It’s no surprise that Arceus ex became one of the dominant cards in Pokemon TCG Pocket right after its release. As the face of the Triumphant Light expansion and one of the most powerful Pokemon the universe has ever seen, Arceus ex is a force to be reckoned with.
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However, few players expected Arceus ex to dismantle the Darkrai ex & Magnezone meta so quickly. In fact, no one could have predicted this card would claim over 11% of TCG Pocket’s metagame less than a week after launch.
But here we are. Arceus ex has arrived and is casting a shadow over all other decks. To learn more about this card, how to use it in a meta deck, and the synergies behind it, just read on. We’ve compiled the most comprehensive Arceus ex guide for both beginner and veteran players.
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Arceus ex Card Overview
- Rarity: Four-diamond, two-star, three-star, crown
- HP: 140
- ATK: 70 (up to 130)
- Ability: This attack does 20 more damage for each of your Benched Pokemon.
- ATK Energy: Three Colorless
- Retreat Cost: Two
- Weakness: Fighting
Based on the current Pokemon TCG Pocket tournament data, the best deck for Arceus ex is a Steel-type setup featuring Dialga ex and Shaymin. The strategy revolves around using Dialga ex’s ability to rapidly power up Arceus ex and leveraging Shaymin to heal both or reduce their retreat cost.
Key Pokemon & Trainer Cards
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Pokemon |
Trainer |
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- Matches: ~ 3,300
- Meta Share: ~11%
- Win Rate: ~ 59%
Soon after the A2a set’s launch, Arceus ex soared to the top of the meta, quickly overpowering the undefeated Darkrai ex & Magnezone duo from the previous expansion. Thanks to Dialga ex’s Energy-generating effect, Arceus ex can accelerate its buildup and dish out a massive 130 damage—enough to overwhelm most meta decks before they can ramp up.
The synergy between Arceus ex and Dialga ex is simple: Start with Dialga ex, build it up, and unlock its ability to generate two extra Energies per attack. Then, bring in Arceus ex to absorb this generated energy and prepare to hit 130 damage per turn.
Shaymin plays a crucial role in the Arceus ex & Dialga ex meta. Ideally, you place one Shaymin on the board to reduce the retreat cost for both Dialga ex and Arceus ex. Alternatively, you can play the older Shaymin to heal 10 damage from one of your attackers each turn. Either way, Shaymin’s presence is pivotal in this setup.
Second-Best Deck for Arceus ex
Stat-wise, the second-best Arceus ex deck is a hybrid setup featuring the new Crobat and Heatran. Both Pokemon have abilities that activate when Arceus ex is on the board. Crobat becomes a Darkrai ex-like card, dealing 30 damage to the opponent’s Active Pokemon, while Heatran gains a free retreat cost.
The strategy is to build this deck with Fire-type Energy. Since Crobat’s evolution line is Colorless, you can use the Fire-type Energy to power up both Heatran and Arceus ex.
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Trainer |
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The most anti-Arceus ex deck in the current metagame is a Rampardos & Lucario setup featuring Sudowoodo. Given that Arceus ex is weak to Fighting-type Pokemon, this deck holds a 64% advantage in tournament matchups.
What makes this anti-meta lineup particularly effective against Arceus ex is the inclusion of Sudowoodo. With Lucario on the Bench, Sudowoodo can deal up to 90 damage with just one Energy, provided the enemy’s Arceus ex is Active.
The Gallade ex & Hitmonlee duo is the second-best counter, with recent stats showing it has won 65% of matches against Arceus ex.
Pokemon Abilities That Synergize with Arcues ex
Pokemon TCG Pocket’s Triumphant Light expansion introduced eight new Pokemon with abilities that activate when Arceus or Arceus ex is in the Active Spot. The following table lists all these cards and explains their effects:
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Pokemon |
Effect |
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Carnivine |
If you have Arceus or Arceus ex in play, attacks used by this Pokemon do +30 damage to your opponent’s Active Pokemon. |
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Heatran |
If you have Arceus or Arceus ex in play, this Pokemon has no Retreat Cost. |
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Abomasnow |
If you have Arceus or Arceus ex in play, attacks used by this Pokemon cost one less Energy. |
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(A2a) Raichu |
If you have Arceus or Arceus ex in play, this Pokemon takes −30 damage from attacks. |
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(A2a) Rotom |
If you have Arceus or Arceus ex in play, this Pokemon has no Retreat Cost. |
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Tyranitar |
If you have Arceus or Arceus ex in play, attacks used by this Pokemon do +30 damage to your opponent’s Active Pokemon. |
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(A2a) Crobat |
Once during your turn, if you have Arceus or Arceus ex in play, you may do 30 damage to your opponent’s Active Pokemon. |
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(A2a) Magnezone |
If you have Arceus or Arceus ex in play, this Pokemon takes −30 damage from attacks. |
Arceus ex, being a Colorless Pokemon, is one of the most future-proof cards of the entire Triumphant Light expansion. It’s unlikely that the upcoming sets will push this card out of the metagame. If anything, they are likely to further strengthen Arceus ex, as it synergizes well with most archetypes and Pokemon types.
That said, Arceus ex’s stats are slightly lower than some other core cards like Charizard ex and Mewtwo ex. This could pose a challenge if those high-damage Pokemon gain popularity again. Additionally, a Fighting-type Pokemon could dominate the meta in the future, potentially limiting Arceus ex’s impact. However, one thing is certain: the Creator God of the Pokemon World will remain one of the best secondary damage dealers in the game.
