8 Best Standard Decks In Pokemon TCG 2024 Ranked

Looking for the ultimate advantage to in the Pokemon Trading Card Game (TCG) world? This guide is the go-to reference to the best standard decks in the Pokemon TCG and is updated every few weeks!

Every situation has its challenges. Rather than tell you what to do in each and every situation (nearly impossible), we’ll tell you what makes each deck successful. Do these things to give you a greater chance of success at winning. The rest is up to you!

These decks are the current meta! Meaning, these lists are the strongest decks that are being used by tournament players. 

Quick tips for each deck are listed below!

8 Best Standard Decks In Pokemon TCG

#1 Charizard EX

Build cost $90

Deck by: Azul Garcia Griego – 1st Place, San Antonio Regional Championships

Pokémon – 17
3 Charizard ex OBF 125
3 Charmander MEW 4
2 Pidgeot ex OBF 164
2 Pidgey MEW 16
1 Charmander PR-SV 47
1 Charmeleon OBF 27
1 Jirachi PAR 126
1 Lumineon V BRS 40
1 Manaphy BRS 41
1 Mew CEL 11
1 Rotom V CRZ 45

Trainer Cards – 36
4 Arven OBF 186
3 Boss’s Orders PAL 172
3 Iono PAL 185
1 Professor’s Research SVI 190
4 Battle VIP Pass FST 225
4 Rare Candy SVI 191
4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
2 Counter Catcher PAR 160
2 Level Ball BST 129
2 Lost Vacuum CRZ 135
1 Super Rod PAL 188
1 Forest Seal Stone SIT 156
1 Justified Gloves CRE 143
1 Vitality Band SVI 197
1 Artazon PAL 171
1 Collapsed Stadium BRS 137
1 Lost City LOR 161

Energy – 7
7 Basic Fire Energy SVE 2

How To Play Charizard EX Deck!

Pidgey, Charmander, Pidgey, Charmander, and repeat! Build up as many as you can while evolving each to Charizard EX.

To ensure the highest chances of success with the Charizard EX Deck you must do these four things:

  • Important Item Cards: 4 Rare Candy’s will give you the best chance to get these Pokemon evolved.
  • Use Forrest Seal Stoone wisely* as it enables you to get the exact card you need at any time.
  • Use Pidgeot’s Quick Search early and often.
  • Use Charizard’s Infernal Reign to accelerate fire energy



#2 Giratina Vstar w/ Comfey

Build Cost $55

Deck by: Grant Hays – 2nd Place, San Antonio Regional Championships

Pokémon – 14
4 Comfey LOR 79
3 Giratina V LOR 130
3 Giratina VSTAR LOR 131
2 Sableye LOR 70
1 Cramorant LOR 50
1 Radiant Greninja ASR 46

Trainer Cards – 33
4 Colress’s Experiment LOR 155
2 Roxanne ASR 150
1 Boss’s Orders PAL 172
1 Iono PAL 185
4 Battle VIP Pass FST 225
4 Mirage Gate LOR 163
3 Nest Ball SVI 181
2 Counter Catcher PAR 160
2 Escape Rope BST 125
2 Super Rod PAL 188
2 Switch Cart ASR 154
1 Pokégear 3.0 SVI 186
1 Switch SVI 194
4 Path to the Peak CRE 148

Energy – 13
4 Basic Psychic Energy SVE 5
4 Jet Energy PAL 190
3 Basic Grass Energy SVE 1
2 Basic Water Energy SVE 3

How To Play Giratina Vstar w/ Comfey Deck!

Lost Impact and Star Requiem attacks are POWERFUL. Forget basic attackers, Giratina puts you into an attack position that deals massive damage.

Use Sabeleye and Cramorant to deal subtle damage once you build up your lost zone.

To ensure the highest chances of success with the Giratina Vstar w/ Comfey deck you must do these four things:

  • You must use Comfey’s Flower Selecting Ability often!
  • Ensure you put the cards you might not need into the Lost Zone.
  • Discard to the lost zone by getting to 7 cards first, then to 10.
  • Mirage Gate allows you to power up Giratina (Primary Attacker) and use its powerful attacks quickly.

Scroll up or click here to see Grant Hay’s second place deck verses the #1 Charizard Deck!



#3 Snorlax Stall

Build Cost $45

Source: Cal Connor – 5th Place, San Antonio Regional Championships

Pokémon – 8
4 Snorlax PGO 55
1 Mimikyu PAL 97
1 Pidgeot V LOR 137
1 Rotom V CRZ 45
1 Spiritomb PAL 89

Trainer Cards – 52
4 Arven OBF 186
3 Iono PAL 185
3 Miss Fortune Sisters LOR 164
3 Penny SVI 183
2 Boss’s Orders PAL 172
2 Erika’s Invitation MEW 160
1 Avery CRE 130
1 Cyllene ASR 138
1 Giacomo PAL 182
1 Peonia CRE 149
1 Sidney FST 241
1 Team Yell’s Cheer BRS 149
4 Counter Catcher PAR 160
4 Nest Ball SVI 181
4 Pokégear 3.0 SVI 186
2 Pal Pad SVI 182
2 Switch Cart ASR 154
1 Battle VIP Pass FST 225
1 Echoing Horn CRE 136
1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
1 Super Rod PAL 188
3 Bravery Charm PAL 173
1 Forest Seal Stone SIT 156
1 Luxurious Cape PAR 166
2 Pokémon League Headquarters OBF 192
2 Temple of Sinnoh ASR 155

Energy – 0

How to play Snorlax Stall

Goal: Deck out your opponent. What a fun (for you) but awful way to lose (for them) deck! Snorlax’s ability to prevent your opponent from retreating is amazing. No prize cards required to win! You also use Mimikyu’s ability to stop your opponent from attacking if they’re a V or EX.

Snorlax stall forces players to use different angles of attack. 

To ensure the highest chances of success with the Snorlax Stall deck you must do these five things:

  • Items and supporters are key in this deck.
  • Miss Fortune Sisters, Giacomo, Sidney, Avery, and Counter Catcher are examples of cards that will force your opponent to move their Pokémon around.
  • Continually keep your opponent from retreating or attacking.
  • Use Erika’s Invitation to force a Basic Pokémon from your opponent’s hand into play and into the Active Spot.
  • Use Echoing Horn to force a Pokémon from your opponent’s discard pile into play and then gust that Pokémon into the Active Spot with Boss’s Orders or Counter Catcher

Not the exact Snorlax Deck posted, but this video is an excellent example of playing the Snorlax Stall Deck.

#4 Miraidon ex with Flaaffy

Build cost $70

Source: Nick Robinson – 7th Place, San Antonio Regional Championships

Pokémon – 14
2 Iron Hands ex PAR 70
2 Mew ex MEW 151
2 Miraidon ex SVI 81
1 Flaaffy EVS 55
1 Lumineon V BRS 40
1 Mareep EVS 54
1 Raichu V BRS 45
1 Raikou V BRS 48
1 Spiritomb PAL 89
1 Squawkabilly ex PAL 169
1 Zapdos PGO 29

Trainer Cards – 29
4 Peony CRE 150
2 Boss’s Orders PAL 172
1 Raihan CRZ 140
4 Electric Generator SVI 170
4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
2 Battle VIP Pass FST 225
2 Escape Rope BST 125
1 Lost Vacuum CRZ 135
1 Nest Ball SVI 181
1 Super Rod PAL 188
1 Switch SVI 194
2 Bravery Charm PAL 173
1 Forest Seal Stone SIT 156
2 Beach Court SVI 167
1 Collapsed Stadium BRS 137

Energy – 17
16 Basic Lightning Energy SVE 4
1 Double Turbo Energy BRS 151

How To Play Miraidon ex with Flaaffy

Electric Generator feels like a cheat! Attaching energy quickly is what this deck does, and it’s so good at it. I wouldn’t say this deck is a heavy hitter. However, it damage output is swift and significant enough. 

To ensure the highest chances of success with the Miraidon EX w/ Flaaffy deck you must do these four things:

  • Use Miraidon ex’s Tandem Unit Ability. Get Mareep into play immediately.
  • Evolve Mareep into Flaaffy. Then, use Dynamotor or Raihan to attach additional energy to Miraidon EX.
  • Remember, using Miradidon’s Photon Blaster’s attack prevents it from attacking the next turn!
  • If the 220 hp isn’t enough, power up Raichu’s attack. Dynamic Spark does 60 damage for each Lightning Energy you discard from any of your Pokémon.

#5 Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR

Build Cost $50

Source: Joseph Nawal – 3rd Place, San Antonio Regional Championships

Pokémon – 15
3 Origin Forme Palkia V ASR 39
2 Ice Rider Calyrex V CRE 45
2 Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR ASR 40
1 Chien-Pao ex PAL 61
1 Ice Rider Calyrex VMAX CRE 46
1 Lumineon V BRS 40
1 Mew CEL 11
1 Mew ex MEW 151
1 Radiant Greninja ASR 46
1 Spiritomb PAL 89
1 Suicune V EVS 31

Trainer Cards – 37
4 Irida ASR 147
4 Melony CRE 146
1 Boss’s Orders PAL 172
1 Roxanne ASR 150
4 Battle VIP Pass FST 225
4 Cross Switcher FST 230
4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
3 Earthen Vessel PAR 163
2 Escape Rope BST 125
2 Lost Vacuum CRZ 135
2 Switch SVI 194
1 Canceling Cologne ASR 136
1 Energy Switch SVI 173
1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
1 Nest Ball SVI 181
1 Super Rod PAL 188
1 Collapsed Stadium BRS 137

Energy – 8
8 Basic Water Energy SVE 3

How To Play Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR Deck

Goal: Get as many Pokemon onto your bench as well your opponent’s bench! Palkia’s VSTAR power takes this deck over the top by allowing you to attach three water energy cards from your discard pile.

To ensure the highest chances of success with the Palkia VSTAR Deck you must do these four things:

  • Palkia’s Subspace Swell attack creates loads of damage if you can load up both benches
  • Discard Water Energies via Ultra Ball and Radiant Greninja’s Concealed Cards ability.
  • Use Palkia’s ability to power up another Palkia, Greninja, Chienp Pao, or Calyrex
  • Consider adding Echoing Horn to the deck, to pull discarded Pokemon back into the playing field to power up the Subspace Swell attack.

#6 Inteleon Vmax

Build Cost $65

Source: Landen Kaetler – 9th Place, San Antonio Regional Championships

Pokémon – 18
3 Inteleon V FST 78
3 Inteleon VMAX FST 79
2 Octillery BST 37
2 Rapid Strike Urshifu V BST 87
2 Rapid Strike Urshifu VMAX BST 88
2 Remoraid PAR 33
1 Medicham V EVS 83
1 Radiant Alakazam SIT 59
1 Spiritomb PAL 89
1 Squawkabilly ex PAL 169

Trainer Cards – 33
3 Professor’s Research SVI 190
2 Iono PAL 185
2 Klara CRE 145
2 Korrina’s Focus BST 128
2 Melony CRE 146
1 Professor Turo’s Scenario PAR 171
4 Battle VIP Pass FST 225
4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
2 Earthen Vessel PAR 163
2 Energy Retrieval SVI 171
2 Nest Ball SVI 181
1 Escape Rope BST 125
2 Forest Seal Stone SIT 156
1 Technical Machine: Devolution PAR 177
3 Tower of Waters BST 138

Energy – 9
5 Basic Water Energy SVE 3
4 Rapid Strike Energy BST 140

How To Play Inteleon Vmax Deck

Goal: Attack the bench and soften up your opponent’s Pokemon. Beware of Manaphy which doesn’t allow you to attack your opponent’s bench.

To ensure the highest chances of success with the Inteleon Vmax deck you must do these four things:

  • Once you Evolve Rapid Strike Urshifu V into Rapid Strike Urshifu Vmax and Inteleon V into Inteleon Vmax, the real damage begins. Do this early and often!
  • Use Radiant Alakazam to manipulate damage counters on your opponent’s side.
  • Be sneaky and use Medicham V’s Yoga loop to try to get another turn. Cheeky!
  • Use Octillery’s Ability to search your deck for a Rapid Strike card, which includes the Rapid Strike Energy.

#7 Gardevoir Ex

Build Cost $45

Source: Evan Lubeley – 17th Place, San Antonio Regional Championships

Pokémon – 17
3 Kirlia SIT 68
3 Ralts ASR 60
2 Gardevoir CRE 61
2 Gardevoir ex SVI 86
1 Jirachi PAR 126
1 Kirlia CRE 60
1 Manaphy BRS 41
1 Mew CEL 11
1 Radiant Greninja ASR 46
1 Ralts SIT 67
1 Scream Tail PAR 86

Trainer Cards – 31
4 Iono PAL 185
1 Avery CRE 130
1 Boss’s Orders PAL 172
1 Professor Turo’s Scenario PAR 171
1 Worker SIT 167
4 Battle VIP Pass FST 225
3 Level Ball BST 129
3 Rare Candy SVI 191
3 Ultra Ball SVI 196
2 Counter Catcher PAR 160
2 Fog Crystal CRE 140
2 Super Rod PAL 188
1 Lost Vacuum CRZ 135
1 Luxurious Cape PAR 166
1 Artazon PAL 171
1 Collapsed Stadium BRS 137

Energy – 12
10 Basic Psychic Energy SVE 5
2 Reversal Energy PAL 192

How To Play Gardevoir EX Deck

This Gardevoir EX deck uses a combination of attackers. However, the basic strategy is to use the Kirlia engine to your advantage. You’ll see this in major tournaments as this engine is heavily involved in the current standard meta. 

To ensure the highest chances of success with the Gardevior Ex deck you must do these four things:

  • Use Rare Candy to evolve Ralts into Kirlia then into Gardevoir Ex.
  • Use Gardevoir Ex Psychic Embrace Ability to attach Psychic Energy from your discard pile.
  • Your deck MUST HAVE Scream Tail, Cresselia, and a lot of psychic energy.
  • Do not be afraid to discard energy to bring them back into play with Gardevoir’s ability.

#8 Mew Vamx with Double Turbo Energy

Build Cost $75

Source: Andrew Hedrick – 15th Place, San Antonio Regional Championships

Pokémon – 11
4 Genesect V FST 185
4 Mew V CRZ 60
3 Mew VMAX FST 114

Trainer Cards – 44
3 Judge SVI 176
2 Boss’s Orders PAL 172
1 Iono PAL 185
4 Battle VIP Pass FST 225
4 Cram-o-matic FST 229
4 Lost Vacuum CRZ 135
4 Power Tablet FST 236
4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
2 Feather Ball ASR 141
2 Switch Cart ASR 154
1 Escape Rope BST 125
1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
1 Nest Ball SVI 181
1 Pal Pad SVI 182
3 Forest Seal Stone SIT 156
2 Box of Disaster LOR 154
1 Choice Belt PAL 176
4 Path to the Peak CRE 148

Energy – 5
4 Double Turbo Energy BRS 151
1 Fusion Strike Energy FST 244

How To Play Mew Vamx with Double Turbo Energy

Mew Vmax is quickly becoming a classic archetype. I have a very difficult time facing this deck! This Fusion Strike Pokemon uses it’s Cross Fusion Strike to Copy Genesect so quickly that I almost always yell at my opponent for doing so!

It just feels unfair! You can find this deck at almost EVERY tournament scene. 

Add on Choice Belt and Power tablet to your attack and it’s game over!

To ensure the highest chances of success with the Mew Vmax with Double Turbo Energy deck you must do these four things:

  • Fill your bench with Genesect V and Mew V.
  • Use Ultraball and Cram-o-Matic to find the cards you need.
  • Evolve Mew V into Mew Vmax and use Cross Fusion Strike to copy Genesect V’s Tecno Blast attack.
  • Use Genesect V’s Fusion System ability to draw cards.

Rankings and Decks Updated Every Few Weeks!

The Best 8 Pokemon TCG Decks Are:

  1. Charizard EX
  2. Giratina VSTAR w/ Comfey
  3. Snorlax Stall
  4. Miraidon EX w/ Flaaffy
  5. Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR
  6. Inteleon VMAX w/ Rapid Strike Urshifu Vmax
  7. Gardevoir EX
  8. Mew Vmax W/ Double Turbo Energy
There you have it folks. Each deck has it’s advantages and disadvantages. However, watch world class players use these decks to the best of their abilities. Can’t wait to update this list as new decks come into play!