The Space-Time Smackdown expansion introduced a bunch of powerful EX cards that have become mainstays in several Pokémon TCG Pocket decks. It goes without saying that Darkrai EX is the strongest of the lot, but what about the very Pokémon headlining this set: Dialga EX and Palkia EX?
Which card is better? Going forward, as more expansions and cards join the game, which of these two cards will remain valuable? Let’s take a crack at Dialga EX and Palkia EX, and find out what card comes out on top.
Dialga ex
#119Dialga EX is a 150 HP card that comes with two attacks:
- Metallic Turbo, requires 2 Energy, deals 30 DMG, and rewards 2 Metal Energy to one of your Benched Pokémon each time it’s used in a turn.
- Heavy Impact, requires 4 Energy, and deals 100 DMG.
Only 100 DMG for 4 Energy seems rather underwhelming but that’s not the point of this card. Dialga EX’s strength lies in Metallic Turbo, where it takes only 2 turns to charge up Benched Metal Pokémon that require a whopping 4 Energy to use their main attacks (read Melmetal). Other cards that require 2-3 Energy are also easily charged up and ready to go.
On the surface, Dialga EX is an asset to Metal-type decks, which have finally become prominent in Space-Time Smackdown. Melmetal, Wormadan, Bastiodon, and Sjarmory have become legitimate threats, and they all have Dialga EX to thank.
But beyond the metallic shine, you will see that Dialga EX has more to offer: Colorless type!
Dialga EX gives the wildest Energy acceleration in TCG Pocket, and Colorless-type cards, or even other types whose attacks require only Colorless Energy, can relish the Energy gains from Dialga EX.
- Colorless-type cards like Wigglytuff EX, Pidgeot EX, Lickilicky EX, and Tauros can all get their Energy in the comfort of the Bench with Dialga EX in the Acrtve Spot.
- Also, other type cards like Mew EX (Psychic) and Yanmega EX (Grass), need Colorless Energy to fore off their main attacks, and Dialga EX’s Metal Energy serves the purpose.
With the introduction of Pokémon Tools, you can attach Rocky Helmet to Dialga EX, and along with at least 2 uses of the 30 DMG Metallic Turbo, it can contribute a decent amount of damage to the opponent. Even if they choose to retreat a strong card, Cyrus is there to pull them out.
You can also use two of Dialga EX’s Energy to retreat, bring your desired card (which already has 2 Energy from Metallic Turbo) to the forefront, and attach the turn’s Energy supply, making it 3 Energy.
In contrast, you can also OHKO a stalling Druddigon with its 100 DMG Heavy Impact, by which time your Benched card should be ready). However, remember that Druddigon is usually armed with Rocky Helmet, and hitting it would cost you 40 HP, leaving Dialaga EX with 110 HP. So, do this only if the upcoming Active card can’t do 110 or more DMG (Magnezone also does 110 DMG). In such cases, putting Giant Cape on Dialga EX is recommended or else just retreat it using Leaf.
Dialga EX is the best Energy accelerator for Metal and Colorless (type or attack) cards, can support with Tools, and even attack to do decent damage, opening a pathway for Cyrus. Versatility at its best!
Palkia ex
#49Palkia EX is also a 150 HP card that comes with two attacks:
- Slash, requires 1 Energy, and deals 30 DMG
- Dimensional Storm, requires 4 Energy, deals 150 DMG to the opponent’s Active Pokémon and 20 DMG to all of their Benched cards. However, it also discards 3 Energy on usage.
For starters, dealing 30 DMG right off the bat is handy but Dimensional Storm appears tacky with a whopping 3 Energy being discarded on attacking with it. That’s where we have 4 different cards to the rescue:
- The Manaphy card has a 1 Energy move called Oceanic Gift that gifts 1 Water Energy each to any two of your Benched Pokémon.
- Vaporeon from the Mythical Island set has the Wash Out Ability, which transfers Energy from all Benched Pokémon to the Active Spot in any way you like.
- The Dawn card transfers 1 Energy from a chosen Benched card to the Active Pokémon.
- There’s always Misty! If you get lucky with your coin flips, Palkia EX can demolish the opposition on cue.
The cards stated above are the core of the new Water deck in Space-Time Smackdown. You can maybe add Articuno EX just so that you’re not entirely dependent on Palkia EX to throw fists at the opponent. Besides, if Articuno EX is not needed anymore, you can use Vaporeon to transfer all its Energy to Palkia EX and score OHKOs.
Palkia EX’s Dimensional Strom may be the strongest attack based on sheer utility. Sure, Charizard EX does 200 DMG but Palkia EX also hits all the opponent’s Benched Pokémon with 20 DMG each. With Cyrus omnipresent, this is a huge perk. Once Palkia EX gets going, hardly anything can stop this Legendary. Period.
Dialga EX is better than Palkia EX.
Let’s see why!
Firstly, it is important to understand that Dialga EX and Palkia EX have different roles. The former’s a defender that lets your other cards be attack-ready thanks to quick Energy gains. The latter’s a high-octane attacker that needs support from other cards to get going quickly.
What gives Dialga EX the edge is utility, independence, and most importantly, it’s a future-proof Pokémon.
Though still useful, Palkia EX has sort of replaced Gyarados EX. But why? Gyarados EX also needs 4 Energy, discards only 1 Energy which it can recover the next turn, and even has more HP.
The reason is that Palkia EX is a Basic card so it doesn’t need to evolve. With Bench snipers like Articuno EX, Hitmonlee, Volcarona, and Zebstrika around, losing Magikarp is game over more often than not. If not OHKO’d, Cyrus can easily finish off Magikarp before it even gets a chance to evolve.
Kyogre, Keldeo, Volcanion, Walking Wake, Suicune, Tapu Fini, Phione, etc., are all potential Basic EX cards that could easily put Palkia EX out of commission if they get better mechanics. If you draw Palkia EX first, you’d still need Eevee and then evolve it to Vaporeon, Manaphy to boost Energy gains, and luck out with Misty if possible. What’s more, it’s best to use Leaf to withdraw Palkia EX to bring Manaphy or maybe Articuno EX to the Active Spot.
So, aside from being highly likely to be surpassed in the future, it is quite dependent on other variables (Vaporeon, Manaphy, etc) to reach its peak. Palkia EX goes from 0 to 100 in no time, but it still needs to get that done.
Dialga EX will remain viable in the future. Not only is it the Moltres EX of Metal decks, ensuring this type will always be a threat, its bigger resourcefulness is the ability to ramp up Pokémon with Colorless type or attacks.
Every set has at least Colorless type EX card with great potential. Wigglytuff EX from Genetic Apex, Pidgeot EX from Mythical Island, and Lickilicky EX from Space-time Smackdown… strong cards that go from Jekyll to Hyde with Dialga EX. A great incentive for upcoming Colorless type cards, eh?
But the bigger picture is how it elevates strong EX cards with Colorless type attacks.
- Mew EX’s Genome Hacking gets all set to destroy high-Energy opponents like the EX versions of Palkia, Celebi, Gyarados, Mewtwo, and Charizard. With Budding Explorer, it can pull off a Koga and be back to your Hand (and then, the Bench) completely healthy.
- Yanmega EX has proven to be excellent. Initially dismissed as a weaker EX card since it does only 120 DMG with no additional perks, it has now established itself as a tremendous threat with healing. You can use Erika, 2 Potions, and Shaymin’s Fragrant Flower Garden Ability to heal a ridiculous 100 DMG in one turn. In another turn, use the other Erika to deal 50 DMG. This all all possible because of Dialga EX whipping up a readymade Yanmega EX in just two turns.
And, as mentioned, Dialga can contribute some neat damage figures with Rocky Helmet and Metallic Turbo’s 30 DMG. Possibly even 100 DMG with Heavy Impact if it seems fit.
Palkia EX is a big-time attacker that needs support to pull off its desired performance and is replaceable in the future. Dialga EX is bound to remain a mainstay in Metal decks, and even if it’s replaced in that role, it will continue to be a huge asset for Pokémon with Colorless type or attacks. Mew EX and Yanmega EX are only the beginning.
Dialga EX wins.
Happy collecting and battling, TCG Pocket-ers!
