Pokemon TCG Pocket Space-Time Smackdown Deck Tier List & Best Cards

The addition of Space-Time Smackdown provides support for various Pokémon types, making previously underrepresented decks more viable. Here we bring a new Pokemon TCG Pocket deck tier list for Space-Time Smackdown, along with the best cards for the A2 set.

Space-Time Smackdown Best Deck Tier List (Pokemon TCG Pocket February 2025)

Space-Time Smackdown is a recent expansion in the Pokémon TCG Pocket, introducing significant updates and new features to the game. This expansion features a total of 207 new cards across two booster packs, featuring notable Pokémon such as Dialga and Palkia as the figurehead Pokémon for each pack. The introduction of Pokémon Tools allows players to equip cards to Pokémon, granting them new effects and additional health. Below is a tier list that ranks 20+ decks for Space-Time Smackdown, from the best to worst.

1. Darkrai ex-Magnezone (S Tier)

Darkrai ex-Magnezone excels with its dual-threat approach. Magnezone is considered one of the best cards in Pokemon TCG Pocket, with high HP, strong damage output, and only giving up one knockout point. The deck's ability to deal passive damage through Darkrai ex while setting up Magnezone creates a powerful late-game strategy. However, it struggles against faster decks that can punish its slow setup. The best Darkrai deck in Pokémon TCG Pocket currently features the Darkrai ex card, which has gained significant popularity since its introduction in the Space-Time Smackdown expansion. Darkrai ex and Magnezone combination allow you to maintain pressure on your opponent while building up your attackers safely on the Bench.

2. Darkrai ex-Greninja (S Tier)

Darkrai ex-Greninja also earns an S-tier position, it deals more chip damage (40 vs 20 per turn) through the combination of Darkrai's Nightmare Aura and Greninja's Water Shuriken. Whenever you attach a Darkness Energy to Darkrai ex, Nightmare Aura deals 20 damage to your opponent's Active Pokémon. Water Shuriken allows you to deal 20 damage to one of your opponent's Benched Pokémon. While strong against other control decks, it struggles against Exeggutor-Celebi matchups due to lacking a strong finisher.

3. Marshadow-Magnezone (S Tier)

Fighting Magnezone (with Marshadow) secures its S-tier status through highly polarized but effective matchups. It performs exceptionally well against popular decks like Charizard-Moltres, Gyarados-Greninja, and Darkrai-Magnezone builds. The synergy between Magnezone's single knockout point value and Marshadow's Revenge attack creates a potent combination, especially when going first.

4. Celebi Eggs (S Tier)

Exeggutor-Celebi is considered the current deck to beat, earning its high tier with favorable matchups against other S-tier decks (over 60% win rate against Fighting Magnezone, Darkrai-Greninja, and Darkrai-Magnezone). It excels through aggressive early-game pressure with Exeggutor dealing 80 damage for one energy, enhanced by defensive cards like Giant Cape.

5. Darkrai-Weavile (A Tier)

Darkrai-Weavile's ranking is justified by its explosive potential when drawing well, particularly when using Darkrai and Dawn to accelerate energy deployment. While the deck can overwhelm opponents before they can establish their strategy, its reliance on multiple moving parts can lead to inconsistent starts. This vulnerability balances its high-power ceiling, making it a solid choice, especially for players seeking quick victories.

6. Lucario-Aerodactyl (A Tier)

Lucario-Aerodactyl (with Fossil Pokemon) is recommended as it has exceptional consistency in early-game setup. The fossil mechanic guarantees a basic Pokemon on turn one, often enabling Hitmonlee leads that counter slower setup decks. Aerodactyl EX's Primeval Law ability has become increasingly valuable, disrupting evolution-based strategies like Exeggutor and Magnezone. The inclusion of Rampardos as a single-prize attacker synergizes well with Marshadow's effects.

7. Lickilicky-Dialga (A Tier)

Lickilicky-Dialga deserves its rank due to its strategic depth and sustainability. The deck's strength lies in forcing opponents to deal with multiple high-HP EX Pokemon, effectively requiring them to secure four knockouts. Yanmega's 120 damage output particularly excels against Dark-type Pokemon, while Lickilicky EX's coin-flip mechanic can potentially OHKO 140 HP threats like Magnezone.

8. Palkia ex-Vaporeon (A Tier)

Palkia ex-Vaporeon demonstrates its worth through Manaphy's energy acceleration capability, generating two water energy per turn when properly set. Palkia serves dual roles as both a powerful attacker and a reliable lead Pokemon. The deck's success heavily relies on maintaining at least seven basic Pokemon to consistently activate Manaphy's abilities.

9. Blastoise ex (A Tier)

Blastoise ex variants offer excellent energy ramping capabilities, reaching five energy while maintaining a consistent damage output of 100 for three energy. The deck is good at both accelerating resources and maintaining pressure through attacks.

10. Charizard ex (A Tier)

Charizard ex continues to justify its high ranking since the game's launch. Pokemon Communication's addition improved consistency in accessing its stage 2 powerhouse. The deck excels against EX-reliant strategies with its 200-damage attacks, though it can struggle against single-prize attackers that can trade efficiently.

11. Gyarados-Greninja (A Tier)

The last A-tier deck - Gyarados-Greninja combines Water Shuriken ability and Gyarados's 140-damage attacks with Rough Skin. While devastating against decks that can't target benched Pokemon, it shows weakness against Fighting-type strategies, particularly those featuring Hitmonlee that can disrupt Magikarp before evolution.

12. Gallade ex (B Tier)

Gallade ex exhibits strong potential with its two-energy attacks and the ability to evolve from Kirlia which can attack for one energy. The deck can deal significant early damage (70-110) depending on the opponent's energy placement. However, its stage-2 evolution line makes it somewhat inconsistent, and it struggles against high-HP attackers like Exeggutor ex despite having favorable matchups against stall Pokémon thanks to Hitmonlee support.

13. Infernape ex (B Tier)

Infernape ex stands out as one of the most aggressive decks, capable of dealing 170 damage before opponents can set up (30 with Monferno, followed by 140 with Infernape). The fire typing is advantageous against meta threats like Exeggutor ex. However, the deck's stage-2 evolution requirement affects its consistency.

14. Infernape-Moltres (B Tier)

Infernape-Moltres variant leverages Moltres ex as a tanky lead while powering up Infernape on the bench. The deck uniquely utilizes Dawn supporter, enabling consecutive Infernape attacks despite energy discard costs. While powerful, it still faces consistency challenges due to its evolution requirements.

15. Togekiss (B Tier)

Togekiss is ranked here because of the single-prize nature and powerful synergy with Cynthia supporters, boosting damage to 110-170. The deck can run multiple Togekiss copies and utilizes Giratina and Sigilyph for stalling. However, it's vulnerable to effects that force bench retreats, disrupting its Overdrive bonus.

16. Garchomp Box (B Tier)

Garchomp Box demonstrates versatility by combining aggressive dragon-type attacks (100 damage base, up to 150 with Cynthia) with either fighting-type support or a Greninja package. The ability to draw extra cards helps find key pieces, but the stage-2 evolution line impacts consistency.

17. Luxray-Volkner (B Tier)

Luxray-Volkner focuses on dealing consistent 120 damage and can chain multiple attacks through Volkner supporters. Combined with Electabuzz for 40 damage setup, it effectively counters defensive strategies. However, its three-energy attack cost can slow down its setup.

18. Venusaur ex (B Tier)

Venusaur ex has found relevance in the current game due to smaller damage outputs becoming more common. It utilizes Shaymin and Rocky Helmet for additional healing and damage output. While strong against smaller attackers like Darkrai, it struggles against high-damage decks like Gyarados and Charizard.

19. Bastiodon-Skarmory (B Tier)

Bastiodon-Skarmory represents a straightforward two-basic Pokémon strategy with consistent aggressive draws. However, its linear gameplay makes it predictable and vulnerable to disruption, while the low Pokémon count can lead to consistency issues in longer games.

20. Pikachu ex (C Tier)

Pikachu ex, while iconic and once a top choice, has fallen in the rankings due to significant changes brought about by the Space-Time Smackdown expansion. Pikachu ex decks rely on quick energy attachment and agility, using Pikachu's low retreat cost to dodge threats while dealing swift damage. However, the introduction of the supporter card Cyrus has severely hindered this strategy. Cyrus allows opponents to forcibly bring Pikachu ex back into the active spot when it’s trying to retreat, making it an easy target for knockouts. Additionally, Pikachu's relatively low HP compared to other Pokémon makes it vulnerable, and the deck lacks the consistency and power needed to compete with the stronger builds in the format.

21. Mewtwo ex (C Tier)

Mewtwo ex, once a dominant deck in PTCG Pocket, has seen a steep decline in its effectiveness. Its ability to copy opposing Pokémon’s attacks and hit for 150 damage was previously strong, but things are different now. New Pokémon tools like Giant Cape have increased the average HP of opposing Pokémon to 160 or higher, making Mewtwo ex’s damage output insufficient to secure knockouts. The widespread use of Dark-type decks, which have a type advantage over Psychic Pokémon, further counters Mewtwo ex. Additionally, Cyrus has made it nearly impossible to retreat Mewtwo ex safely after it has taken damage, leaving it vulnerable to being knocked out in critical moments. While Mewtwo ex has gained cards like Pokémon Communication to streamline support card assembly, they have failed to adapt to the game, cementing their spot in the C tier.

22. Melmetal-Dialga (C Tier)

The Melmetal-Dialga deck was highly anticipated, but this pairing has proven to be one of the weakest ways to utilize Dialga ex. Like Pikachu ex and Mewtwo ex, this deck suffers from the vulnerability of relying on an ex Pokémon in a format where Cyrus punishes retreating strategies and ex knockouts yield two prize cards. Additionally, if one of the deck’s key Pokémon is knocked out early, it can be difficult to recover. The energy acceleration strategies that the deck depends on are often too slow to keep up with the fast-paced meta. Once Dialga ex or Melmetal is taken down, the deck struggles to maintain momentum, so it is ranked at the lowest tier.

23. Dragonite (C Tier)

One of the least recommended decks for Space-Time Smackdown is Dragonite, it remains a fan-favorite deck, but it lacks the consistency and power of top-tier decks. Dragonite can hit hard and provide support to other Pokémon, but its reliance on a two-color energy system introduces high variance. Draco Meteor, one of its key attacks, is unpredictable and can fail to deliver the targeted knockouts needed to maintain control of the game. Pokémon Communication improved Dragonite’s ability to assemble its Stage 2 evolution, but the deck’s setup is still slow and vulnerable to disruption.

Best Cards in PTCG Pocket Space-Time Smackdown

1. Pokémon Communication

This card's power comes from its ability to search specific Pokémon when options are limited. By trading a Pokémon from your hand for one from your deck, you can find crucial evolution pieces or basic Pokémon when needed. In evolution-heavy decks like Celebi ex/Serperior, it helps complete evolution lines by finding missing stages. It's particularly valuable when you know exactly which Pokémon remain in your deck, allowing for guaranteed searches rather than random draws.

2. Cyrus

This Supporter card provides powerful board control by forcing damaged benched Pokémon into the active position. It's especially effective in decks that can spread damage to the bench, as it can force weakened Pokémon into vulnerable positions. The card excels at disrupting strategies by targeting partially damaged ex Pokémon that opponents tried to protect by benching. While the opponent can choose which damaged Pokémon to bring up, Cyrus often creates no-win situations that lead to advantageous knockouts.

3. Rocky Helmet 

A crucial tool for stalling decks featuring Gyarados EX, Blastoise EX, and Dragonite. It forces opponents to take 40 damage when attacking, making it particularly effective when combined with Dragon.

4. Giant Cape 

Adds 20 HP to any Pokémon, which can be crucial for Pokémon in the 140 damage range. Makes Infernape EX nearly impossible to one-shot except by Charizard EX.

5. Dialga ex 

This card is a key player in Steel-type decks, offering the ability to generate two energy for your benched Pokémon. This makes it easier to set up energy-intensive attackers like Melmetal and allows for consistent damage output with its own attacks.