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Hey everyone! Tired of getting wrecked by a1-96-pikachuex and a1-129-mewtwoex? Don’t worry—I’ve got you covered with some of the best decks that don’t include any EX Pokemon!
The Pokemon Pocket community has introduced an exciting new game mode where only non-EX Pokemon decks are allowed! This shakes up the usual meta since most top-performing tournament decks don’t qualify, giving you a chance to explore fresh archetypes and discover hidden gems that can shine in this format.
How to join the No-EX Pokemon Queue:
Go to Battle Mode > Versus > Private Match. Enter the password: NOEX (make sure all letters are capitalized).
In this mode, you’ll usually match quickly with another player using a No-EX deck. While trolls sometimes queue with illegal decks, you can leave and re-queue again, there is no penalty for leaving a private match.
I’ve tried it out myself, and the wait times are super short—so jump in and enjoy the fresh challenge! Here are some of the best No Ex decks to try out!
Blaine Aggro
The Blaine aggro deck is one of the best choices in a No ex meta! This deck already held its ground against the dominant EX decks in Pokemon Pocket, playing aggressively and knocking out Pokemon before opponents got their strategy online. a1-43-rapidash is usually the early aggressor, dealing 40 damage with its attacks. Before it gets knocked out, you'll retreat it for a1-38-ninetales to take its place.
a1-38-ninetales is more aggressive, dealing 90 damage with Flamethrower, capable of knocking out higher health Pokemon. Since it discards 1 Fire Energy, you'll have to keep attaching an Energy on a1-38-ninetales to keep the attacks going.
a1-221-blaine is the main reason why this deck works, giving your Pokemon a1-43-rapidash or a1-38-ninetales a +30 damage boost to their attacks, making it easier to knock out threats.
Arbok Weezing
Arbok Weezing is another popular deck in Pokemon Pocket meta that we see players bring to tournaments and sometimes they'll go far with it. This deck uses a1-177-weezing's Gas Leak to Poison the opponent's Active Pokemon and slowly damage them. Tackle pushes on 30 damage, but combined with Gas Leak, it can accelerate knocking out the opponent's Pokemon.
a1-177-weezing is a tanky Pokemon, but has a high retreat cost. Instead of the normal retreat method, we'll use a1-222-koga to place a damaged a1-177-weezing back in our hand, preventing opponents from knocking it out, and moving another Pokemon to the Active spot.
a1-165-arbok threatens more immediate damage with Counter, dealing 60 damage to the opponent's Pokemon and locking it in the Active spot. This synergizes with Gas Leak, keeping opponents from retreating a Poisoned Pokemon. a1-165-arbok also works with a1-225-sabrina, forcing opponents to move a less threatening Pokemon to the Active spot, locking it there and slowly damaging it and knocking it out.
Melmetal Bisharp
The Metal-type players will have a field day in this format, able to play their Melmetal deck without getting stomped by the top meta ex decks. This deck has two Stage 1 Pokemon a1-180-bisharp and a1-182-melmetal to put pressure on opponents.
a1-180-bisharp is straightforward, evolving from a1-179-pawniard and requiring 2 Metal Energy to start attacking with Metal Claw, dealing 70 damage to the opponent's Active Pokemon. As for a1-182-melmetal, you'll need a a1-181-meltan to get it into play. If you have a1-181-meltan in the Active spot in the early game, you can activate Amass to attach an Extra Metal Energy to itself. Since a1-182-melmetal needs 4 Energy to attack, this will accelerate your game plan, but you might be forced to play promo-2-x-speed, retreat a1-182-melmetal to the bench and use a1-178-mawile or a1-180-bisharp to buy you time.
a1-182-melmetal's Heavy Impact deals 120 damage to the opponent's Active Pokemon, capable of knocking out most of the targets you face. a1-182-melmetal's Hard Coat makes him a reliable tank, reducing the damage of opponents attacks by 20 damage. This can help a1-182-melmetal survive two attacks, especially with Potion as a backup play.
Alakazam
The Alakazam deck is another option to play in No Ex mode and there are different ways to build it. The main goal is to have a1-117-alakazam in play with 3 Energy as early as possible. From there, you can activate Psychic to deal 60 damage and an extra 30 damage for each Energy attached to the opponent's Pokemon. So the damage stacks up, especially against Pokemon that require multiple Energy to attack.
Since a1-117-alakazam is a Stage 2 Pokemon, you'll need to have a1-115-abra and a1-116-kadabra as early as possible, best on the Bench so opponents don't knock them out. Additionally, you need stall Pokemon to buy you time until your a1-117-alakazam is ready to take over. This list has a1-198-farfetchd and a1-203-kangaskhan to help in the early game and pose offensive pressure.
Other Pokemon you can include are a1-127-jynx or a1-132-gardevoir. If you want to add a1-132-gardevoir you'll need to include a1-130-ralts and a1-131-kirlia. a1-132-gardevoir can give extra Psychic Energy and the Psyshot's 60 damage can knock out a Pokemon with two of them.
Omaster
The a1-82-omastar deck is a slow setup, requiring you to find a1-216-helix-fossil as early as possible, evolve it to 1-81-omanyte and then play a1-82-omastar. So we need to stall out the game until the win condition is ready to take over, a1-83-articuno and a1-93-frosmoth for that job. a1-93-frosmoth isn't on the list to dish out a lot of damage but for the Sleep ability, allowing to slow down othe pponent's offense and give you time to evolve a1-82-omastar. a1-83-articuno is somewhat similar, capable of dealing 60 damage with Ice Beam and flipping a coin. If it's heads, you'll paralyze the opponent's Active Pokemon, preventing it from attacking and retreating.
Once a1-82-omastar is in play, Ancient Whirlpool deals 70 damage to the opponent's Active Pokemon and shuts down the oppnent's defending Pokemon from attacking. This makes it harder for opponents to knock out a1-82-omastar.
This deck is hungry for Energy with both a1-82-omastar and a1-83-articuno requiring 3 Energy to attack. This is where a1-220-misty comes into play, giving you a chance to attach Water Energy to your Pokemon and speed up your game plan.
Gengar Jynx
a1-123-gengarex is considered one of the best Ex Pokemon in the meta, so players usually never play him competitively. However, the non ex a1-122-gengar version is way better in the No Ex meta. a1-122-gengar is a Stage 2 Pokemon with the Bother attack that deals 50 damage. It also shuts down opponents from playing any of their Supporter cards on their upcoming turn. This means cards like a1-221-blaine, a1-225-sabrina, a1-223-giovanni will become dead cards in the opponents hand.
a1-127-jynx is there for the early game, capable of dealing a good amount of damage with Psychic. 30 damage + 20 more damage for each Energy on the opponent's Active Pokemon. 1 Energy retreat cost makes it easy to return a1-127-jynx to the Bench and replace it with a1-123-gengarex to carry the game.
Dragonite Weezing
a1-185-dragonite is one of my favorite Pokemon in Pokemon Pocket! It's a Stage 2 Pokemon, so you need to have a1-183-dratini early in the game, evolve it to a1-184-dragonair, and then play a1-185-dragonite to carry the late game. Keep in mind that you'll need Water and Lightning Energies to activate a1-185-dragonite's Draco Meteor. Draco Meteor chooses one of the opponent's Pokemon 4 times to deal 50 damage to it, this means that the opponent's Bench is not safe from a1-185-dragonite's attack. Usually, two attacks from a1-185-dragonite should be enough to win you the game, potentially knocking out more than one Pokemon at a time.
a1-177-weezing is on the list to stall out the early turns. The Gas Leak is nice poke damage, but he's mainly just a tank to take a couple of hits and then return to your hand with a1-222-koga. You can replace a1-177-weezing with a1-93-frosmoth as a stall option.
Primeape Kabutops
The a1-142-primeape can be a real aggressor, especially since it synergizes with promo-17-mankey's self-damage. a1-142-primeape deals 40 damage with Fight Back, which isn't much to bring fear to opponents. However, if a1-142-primeape is damaged, Fight Back deals an extra 60 damage, capable of knocking out most Pokemon in your path.
a1-159-kabutops being a Stage 2 Pokemon will join in the later stages of the game. This Pokemon isn't dealing a whole lot of damage, but it can stick in the Active spot for a while. a1-159-kabutops's Leech Life deals 50 damage but will also heal a1-159-kabutops for the same amount of damage you've dealt. Healing 50 damage is huge, and if opponents can't knock out a1-159-kabutops with one shot, they'll struggle to have enough damage to deal with, especially with a Potion backup.
Greninja Tentacruel or Poliwrath
a1-89-greninja is a must inclusion in the list! This a1-89-greninja deals 60 damage with Mist Call but has Water Shuriken Ability to deal extra damage. With Water Shuriken, you can deal 20 damage to one of the opponent's Pokemon, even those on the Bench. This lets you knock out a low-health Pokemon hiding on the opponent's Bench.
Since a1-89-greninja is a Stage 2 Pokemon, we'll usually set up a1-63-tentacruel first. This is a 110-health Pokemon that deals 50 damage with Poison Tentacles and poisons the opponent's Active Pokemon, slowly damaging it as long as it remains in the Active spot.
a1-61-poliwrath is also another option to play or in this deck, either cutting out the Greninja or Tentacruel line. a1-61-poliwrath is a 150-health Pokemon, dealing 80 damage with Mega Punch. Its Counterattack gives a1-61-poliwrath extra damage alongside Mega Punch. Every time a1-61-poliwrath takes a hit, Counterattack deals 20 damage to the opponent's Active Pokemon. This is a great ability in this meta since Non-ex Pokemon attacks are weaker, forcing more attacks from opponents to knock out a1-61-poliwrath.
Nidoking Weezing
a1-171-nidoking is another Pokemon to play in the No Ex meta. This is a Stage 2 Pokemon which you'll evolve it from a1-169-nidoran and a1-170-nidorino. We need to make sure a1-171-nidoking joins the battle carry the game with its Poison Horn attack, dealing 90 damage and poisoning the opponent's Active Pokemon.
a1-177-weezing is for stalling the early game until a1-171-nidoking is ready to join in.
Closing Words
The No Ex Meta transforms what we know in Pokemon Pocket and offers much to explore. It's a new and different way to play the game, forcing both players to get three knockouts to win the game. Non Ex Pokemon are usually weaker and on the slower side, so it gives more room for new decks to shine with strategies that take longer to set.
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