A new player-versus-player (PVP) event started in “Pokémon TCG Pocket,” and players from across the globe will duke it out in the name of getting an emblem. The emblem you ultimately get depends on the number of matches you win during the event period. You will also get mission rewards for battling, which will give you Shinedust and Pack Hourglasses.

But to get these coveted rewards, you need to win games. These are the decks you should be using for Genetic Apex Emblem Event 1, the first PVP event in “Pokémon TCG Pocket’s” short history.

5 Best Decks for Pokémon TCG Pocket PVP Event: Tier List

I’ll break down each deck based on its power and relevancy in the current “Pokemon TCG Pocket” metagame.

Pikachu EX

Unsurprisingly, the game’s mascot features in one of the first truly powerful decks in the game’s history. Flanked by Zapdos, the thundurous legendary bird and a collection of other Lightning-types like Voltorb, Electrode, Bitzle, Zebstrike, and Electabuzz (depending on your preference,) Pikachu EX hits the field and can immediately start blasting opponents with Circle Circuit, its powerful move.

Circle Circuit requires two Lightning Energy and deals 30 damage times the number of Benched Lightning-type Pokemon. This means that, with a full bench, Pikachu EX is hitting opponents for 90 damage on just two energy. While its 120 HP is low, not many Pokemon can survive multiple 90 damage attacks very early in the game, giving Pikachu the opportunity to eliminate problems like Mewtwo EX and Charizard EX before they get started.

Its main cohort is Zapdos EX, a powerful 130 HP Lightning-type that can immediately start chipping your opponent with a one-energy Peck for 20 damage, or deal between 0-200 damage with its three-energy Thundering Hurricane attack, depending on your coin flips. Thanks to its bulk, its one-energy Retreat Cost, and its ability to pressure opponents while you load up your Benched Pikachu EX, Zapdos EX is the perfect tag team partner for your lightning mouse.

Outside of Zapdos EX, you have your pick of Pokemon to use alongside Pikachu EX. Many players use Voltorb and Electrode for their quick damage on few energies. You may also want to use Magnemite and Magneton for the latter’s powerful ability Volt Charge, allowing you to attach an extra Lightning energy per turn. Lastly, Pokemon like Pinchurchin, Zebstrika, and Electabuzz can also offer some unique tech into your deck that you may wish to use.

Sample Deck

• 2x Pikachu EX
• 2x Zapdos EX
• 2x Voltorb
• 2x Electrode
• 2x Professor’s Research
• 2x Sabrina
• 2x Poke Ball
• 2x Potion
• 2x X Speed Or 1x Giovanni / 1x Red Card

Mewtwo EX

The most powerful Pokemon in Generation 1 also finds itself atop the tier list for “Pokemon TCG Pocket.” Mewtwo EX’s main power comes from its synergy with Gardevoir. Gardevoir’s powerful ability, Psy Shadow, allows it to attach an extra Psychic energy to your Active Pokemon. Coupled with Mewtwo EX’s ability to deal 150 damage with its Psydrive attack, they create a formidable duo.

Mewtwo EX also benefits from the lack of Darkness-type Pokemon currently running around. I expect the next set to include an EX Darkness-type Pokemon but for now, your Mewtwo has very few natural predators in the wild.

You may opt to run only these two lines of Pokemon and bolster your deck with powerful Supporter and Item cards. However, some players are also using Pokemon like Meowth for the extra draw power, Kanghaskhan for the big body and cheap, powerful (albeit risky) attack, or Golurk for some additional firepower.

Sample Deck

• 2x Mewtwo EX
• 2x Ralts
• 2x Kirlia
• 2x Gardevoir
• 2x Meowth
• 2x Poke Ball
• 2x X Speed
• 2x Potion
• 2x Professor’s Research
• 2x Sabrina

Water

No matter which Water-type strategy you choose, it will be incredibly strong thanks to your primary Supporter card, Misty. Misty attaches a Water energy to the chosen Pokemon for every heads you land when you activate her card — with no cap on it. Sometimes, you’ll flip a Tails on the first flip, while other times you can attach upwards of eight, nine, or ten energy in one go. It’s all about the luck of the draw.

Thankfully, no Water-type Pokemon really needs that much energy to thrive. The most optimal Water deck in the early goings is one themed around Starmie EX. With its 130 HP and 90-damage attack that only requires two energy, you can deal massive amounts of damage very early on.

Many players also utilize Articuno EX with Starmie EX to form a tag team of watery destruction. Free-to-play or budget-conscious players may also opt to use the new Lapras EX instead of Articuno for a bulky Basic Pokemon that can deal solid damage.

Articuno EX also functions well alone, or teamed with Greninja. These two can harrass your opponent’s Benched Pokemon and may allow you to eliminate problems before they hit the field. Others have also used Frosmoth to put opponents to sleep while they load up their Benched Articuno EX.

Lastly, Blastoise EX is a fine deck but it moves rather slow as currently situated since you need to evolve Squirtle twice before getting to its final form, rather than only need one evolution (or none at all in Articuno’s case.) If you love Blastoise, go ahead and use it, but for the most part, we’ll wait until new Stage 2 support releases.

Where Water struggles is that it’s weak to the current top threat, Pikachu EX. Your opponent’s Pikachu EX will now deal 110 damage against your Pokemon instead of its already-threatening 90 damage, which could be the difference between surviving and a Knockout if your Pokemon were hit with any damage before switching in.

Sample Deck

• 2x Staryu
• 2x Starmie EX
• 2x Articuno EX
• 2x Misty
• 2x Sabrina
• 2x Professor’s Research
• 2x Poke Ball
• 2x X Speed
• 2x Potion
• 2x Giovanni

Charizard EX

Every Pokemon TCG YouTuber’s favorite sight is also a strong threat in “Pokemon TCG Pocket.” Charizard EX is all about loading it up with Fire-type energy and launching unstoppable attacks with your ace Pokemon. However, the deck isn’t perfect.

No other Pokemon hits as hard as Charizard EX. Its Crimson Storm hits for 200 damage at the cost of discarding two energy — no coin flips, no other gimmicks, just raw, unadulterated power. While it doesn’t have a Misty-esque Supporter card to fill it with energy, it does have its own legendary bird to act as a battery.

Moltres EX can help Charizard EX load up on energy with Inferno Dance, its one-energy attack that lets it attach between 0-3 Fire energy depending on the coin flip. For an energy-hungry card like Charizard EX, the extra energies are most appreciated.

There’s not much room for anything else Pokemon-wise, though I use Meowth for some additional draw power. Other players have run the Centiskorch line for additional support but I fail to see the value in giving it four Fire energy when I can give it to Charizard EX.

The deck does have its fair share of weaknesses, however. For starters, it is heavily reliant on Moltres EX loading up your Charizard EX with enough energies to consistently use Crimson Storm. Failing to do so leaves it with a weak 60-damage Slash while it’s at the mercy of your opponent’s other Pokemon.

Charizard EX is also weak to Water, currently one of the strongest and most abundant types, meaning you won’t have as many turns to beef up your fire lizard before it ultimately falls.

Lastly, like all other Stage 2 Pokemon, Charizard EX is at the mercy of drawing and evolving your Pokemon twice. Until we get Stage 2 support, you may opt to look elsewhere, but the guaranteed 200 damage is worth the work in my eyes.

If you love pure power and dealing massive amounts of damage, Charizard EX is your deck.

Sample Deck

• 2x Charmander
• 2x Charmeleon
• 2x Charizard EX
• 2x Moltres EX
• 2x Meowth
• 2x Professor’s Research
• 2x Poke Ball
• 2x Sabrina
• 2x Potion
• 2x X Speed

Machamp EX

While this deck is by no means the strongest, it’s my favorite deck to play these days outside of Charizard EX. Fighting types are some of my all-time favorite Pokemon and Machamp specifically has been my guy since “Pokemon Red.”

Machamp EX is the star of the show and deals 120 damage to its target. This is increased to 140 when battling Lightning-type Pokemon, of which you will see plenty, although its base 120 damage is already enough to KO Pikachu EX.

Don’t sleep on his pre-evolutions, either — Machop only needs one Energy to attack, while Machoke only needs two, meaning that if you go second, you won’t need to skip turns without attacking, great for softening up your opponent’s Pokemon before bringing in the big man for the kill.

As far as additional Pokemon, the new promo Mankey has great synergy with its evolution Primape, giving you something to fight back with while you build up your Machop. Others have used the Marowak EX line or the Dugtrio line thanks to their Grass weaknesses, masking what is ultimately the deck’s biggest downfall: Psychic types.

Psychic decks, especially Mewtwo EX decks, put out too much damage too quickly for the slow-moving Machamp EX deck to overcome.

Good Luck!

Hopefully this short guide helped you get started with the PVP event. If you’re playing any other decks out there, let me know! I’mm showcase it next time.