Hi there. I showcase a new top meta deck in the Pokemon TCG Pocket. I have not played this deck myself as I don't have the cards that fast. (I am a free to play player and not a whale.) However I have played against it. It is pretty powerful, fast and aggressive.

 

## Core Cards
---

The core cards in the Darkrai ex and Weavile ex feature new cards from the Space-Time Smackdown new set in TCG Pocket.

**Darkrai ex**

<center><img src="https://assets.pokemon-zone.com/game-assets/CardPreviews/cPK_10_003910_00_DARKRAIex_RR.webp?width=350&quality=100" /></center>
<center><a href="https://assets.pokemon-zone.com/game-assets/CardPreviews/cPK_10_003910_00_DARKRAIex_RR.webp?width=350&quality=100">Image Source</a></center>

Darkrai ex on its own does not seem like much. The attack costs two Dark Energy and one Colourless Energy to do 80 damage. With its ability, whenever you attach one Dark Energy to Darkrai ex you deal 20 damage to the opponent's Active Pokemon. An ability on a Basic Pokemon that can deal damage is quite powerful. The only other Pokemon with an ability that does damage is Greninja. Greninja is a Stage 2 Pokemon which takes time to setup.

<center><img src="https://assets.pokemon-zone.com/game-assets/CardPreviews/cPK_10_000890_00_GEKKOUGA_R.webp?width=350&quality=80" /></center>
<center><a href="https://assets.pokemon-zone.com/game-assets/CardPreviews/cPK_10_000890_00_GEKKOUGA_R.webp?width=350&quality=80">Image Source</a></center>


&nbsp;

**Sneasel**

<center><img src="https://assets.pokemon-zone.com/game-assets/CardPreviews/cPK_10_003790_00_NYULA_C.webp" /></center>
<center><a href="https://assets.pokemon-zone.com/game-assets/CardPreviews/cPK_10_003790_00_NYULA_C.webp">Image Source</a></center>

Sneasel is a Basic 60 HP Pokemon. You need this to evolve into Weavile ex. The Double Scratch attack requires one Dark Energy to do 20 damage for each Heads out of 2 flips. If you go second on your first turn Sneasel can deal some decent damage. If you deal damage then this sets up nicely for Weavile ex.


&nbsp;

**Weavile ex**


<center><img src="https://assets.pokemon-zone.com/game-assets/CardPreviews/cPK_10_003800_00_MANYULAex_RR.webp" /></center>
<center><a href="https://assets.pokemon-zone.com/game-assets/CardPreviews/cPK_10_003800_00_MANYULAex_RR.webp">Image Source</a></center>

Weavile ex is a Stage 1 Dark Pokemon with a simple attack that costs one Dark Energy. The base damage is 30 and does another 40 damage if the opponent's Active Pokemon has damage on it. In the early game this Weavile ex is pretty dangerous.

&nbsp;



**Cyrus**

<center><img src="https://assets.pokemon-zone.com/game-assets/CardPreviews/cTR_10_000320_00_AKAGI_U.webp?width=350&quality=100" /></center>
<center><a href="https://assets.pokemon-zone.com/game-assets/CardPreviews/cTR_10_000320_00_AKAGI_U.webp?width=350&quality=100">Image Source</a></center>

Cyrus is a game changing Supporter card. Sabrina was good but you remove the Active Pokemon and the opponent can choose a new one. With Cyrus you target a damaged Pokemon from the opponent's Bench and bring it into the Active Spot. Retreating a damaged Pokemon to the Bench is not a safe strategy as the opponent can use Cyrus on you. 


&nbsp;

**Rocky Helmet**

<center><img src="https://assets.pokemon-zone.com/game-assets/CardPreviews/cTR_10_000300_00_GOTSUGOTSUMETTO_U.webp?width=350&quality=100" /></center>
<center><a href="https://assets.pokemon-zone.com/game-assets/CardPreviews/cTR_10_000300_00_GOTSUGOTSUMETTO_U.webp?width=350&quality=100">Image Source</a></center>

Tool cards are introduced in the game. Rocky Helmet in the physical trading card game is not great. However Rocky Helmet in TCG Pocket is good. Whenever the Pokemon with Rocky Helmet is attacked then the attacking Pokemon takes 2 damage counter on it. There is a penalty if you attack.

Placing damage counters on the attacking Pokemon does favour Weavile ex. Weavile's attack does 70 damage if there is damage on the opponent's Pokemon.

&nbsp;

**Dawn**

<center><img src="https://assets.pokemon-zone.com/game-assets/CardPreviews/cTR_10_000360_00_HIKARI_U.webp" /></center>
<center><a href="https://assets.pokemon-zone.com/game-assets/CardPreviews/cTR_10_000360_00_HIKARI_U.webp">Image Source</a></center>

Dawn is used for the Darkrai ex, Weavile ex combo. Attach a Dark Energy on Darkrai to activate the 20 damage ability. As the opponent's Pokemon has damage on it, use Weavile ex's attack to do 70 damage for one Dark Energy. This is a total of 90 damage. A very aggressive and dangerous combo.


&nbsp;


## Sample Decklist
---

This deck was brought to my attention based on this [Reddit post](https://www.reddit.com/r/PTCGP/comments/1iexfvz/top_performing_decks_across_4_tournaments_post_a2/) which had early online unofficial tournaments in Japan. (I think there's a lot of people willing to pay to be ultra competitive this early on.)

<center><img src="https://preview.redd.it/top-performing-decks-across-4-tournaments-post-a2-v0-ylj3o67j6gge1.jpg?width=1080&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=d71cf2f9a7cba49354b26663359001efc5d5d90a" /></center>
<center><a href="https://preview.redd.it/top-performing-decks-across-4-tournaments-post-a2-v0-ylj3o67j6gge1.jpg?width=1080&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=d71cf2f9a7cba49354b26663359001efc5d5d90a">Image Source</a></center>

Here's the decklist for this one.

* x2 Sneasel
* x2 Weavile ex
* x2 Darkrai ex
* x1 Spiritomb
* x2 Professor's Research
* x2 Leaf
* x2 Cyrus
* x1 Dawn
* x2 Pokeball
* x1 Pokemon Communication
* x2 Rocky Helmet

&nbsp;

The two copies of Leaf is when you open with Darkrai ex in the Active. Leaf would be used to retreat it right away. 

<center><img src="https://assets.pokemon-zone.com/game-assets/CardPreviews/cTR_10_000230_00_LEAF_U.webp?width=350&quality=80" /></center>
<center><a href="https://assets.pokemon-zone.com/game-assets/CardPreviews/cTR_10_000230_00_LEAF_U.webp?width=350&quality=80">Image Source</a></center>

Rocky Helmet for placing damage counters to help Weavile ex. 

Spiritomb does 10 damage to all opponent's Pokemon for one Colourless Energy. It spreads damage and all of the opponent's Pokemon are possible targets for Cyrus. 

One Dawn for the Darkrai ex ability, Weavile ex combo. I would do two Dawn and 1 Leaf instead.

There is one copy of Pokemon Communication. I have not used this myself so I cannot comment to much on this. If it works for the player I guess it is okay. 

<center><img src="https://assets.pokemon-zone.com/game-assets/CardPreviews/cTR_10_000280_00_POKEMONTSUUSHIN_U.webp?width=350&quality=100" /></center>
<center><a href="https://assets.pokemon-zone.com/game-assets/CardPreviews/cTR_10_000280_00_POKEMONTSUUSHIN_U.webp?width=350&quality=100">Image Source</a></center>


&nbsp;



## Advantages
---

As Darkrai and Weavile are both dark types this Dark type hard counters Mewtwo ex decks. I would not say it is an auto win. There is a chance that the Mewtwo ex player can set up Gardevoir and Mewtwo ex on turn three and the Darkrai ex player can have bad luck with their setup. With the existence of Darkrai ex and Weavile, Mewtwo ex does losing share in the metagame.

Weavile ex in the early game is an aggressive attacker. Because it has an attack cost of one Dark Energy the setup time is short. The Darkrai ex ability + Weavile ex + Dawn combo can deal 90 damage to the opponent's Active Pokemon. 

<center><img src="https://assets.pokemon-zone.com/game-assets/CardPreviews/cPK_20_003800_00_MANYULAex_SR.webp?width=350&quality=100" /></center>
<center><a href="https://assets.pokemon-zone.com/game-assets/CardPreviews/cPK_20_003800_00_MANYULAex_SR.webp?width=350&quality=100">Image Source</a></center>

&nbsp;

## Disadvantages
---

Both Darkrai ex and Weavile ex have Grass weakness. In the TCG Pocket game Grass and Bug types are Grass types. Yanmega ex is the hard counter to both Darkrai ex and Weavile ex. You deal 120 damage from the attack plus 20 damage for 140.

<center><img src="https://assets.pokemon-zone.com/game-assets/CardPreviews/cPK_10_002880_00_MEGAYANMAex_RR.webp?width=350&quality=100" /></center>
<center><a href="https://assets.pokemon-zone.com/game-assets/CardPreviews/cPK_10_002880_00_MEGAYANMAex_RR.webp?width=350&quality=100">Image Source</a></center>

&nbsp;

Celebi ex + Serperior decks is one hard counter to Darkrai ex and Weavile ex. It is not guaranteed but this Dark deck is not that favoured versus Celebi ex.

<center><img src="https://assets.pokemon-zone.com/game-assets/CardPreviews/cPK_10_002170_00_CELEBIex_RR.webp" /></center>
<center><a href="https://assets.pokemon-zone.com/game-assets/CardPreviews/cPK_10_002170_00_CELEBIex_RR.webp">Image Source</a></center>

&nbsp;

Something like Exeggutor ex (in theory) is a counter to Darkrai ex and Weavile ex.

<center><img src="https://assets.pokemon-zone.com/game-assets/CardPreviews/cPK_10_000230_00_NASSYex_RR.webp" /></center>
<center><a href="https://assets.pokemon-zone.com/game-assets/CardPreviews/cPK_10_000230_00_NASSYex_RR.webp">Image Source</a></center>

&nbsp;

Both Darkrai and Weavile don't have one hit knockout power past 100 damage.


&nbsp;

## Closing Notes
---

I think that Darkrai ex and Weavile ex will see a bit of dominance in early February 2025. The market share could go down if players play a lot of Grass decks as a counter. 

This dark deck is fairly easy to use and has fast setup. 

The Rocky Helmet tool goes well with Weavile ex but Giant Cape could be good too. Giant Cape adds 20 HP which would survive the 140 damage from Yanmega ex onto Darkrai ex/Weavile ex.

<center><img src="https://img.game8.co/4092296/3dacce9fa917f4690ca96ecc0f5964a0.png/show" /></center>
<center><a href="https://img.game8.co/4092296/3dacce9fa917f4690ca96ecc0f5964a0.png/show">Image Source</a></center>

Decks that can withstand the early game pressure from Weavile ex can maybe comeback and beat Darkrai and Weavile. 

&nbsp;

<center>Thank you for reading.</center>