The Celestial Guardians expansion is upon us in Pokémon TCG Pocket and with it, there are many new EX cards for the reckoning.
And with a new Ranked season chugging along, you’ll need to use your EX cards to the best capacity (although none of your EX cards can do a thing to the Pom-Pom Style variant!). Let’s dig in!
Decidueye EX
With the debut of the Rare Candy Item card, 2 Stage Pokémon are sure to dominate the meta and Decidueye EX is one of the deadliest in that regard. The 80 DMG Razor Leaf is just the surface but when you go beneath, you’ll find Pierce the Pain, which does 100 DMG to one of the opponent’s Pokémon that has taken damage.
This makes it an excellent card to be paired alongside Pokémon that do chip damage, like Darkrai EX, Greninja, and Druddigon. Note that this move requires two Colorless Energy so it can easily blend with any deck.
Defensively, Grass types gained a huge buff in this expansion with the Leaf Cape Pokémon Tool. This is a customized Tool for Grass types wherein the user gains a whopping +30 HP on being equipped with it. For Decidueye EX, the gain is 200 HP! Add the classic Leaf and even Lillie, this bird is nearly unkillable!
The task is to weaken opponents as much as possible and once Dedidueye EX is all set, just snipe away. The fact that the night version of Rowlet (card #10) can do 10 DMG with its Skill Dive move, you are setting the target up for Dedidueye’s carnage. Sweet!
The Lurantis line or Carnivine are great partners to Decidueye. In a nutshell, Grass Pokémon are going to be a big deal this season and Decidueye is at the forefront of that.
Incineroar EX
Incineraor EX has been a largely overlooked card. Dealing 30 DMG at only 1 Energy is great, especially when you add the fact that it also burns the target. Yes, cards like Pokémon Center Lady, Big Malasada, and Lum Berry may heal burning, but that extra 10 HP lost can come in handy. If your opponent doesn’t have those cards then it’s sound! The Burn status continues to tear off HP until they decide to retreat, throwing their strategy off-guard.
Rare Candy helps Litten evolve in no time and in the meantime, you can account for the 3 Energy using good ol’ Moltres EX. In this case, the daytime Litten is preferred since the it does 10 recoil damage to itself on using its move.
But why is it recommended to go with a Litten version that damages itself? The nighttime Litten has no recoil damage.
Well… Incineroar EX’s main move, Scar-Charged Smash, does 140 DMG if it has any damage on it. Indeed, this fiery big cat has such heelish tendencies that it enjoys getting bearing damage and adds 60 more damage to its usual 80 DMG.
To be honest, if it works, great! But Litten i bound to take more damage if it is in the Active Spot and this all works out only if you’re able to evolve it at the earliest. Otherwise, it should be seated on the Bench behind Moltres and once Incineroar EX is live, it does… only 80 DMG. The damage-taking shenanigans are tricky and don’t go your way more often than not. Besides, Charizard EX does the Moltres play better anyway.
Ultimately, doing two attacks and not losing any Energy is always nice and Incineroar EX can get deadly in that sense.
Primarina EX
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What?! No Primarina EX? What a bummer, that’s so unfair. 😡
Crabominable EX
Crabominale EX is a Stage 1 Pokémon and evolves from Crabrawler, which is a Fighting type in Celestial Guardians. Crabominable’s attack requires only 1 Energy and does 40 DMG in its first turn. However, moving ahead, it does +40 DMG, that is, 80 DMG consistently.
Such an early damage window and low Energy requirement make Crabominable EX quite a threat. With this, you can devote Misty to a different Water Pokémon and build a formidable deck around it. Moreover, it has a beefy base 160 HP (180 HP with Giant Cape), and with Irida, it can heal quite often.
It’s not the strongest hitter out there but can certainly drill holes in the opponent’s armor. Consider pairing it with Articuno EX for some neat early pressure, and add Manaphy if you want. It’s like a Water-type version of Exeggutor EX! 😀 Irida does the healing and there’s no pressure of using Misty on the Crab.
Also, imagine Crabominable EX in the Active Spot and Palkia EX in the back! 😯
One cool strategy is to add Pyukumuku to the deck. Its Innards Out ability does 50 DMG to the Pokémon that KOs it, lowering the opponent’s HP to Crabominable’s radar. To stall, use Origin Forme Palkia.
Or, add Greninja with Rare Candy to turn up the damage pressure. Be wary that a Sabrina or Cyrus can flip the damage back to 40 but overall, Crabominable EX is pretty solid! A lot of deck possibilities, do try it out.
Wishiwashi EX
Water types are usually among the stronger decks in Pokémon TCG Pocket and often get an outrageous card every expansion, be it Misty, Irida, Gyarados EX, Palkia EX, or even Wugtrio EX. Celestial Guardians has given such a treatment to Grass types mostly but the Water type has got 2 EX cards to its credit!
Wishiwashi EX is a Basic card with an excellent 170 HP and a 3-Energy move called School Storm that does 30 DMG in general but for each Wishiwashi or Wishiwashi EX in your Bench, you do 40 more damage. So, a full Wishiwashi/EX Bench gives you 30 + (40*3) = 150 DMG.
To maximize this Pokémon’s potential (150 DMG), you’ll need to have Wishiwashi/EX all over the Bench. It’s not impractical actually since regular Wishiwashi’s Call for Family (for 1 Energy) puts a random Wishiwashi or Wishiwashi EX from your deck on your Bench.
The problem is that Wishiwashi only has 30 HP making it prone to KOs. Moreover, gathering 3 Energy only for Wishiwashi EX and not being able to attack along the way is a bumpy road. So while on paper Wishiwashi EX appears amazing, it’s not the same case in reality.
Alolan Raichu EX
Alolan Raichu EX is one of the breakout stars of the Celestial Guardians set. It employs the infamous move Psychic (hello, Alakazam from Genetic Apex and Exeggutor from Mythical Island) but with a welcome twist! The Energy requirement of this move is entirely Colorless, fitting it in any deck!
It is a 1 Stage card that evolves from Pikachu and you can pair it with Dialga EX for super fast Energy gains. In Lightning decks, Pachirisu can give it free Energy gains while in a Water deck, Manphy gives it Water Energy. In the latter, Alolan Raichu EX is subject to Irida’s healing as well.
Regardless of the deck, this surfing, electrifying Pokémon punishes cards that collect a lot of Energy (particularly EX cards). The EX cards of Giratina, Darkrai, Arceus, etc are all one-shot victims of Alolan Raichu EX. This is a phenomenal card that is bound to enjoy high usage in battles. Get creative and find the best deck for you to use Alolan Raichu EX!
Lunala EX
Behold, one of the two headliners of the Celestial Guardians set: Lunala EX.
Blessed with a massive 180 HP, its strength lies in its Psychic Connect ability that moves all Psychic Energy from one of your Benched Pokémon towards the card in the Active Spot.
Hmm, now who can provide plenty of Psychic Energy to the Active Spot?
Yes, speak of the devil! Giratina EX! 😈
While you evolve Cosmog to Lunala EX (either by Rare Candy or via Cosmoem), Giratina EX can keep on collecting Psychic Energy with its Broken-Space Bellow ability, and then transfer it all to Lunala EX if you find it convenient to use the 100 DMG Lunar Blast. Lunala EX experiences no drop in HP like Tina and is bulkier as well.
You’d ideally want Tina in the Active Spot and even if you get Cosmog in the beginning, simply Teleport to the Bench with its move. Attach the Poison Barb Pokémon Tool to Tina and your opponent would stand to get poisoned when they attack (unless it’s Arceus EX).
But wait… I just spoke about Lunala EX in the Active Spot. While that’s nice for a 180 HP Pokémon, Lunala EX is probably deadlier at the sidelines. Add Mewtwo EX to the deck and that’s when Lunala EX’s true monstrosity pops out.
Stall and charge Psychic Energy supply with Giratina EX while having Cosmog (to Lunala EX) and Mewtwo EX on the Bench. In the meantime, give each turn’s Energy to Mewtwo EX. Then, use Leaf to retreat Giratina EX, and bring Mewtwo EX to the Active Spot.
With Lunala EX’s ability, Mewtwo EX gets a surplus of Energy to attack. You can use another Giratina in place of Mewtwo EX or if you’re feeling adventurous enough, even Rayquaza EX works!
To this deck, add Dawn for more consistency in Energy transfers. You can even create a spooky ghostly deck with Lunala EX, Giratina EX, and the Gengar line (EX/Bother version) for some extra zest.
Passimian EX
Passimian EX is a tricky card to pull off but one that comes with huge dividends. Using this card is a game of chess as you’ll have to make it a sacrificial pawn. Attach a Poison Barb and hit the opponent with 60 DMG after collecting only 2 Energy. Meanwhile, hold something like Lucario EX, Gallade EX, Marshadow, or Rampardos in the background.
Once Passimian EX is KO’d, it doesn’t just drop off… it transfers all its Fighting Energy to one of your Benched Pokémon as a parting gift. Free 2 Energy at the cost of losing 2 points? Sure… especially when another card is ready to roll and get the win.
It’s certainly risky to run this deck but being a basic card that leaves 2 free Energy on getting KO’d is great. Just remember that you have lost 2 points so, you need to use the Energy wisely. Lucario EX or even Golem (Mythical Island) are good candidates. Checkmate!
Alolan Muk EX
What a funky looking card! 
Alolan Muk EX at 3 Energy deals 80 DMG and spins a bottle to put a random Special Condition on the opponent. The opponent will never see it coming as their Active Pokémon can be Asleep, Burned, Confused, Paralyzed, or Poisoned. This uncertainty makes Alolan Muk quite dangerous and paired with Darkrai EX, it can spell victory for you.
However, keep in mind that it has a high retreat cost of 3 Energy and there’s too much RNG involved. Your opponent can get stuck with the Special Condition and you do 80 DMG twice to seal the victory. Or, the coin flips work in the opponent’s favor and Alolan Muk EX is stuck instead!
If Passimian EX is a game of chess, Alolan Muk EX is Russian Roulette. Risky? Yes. Fun? You bet!
Solgaleo EX
Solgaleo EX is one of the strongest (if not THE strongest) EX cards to emerge from the Celestial Guardians expansion. The Rising Road ability is phenomenal, giving Solgaleo EX a free pass from the Bench to the Active Spot. So, you don’t have to use Energy, Leaf, or X Speed to retreat the Active card… just click on its ability and voila! Solgaleo EX is now your Active Spot card!
Evolve Cosmog to Solgaleo EX through Cosmoem or Rare Candy while something like Skarmory or Dialga EX dominates the Active Spot. Skar with a Tool puts severe pressure on the opposition while Dialga EX generates 2 free Energy per turn via the 30 DMG Metallic Turbo. You can even combine all these cards to form a shiny, Metal set. Perhaps add a Shaymin to offset the 10 HP loss with healing of the same amount each turn. But mostly, Skarmory is sufficient as it even deals with Oricorio.
Other variants can add Arceus EX and if you’re feeling too adventurous, even Rayquaza EX. 😯
Solgaleo EX is extremely bulky and 120 DMG at only 2 Energy is phenomenal. This Metal team can threaten any deck and is a top pick for Ranked. Remember that Solgaleo EX is weak to Fire so be wary of the Charizard EX decks. Adding Poison Barb is a sound strategy and maybe even Team Rocket Grunt.
Solgaleo EX is a major threat to every deck in Pokémon TCG Pocket. The Sun’s shining bright with this one!
Happy collecting and battling, TCG Pocket-ers!
