The competitive landscape of Pokémon TCG Pocket is constantly evolving, with new strategies emerging to challenge the dominance of established decks. Recently, an unlikely duo has re-emerged in the metagame: Exeggutor ex and Celebi ex. These two Grass-type Pokémon are emerging as a powerful response to strategies focused on Darkrai ex, who have dominated the game in recent months.
But what makes Exeggutor ex and Celebi ex so competitive? The combination of new Trainer cards from the expansion Space-Time Smackdown and unique abilities put this duo at the center of the discussion. Despite being initially underestimated, the strategy is showing expressive results in tournaments and PvP matches, surprising even experienced players.
How the Exeggutor ex and Celebi ex meta works
The principle behind the Exeggutor-Celebi deck is simple and efficient. The player must bring Exeggcute to the active position as soon as possible, evolve it to Exeggutor ex and start causing even 80 points of damage per turn. Meanwhile, Celebi ex should be prepared on the Bench, accumulating Grass-type energy for a devastating attack at the right time.
The big difference in this strategy is the Trainer cards introduced by the Space-Time Smackdown expansion. Items like Giant Cape and Rocky Helmet Increase Exeggutor ex's hit points and defensive power, allowing it to better resist attacks focused on cumulative damage, common in the meta of Darkrai ex.
Another crucial element is the use of Shaymin. This Pokémon, combined with cards like Erika and Potion, allows healing up to 110 points of damage in a single round, significantly increasing team survivability. This synergy is especially effective against “chip damage” strategies, which are based on abilities that deal small amounts of damage over time.
Building the ideal Pokémon TCG Pocket deck
To build a competitive deck with Exeggutor ex and Celebi ex in Pokémon TCG Pocket, there are a few essential cards. Here is the recommended base:
- Exeggcute (2)
- Exeggutor ex (2)
- Celebi ex (2)
- Cyrus (1)
- Erika (2)
- Rocky Helmet (1)
- Giant Cape (1)
- Pokemon Communication (1)
- Pokemon Ball (2)
- Potion (2)
- Professor's Research (2)
These elements ensure a solid structure. There is still room for customization, including cards like Sabrina and Leaf, which offer additional strategic options. Another popular suggestion is to include Shaymin in two slots, bolstering the deck's healing capabilities.
Competitive performance analysis
Since the introduction of Space-Time Smackdown, Exeggutor ex and Celebi ex have been putting up impressive numbers in the competitive scene:
- Tournament matches played: +6,000 (by February 2025)
- Participation in the metagame: ~6,5%
- Win rate: ~54%
This data indicates that the duo is not only performing solidly, but has also gained popularity rapidly. In matches against decks in the current meta, the results are even more encouraging. Against the popular combination Darkrai ex & Greninja, the deck maintains a win rate of 56%, while reaching 55% against variants with Magnezone.
These numbers place Exeggutor ex and Celebi ex as one of the best choices for those looking to exploit weaknesses in the dominant metagame of Pokémon TCG Pocket.
Weaknesses and future of strategy in Pokémon TCG Pocket
While current performance is promising, the future of Exeggutor ex and Celebi ex in the metagame is still uncertain. The strategy struggles against decks with great explosive power, as Charizard ex & Moltres ex, besides not doing well against combinations like Gyarados ex & Greninja.
Another point of concern is the reliance on specific cards, such as Cyrus and Giant Cape, which are key elements to the deck's success. If future expansions introduce countermeasures or remove these cards from the competitive format, the viability of Exeggutor and Celebi could be compromised.
Additionally, the strategy is heavily influenced by random factors (RNG), especially in the distribution of cards and energy. This makes it less predictable in high-level matches, where consistency is essential.
The return of Exeggutor ex and Celebi ex
The return of Exeggutor ex and Celebi ex Pokémon TCG Pocket's metagame demonstrates how creativity and the use of new expansions can redefine the competitive landscape. Despite their weaknesses, the duo is showing that they can take on dominant decks like Darkrai ex, offering players a viable and innovative alternative.
If you're looking for a different but still competitive deck, Exeggutor ex and Celebi ex are interesting choices. However, it's important to stay alert to future changes in the metagame and prepare strategies to face increasingly complex challenges. The game is constantly evolving, and it's up to players to adapt to achieve victory.