Summary
If you’re stepping into the world of Pokemon TCG, it might feel intimidating at first. But don’t worry—Pokemon TCG isn’t one of the most complicated trading card games out there, so you’re in luck! While it’s fairly easy to learn, you’ll need to be patient when it comes to building your own deck.
To start, you can play with pre-constructed decks or ones built by others. As you gain experience, you’ll be ready to create your own powerful strategies. Pre-made decks help you understand game mechanics and explore how different Pokémon synergize with each other. In this list, we’ve gathered some great deck recommendations for those new to Pokemon TCG.
Some of the decks listed here contain cards that are no longer legal in the current Standard format. This doesn’t prevent you from playing them casually, but if you want to play in the Standard format, we’ve included notes in the relevant entries indicating which cards need to be replaced and suggested suitable alternatives.
10Iron Leaves ex Deluxe Battle Deck
If you’re hunting for a super simple, no-brain-overload kind of deck, Iron Leaves ex has your back—literally, with vines. With a Play Level of one, this deck won’t make your head spin. Iron Leaves ex can deliver surprise hits thanks to its Rapid Vernier ability, while Tangrowth is a big ol’ tank… just don’t let it take too many hits or it’ll lose its punch.
Vileplume fetches your Energy with its Fully Blooming Energy ability, and Tropius can slide Energy to your benched buddies with Tropic Breeze. Nothing complicated here—just good, clean, grassy fun. If you want to show off the power of plants, this is your leafy launchpad.
This deck is fully legal in the Standard format and doesn’t require any card substitutions. All you need to do is pick up the Iron Leaves ex Deluxe Battle Deck.
9Tinkaton ex Battle Deck
If you’re looking to dive into the Pokemon TCG without frying your brain circuits, the Tinkaton ex Battle Deck is a friendly place to start. Tinkaton ex swings with Pulverizing Press for 140 damage, but Big Hammer is where the real fun begins—30 damage per card in your hand means hoarding cards turns into pure destruction.
Drifblim helps you snipe benched Pokémon like a spooky balloon sniper, and Squawkabilly? Use it early to set up fast—just don’t expect it to stick around long. Overall, it’s a solid beginner deck, though once you get the hang of things, a few tweaks will take it from decent to dazzling.
This deck is fully legal in the Standard format and doesn’t require any card substitutions. All you need to do is pick up the Tinkaton ex Battle Deck.
8Miraidon ex League Battle Deck
If you’re looking to start your Pokemon TCG journey with a team full of Future Pokemon, this deck might be your jam. It’s not overly simple, but it won’t fry your brain either. Best part? Every Pokemon here is Basic—no evolving nonsense to slow you down. Miraidon ex brings the thunder with some serious damage potential.
Iron Valiant’s Tachyon Bits hits your opponent for 20 damage just for showing up in the Active Spot—rude, right? And Iron Jugulis punishes anyone who dares hit it with 30 more damage. With Techno Radar, your Future Pokemon come flying out of the deck at light speed. Welcome to the future!
This deck is legal in the Standard format, and you don’t need to remove any cards to start playing—just grab the Miraidon ex League Battle Deck. However, the Future Booster Energy Capsule cards included in the deck aren’t really a good fit here. Instead, it’s better to swap them out for Prime Catcher, Night Stretcher, and two copies of Electric Generator to get the most out of your deck.
7Chien-Pao ex Battle Deck
The Chien-Pao ex Battle Deck is another beginner-friendly choice that won’t leave your head spinning. Chien-Pao ex lets you dig Water Energy straight from your deck like a frosty treasure hunt, perfect for powering up your benched Pokemon or fueling its Hail Blade attack to the max.
It pairs beautifully with Baxcalibur—if it’s on the field, you’re able to start slapping those Energies onto your Pokemon like there’s no tomorrow. And if you’re the type who believes in the heart of the coin flip, Azumarill’s here to reward your gambling spirit. Packed with icy flair, this deck is a cool way to dip your toes into the Pokemon TCG.
This deck is fully legal in the Standard format and doesn’t require any card substitutions. All you need to do is pick up the Chien-Pao ex Battle Deck.
6Quaquaval ex Deluxe Battle Deck
If you’re after a deck that flows as smoothly as Quaquaval’s dance moves, you’re in for a treat. Quaquaval ex is the life of the party—its Exciting Dance lets it twirl back to your Bench while forcing your opponent’s Active Pokemon to do the same, which can totally mess up their groove.
Spiral Shot adds to the show by letting you recycle Energy, especially if Baxcalibur is chilling on your Bench to help reattach them. Radiant Greninja is your speedy draw buddy, keeping the cards coming. Just a heads-up: in Standard format, Greninja’s rotated out—so either find a worthy replacement or throw it a farewell dance.
Radiant Greninja in this deck is not legal in the Standard format. As an alternative, you can replace it with Quaquaval (Surging Sparks #52).
5Meowscarada ex Battle Deck
The Meowscarada ex Battle Deckmight just be your purr-fect entry into the Pokemon TCG. This sneaky cat uses its Bouquet Magic Ability to snipe damage onto your opponent’s Benched Pokemon—ideal for picking off easy Prize Cards. Its Scratching Nails attack hits for 100 damage, but if the opponent’s already hurt, it dishes out an extra 120. Ouch.
Combine that with Gapejaw Bog, which auto-damages Basic Pokemon as they hit the field, and Meowscarada’s having a field day. Just a heads-up: if you’re sticking to Standard format, Radiant Alakazam and Eldegoss have rotated out—so be ready to swap them for something fresher.
Radiant Alakazam, Eldegoss, Escape Rope, and Klara are not legal in the Standard format. As alternatives, you can include Fezandipiti ex (Shrouded Fable #38), two copies of Dudunsparce (Prismatic Evolutions #80), and two copies of Surfer (Surging Sparks #187) in your deck.
4Koraidon ex Deluxe Battle Deck
If you’re itching to start your Pokemon TCG journey with a team of ancient powerhouses, this deck might just be your prehistoric paradise. Koraidon ex is a relentless damage-dealer, while Sandy Shocks ex gets even stronger when you’re behind—because nothing says “comeback” like a magnet with a grudge.
Every Pokemon here is Ancient, and with Ancient Booster Energy Capsules, they bulk up faster than a Machamp on leg day. Plus, grabbing Energy from the discard pile is surprisingly easy. If you’re looking for a simple but sturdy deck that roars like a fossil come to life, this one’s a rock-solid place to start.
This deck is fully legal in the Standard format and doesn’t require any card substitutions. All you need to do is pick up the Koraidon ex Deluxe Battle Deck.
3Charizard ex League Battle Deck
This League Battle Deck is both powerful and beginner-friendly—yes, even with a fire-breathing dragon at the helm. Charizard ex gets stronger the more prize cards your opponent takes, making it the ultimate late-game revenge machine. Pidgeot ex swoops in to grab whatever card you need from your deck like it’s no big deal.
Thanks to Technical Machine: Evolution and Rare Candy, evolving your Pokemon becomes as easy as microwaving popcorn. If you’re after a deck that’s strong, simple, and lets you flex Charizard’s glorious might without melting your brain, this one’s a hot pick. Not the absolute easiest, but far from terrifying.
This deck is fully legal in the Standard format and doesn’t require any card substitutions. All you need to do is pick up the Charizard ex League Battle Deck.
2Gardevoir ex League Battle Deck
The Gardevoir ex deckmight just be your new psychic soulmate—it’s not too hard to play and can pack a serious punch. You can grab the Gardevoir ex League Battle Deck to get started, but be warned: some cards in that box have rotated out, so you might want to customize your build a bit.
The deck revolves around Gardevoir ex’s Psychic Embrace ability, letting you fish Energy out of the discard pile and attach it to your Pokemon like psychic duct tape. With Munkidori, you can move that self-inflicted damage to your opponent’s board, and with heavy hitters like Drifloon and Scream Tail, you’ve got a team that’s both brainy and brutal.
Cresselia, Kirlia, Lumineon V, and Radiant Greninja are not legal in the Standard format. Therefore, you may want to remove these seven cards and any duplicates from your deck. Additionally, after removing two Psychic Energy cards, you can replace them with three Kirlia (Paldean Fates #28), two Munkidori (Prismatic Evolutions #44), two Scream Tail (Prismatic Evolutions #42) and two Darkness Energy to make the deck Standard-legal.
1Dragapult ex League Battle Deck
If you’re looking for a strong and effective deck that doesn’t require a PhD in Pokemon TCG to play, this ready-to-goDragapult ex Battle Deckis calling your name. The star of the show, Dragapult ex, dishes out damage to both the opponent’s Active Pokemon and their Benched ones—talk about multitasking!
With Drakloak and Xatu helping you draw more cards, and Tatsugiri jumping into the Active Spot early to fish out your best Supporters, this deck keeps things flowing. Best of all, it’s fully legal in the 2025 Standard rotation, so you don’t need to swap a single card—just shuffle, play, and haunt your opponent’s board!
This deck is fully legal in the Standard format and doesn’t require any card substitutions. All you need to do is pick up the Dragapult ex League Battle Deck.
