Silvally was a breakout Pokemon inPokemon TCG Pocket’s Extradimensional Crisis set, and there are several ways to build around it. One of the quickest ways to get it powered up and swinging is by partnering it with the Thunderclap Pokemon, Zeraora.

Zeraora comes with its own built-in Energy acceleration, which allows it to attack as early as your second turn when you win the coin flip, while Silvally isn’t far behind. Plus, as single-prize Pokemon, both partners can swing hard with minimal risk to you. Here’s how to build and play it!

The Silvally Illustration Rare, from Pokemon TCG Pocket’s Extradimensional Crisis expansion.

Zeraora (A3a) x2

Type: Null (A3a) x2

Zeraora from Extradimensional Crisis in Pokemon TCG Pocket.

Oricorio (A3 66) x1

Gladion x2

The Type: Null card, from Pokemon TCG Pocket’s Extradimensional Crisis set

Cyrus x1

Sabrina x1

Silvally from Extradimensional Crisis in Pokemon TCG Pocket.

Dawn x1

Mars x1

The Lightning-type Oricorio, from Celestial Guardians in Pokemon TCG Pocket.

Giovanni x1

Poke Ball x2

Giant Cape x1

Several ofthe Supporter cards can be swapped out. Giovanni can be replaced with Red, and Mars can be replaced with a Red Card, for example, while Guzma and a second Dawn are also popular additions to this deck. However, the core that remains the same across all versions isType: Null, Silvally, Zeraora, Gladion, Professor’s Research, and Poke Ball.

All other cards can be replaced based on your playstyle and needs, but this sample decklist is a good all-around version. Remember touse the Lightning-type Oricorio, as this gives you some protection against ex-heavy decks, while no other Oricorio is a good fit for the deck.

The Gladion card, from Pokemon TCG Pocket’s Extradimensional Crisis set.

Silvally Zeraora Strategy

The Silvally / Zeraora deck isone of the few decks that wants to go first: With Zeraora’s Thunderclap Flash ability and a Dawn in your hand,Silvally can start attacking for 100 damage as early as turn three, before your opponent can start evolving their own Pokemon.

This setup requires aType: Null as your first Active Pokemon, Zeraora on your Bench, and both Silvally and Dawn in your hand. Zeraora’s Thunderclap Flash gives it a free Lightning Energy at the end of your first turn, which you may move onto Type: Null with Dawn and evolve on your second turn.

Professor’s Research, from Pokemon TCG Pocket.

This is an ideal hand, of course, but some cards makeit more consistent: A turn-one Gladion can find you the Silvally or Type: Null that you need, while Poke Ball can find Zeraora, and Professor’s Research can dig for anything.

If you don’t get that ideal hand, this deck is still remarkably efficient.If you’re going first, Zeraora is your best first Active Pokemon, since it will be able to start attacking for 50 damage on turn three thanks to Thunderclap Flash. If you’re going second, Silvally can attack, then evolve the next turn and attack again on-curve.

The Pokemon Center Lady card, from Pokemon TCG Pocket.

The promo Zeraora from having a premium subscription in June 2025 is functionally identical to the Extradimensional Crisis one, so you’re able to include either in the deck.

The only downside to Silvally is that you need to use a Supporter each turn to maximize its damage. This isn’t a big problem, sincethere are a lot of great supporters, but it does mean you’ll occasionally need to use a Giovanni or Mars just to increase Silvally’s damage.

The Cyrus card, from Space-Time Smackdown in Pokemon TCG Pocket.

Oricorio is the last Pokemon in the deck, andits job is to stall ex-focused deckslike Giratina ex/Darkrai ex. Oricorio’s ability makes it immune to damage from ex Pokemon attacks, allowing it to safely take a couple of swings while you look for other cards you need.

It’s reasonably safe to set Oricorio as your first Active Pokemon, but you should only do that if you have no other options. Your opponent will probably try to work around it with chip damage from poison or Darkrai ex’s Nightmare Aura, but feel free touse Pokemon Center Lady to keep it up and swinging for a couple more turns.

Sabrina from Genetic Apex in Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket.

Silvally Zeraora Matchups

Solgaleo ex Shiinotic

Solgaleo ex is a powerhouse that can tear through Silvally and Zeraora like a wet paper bag. But while Shiinotic makes it more consistent,it doesn’t stand up to Silvally’s unadulterated speed.

The goal is to outrun Solgaleo ex. Silvally can OHKO everything in the deck except Solgaleo ex, and Zeraora can take out all the Basic Pokemon with the help of Giovanni. If you cantake out both Cosmogs before your opponent can get Solgaleo ex set up, the game is yours.

Silvally Rampardos

Silvally and Rampardos are a little slower than Silvally and Zeraora, but not by much. Your opponent’s Silvally can still attack on turn two and be ready to sweep on turn four, but they’ll need a couple turns to get Rampardos evolved. Plus, Poke Ball can’t find Skull Fossil, which makes it a little less consistent.

Rampardos’s low Energy requirement makes it a perfect revenge-killer, so you may lose two Pokemon before you can take it out. Try toget Rampardos, Skull Fossil, or Cranidos out of the way earlyto eliminate your opponent’s advantage.

Giratina ex Darkrai ex

While other decks have caught up to its power level,the Giratina ex / Darkrai ex deckis still a major part of the metagame.This is an unfortunate matchup for Silvally / Zeraora, because you need to deal with two huge ex Pokemon to secure a win, and they can both power up at the same time.

Rocky Helmet adds to the chip damage you’ll deal with, putting your Pokemon in KO range from Darkrai, while Pokemon Center Lady and Giant Cape can force a third attack to get a vital KO. Of the two,Darkrai ex is a slightly better target, since a KO there will eliminate the Nightmare Aura damage.