In the world of Pokemon, Absol is known for its long lifespan and its ability to sense disasters. In Pokemon TCG Pocket, however, this creature has low HP and can be taken out by the opponent before it senses danger and retreats. Despite these weaknesses, Mega Absol EX dominated the early B1 metagame, becoming one of the most popular decks with an impressive PvP win rate.
Pokemon TCG Pocket Mega Rising Card List (B1 Expansion)
There are 331 new cards in Pokemon TCG Pocket's Mega Rising expansion, including three gold crown cards and six Mega Evolutions.
This guide introduces Mega Absol EX, highlights its top-performing decks, and reveals the best strategies for using it. It also covers the top counters to Mega Absol EX, analyzes its metagame performance, and predicts its future in competitive play. In short, the guide offers fans everything they need to know about Pokemon TCG Pocket's Mega Absol EX.
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Mega Absol EX Card Overview
- Type: Darkness
- HP: 170
- ATK: 80
- Passive [ATK Text]: Your opponent reveals their hand. Choose a Supporter card you find there and discard it.
- ATK Cost: Two Darkness-type Energy
- Retreat Cost: One
- Stage: Basic
- Weakness: Grass-type
- Expansion: Mega Rising (B1)
Mega Absol EX Meta Deck
In Pokemon TCG Pocket's early Mega Rising metagame, Mega Absol EX formed a dominating duo with the Darkness-type king, Darkrai EX. The pair capitalized on Lightning-type Oricorio and Baby Pokemon Pichu to stall and build momentum.
For Trainer cards, the Mega Absol EX and Darkrai EX combo relies on Cyrus, Copycat, Leaf, Giant Cape, and Pokemon Center Lady, along with other meta staples like Red and Red Card.
The following table shows an example of a Mega Absol EX deck that has been performing well in recent Pokemon TCG Pocket tournaments:
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Pokemon |
Trainer Cards |
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The Mega Absol EX uses Darkness-type Energy.
How the Mega Absol EX & Darkrai EX Duo Works
- Pichu helps ramp up Oricorio's and Darkrai EX's attacks.
- Oricorio stalls the opponent while Darkrai EX deals chip damage and Mega Absol EX prepares to attack from the Bench.
- Darkrai EX uses the extra Darkness Energy to deal damage.
- Mega Absol EX can replace Oricorio in the Active Spot to deal massive damage and discard one of the opponent's Supporters.
- Cyrus helps target enemies weakened by Darkrai EX or those that escaped after Mega Absol EX's initial attack.
- Giant Cape is essential to offset Mega Absol EX's below-average HP in the Active Spot.
- Leaf allows the Active Darkrai EX to retreat when it needs to be replaced with Oricorio or Mega Absol EX.
Best Alternative Mega Absol EX Decks
The problem with the current Mega Absol EX deck shells is that they rely heavily on the trio of Pichu, Oricorio, and Darkrai EX to secure wins, making Mega Absol feel like a secondary attacker. However, some variants put Mega Absol EX on the frontline, fully leveraging its abilities.
Mega Absol EX & Dusknoir (A2)
One of the most interesting combos for a Mega Absol EX-centered deck is the A2 Dusknoir with the Shadow Void ability. When this card is on the Bench, it can absorb all damage from the Active Mega Absol EX, effectively extending its board presence. With two Dusknoir on the Bench, Mega Absol EX's HP can be extended by 260 points, as each Dusknoir absorbs 130 damage. The best part is that Dusknoir is a non-EX card, so losing one only gives the opponent a single prize point.
The downside of this combination is that Dusknoir is a Stage Two Pokemon, making it a challenging supporter to set up on the Bench.
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Pokemon |
Trainer Card |
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Mega Absol EX & Hydreigon
Hydreigon can deal a massive 130 damage for three Darkness-type Energy, making it one of the strongest attackers among Darkness Pokemon. When set up early with the help of Rare Candy, this Stage Two powerhouse can use its Roar in Unison ability to deal damage quickly.
Hydreigon's ability also lets the player allocate their zone Energy to Mega Absol EX. The main drawback, however, is that Hydreigon is a Stage Two Pokemon and relies heavily on card draws.
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Pokemon |
Trainer Card |
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One of the best supporting cards for Mega Absol EX decks is the Baby Pokemon Chingling. Chingling can prevent the opponent from using Item Cards, which complements Mega Absol EX's anti-Supporter effect. Together, they can effectively shut down the opponent's Item and Supporter cards, dealing a severe blow to their strategy.
How to Counter Mega Absol EX Decks
Among Pokemon TCG Pocket's popular anti-meta decks, the Silvally-Oricorio setup has been performing particularly well against Mega Absol EX decks, with an average win rate of around 70%. Another effective counter is the Suicune EX and Greninja EX combo, which has beaten Mega Absol EX in nearly 55% of matches as of this writing.
Mega Absol EX Performance in Pokemon TCG Pocket Meta
- Meta Share: ~ 12% (As of November 10)
- Win Rate: ~ 54% (As of November 10)
Mega Absol EX is currently the most popular Pokemon in TCG Pocket's metagame, with Mega Blaziken EX not far behind. It also has one of the highest win rates among all meta Pokemon since the game's launch, though these numbers could shift significantly in the coming days, particularly after the release of Pokemon TCG Pocket's first B1 mini expansion.
The Problem with Most Mega Absol EX Decks
While currently dominating the meta in Pokemon TCG Pocket, Mega Absol EX faces two major issues that may damage its standing in the future: below-average HP and low damage.
Mega Absol EX is a risky play: Unlike its counterpart in the Pokemon anime, Mega Absol EX in TCG Pocket has a short lifespan. It has one of the lowest HP values among Mega Pokemon, making it vulnerable. Its "Mega" stat means it's worth three prize points for the opponent, so knocking it out can secure them the game.
Mega Absol EX's damage output is below average: Dealing only 80 DMG is often insufficient to take out key enemy Pokemon. While its ability to discard an opponent's Supporter card provides valuable utility, this effect loses impact in late-game rounds, often forcing the player to swap Mega Absol EX for a stronger attacker.
The Future of Mega Absol EX in Pokemon TCG Pocket
Many analysts argue that Mega Absol EX rose to the top of the meta mainly because cards like Mega Blaziken EX became popular. They suggest that the current meta setup, featuring Oricorio and Darkrai EX, functions more as a counter deck for other Mega EX lineups. In their view, this means Mega Absol EX could soon lose its spot on the PvP ladder once the Mega Pokemon craze fades and new decks emerge.
A refined version of the trending Blaziken EX and Entei EX could also threaten Absol. While this disaster-sensing Pokemon has achieved one of the highest win rates in Pokemon TCG Pocket's PvP history, its position appears fragile and may not last. Another possibility is that the next mini-set introduces better supporter cards for Mega Absol EX, solidifying its place at the top of the meta.
- Released
- October 30, 2024
- Developer(s)
- DeNA, Creatures Inc.
- Publisher(s)
- The Pokemon Company
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- Yes
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Digital Card Game
