A deck archetype is a deck, built by players of the Trading Card Game, that utilizes one set structure, although various players may have slight differences between their own decks of the same archetype.

An example of an archetype is Haymaker, which commonly uses Base Set Hitmonchan and Electabuzz, and Fossil Magmar. While these cards are usually a staple of the Haymaker archetype, they are not required to make a Haymaker deck. For example, instead of using the Fossil Magmar, a player may choose to instead focus on the Fighting-type in the deck, and utilize Fossil Hitmonlee. The exact number and kinds of Trainers used with an archetype may also differ, with some users of Haymaker preferring the drawing power of Professor Oak despite its disadvantage of discarding the entire hand, while others would choose Bill instead.

List of well-known archtypes

Base Set-onward

• Haymaker
• Barrier Swap
• Raindance

Team Rocket-onward

• Rocket

Neo Genesis-onward

• Mindgames
• Babyporter
• Beat Up
• Conductivity
• Riptide

EX-on, 2003-04 Modified format

• Blaziken variants - Blaziken RS, Blaziken ex MA, Delcatty RS, Rayquaza ex DR.
• Gardevoir variants - Gardevoir RS, Gardevoir ex SS, Wobbuffet PK.
• Swampert variants - Swampert RS, Swampert ex MA, Suicune ex MA.
• Team Magma deck - Team Magma's Groudon, Team Magma's Claydol, Team Magma's Zangoose.

RS-on, 2004-05 Modified format

HL-on, 2005-06 Modified format

• DragTrode - Dark Dragonite + Dark Electrode + Rocket's Sneasel ex.
• LBS - Lugia ex, Blastoise ex, Steelix ex, Pidgeot RG + techs.
• Ludicargo - Ludicolo DX + Magcargo DX.
• Mercury - Gardevoir δ + Starmie δ.
• MetaNite - Dragonite δ + Metagross δ.
• MewTrick - Mew ex LM + Manectric ex.
• Queendoom - Nidoqueen RG + Pidgeot RG + Milotic HL.
• Raieggs - Raichu δ + Exeggutor δ.
• Rock-Lock - Dark Tyranitar + Dark Ampharos + Pidgeot RG.
• SMP - Scizor ex + Metagross DX + Pidgeot RG.
• T2 Medicham - Medicham ex + Rocket secret machine cards.

DX-on, 2006-07 Modified format

BOOM

MetaNite

FlygonLuutio

Destiny

Absolutions

Shiftry ex

Flariados

RaiEggs / Delta – Raichu d/ Exegguttor d

SpeedBan

Mercury

R-Gon/FlyTech

ApeCatty

Speed Spread

HP-on, 2007-08 Modified format