Dragonite ex (TCG Pocket)

This article is about the archetype. For Dragonite ex cards, see Dragonite (TCG Pocket) → Dragonite ex.

Dragonite ex
Dragonite ex and Lyra Types used Major cards Dragonite ex, Pichu, and Lyra Era 2025-present

Dragonite ex is a Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket deck archetype that was first introduced in Eevee Grove in 2025. However, it only saw significant play starting from the next set, Wisdom of Sea and Sky, which introduced much of its key support.

The deck's strategy revolves around ramping Energy for the titular card Dragonite ex and using its powerful Giga Impact attack to quickly close out games.

Contents

Collapse all Hide

Close table of contents

• (Return to top)
• Strategy
  • Weaknesses
• Key cards
• Typical decklist
  • Wisdom of Sea and Sky
• Possible tech cards

Contents

Strategy

Like most Dragon Pokémon in TCG Pocket, Dragonite ex on release suffered from inconsistency with dual-type Energy generation, making it difficult to have the necessary Energy for Giga Impact. Wisdom of Sea and Sky offset this weakness by introducing Pichu, giving the deck a way to consistently have both Energy Types required for Giga Impact by playing only Energy in the Energy Zone and running Pichu to attach Energy. Lyra also provides key utility by switching Dragonite ex to remove the effect that prevents it from using Giga Impact twice in a row, and Pichu's free retreat allows Dragonite to easily re-enter the Active Spot in the same turn.

The non-ex Dragonite from Genetic Apex is a powerful complement to Dragonite ex, with its attack dealing high damage across multiple opposing Pokémon, not relying on Lyra to attack consecutively, and hitting Oricorio. While it requires an extra Energy, this is usually a manageable cost.

The rest of the deck is usually focused around supporting Dragonite ex with cards like Lillie or draw power with Sylveon ex or Cleffa.

Weaknesses

Because the deck relies on Pichu to attach Lightning Energy, Dragonite ex decks often can only ready a single attacker and have a rather precarious point map due to Pichu easily giving a free point to any decent attacker.

Stage 1 or higher Mega Evolution Pokémon have an advantage against Dragonite ex as they can survive Giga Impact while dealing high damage in return, giving them an advantage in the damage race as long as another Pokémon takes a Giga Impact to let them land the first hit on Dragonite ex.

The support package required for Dragonite ex also takes up a lot of deck space, cutting down the deck's access to other staple or tech cards.

Key cards

• Dragonite ex - The deck's main damage dealer, whose Giga Impact can easily KO most Pokémon with a massive 180 damage.
• Dragonite - Another strong attacker that evolves from the same Basic as Dragonite ex, Dragonite's Draco Meteor spreads high damage across multiple opposing Pokémon as opposed to Dragonite ex's single-target damage. Also hits Oricorio.
• Rare Candy - Allows Dragonite and Dragonite ex to enter play as soon as Dratini has the requisite Energy attached.
• Pichu - Attaches a guaranteed Energy to Dratini, letting the deck run a more consistent Energy base.
• Lyra - Switches out Dragonite ex without using a Retreat, letting it use Giga Impact consecutively by switching to Pichu and then retreating Pichu.

Typical decklist

Wisdom of Sea and Sky

{{{title}}}
Quantity	Card	Type	Rarity
2×	Dratini
2×	Dragonite ex
1×	Dragonite
2×	Pichu
2×	Eevee
2×	Sylveon ex
2×	Rare Candy	Item
2×	Poké Ball	Item	—
2×	Lyra	Supp
1×	Silver	Supp
2×	Professor's Research [Professor Oak]	Supp	—
Energy used:

Possible tech cards

• Lillie - Heals a substantial 60 HP from Dragonite and Dragonite ex, allowing it to survive more attacks against other powerful Pokémon cards.
• Sylveon ex - A draw engine that helps find the deck's key cards while having a low Retreat Cost for Lyra.
• Cleffa - An alternative consistency tool to Sylveon ex that takes up less deck space.
• Fossils - Offer an alternative means to reset Giga Impact's drawback by Retreating into the Fossil and then discarding it from play.
• X Speed - Lets a vulnerable Dratini Retreat from the Active Spot if forced to open with it.
• Zeraora - Can attach a free Energy to itself if played on the first turn, allowing it to either attack or be used with Elemental Switch.

This article is part of both Project Sidegames and Project TCG, Bulbapedia projects that, together, aim to write comprehensive articles on video games about the TCG.