The latter half of January 2026 gives Pokémon TCG Pocket players the opportunity to once again open packs of the memorable Deluxe Pack ex, a set containing reprints of cards released from the beginning of the game until October 2025.
These reprints mainly comprised alternate arts of some iconic Trainer and Pokémon cards, including foils and a new 2 Star rarity showcasing exclusive Full Arts of EX cards. This set was available for a limited time, and, even now, it will be up for grabs only from January 15 to January 28, 2026.
Among the exclusive picks from the set, you must be wondering which cards are worth chasing or crafting, for that matter. Worry not, as I have compiled the top five cards (in no particular order) you should pursue from this set, especially for usage in battles. After all, with Mega Evolutions dominating the space, not every old card is as viable anymore. Let’s lay out the elite few that are still worth their salt and also your time and resources when dealing with Deluxe Pack ex.
Professor’s Research Full Art Trainer card
Professor’s Research has been the bread and butter of every deck in Pokémon TCG Pocket, be it Mega Evolutions, Sylveon EX, or even 18T (Trainer) formations. Even the Poké Ball is let go in Rampardos | Garchomp EX decks, but Professor’s Research has been a mainstay since time immemorial.
The Copycat card from Mega Rising nears Professor’s Research in utility, but it shuffles your hand into your deck and draws a card for each card in your opponent’s hand. In other words, if you have good cards in your hand or your opponent has 1-2 cards in their hand, using Copycat is unnecessary.
Professor’s Research, on the other hand, is always useful. It draws two cards with no conditions attached and can be used in tandem with the Poké Ball card to quickly draw desired Trainers or Evolutions. Say, you’re eagerly seeking a certain Trainer or evolution. First, use the Poké Ball to pull a Basic. With at least 1 Basic out of the equation, Professor’s Research is more likely to draw desired Trainers and/or evolutions.
With such an evergreen utility, it is no wonder that the Professor’s Research Full Art is among the hot favorites from Deluxe Pack ex.
Lillie Full Art Trainer card
With the advent of Mega Evolutions in Pokémon TCG Pocket, Stage 2 cards have become more pivotal than ever. Be it existing powerhouses like Mega Charizard Y EX, Mega Venusaur EX, Mega Blaziken EX, or even speculated future Megas like Mega Sceptile and Mega Garchomp, keeping these high HP – high risk cards healthy is important for winning the match. For these cases, Lillie is key, as she heals a whopping 60 HP from any Stage 2 card. Adding Potions can take the healing to 100 HP.
As such, you can see why Lillie has become a compulsory addition to decks having Stage 2 Pokémon, and needless to say, she would continue to thrive.
Solgaleo EX Full Art
Some Mega Evolution EX cards, Giratina EX, and Darkrai EX have overridden the usage of most EX card reprints present in the Deluxe Pack ex set. While all of them can technically be used, they often fade into obscurity or rise from the shadows under meta shifts. However, two particular EX Full Arts from this set remain oppressive in the meta, the first of which is Solgaleo EX.
Not only have Metal-type Pokémon constantly been strong in TCG Pocket since the debut of Dialaga EX in Space-Time Smackdown, Solgaleo EX is also one of the best cards to use in battle. Metal decks are usually small, consisting of the Solgaleo line and something like Skarmory, Skarmory EX, or Shiinotic, so pulling Solgaleo EX is not too hard.
Shiinotic is particularly very effective as its ability helps draw a Pokémon card at the end of every turn. With this and Copycat in tow, Solgaleo EX is a quick find. Coming to the Pokémon in question, this 180 HP card requires only two Energy to hit 120 DMG. And, its ability helps it freely switch into the Active Spot from the Bench, making your turns more Energy efficient.
With the Leftovers Pokémon Tool, Solgaleo EX can even prevent the 10 HP loss each time it attacks, and with Lillie, it can remain healthy. No matter the meta or opponent (even Megas), Solgaleo EX is one of the few non-Mega Pokémon that is still a force to be reckoned with, making it the best EX to draw from the Deluxe Pack ex set.
Arceus EX Full Art
A major part of what makes powerhouses like Mega Venusaur EX and Mega Blaziken EX some of the best Pokémon for Ranked battles in TCG Pocket is the status effect(s) they associate with their attacks. Even in general, Poison Barb is annoying, and so is falling asleep or getting paralyzed after getting hit by an attack, or even just using an attack on a certain opponent.
Meet almighty Arceus EX, whose ability makes it immune to any status condition. It is also a Colorless type, meaning it can be used in any deck, and with a full Bench on your opponent’s side, it does base 130 DMG for only 3 Energy.
You will always find usage for Arceus EX, and, is arguably the most flexible Pokémon in TCG Pocket.
Missing some firepower in your deck? Add Arceus EX.
Left with a slot to fill? Add Arceus EX.
It’s a Basic Colorless that mingles with any Pokémon in the meta, and once live, is extremely threatening.
Greninja Full Art
We have a Greninja EX in Pokémon TCG Pocket, and sometime in the future, we are bound to get Mega Greninja EX as well (already slated for a new release in the physical TCG). But, regardless of Greninja EX’s presence and whatever power Mega Greninja EX brings, the Greninja that debuted in the Genetic Apex set is one of the best cards for battles.
Reimagined in a sick Full Art card in Deluxe Pack ex, Greninja’s 20 DMG snipes from the Bench are legendary. It can fit in any deck and technically doesn’t even need Energy as it can simply chill in the Bench and do 20 DMG to any one of your opponent’s Benched Pokémon, just through its ability.
This stacks, so if you have two Greninja basking in your Bench, you can do a total of 40 DMG, be it to one Pokémon (Active or Benched) or 20 DMG to two Pokémon. Greninja syncs extremely well with Darkrai EX and also status-inducing Mega Evolutions. Honestly, who doesn’t appreciate free 20 DMG to any of the opponent’s Pokémon?!
Greninja is going to enjoy widespread usage even in future decks, and with such popularity among the fanbase plus such jaw-dropping artwork, this card is a must-have from Deluxe Pack ex!
With less than a couple of weeks to pull Deluxe Pack ex, these five cards above should be your priority in terms of battle performance in the current Pokémon TCG Pocket meta. Of course, you’re obviously free to craft or focus on your favorites from this set (say, the Full Art Charizard EX or Pikachu EX Immersive), and they are no less if you love them!
Happy collecting!
