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Out of all the deck types in Pokémon TCG Pocket, Dark type decks consistently stand out as some of the best. These decks have an aggressive playstyle, generally favoring Special Condition generation and easy Energy movement, and, more importantly, they’re a lot of fun to play as well.
If you’re looking for a new deck to take into your next Pokémon TCG Pocket tournament, Dark type cards are worth looking into. Here’s a breakdown of the current best Dark type decks in Pokémon TCG Pocket, based on current community data and rigorous testing.
Best Dark type decks in Pokémon TCG Pocket
If you’ve checked out my lists of the best Dragon decks and other types of Pokémon TCG Pocket decks, you’ll know the drill – all of the decks listed below were initially selected based on community tournament data, thanks to Limitless TCG’s Pocket database, then tested out in my own matches.
At the time of writing, Team Rocket’s Weezing ex is one of my favorite decks in the game, and I have been taking it to the majority of my online matches. It’s a powerful and responsive list, and it’s a hell of a lot of fun to play.
Hoopa ex
Hoopa ex decks come in a number of variants, but the deck list that features Darkrai ex and Mega Absol ex is the one you should focus on. It’s quite Pokémon ex card heavy – if you play Metal-type decks like Mega Mawile ex with limited Pokémon cards, you may find this list strange at first as a result. Each card has its purpose, though.
Darkrai ex has the Nightmare Aura ability, which hits the enemy Active Pokémon for 20 damage each time Dark Energy is attached to the card. This is a valuable source of chip energy, which opens up the playing field for Cyrus control.
Mega Absol ex is a great tool for control as well. It has the Darkness Claw attack, which deals 80 damage for two Energy Tokens. On top of the 80 damage, it makes the opponent show their hand; the user can then choose a Supporter and discard it.
Hoopa ex is the star of the show, amplified by Nightmare Aura and Darkness Claw. It has Shadow Bullet, costing one Energy Token and dealing 20 damage to one of the opponent’s Benched Pokémon. Alongside this, Hoopa ex has Dynamite Punch, costing three Energy Tokens and dealing 100 damage, with 20 self-inflicted damage.
Despite the Pokémon-heavy list, strong Item cards are important for the Hoopa ex deck. Deceptive Needle, Lucky Ice Pop, and Cyrus are all essentials to have on hand if you want to run this.
Hydreigon
This deck focuses on Hydreigon, a powerful Stage 2 Pokémon with the Roar in Unison ability. Roar in Unison allows the user to grab two Dark Energy Tokens and attach them to Hydreigon, once per turn, dealing 30 damage to Hydreigon if the ability is used.
Having the ability to quickly drum up Energy is immensely valuable, and helps to gear up the three Energy Token Hyper Ray attack, which deals 130 damage and requires a total Energy tax.
Along with Hydreigon, you can expect to find both Mega Absol ex and Bombirdier. Mega Absol ex allows for strong opponent control, with the Supporter card discard option via Darkness Claw, and Bombirdier helps to cut the user’s Active retreat cost, provided the card is on the user’s Bench.
It’s a brilliant barrage of Pokémon altogether, with a good mix of high damage and enemy control. Pairing these cards with additions like Lucky Ice Pop, Rocky Helmet, and Rare Candy help to make the deck even more effective.
Team Rocket’s Weezing ex
Team Rocket’s Weezing ex is a brilliantly enjoyable deck to play, focusing on Special Conditions and chip damage.
Team Rocket’s Koffing allows for an easy set-up with Reverse Thrust. This hits for 10 damage then swaps the card out with a Benched Pokémon before it can get damaged. This small amount of damage opens up Cyrus plays, while also avoiding any early snipe attempts from opponents so that its evolution can take place.
Team Rocket’s Weezing ex has the Boiler Smog ability. Once during the user’s turn, when this card is played as an evolution, Team Rocket’s Weezing ex can inflict both Burn and Poison on the opposing Pokémon. Special Conditions are brilliant in Pokémon TCG Pocket, and being able to nab two at once is unreal.
On top of Boiler Smog, Team Rocket’s Weezing ex also has Confusion Gas. It deals 60 damage for two Energy Tokens, but also inflicts Confusion. Theoretically, this card can hit three Special Conditions in one turn, which could negate your opponent’s move entirely.
Dark type Pokémon TCG Pocket decks are exceptionally fun to play, and they’re often a competitively viable option for tournaments, too. If you’ve not spent any time playing Dark type decks in matches yet – particularly the Team Rocket’s Weezing ex deck list – then I’d highly recommend chasing the cards you’ll need to build it.
FAQs
Yes, Dark type decks are good in Pokémon TCG Pocket. These decks often prioritize quick Energy generation and Special Conditions, and can be found topping the competitive charts in the community.
The best deck types in Pokémon TCG Pocket include Lightning, Psychic, Fighting, and Fire.
Pokémon TCG Pocket can be a difficult game when you’re playing online, depending on the players you’re up against. It’s generally an accessible game, though, particularly in the solo player modes.
Pokémon TCG Pocket is not pay-to-win. While there are paid elements to the game, they’re optional – you can play the game without ever having to spend money on resources.
