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Pokemon’s ruler of time, Dialga, has arrived inTCG Pocket, allowing players to accelerate Energy production and fast-forward in time. But how canPokemon Pocketplayers make the most of this ramp-friendly ability? This guide provides the blueprint for building what appears to bethe most consistent Dialga ex deckin the current meta.
Dialga ex Card Overview
Dialga ex is a ramp card that can generate two extra Steel Energy using its first move. This makes it a valuable Energy provider for both Steel andColorless decks. However, its average HP as an ex Pokemon and the requirement to be in the Active spot make it a somewhat risky play.
The Best Deck for Dialga ex
Since Dialga ex specializes in providing Energy for Steel Pokemon, it’s a perfect fit forthe previously struggling Melmetal deck. To build a solid deck around this synergy, pair Dialga ex and Melmetal with the following cards: Meltan, Leaf, Dawn, Skarmory, Giovanni, Giant Cape, Rocky Helmet, Poke Ball, and Professor’s Research. (See the table below for card quantities.)
Dialga ex
2
1
You canreplace Skarmory with Mew ex.
How to Play Dialga Effectively
Here are some key points to keep in mind when playing Dialga ex:
How to Counter Dialga ex
The newly revamped Fire-type Charizard ex and Moltres ex deck is a strong counter to most Dialga ex setups. To optimize this counter strategy, add Shaymin and Dawn, along with Pokemon Communication and Giant Cape, tothe classic Charizard ex and Moltres ex decklist.
Given the current meta, Darkrai ex is also a reliable counter to Dialga ex. Alternatively,Gyarados ex and Greninja exoffer another solid option, as they can disrupt Dialga ex’s bench and interfere with the opponent’s ramp strategy.
Dialga ex Metagame Performance
I analyzed an 8-event sample of the highest-player-countPokemon TCG Pockettournamentsto assess Dialga ex’s metagame performance. Based on my research, Dialga ex is averaging a #20 ranking, trailing behind its Space-Time Smackdown set competitors, Palkia ex and Darkrai ex.
Notably, no tournament in my sample was won with a Dialga ex deck, while six events (75% of the sample) were dominated by either a Palkia ex or Darkrai ex setup. While this isn’t enough to declare Dialga ex the biggest loser of the latest metagame, it does indicate that the Steel-type archetype continues to struggle againsttop-tier meta decks inPokemon Pocket.
