Upon the release of Pokemon TCG Pocket' s Celestial Guardians set, most attention was drawn to the "silly yellow chicken" that could potentially end the era for all ex Pokemon in the game—and yes, that chicken was the infamous Oricorio. However, as everyone focused on Oricorio, another Pokemon quietly rose through the PvP ranks. Solgaleo ex, one of the faces of Pokemon TCG Pocket's sixth set, quickly dethroned DarkTina, the previous set's reigning champion, and became the new top deck in the metagame. But how did this happen?
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This is an analysis of Solgaleo ex's rise to the top, aided by Skarmory. Our goal is to break down how the duo's synergy works and clarify why it has become one of the most popular setups in the game. Here's how the Solgaleo ex & Skarmory meta works.
Solgaleo ex & Skarmory Deck Shell
- Energy: Steel
- Strategy: Stall and Burst Damage
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Solgaleo ex & Skarmory is the most common deck shell in the current meta. The strategy is to use Skarmory as the main staller, giving the ex Pokemon on the Bench enough time to prepare for an attack. Fortunately, since Solgaleo ex only requires two Energies, Skarmory's below-average HP doesn't disrupt the plan. You typically have enough time to set up Solgaleo ex before the enemy takes down Skarmory.
However, some creative variants replace Skarmory with other tank options. One example is the Solgaleo ex & Snorlax setup, where Snorlax serves as an early-game wall while building up Solgaleo ex on the Bench. This combo works well because Solgaleo ex's ability removes Snorlax's retreat cost, allowing players to switch it into the Active Spot as needed.
How the Solgaleo ex & Skarmory Decks Work
Solgaleo ex and Skarmory's synergy is straightforward: Skarmory stalls the enemy while gradually chipping away at their HP. Meanwhile, Solgaleo ex prepares a 120-damage attack on the Bench. In an ideal setup, the duo can deal up to 170 damage with back-to-back attacks (50 from Skarmory, 120 from Solgaleo ex).
Solgaleo ex & Skarmory's Ideal Playline
- Open with Skarmory.
- Attach a Pokemon Tool to it (preferably a Rocky Helmet).
- Add Cosmog to the Bench.
- If the enemy's Active Pokemon is an attacker, build up Skarmory and start attacking. It might be a good idea to have a second Skarmory on the Bench by this point.
- Target Rare Candy to skip Cosmog's next evolution and leap into its second stage, Solgaleo ex.
- Once Solgaleo ex is on the Bench, allocate two Energies to it.
- Use its Rising Road ability to switch into the Active Spot and deal damage.
- If the enemy plays a counter card like Pokemon TCG Pocket' s Oricorio, switch back to Skarmory. (This strategy might require rebuilding Solgaleo ex from scratch, but it's often worth it since the Pokemon needs only two Energies.)
Solgaleo & Skarmory Meta Performance Report
- Win Rate: ~ 56%
- Meta Share: ~ 9%
- Tournament Appearances: ~ 400
Solgaleo ex & Skarmory have taken the metagame by storm, currently sitting at the top of Pokemon TCG Pocket' s PvP ladder. While the meta is still adjusting to the new cards from the Celestial Guardians set, it's clear that the Steel-type duo will maintain a strong presence for quite some time.
Many argue that the deck's popularity will eventually fade as more practical lineups emerge. However, several factors suggest that Solgaleo ex's partnership with Skarmory will not be easily outpaced.
For one, the duo's strategy is simple and effective, with cards like Rare Candy making it highly consistent. Additionally, as DarkTina (Darkrai ex & Giratina ex decks) becomes overly repetitive, more players are seeking fresh synergies, and this is where the Solgaleo ex & Skarmory combo shines. Most importantly, Solgaleo ex & Skarmory decks are among the few ex-oriented setups that can effectively counter the Oricorio meta, helping to keep them relevant as long as the overpowered "silly bird" of TCG Pocket remains in play.
How to Counter the Solgaleo & Skarmory Meta
Based on recent Pokemon TCG Pocket tournaments, DarkTina (Darkrai ex & Giratina ex) remains the best response to Solgaleo ex & Skarmory decks. The Psychic-Darkness duo boasts a 69% win rate against the popular Steel-type combo, despite its own PvP presence taking a significant hit since the release of Celestial Guardians. Before the new set, DarkTina decks accounted for over 20% of the meta, but that number has since dropped to only 7%.
Other counters to Solgaleo ex & Skarmory include Charizard ex & Moltres ex (60% win rate) and Beedrill ex & Meowscarada (59% win rate).
Why Solgaleo ex & Skarmory Has Dominated Pocket's PvP
There are four reasons why this Steel-type duo has been successful:
- The deck is easy to play and consistent. Thanks to Rare Candy, Solgaleo ex is no longer an impractical Stage Two Pokemon; it's a viable early-game attacker. Additionally, cards like Iono and Pokemon Communication provide deck manipulation, making evolving into Solgaleo ex even more consistent.
- It's one of the fastest high-damage decks in the game. With just two Energies on Solgaleo ex, you can start dealing 120 damage by turn two—in an ideal scenario where you also go second. That's a major advantage in the current meta.
- Solgaleo ex's above-average HP creates perfect synergy with Lillie. Starting with 180 HP, Solgaleo ex can take a few hits before going down. TCG Pocket' s new Supporter, Lillie, can heal 60 damage from this Steel-type Pokemon, extending its board presence.
- It's a practical budget deck. Most players can build a functional, meta-friendly version of this deck with just two Solgaleo ex cards, as the rest of the deck consists of fairly common cards.
- 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
