6 Best Pokemon TCG Decks in 2024: Standard Meta 

Building an arsenal of cards for an upcoming tournament requires knowledge about the best Pokemon TCG decks of today’s Standard meta.

But for new Pokemon TCG players, having the top-tier decks from the recent Standard rotation is a good way to understand the game’s overall mechanics and how the effects of various cards synergize in a duel.

Whether you’re playing Pokemon TCG competitively or just for the fun of it, being updated about the most powerful card combinations is a mark of a true TCG enthusiast.

Prepare your strategies against this year’s best Pokemon TCG decks!

Editor’s Note (February 13, 2024): With the release of newer sets, players are studying the best strategies in utilizing the newest cards around. To keep up with the current meta, we just added another powerful deck build that you might want to try!

6 Best Pokemon TCG Decks in 2024

Apart from the Expanded format, most games follow the Standard format as it brings a new level of excitement and unpredictability.

The following are considered as the crème de la crème of the decks that performed well in the Standard meta:

1. Giratina VSTAR + Comfey Combination

This deck features Giratina VSTAR as its main offensive tool.

One of the most powerful cards in the Lost Origin set, Giratina VSTAR has no weaknesses and it enables you to delete at least two of your opponent’s Pokemon before getting knocked out.

To maximize the effects of Giratina VSTAR’s VSTAR Power, you’ll need cards that also use the Lost Zone, specifically Comfey and Colress’s Experiment.

Comfey’s Flower Selecting ability and Colress’s Experiment both allow Giratina VSTAR to quickly stack up the cards in the Lost Zone and trigger its VSTAR Power, Star Requiem.

Star Requiem automatically knocks out the opposing Pokemon once you have 10 cards or more in the Lost Zone. That’s one less Pokemon to worry about!

With Giratina VSTAR’s VSTAR Power already used, you can still let it rampage the field if you can afford to use Lost Impact, which will likely one-hit any regular Pokemon with its staggering 280 damage.

Giratina VSTAR + Comfey Deck Build:

Pokemon Cards

• x4 Comfey LOR 79
• x4 Giratina V LOR 130
• x3 Giratina VSTAR LOR 131
• x2 Sableye LOR 70
• x1 Cramorant LOR 50
• x1 Radiant Greninja ASR 46
• x1 Manaphy BRS 41

Trainer Cards

• x4 Colress’s Experiment LOR 155
• x2 Boss’s Orders PAL 172
• x2 Roxanne ASR 150
• x1 Iono PAL 185
• x4 Mirage Gate LOR 163
• x4 Battle VIP Pass FST 225
• x3 Nest Ball SVI 181
• x3 Switch Cart ASR 154
• x2 Escape Rope BST 125
• x2 Super Rod PAL 188
• x1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
• x2 Path to the Peak CRE 148
• x1 Temple of Sinnoh ASR 155

Energy

• x4 Psychic Energy
• x3 Grass Energy
• x3 Water Energy
• x3 Jet Energy PAL 190

2. Lost Zone Box

Like the Giratina VSTAR deck, the Lost Zone Box also benefits from the Lost Zone mechanic.

All you have to do in the early few turns is to put as many cards in the Lost Zone as possible with the help of Comfey and Colress’s Experiment.

Ensure that you have Cramorant and Sableye in the field once you have at least 10 cards in the Lost Zone.

If you have four cards in the Lost Zone, you can cheese your strategy by calling Cramorant to the Active Zone and use its attack Spit Innocently without spending any Energy cards.

Spit Innocently is a strange move that dishes out 110 damage to the opposing Pokemon.

With 10 cards in the Lost Zone, you can pay Cramorant’s cheap retreat cost and replace it with Sableye.

Sableye’s attack, Lost Mine will give you the freedom of putting 12 damage counters to your opponent’s Pokemon team.

Despite not focusing on a hard-hitting Pokemon, this deck offers a new way to win the game, which is to exhaust your opponent’s team without spending too many Energy cards.

Ideally, you can also use the Energy cards that you saved by playing a Radiant Greninja and use its Moonlight Shuriken attack.

Lost Zone Box Deck Build:

Pokemon

• x4 Comfey LOR 79
• x2 Sableye LOR 70
• x1 Cramorant LOR 50
• x1 Radiant Greninja ASR 46
• x1 Kyogre CEL 3
• x1 Manaphy BRS 41
• x1 Dragonite V PR-SW 154
• x1 Pidgeot V LOR 137

Trainer

• x4 Colress’s Experiment LOR 155
• x2 Boss’s Orders BRS 132
• x2 Klara CRE 145
• x4 Mirage Gate LOR 163
• x4 Battle VIP Pass FST 225
• x4 Nest Ball SVI 181
• x4 Switch Cart ASR 154
• x4 Escape Rope BST 125
• x3 Lost Vacuum CRZ 135
• x2 Energy Recycler BST 124
• x1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
• x2 Forest Seal Stone SIT 156
• x2 Beach Court SVI 167

Energy

• x5 Water Energy
• x4 Psychic Energy
• x2 Lightning Energy

3. Lugia VSTAR + Archeops

While this deck aims to unleash Lugia VSTAR’s Tempest Dive in a few turns, it can also benefit other powerful Pokemon cards in the field once the Archeops are already in play.

After evolving Lugia V, use Lugia VSTAR’s Summoning Star ability to call forth two copies of Archeops from your discard pile to the bench zone.

These Archeops can trigger their Primal Turbo abilities to instantly provide Lugia VSTAR four colorless energies and activate its Tempest Dive, a move that reduces the opposing Pokemon’s HP by 220 and destroys any Stadium at play.

If Lugia VSTAR gets knocked out, you can still capitalize on the two Archeops by letting them power up another strong Pokemon like Yvetal, Duraludon VMAX, and Tyranitar V.

Lugia XSTAR Deck Build:

Pokemon

• x4 Lugia V SIT 138
• x3 Lugia VSTAR SIT 139
• x4 Archeops SIT 147
• x2 Lumineon V BRS 40
• x1 Duraludon V CRZ 103
• x1 Duraludon VMAX CRZ 104
• x1 Tyranitar V BST 97
• x1 Yveltal FST 175
• x1 Stonjourner BST 84
• x1 Radiant Tsareena SIT 16
• x1 Pumpkaboo EVS 76

Trainer

• x4 Professor’s Research SVI 189
• x2 Judge SVI 176
• x2 Boss’s Orders BRS 132
• x1 Serena SIT 164
• x1 Professor Burnet PR-SW 167
• x1 Thorton LOR 167
• x4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
• x4 Capturing Aroma SIT 153
• x2 Nest Ball SVI 181
• x2 Urn of Vitality BST 139
• x2 Mesagoza SVI 178

Energy

• x4 Single Strike Energy BST 141
• x3 Impact Energy CRE 157
• x3 Double Turbo Energy BRS 151
• x3 Gift Energy LOR 171
• x2 V Guard Energy SIT 169

4. Charizard ex + Pidgeot ex

Charizard ex from the Obsidian Flames set is a Pokemon card that doesn’t care if your opponent is in the lead. It destroys, incinerates, and turns the tide of the game in your favor if used properly.

Playing this deck build requires Charmander and Charmeleon, and then evolving them to Charizard ex as quickly as possible.

While waiting for your Charizard ex to enter the field, you can also rely on Pidgey in the early game.

Once you evolve Pidgey to Pidgeotto, you can have Pidgeot ex and its Quick Search ability can help you find the cards you need.

Alternatively, you can also play cards like Ultra Ball and Level Ball to find spare Charmanders and Charmeleon.

If your opponent manages to get one or two prize cards before you play Charizard ex, this Pokemon’s Burning Darkness move will deal more damage which will likely mean the end to each of your opponent’s Pokemon.

Charizard ex Deck Build:

Pokemon

• x3 Arceus V BRS 122
• x3 Arceus VSTAR BRS 123
• x4 Charmander OBF 026
• x1 Charmeleon OBF 027
• x3 Charizard ex OBF 125
• x3 Pidgey OBF 162
• x2 Pidgeot ex OBF 164

Trainer

• x4 Boss’s Orders BRS 132
• x4 Iono PAL 269
• x3 Professor’s Research BRS 147
• x1 Jacq SV1 175
• x4 Ultra Ball SV1 196
• x3 Artazon PAL 171
• x1 Lost Vacuum LOR 162
• x4 Rare Candy SV1 191
• x4 Nest Ball SM1 123
• x2 Choice Belt PAL 176

Energy

• x9 Fire Energy
• x2 Double Turbo Energy BRS 151

5. Mew VMAX Fusion Strike + Cross Fusion Strike

The strategy of this deck is pretty simple and will center around Mew Vmax.

Set up the side of your field by benching Genesect V and putting Mew V as your active Pokemon.

To reinforce your bench, use Ultra Ball and Cram-o-matic so you can get as many Pokemon cards (especially Mew VMAX) as possible from your deck.

Once you have Mew VMAX, use it to evolve your Mew V and trigger a damaging combo that deals a tremendous amount of damage to your opponent’s Pokemon.

Collect the necessary Energy cards and activate Mew VMAX’s Cross Fusion Strike. This move will enable Mew to copy an attack of one of your benched Fusion Strike Pokemon, such as Genesect V’s Techno Blast.

Mew VMAX Deck Build:

Pokemon

• x4 Mew V CRZ 60
• x3 Mew VMAX FST 114
• x4 Genesect V FST 185
• x1 Meloetta FST 124
• x1 Oricorio FST 42

Trainer

• x2 Elesa’s Sparkle FST 233
• x2 Boss’s Orders PAL 172
• x1 Iono PAL 185
• x1 Judge SVI 176
• x4 Power Tablet FST 236
• x4 Battle VIP Pass FST 225
• x4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
• x4 Cram-o-matic FST 229
• x2 Nest Ball SVI 181
• x2 Lost Vacuum CRZ 135
• x2 Switch Cart ASR 154
• x1 Escape Rope BST 125
• x1 Pal Pad SVI 182
• x3 Forest Seal Stone SIT 156
• x2 Choice Belt PAL 176
• x1 Box of Disaster LOR 154
• x2 Lost City LOR 161
• x1 Path to the Peak CRE 148
• x1 Crystal Cave EVS 144

Energy

• x4 Fusion Strike Energy FST 244
• x3 Double Turbo Energy BRS 151

6. Miraidon ex + Iron Hands ex

Electric-based decks are typically focused on hard-hitting attacks and quick offensive strategies.

If you want to win games in as few turns as possible, check out this Miraidon ex deck build.

Miraidon ex’s ability, Tandem Unit can fill your bench with basic Electric-type Pokemon in no time.

Imagine Miraidon ex calling forth Iron Hands ex, Raikou V and Zapdos to score you some knockouts and Prize Cards.

Miraidon ex Deck Build:

Pokemon

• x3 Miraidon ex SVI 81
• x2 Mareep EVS 54
• x2 Flaaffy SVP 15
• x2 Raikou V BRS 48
• x1 Raichu V BRS 45
• x1 Iron Hands ex PAR 70
• x1 Flying Pikachu V CEL 6
• x1 Squawkabilly ex PAL 169
• x1 Zapdos PGO 29

Trainer

• x4 Professor’s Research SVI 189
• x3 Boss’s Orders PAL 172
• x2 Judge SVI 176
• x2 Arven OBF 186
• x1 Iono PAL 185
• x4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
• x4 Electric Generator SVI 170
• x2 Switch Cart ASR 154
• x2 Escape Rope BST 125
• x1 Super Rod PAL 188
• x1 Nest Ball SVI 181
• x2 Bravery Charm PAL 173
• x1 Forest Seal Stone SIT 156
• x3 Path to the Peak CRE 148

Energy

• 14 Lightning Energy

Conclusion

The decks featured above are some of the most effective and best Pokemon TCG decks that you can prepare to play against or use to grasp victory in every duel.

If you already noticed, most decks have a common theme of using the amazing capabilities of a certain Pokemon card.

You can learn about such a concept as a newbie, but you can also think of new strategies by checking several of the promising Pokemon cards in the latest sets.

Was this list helpful to you? For more Pokemon TCG-related content, check out more of Pokemoncoders’ articles:

• 5 Pokemon Sets With Best Pull Rates
• Pokemon 151 Set: What We Know So Far
• Is Crown Zenith Worth It? – A Definitive Review