Pokemon TCG Pocket' s Celestial Guardians meta was full of surprises. It introduced a range of new Pokemon, like Oricorio, that looked ready to shake up the format. But just as impactful was the arrival of one of the most anticipated Item Cards: Rare Candy, a game-changer for deck-building.
Pokemon TCG Pocket: 5 Best Decks of the Celestial Guardians Set
The Celestial Guardians expansion in Pokemon TCG Pocket has reshaped the meta, and these are the decks that drove the change.
Among all the changes brought by the Celestial Guardians expansion, one unexpected synergy stood out: Giratina ex and Snorlax. Both Pokemon were already in the game long before the new set, but the introduction of Oricorio and the addition of Rare Candy have made this duo far more viable.
For those curious about how Pokemon TCG Pocket's new Giratina ex and Snorlax meta works, this guide covers it all—from deck structure and gameplay to counter strategies. Here’s everything you need to know about the metagame's Colorless-Psychic duo and their Water-type ally.
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Giratina ex & Snorlax Deck Overview
- Key Trainer Cards: Rare Candy, Barry, Pokemon Center Lady
- Energy Type: Water + Psychic
- Number of Pokemon: 8
- Number of Trainer Cards: 12
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Trainer Card |
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Since Snorlax runs on Colorless Energy and Giratina ex charges itself, the deck supports a dual Energy strategy using both Water and Psychic types. This setup ensures all three Pokemon can serve as attackers: Water powers up Greninja, Psychic helps accelerate Giratina ex, and Snorlax works with either, making Energy allocation flexible and reliable.
How the Giratina ex & Snorlax Meta Works
The idea is to lead with Snorlax in the Active Spot, using it as both a tank and a damage dealer. Meanwhile, Giratina ex is built up on the Bench as your secondary attacker, with Greninja playing the role of a sniper or chip damage dealer.
What makes this trio viable now is the introduction of Rare Candy in Pokemon TCG Pocket. This Item Card allows you to skip Frogadier in Greninja's evolution line, making it much easier to fit Greninja, Snorlax, and Giratina ex into the same deck without sacrificing too many Trainer Cards.
There's also a new synergy between Snorlax and Pokemon Center Lady. Previously, Snorlax's attack was less viable due to the self-inflicted Sleep condition after each use. Now, Pokemon Center Lady not only heals Snorlax's damage but also removes the Asleep condition, allowing it to stay in play longer and attack more consistently.
Barry is another key Supporter in this meta. It provides a two-Energy discount for Snorlax, reducing its Energy requirement from four to just two, making it much easier to attack early.
Giratina ex & Snorlax Deck Synergies
Here's the ideal playline:
- Start with Snorlax in the Active Spot. When possible, equip it with a Pokemon Tool like Rocky Helmet or Poison Barb to boost its tank potential.
- Begin charging Giratina ex on the Bench using its self-charging ability.
- Allocate Zone's Energy to Snorlax to prep it for attacking. If you have Barry in hand, Snorlax can swing for 100 damage with just two Energy.
- While Snorlax soaks up hits and deals consistent damage, use Rare Candy to evolve Froakie straight into Greninja.
- With two Greninjas on the Bench and Snorlax up front, you can deal a total of 140 damage per turn—enough to KO most threats.
- If Snorlax is no longer a viable attacker, switch it out for Giratina ex to clean up the board.
- Keep Pokemon Center Lady ready to counter Snorlax's self-inflicted Sleep. She heals damage and removes the Special Condition, letting Snorlax strike again next turn.
Snorlax has an older variant that deals only 70 damage but doesn't inflict a Special Condition on itself. However, the version used in the new Giratina ex deck is Snorlax A2a 063. This variant has lower HP but compensates with higher damage output.
Giratina ex & Snorlax Performance Report
- Win Rate: ~ 52%
- Meta Share: ~ 10%
- Tournament Appearances: ~ 2,500
The Giratina ex & Snorlax alliance with Greninja isn't a new synergy—it emerged shortly after Pokemon TCG Pocket' s Celestial Guardians set. However, it gained significant attention when a few players clinched victories in major tournaments with it.
Currently, the trio of Giratina ex, Snorlax, and Greninja is one of the most popular decks in Pokemon TCG Pocket' s PvP. Yet, in terms of win rate and favored matchups, its performance has been fairly average. To put it in perspective, the deck has struggled in nearly 70% of its matches against the previous expansion's DarkTina combo, suggesting it may not stay at the top of the metagame for much longer.
The estimated statistics mentioned earlier are based on recent Pokemon TCG Pocket tournaments tracked by LimitlessTCG, and they may vary depending on when you're reading this.
How to Counter the Giratina ex & Snorlax Meta
Based on recent tournament matchups, the strongest counters to Giratina ex & Snorlax are Darkrai ex & Gretina ex and Charizard ex & Incineroar ex. Darkrai and Gretina hold a win rate of around 70% against the duo, while Charizard and Incineroar win about 60% of the time.
Since Snorlax is a core part of the deck and weak to Fighting-type Pokemon, a standard Rampardos deck is also a reliable option. Additionally, the Garchomp ex & Rampardos combo, which continues to gain traction, ranks among the most effective counters to Giratina ex & Snorlax in Pokemon TCG Pocket.
The Future of Giratina ex & Snorlax in Pokemon TCG Pocket
Although the Giratina ex and Snorlax duo had a promising start in Pocket' s metagame, it doesn't appear to be a strong contender for the upcoming PvP era. The combo already feels fragile and plays too riskily against many standard decks, making it unlikely that this high-damage stall strategy will have long-term viability.
Part of the duo's recent popularity likely stems from its effectiveness against Pokemon TCG Pocket' s Oricorio. But as Oricorio continues to decline in usage, Giratina ex & Snorlax may also lose their place in the meta. Without the need to counter the quirky yellow staller, the deck's relevance could quickly fade.
- 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
