Pokemon TCG Pocket: Best Gyarados ex deck guide

Mythical Island expansion introduced a treasure trove of new cards to the Pokemon TCG Pocket meta, including standout entries like Volcarona, Mew ex, and Celebi ex. Among these additions, Gyarados ex quickly emerged as a top contender for dominance in competitive play. Evolving from the unimpressive Magikarp, Gyarados ex brings immense power and utility to Water-based decks.

If you’re looking to build a Gyarados ex deck that capitalizes on the card's unique strengths, here’s a comprehensive guide to help you get started.

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Pokemon TCG Pocket Gyarados ex deck guide: Cards you need

Cards	Quantity
Magikarp	2
Gyarados ex	2
Origin Forme Palkia	1
Manaphy	2
Professor’s Research	2
Rocky Helmet	2
Giant Cape	2
Leaf	2
Sabrina	1
Irida	2
Pokemon Center Lady	2

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Pokemon TCG Pocket Gyarados ex deck guide: Key cards and strategy

Gyarados ex as seen in the game (Image via The Pokemon Company)

1) Gyarados ex

• HP: 180
• Move: Rampaging Whirlpool
• Move description: Discard a random Energy from among the Energy attached to all Pokemon (both yours and your opponent's)
• Move damage: 140
• Move energy requirement: 3 Water and 1 Colorless energy
• Retreat cost: 3 Colorless energy

Starting as a weak Magikarp, Gyarados ex is a standout among Stage 1 Pokemon ex from the Mythical Island set.

With a robust 180 HP and the powerful Rampaging Whirlpool attack dealing 140 damage, Gyarados ex rivals even Stage 2 Pokemon ex in terms of durability and raw strength. This makes it an excellent centerpiece for Water-focused decks.

The Water type’s ability to rapidly accelerate Energy with Misty synergizes perfectly with Gyarados ex’s attack requirements. This allows it to unleash high-damage attacks early in the game, gaining an edge over opponents.

Gyarados ex was the game's first Stage 1 Water Pokemon capable of consistently dealing 100+ damage in a single hit, enabling it to knock out most Pokemon, including other ex cards.

Best support cards to Gyarados ex (Image via The Pokemon Company)

To maximize Gyarados ex’s potential, this deck incorporates Manaphy and Origin Forme Palkia. Manaphy serves as a supportive energy generator, while Origin Forme Palkia works as a secondary attacker to buy more time.

Manaphy leads with the play, supplying Water Energy to both Origin Forme Palkia and Gyarados ex on the bench. In case Manaphy is taken out, Origin Forme Palkia allows you to buy some more time while applying good mid-game pressure. Once Gyarados ex is ready, you can swap out and finish off what’s left.

This synergy can facilitate devastating sequences where Gyarados ex is powered up quickly, ensuring continuous offensive pressure.

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Deck weaknesses

1) Risk of self-sabotage: Rampaging Whirlpool’s additional effect can sometimes work against you, discarding one of your own Energies. This can disrupt your strategy if not managed carefully.

2) High energy costs: Rampaging Whirlpool’s energy demands can be problematic if Misty fails to appear or doesn’t provide the necessary Energy. This delay can leave Gyarados ex exposed to attacks before it has the chance to retaliate.

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By balancing Gyarados ex’s strengths with a carefully constructed deck and thoughtful gameplay, you can overcome its weaknesses and dominate your opponents in Pokemon TCG Pocket.

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