Suicune EX is one of the few Pokemon TCG Pocket cards that managed to top the DarkTina pact at release. This Water-type Pokemon has formed alliances that can counter many of the current meta’s strategies while also offering a new, fun way to play—a fresh approach that can feel like playing Pokemon TCG Pocket at 2x speed.
As with any new card making waves, Suicune EX has many fans wondering if it’s worth adding to their deck lists. The short answer, for now, is “Yes!” For those deciding which of Suicune EX’s popular deck shells are worth trying, the following deck is a solid option. We’ve analyzed the top combos for this Water Pokemon and put together a straightforward blueprint for building a strong deck.
Suicune EX Card Overview
HP: 140
ATK: 20x
Text: [Crystal Waltz] This attack does 20 damage for each Benched Pokemon (both yours and your opponent’s).
Ability: [Legendary Pulse]: At the end of your turn, if this Pokémon is in the Active Spot, draw a card.
ATK Cost: Two Water-type
Retreat Cost: Two
Stage: Basic
Type: Water
Expansion: Secluded Springs
The Best Deck for Suicune EX in Pokemon TCG Pocket
Suicune EX & Greninja Decklist
Pokemon
Suicune Ex (2)
Froakie (2)
Greninja (2)
Giratina EX (1)
Trainer Cards
Irida (2)
Poke Ball (2)
Professor’s Research (2)
Rare Candy (2)
Cyrus (1)
Mars (1)
Giant Cape (1)
Leaf (1)
Red Card (1)
Energy
Water
Data shows that the best deck for Suicune EX is a Water shell with Giratina EX as the backup attacker. The strategy is to keep Suicune EX in the Active Spot to draw cards and set up two Greninja on the Bench as quickly as possible.
Since Suicune EX struggles to deal damage when Benches are empty, Giratina EX helps you pass turns without falling behind. In other words, whenever Suicune EX’s Crystal Waltz isn’t worth using, you rely on Giratina EX’s ability to gain a Psychic-type Energy. After three to four turns, you’ll have a secondary damage dealer on the Bench capable of hitting for 130 damage.
Greninja’s role in this deck is straightforward, just like in its other variants. Ideally, you want two of them on the board to snipe enemy cards for up to 40 damage. This chip damage is often crucial, since both Suicune EX and Giratina EX may struggle to one-shot most enemy cards without Greninja’s support.
How to Play Suicune EX Decks Effectively
Focus on drawing cards: Your main goal is to activate Suicune EX as quickly as possible to outdraw your opponent.
Keep Suicune EX alive: Supporters like Irida are vital in most Suicune EX decks since they help extend its presence on the board. To make the most of this Pokemon’s Legendary Pulse, you need to keep it alive through the early rounds at all costs.
Build up Giratina EX early: Suicune EX’s damage is unreliable because it depends on both players’ Bench cards, which can change at any time. To avoid a hit-or-miss setup, prioritize building up Giratina EX before your opponent can deal heavy damage. You may need to skip the first few rounds of attacks, but it’s well worth it.
How to Counter Suicune EX Decks
Two decks that have performed well against Suicune EX are Guzzlord EX paired with Celesteela and the classic DarkTina duo of Darkrai EX and Giratina EX. According to current Pokemon TCG Pocket metagame stats, these two deck shells have beaten Suicune EX setups in nearly 58% of matches, an impressive win rate.
Win Rate: ~ 54%
Meta Share: ~ 20%
An interesting detail about Suicune EX’s current performance is that it’s nearly as popular as DarkTina was at its peak. With almost 20% of the metagame, Suicune EX is one of the most popular additions since the Eevee Grove expansion, which introduced Sylveon EX, a card featured in nearly 24% of decks that season. The highest meta share ever, however, still belongs to Giratina EX during the Shining Revelry era, when it held around 28% of the metagame.
Suicune EX’s ability makes it a durable card in the Water archetype, offering strong synergy with many strategies. Pokemon TCG Pocket’s current roster has a notable gap: there are few ways to search decks and retrieve needed cards, a weakness that Suicune EX helps cover.
But Pokemon TCG Pocket fans should note that more efficient ways to draw cards may be introduced soon, which could make Suicune EX less relevant. Another potential issue is its conditional damage output, which could become more problematic once Mega Evolutions are released, as those cards have massive Health Points that can easily withstand Suicune EX’s attacks.
