The Space-Time Smackdown booster pack has arrived in Pokemon TCG Pocket, coming in hot with the creation trio Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina.
This new set provides new avenues to create more powerful decks or even simply enhancing your existing lineup.
In this ONE Esports guide, we break down the Space-Time Smackdown meta decks in Pokemon TCG Pocket, helping you create the best competitive decks using the new cards, along with strategies to help you crush the competition.
Space-Time Smackdown meta decks: Dialga EX & Melmetal meta
This deck revolves around utilizing Melmetal’s defense, Mew’s Genome Hacking, and Dialga’s Metal Energy regeneration. This meta deck is designed to withstand heavy damage from the enemy while also returning a little damage to your opponent’s active Pokemon.
Your strategy will vary depending on your starting Pokemon. Both Meltan and Dialga EX have Metal Energy regeneration, allowing you to prepare for the mid to late game. If you start with Meltan, quickly evolve it into Melmetal to tank damage while you set up for Dialga EX or Mew EX as your heavy hitters.
However, If Dialga EX is your starting Pokemon, bench Meltan or Mew EX early to ensure a steady flow of energy. Dialga EX can hold the frontlines while you build up your other attackers. For added survivability, Rocky Helmet provides extra defense, and Leaf offers a quick retreat option if the battle gets too intense.
Most of these cards can be found in the new Space-Time Smackdown Dialga booster pack, while cards like Meltan and Melmetal can be obtained from the Charizard booster pack. Lastly, Mew can be obtained from the Mythical Island booster pack.
Deck list:
- Meltan 2x
- Melmetal 2x
- Dialga EX 2x
- Mew EX 2x
- Leaf 2x
- Rocky Helmet 2x
- Professor’s Research 2x
- Poké Ball 2x
- Dawn 2x
- Giovanni 2x
Space-Time Smackdown meta decks: Palkia EX & Articuno meta
This deck has a slight drawback of being energy heavy. However, this deck can deal damage to all of your opponent’s Pokemon on the field. By combining Palkia EX’s Dimensional Storm with Articuno EX’s Blizzard, this deck can overwhelm your opponent’s entire team
The strategy revolves around energy management and the survivability of your EX Pokemons. Start with prioritizing evolving a Vaporeon on your bench and using Misty to accelerate Water Energy attachment. Alternatively, you can substitute potion by using Manaphy to produce more water energy for your benched Pokemons.
Once everything is prepared and done, start doing damage to your opponent but be watchful of your Pokemon’s HP. If your active Pokemon is in danger, use Leaf to retreat and switch to your next heavy hitter. Thanks to Vaporeon’s ability to transfer energy, you’ll be able to continuously attack.
Most of these cards can be found in the new Space-Time Smackdown booster packs, while cards like Eevee and Vaporeon can be obtained from the Mythical Island booster packs. Lastly, Articuno can be obtained from the Mewtwo pack.
Deck list:
- Eevee 2x
- Vaporeon 2x
- Articuno EX 2x
- Palkia EX 2x
- Leaf 2x
- Misty 2x
- Professor’s Research 2x
- Poké Ball 2x
- Potion/Manaphy 2x
- Giovanni 2x
Space-Time Smackdown meta decks: Infernape EX & Moltres EX meta
Dubbed as the “Power crept Charizard Deck,” this deck works the same as the Charizard deck but replaces it with Infernape. Moltres will be the battery of the entire team, accumulating energy for Infernape’s Fire Blitz attack.
One major advantage of this deck over the Charizard deck is Infernape EX’s energy efficiency. Unlike Charizard EX, which requires four energy to attack and two energy to retreat, Infernape EX can switch out freely without any energy cost. This flexibility, combined with its high damage output with only two energy, makes this deck one of the top meta decks in the current update.
With Dawn’s ability, you can transfer energy from a benched Pokemon to your active one, ensuring a steady rotation between attacking and energy regeneration.
Most of these cards can be found in the new Space-Time Smackdown booster packs, while Moltres can be obtained in Charizard pack.
Deck list:
- Chimchar 2x
- Monferno 2x
- Infernape EX 2x
- Moltres EX 2x
- Xspeed 2x
- Sabrina 2x
- Professor’s Research 2x
- Poké Ball 2x
- Dawn 2x
- Giovanni 2x
Space-Time Smackdown meta decks: Garchomp & Mew EX meta
The addition of Cynthia in this roster of cards simply makes Garchomp a powerful heavy hitter in Pokemon TCGP. The deck combines Garchomp’s Dragon Claw with Cynthia’s power boost and Mew EX’s Versatility, creating two hard hitters in early to mid game.
Dragon-type decks can be tricky due to their energy type requirement that requires to have two to three types depending on which Pokemon you’re playing. However, Mew EX’s Genome Hacking bypasses this restriction without needing specific energy types.
This unique combo allows Garchomp and Mew to alternate between dealing damage. With the help of Cythia, Garchomp can deal a whopping +50 damage which can basically clean up your opponent’s last remaining Pokemons.
Most of these cards can be found in the new Space-Time Smackdown Palkia booster packs, while Mew can be obtained from the Mythical Island booster packs.
Deck list:
- Gible 2x
- Gabite 2x
- Garchomp 2x
- Mew EX 2x
- Xspeed 2x
- Budding Expeditioner 2x
- Professor’s Research 2x
- Poké Ball 2x
- Potion 2x
- Cynthia 2x
Space-Time Smackdown meta decks: Darkrai EX & Weavile EX meta
This Dark-type deck is built for aggressive, early-game pressure, making it one of the most devastating builds in the current meta.
The strategy consists of dealing damage as early as possible to your opponent’s Pokemons. Spiritomb’s move Swirling Disaster can deal damage to each Pokemon in your opponent’s field. This ensures that by the time Weavile EX enters the battle, it can easily dish out 70 damage for just one Dark Energy to any previously damaged Pokemon.
Thanks to its energy efficient nature, Darkrai can simply be benched while you prepare it for its Dark Prism. However, what truly makes this deck dangerous is Darkrai’s ability, which deals damage every time it receives energy. When combined with Dawn’s ability to transfer energy, you can repeatedly trigger Darkrai’s ability, stacking damage in a single turn.
Most of these cards can be found in the new Space-Time Smackdown booster packs.
Deck list:
- Sneasel 2x
- Weavile 2x
- Spiritomb 2x
- Darkrai EX 2x
- Xspeed 2x
- Sabrina 2x
- Professor’s Research 2x
- Poké Ball 2x
- Dawn 2x
- Giovanni 2x
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