstream meta play yet. While it’s still early days, the fact that it’s not a a meta deck could just make it more valuable for players willing to learn this deck archetype.
I was able to use this deck list to get me to the Arceus League in Pokemon TCG Live in less than a week after the season started. Of course, a reasonably favorable matchup against Charizard ex doesn’t hurt.
