The Best Pokemon TCG Decks For Competitive Play in 2024

The Pokemon TCG meta has continuously evolved throughout 2023 and heads into the new year with a few key decks at the top. We break down the strongest decks in the 2024 Pokemon TCG meta

It’s been a crazy year for the Pokémon TCG community, especially when it comes to competition. There has been plenty of drama, cheating, and scalping, but through it all, the passion for the game has only grown. And the meta has continued to shift thanks to all the recently released sets.

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Going into 2024, here are the top decks that you’ll encounter at locals and regionals. We’ve included some example deck lists but keep in mind that you will see some variety. Still, the overall decks have the same playstyle so be ready.

Chien Pao

Pokemon

Chien Pao ex was already a top deck in 2023 but it looks like it will still be defining the meta in early 2024. What has made Chien Pao ex so consistent is Baxcalibur, which allows you to attach as many basic energy cards from your hand onto your Pokémon as often as you’d like. Many cards make this even more powerful, including Superior Energy Retrieval.

But Chien Pao ex has improved since Paradox Rift was released. Iron Hands ex have made this deck a major threat just as it was predicted. Use Baxcalibur to power up your Iron Hands rapidly and then use it to make your next knockout worth an extra prize card. This can help you get a major upper hand on opponents, even if they are playing one-prize decks.

Earthen Vessel is another great addition. If you discard a card from your hand, you can search your deck for two basic energy cards, reveal them, and put them into your hand. This is obviously great with Baxcalibur on your bench since you can then instantly attach these basic energies, overwhelming your opponent.

• 2 Frigibax PAL 57
• 1 Frigibax PAL 58
• 2 Baxcalibur PAL 60
• 3 Chien-Pao ex PAL 61
• 2 Bidoof CRZ 111
• 2 Bibarel BRS 121
• 1 Radiant Greninja ASR 46
• 1 Iron Hands ex PAR
• 1 Manaphy BRS 41
• 4 Irida
• 1 Iono
• 4 Superior Energy Retrieval
• 4 Cross Switcher
• 4 Battle VIP Pass
• 4 Ultra Ball
• 3 Nest Ball
• 3 Rare Candy
• 2 Super Rod
• 2 Earthen Vessel
• 1 Hisuian Heavy Ball
• 4 PokeStop
• 1 Lightning Energy
• 8 Water Energy

Lost Tina

Pokemon

Lost Tina has been dominating in Japanese tournaments and players around the world are preparing for it to be a top contender come 2024. Your goal with the deck is to get 10 cards in the Lost Zone to unlock Giratina VSTAR’s attack Star Requiem for an automatic knockout.

Star Requiem reads: “You can use this attack only if you have 10 or more cards in the Lost Zone. Your opponent’s Active Pokémon is Knocked Out.”

Until then, however, you rely on one prizers to quickly move through your deck and consistently get cards into the Lost Zone. Once you are ready, take out your Giratina and get ready to aggressively corner your opponent.

• 3 Giratina V LOR 130
• 4 Comfey LOR 79 3 Giratina VSTAR LOR 131
• 2 Sableye LOR 70
• 1 Manaphy BRS 41
• 1 Radiant Greninja ASR 46
• 1 Cramorant LOR 50
• 1 Drapion V CRZ-GG 49
• 3 Switch Cart ASR 154
• 3 Escape Rope BST 125
• 3 Path to the Peak CRE 148
• 1 Lost Vacuum CRZ 135
• 2 Super Rod PAL 188
• 4 Battle VIP Pass FST 225
• 1 Iono PAL 185
• 1 Roxanne ASR 150
• 4 Mirage Gate LOR 163
• 3 Nest Ball SVI 181
• 4 Colress's Experiment LOR 155
• 2 Boss's Orders BRS 132
• 4 Grass Energy
• 5 Psychic Energy
• 4 Jet Energy PAL 190

Arven Zard

This powerful deck dominated at Brazil’s international tournament and has become even more powerful since the 151 expansion dropped.

The 151 set introduced a 70 HP Charmander, which makes other decks less effective against your setup early on. Arven Zard has become a bit more of a threat versus Lost Zone-focused decks since they can no longer take multiple knockouts in the first few turns. This lets you get out Charizard a lot faster.

Charizard ex has a massive damage output and can power itself up with the Infernal Reign ability. Use Pidgeot’s Quick Searches to find Boss’ Orders to let your Charizard target specific Pokémon. Meanwhile, with 330 HP, it will take a lot for your opponent to take down your Charizard ex, ensuring you can tank damage and keep burning down their ‘mon.

• 1 Lumineon V BRS 40
• 1 Manaphy BRS 41
• 1 Entei V BRS 22
• 1 Radiant Charizard CRZ 20
• 1 Mew CEL 11
• 3 Charizard ex OBF 125
• 1 Charmeleon MEW 5
• 4 Charmander MEW 4
• 2 Pidgeot ex OBF 164
• 2 Pidgey MEW 16
• 4 Arven SVI 166
• 3 Boss's Orders PAL 172
• 2 Iono PAL 185
• 1 Penny SVI 183
• 1 Professor's Research SVI 189
• 4 Battle VIP Pass FST 225
• 1 Escape Rope BST 125
• 2 Lost Vacuum CRZ 135
• 2 Nest Ball SVI 181
• 4 Rare Candy SVI 191
• 1 Super Rod PAL 188
• 4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
• 2 Lost City LOR 161
• 1 Choice Belt PAL 176
• 2 Forest Seal Stone SIT 156
• 1 Vengeful Punch OBF 197
• 8 Fire Energy SVE 2 PH

Scream Gardi

Gardevoir ex was already considered a top deck, although it wasn’t as consistent as some of the others in the current format. But with the new additions from Paradox Rift, Gardi is looking to be unstoppable in 2024.

Your goal is to get your board set up and evolve into your two Gardevoir. The first is Shining Arcana Gardevoir, which lets you look at the top two cards of your deck, find an energy, and attack it to any of your ‘mon. Attach it to this Gardi since it has an attack that does 60 damage plus 30 per energy attached.

Gardevoir ex is even more powerful thanks to its high HP and strong attacks. Its ability, Psychic Embrace, lets you attach as many basic Psychic energy cards in your discard to your Pokémon any way you wish.

The ‘mon that you attach energy to in this way, however, must take two damage counters. But new attacker Scream Tail takes full advantage of this effect. Roaring Scream deals 20 damage for each damage counter on this card. It’s almost like it was made for this deck. Target benched Pokémon for unexpected knockouts.

• 2 Gardevoir CRE 61
• 1 Mew CEL 11
• 1 Jirachi PAR 126
• 2 Scream Tail PAR 86
• 1 Manaphy CRZ-GG 6
• 3 Kirlia SIT 68
• 1 Mew ex MEW 151
• 1 Zacian V CRZ-GG 48
• 1 Kirlia CRE 60
• 4 Ralts ASR 60
• 2 Gardevoir ex SVI 86
• 1 Counter Catcher PAR 160 PH
• 4 Battle VIP Pass FST 225 PH
• 1 Super Rod PAL 276
• 1 Forest Seal Stone SIT 156
• 1 Tulip PAR 259
• 3 Level Ball BST 181
• 1 Pal Pad SVI 182 PH
• 3 Fog Crystal CRE 140
• 2 Iono PAL 269
• 1 Technical Machine: Evolution PAR 178
• 1 Worker SIT 167
• 2 Arven SVI 235
• 1 Lost Vacuum CRZ 135
• 2 Collapsed Stadium BRS 137
• 1 Boss's Orders BRS 132
• 3 Ultra Ball SVI 196
• 1 Rare Candy SVI 191
• 2 Reversal Energy PAL 192
• 10 Psychic Energy