Many believe Gyarados’s closest brush with the meta in Pokemon TCG Pocket came during the Shining Revelry era, when its combo with Manaphy and Origin Forme Palkia ranked as the second most-used deck with an impressive 53% win rate. That said, the Water-type Pokemon was also quite popular in the Mythical Island era, as it had a win rate of about 52% in that season.
Pokemon TCG Pocket: Best Water Type Decks
Players seeking options for some of the best Water-type decks in Pokemon TCG Pocket can discover the most viable options through this guide.
When Pokemon TCG Pocket announced the B1: Mega Rising expansion, many fans were hopeful that Mega Gyarados EX would finally let the iconic Water-type shine. However, things haven’t gone as expected, and the current metagame seems to be working against it—for now.
This analysis explores the best decks for Mega Gyarados EX and explains why none have managed to dominate the PvP scene. It also examines how the Water-type can be countered and what its biggest threats are in the current meta.
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Mega Gyarados EX Card Overview
- Type: Water
- HP: 210
- ATK: 140
- Passive [ATK Text]: Discard the top three cards of the opponent’s deck.
- ATK Cost: Four (Three Water-type, one Colorless)
- Retreat Cost: Three
- Stage: One
- Weakness: Lightning
- Expansion: Mega Rising
Mega Gyarados EX Meta Deck
One of the most common deck shells for Mega Gyarados EX in Pokemon TCG Pocket’s Mega Rising era is the one that features Mantyke. Many players also add a non-EX heavy hitter like Keldeo to counter potential Oricorio decks. Others, however, prefer Manaphy in that slot for more Energy-generating support.
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The Mega Gyarados EX deck is built around the Water-type Energy.
How the Mega Gyarados EX Meta Works
- Mantyke is the ideal opener, providing extra Water-type Energy to ramp up Mega Gyarados EX.
- Magikarp stays on the Bench and must be protected while all Water-type Energy is allocated to it.
- Keldeo serves as a secondary attacker, useful against stallers like Oricorio that Mega Gyarados EX can’t handle.
- Mega Gyarados EX is the main attacker and should move to the Active Spot as soon as it has enough Energy to strike.
- Mars and Red Card enhance Mega Gyarados EX’s discard ability by reducing the opponent’s hand and cycling their deck.
- Misty can be a ramp option, though it’s RNG-dependent and not always reliable.
- Lisia helps draw key cards such as Mantyke, Magikarp, or Manaphy.
- Elemental Switch enables transferring Water-type Energy between Mega Gyarados EX and Keldeo.
Best Alternative Mega Gyarados EX Decks
There aren’t many high-performing Mega Gyarados EX decks in Pokemon TCG Pocket’s current meta. Aside from its combo with Keldeo, the Mega has been paired with Milotic (A4a) and the non-EX Gyarados.
Mega Gyarados EX’s partnership with A4a Milotic revolves around Milotic’s healing ability. Each time Milotic is used to evolve a Pokemon, it heals 60 damage from Mega Gyarados EX. When combined with cards like Irida, this can significantly extend the Mega Pokemon’s survivability.
In the other format, where both the Mega and non-EX versions of Gyarados from the Genetic Apex set are used together, the non-EX form acts as a backup attacker similar to Keldeo in other builds. Its high HP and passive ability to remove Energy from the opponent’s Active Pokemon make it valuable, though its high Energy cost can be an issue. Without ramp cards like Misty, it may struggle to attack in time.
How to Counter Mega Gyarados EX Decks
One of the strongest decks against Mega Gyarados EX is the duo of Mega Blaziken EX and Entei EX. For players seeking a budget counter, the Oricorio-Greninja setup is also a reliable option, achieving roughly a 70% win rate against the Water-type.
Meta decklists like Mega Absol EX paired with Darkrai EX have also proven effective against newer Mega Gyarados EX builds. This is reflected in Mega Gyarados EX’s current average win rate of about 40%, placing it among the weakest Mega cards in the Pokemon TCG Pocket meta.
Mega Gyarados EX Meta Performance Analysis
- Win Rate: ~ 40%
- Meta Share: Less than 5%
As of now, with a 40% win rate and under 5% meta share, Mega Gyarados EX stands as one of the weakest Mega Pokemon introduced in Pokemon TCG Pocket’s B1 expansion. While many believe it hasn’t yet reached its full potential, it appears to be up against a wall in the current metagame.
The Problem with Mega Gyarados EX in Pokemon TCG Pocket
There are three main reasons why this card hasn’t been as successful as some other Mega Pokemon:
Magikarp Is Too Weak
One of the main problems with most Mega Gyarados EX decks is how easily Magikarp can be countered or sniped. In many matches, opponents can eliminate both Magikarp cards on the Bench, ending the game for Mega Gyarados EX before it even gets a chance to enter play.
Energy Production and Movement Are Problematic
Mega Gyarados EX decks rely heavily on extra Energy from other Pokemon and Trainer cards, as well as tools like Elemental Switch to move that Energy around. While there are solid options to support both needs, the issue lies in the increased reliance on RNG. If any part of the Energy production or transfer setup fails—which happens often—the deck’s entire ramp and attack plan collapses.
Oricorio Is a Major Threat
Oricorio is one of the easiest and most effective counters to Mega Gyarados EX. Since most decks for this Water-type are already packed with Energy producers and evolution triggers, there’s little room for cards that can handle Oricorio. Many players use Keldeo or Suicune to fill that role, but these options often fail to take down Oricorio quickly enough.
The Future of Mega Gyarados EX in the Meta
Mega Gyarados EX could be called the king of mill strategy in Pokemon TCG Pocket, and it can be devastating when RNG and card draws go its way. However, the clunky and inconsistent nature of most of its decks makes this Water-type Mega one of the least favored new additions.
Despite its current struggles in the meta, Mega Gyarados EX holds high potential in the B1 era. If future expansions address key issues, like protecting Magikarp on the Bench, this mill-focused card could easily become a meta-dominant force.
It remains to be seen whether upcoming expansions can make Mega Gyarados EX relevant. What’s certain is that its passive ability brings the mill archetype closer to being a reliable strategy in Pokemon TCG Pocket.
- 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
