Hey everyone!

Week 2 of Celestial Guardians just wrapped with a bang — Ursiiday’s Pocket Weekly #28 brought in a massive 941 players. But it’s not just the player count that’s wild — it’s the sheer variety of decks showing up that’s making this format absolutely insane.

The meta’s evolving fast — like, really fast — to the point where even I’m struggling to keep up. But hey, that’s what makes it exciting, right? From A2b-035 still holding stronger than ever, to new contenders like A2a-050 and A2-089 variants breaking into the spotlight, it’s clear that players are still cooking up wild ideas.

In this article, we’ll break down the most popular decks from the event, what they mean for Ranked right now, and which lists are worth picking up as you climb to Master Ball. Let’s dive in!

Deck Distribution

If you tell me this is just the second week of Celestial Guardians, I wouldn't have believed you for how fast the meta changed in just a week — and if not, one of the fastest changing metas we've seen so far. Although there has been a strong staple until now, and that is...

A2b-035 A2-110 just skyrocketed to the top once players realized it’s just as good as ever, even though the presence of A3-066 didn’t really stop it. It doesn’t help that A3-066 is being bullied by a lot of decks like...

A2b-035 A2a-063, what was an odd pick last week turned into a star phenomenon, being the second-largest showing this week — and for good reason. It’s a strong deck, slightly hindered by consistency issues, but the trade-off for its ceiling is quite insane. The next deck that rose rapidly in popularity is...

A2a-071 A2a-050 with its explosive starts using A2a-009 — it’s become a popular pick for many players, and I’d agree it’s a solid choice. We’ll see how this translates into the Top 64 later.

A lot of variations of A1-089 A2b-035 have also been experimented with — whether it’s the A3-066 version or the A3-084 one. Yes, you heard that right — A3-084 is becoming meta now. And these are all dual Energy decks, which weren’t that good before.

A2-089 managed to give birth to a new variant again with A2a-047! It’s using the same formula as the other popular Stage 2 decks — running two Stage 2s while skipping Stage 1 altogether, all thanks to A3-144.

Other popular Stage 2 decks from last week fell off really hard, such as A3-122 A2-111 and A2b-010 A3-033, which we’ll break down more later. It’s been an interesting week, and I can’t wait to analyze what just happened.

Top 64

Still incredibly varied but the meta is starting to finally show what are the best decks.

• A few decks didn’t just show up — they delivered. A1-089 A2b-035 leads the pack in terms of conversion, with 14 of its 81 pilots making Top 64 — a strong 17.3% conversion rate. To be fair, this deck plays a similar strategy to A2b-035 A2-110, but swaps out A2-110’s chip damage for A1-089’s spread pressure — and that subtle change affects the entire matchup spread. What separates this variant is its flexibility. Some players have teched in A3-066 to counter Darkrai builds, while others even run A3-084, which not only punishes A2b-035 A2-110 but also answers A3-066 itself. It sacrifices a bit of consistency, but the versatility it gains across the field seems to be well worth it.
• Next up is A2b-035 A2-110, still the most-played deck in the event with 129 players. It converted 17 into Top 64, landing a 13.2% conversion — the best among high-volume decks. While many view it as the “default best deck,” that reputation is backed by performance. It’s consistent, focused, and doesn’t waste slots — just A2-110, A2b-035, and power. That said, with more players teching A3-066 and A3-084, the cracks are starting to show. Going all-in on consistency might come at the cost of adaptability, and the rise of counter-techs could push this deck toward a more teched-out future.
• A2a-071 A2a-050 A2a-009 follows with an impressive 9.2% conversion (8 out of 87), showing that this aggressive combo can keep up with the meta. It's especially potent into A2b-035 A2-110 — if you start with A2a-009 and your opponent opens A2-110, it’s a tough hill for them to climb.
• A2-053 A3-066 wasn’t on many radars but quietly made a statement with 8.3% (2 out of 24). This result supports the idea that A3-066 hybrids might be the better route than pure A2-053 builds — leveraging stall and chip rather than just aggressive builds.
• A2a-047 A2-089 also made a solid debut, converting 6 out of 78 for a 7.7% rate, while the presumed second-best A2-089 variant — A3-101 A2-089 — followed closely at 7.1%.
• Lastly, one of last week’s top-performing decks — A3-122 A2-111 — finally shows signs of leveling off. With only 2 out of 35 players making Top 64, its 5.7% conversion marks a sharp fall from the hype it enjoyed during Week 1. Similarly, A2a-063 A2b-035, which had a strong presence this week, performed poorly — with just 1 player making it into Top 64 out of 89. The drop suggests the deck struggles heavily in a meta dominated by A2b-035 A2-110, crumbling under its consistent pressure.

Top 4 Decks

Tournament	First Place	Second Place	Third Place	Fourth Place
Ursiiday's Pocket Weekly #27	Greninja Giratina ex Tapu Lele	Arceus ex Crobat Carnivine	Giratina ex Darkrai ex	Greninja Giratina ex Oricorio

• The champion of this week was none other than the debuting A1-089 A2b-035 with A3-084 — and what a debut it was. Not only did it take the crown, the top 5 also ran the A3-084 variant, confirming that it wasn’t a one-off fluke. The deck’s flexibility, tech options, and adaptability gave it a serious edge, even in a field as volatile as this one. That said, tracking its exact stats was tricky, as some of the data overlaps with the A3-066 variant — and both serve different purposes in the meta. While A3-084 helps swing matchups against A2-110 and A3-066, the builds diverge in approach. The champion faced a wide variety of decks throughout the run — including A2a-071 A2a-050 twice — and came out on top.
• If Top 64 conversion rates weren’t enough to convince you, the first runner-up might. A2a-071 A2a-050 A2a-009 secured second place, firmly solidifying its status as one of the format’s best decks. In its run, it even defeated two A3-066 A1-089 builds — so if you're looking to counter that rising archetype, this is one of the strongest tools available.
• Third place went to A2b-035 A2-110, proving it’s not just Top 64 filler — it can go the distance. However, it's worth noting that the player didn’t face a single A3-066 during their run, so the matchup lottery played a role here. While it's still a powerful and consistent pick, it may not always hold up once counter-techs come into play.
• And finally, the A3-066 variant of A1-089 A2b-035 also showed up big, dominating its A2b-035 A2-110 matchups by beating three of them throughout the tournament. It also handled two mirror matches and even took down a A3-084 variant. If your goal is to beat A2b-035 A2-110 specifically, this is the version to watch.

Greninja Giratina ex Tapu Lele 1st Place

This deck is easily the most interesting out of all the archetypes that emerged from the tournament. It offers a unique spin on the A1-089 A2b-035 package, diverging from both the A2a-063 and A3-066 variants that came before it.

One of the core issues with those earlier versions is Energy consistency — particularly when trying to run Psychic Energy alongside tech attackers. While you can make the argument for running Psychic in the A2a-063 version, doing so often means dropping A1-089, which can backfire. A2a-063’s high Energy cost attack makes it unreliable in many matchups, and cutting A1-089 removes a valuable tempo and chip option.

This new build solves the issue by leaning fully into Psychic Energy, making both A3-084 and A2b-035 run smoothly. You lose access to A1-089, yes — but in return, A2b-035 becomes significantly more reliable, and A3-084 adds incredible value as a low-cost attacker, more than enough to handle a lot of threats.

What’s also worth highlighting is the flexibility of running dual types in tournaments across different builds. Being able to switch between Water- or Psychic-focused Energy lines based on the opponent — for instance, including Water for A1-089 when facing decks like A3-122 — gives this archetype a level of adaptability that’s rare. But as of now, only Psychic is the play, and it’s paid off massively with its championship finish.

Arceus ex Crobat Carnivine 2nd Place

A2a-071 A2a-050 A2a-009 has definitely made its mark with a strong 2nd place finish. This combination wasn’t explored much in past expansions, but with the introduction of A3-144, it’s now far easier to slot in A2a-050 and go all-in on aggression — even if you’re not actually attacking with it due to the deck running only Grass Energy. The synergy with A2a-009 creates early-game pressure while charging up A2a-071. At this point, the core list feels almost standard, with one notable tech choice: A2-155. Its inclusion helps answer Stage 2 decks that are becoming more common in the meta, giving this list just enough disruption to keep opponents off balance.

Giratina ex Darkrai ex 3rd Place

A2b-035 A2-110 secured a solid third place finish, once again proving just how strong and consistent the deck still is. This particular build teched in PROMO-006, aiming to limit the opponent’s options even further — especially when paired with A2-155, creating brutal early disruption. The strategy is clear: deny your opponent the ability to set up, while slowly draining their board with A2-110’s chip damage and A2b-035’s pressure.

Interestingly, innovations such as cutting down to three Tools were made — likely to make room for disruption cards while still accounting for the threat of Guzma. However, with one fewer aggressive option like A3-146, the deck’s matchup into A3-066 becomes noticeably harder. It’s a reminder that while A2b-035 A2-110 is a powerhouse, the evolving meta continues to chip away at its dominance — and players are adjusting accordingly.

Oricorio Grenina Giratina ex 4th Place

A3-066 A1-089 A2b-035 took fourth place, and it’s easily the most successful build to feature A3-066 so far — with several pilots making it deep into the event. The deck is tailor-made to counter A2b-035 A2-110, but unlike the A2-053 variant, it doesn’t stop there. With A1-089’s chip damage and A2b-035’s burst potential, this version can hold its own against a wide range of decks across the board.

The most notable inclusion here is A2-022, which adds a layer of resilience and makes the deck significantly harder to deal with in slower, grindy games. All things considered, this is shaping up to be the defining anti-meta deck of the expansion. And as long as A2b-035 A2-110 remains at the top, this version will absolutely stay relevant — if not rise even higher.

Best Decks for Ranked

That wraps up an explosive second week of the expansion. With another massive tournament in the books and plenty of Ranked grind behind us, the meta is shifting fast. Let’s break down the top decks, rising threats, and what you should be playing right now to stay ahead!

Giratina ex Darkrai ex

We’ll have to start off — again — with A2b-035 A2-110, like it or not. In Ranked mode, where matchups are a lot more varied compared to tournaments (where counters are more common), there’s still no better deck to run. Its consistency is unmatched among top decks, making it an ideal pick — especially if you’re climbing through Ultra Ball 3 to Master Ball, where A3-066 counters are far less common. In High Master Ball, the rise of A3-066 makes things trickier, but until then, A2b-035 A2-110 remains the most reliable option. As always, if you want a deeper breakdown, feel free to check out my full guide on the deck.

Arceus ex Crobat Carnivine

The next deck is one I already highlighted last week — but now, I recommend it more than ever. Not only is it putting up strong results, it’s also insanely fast, especially when you start with A2a-009, which can close out games early with relentless pressure. The only drawback is starting with A2a-071, which can feel rough unless you have A1a-068 in hand — not an automatic loss, but definitely something you have to work around.

The list typically runs Grass Energy, aiming to hit hard with A2a-009 in the early turns while setting up A2a-071 as your late-game powerhouse. Alongside them, you evolve A1-172 into A2a-050 to activate its Ability and deal an extra 30 damage — giving the deck a highly aggressive curve that doesn’t let opponents breathe.

Garchomp ex Rampardos

This deck debuted just last week and has already gained traction, judging by how many players brought it to the tournament — and you’ve probably seen it pop up in Ranked as well. It might not be the strongest or most consistent deck out there, but when it hits A3-144, it can steal games out of nowhere with explosive tempo plays.

The core strategy revolves around getting either A2a-047 or A2-089 as quickly as possible. A2a-047 offers strong pressure with its two-hit potential, while A2-089 can take out key threats before your opponent can fully set up. The downside, of course, is when you don’t hit A3-144 — which does happen — even when you run one of each Stage 1, or when A2-089 hits the board early but takes enough chip damage to become easy prey the next turn.

Greninja Giratina ex Oricorio

Next up is the A1-089 A2b-035 A3-066 list. While this deck has shown strong results in tournaments, it's a bit more complicated and demanding in Ranked play — especially with how varied the ladder can be. You’ll need to play around a wide range of matchups, making this deck better suited for players who are already higher up on the ladder, where A2b-035 A2-110 is more common.

I’d only recommend picking up this list if you're consistently running into EX-heavy decks, particularly A2b-035 A2-110. However, if you're facing a lot of A2-089, A2a-047, or A2a-071 A2a-050 — which you likely will in lower Master Ball or Ultra Ball tiers — this deck becomes a lot riskier. In those matchups, it’s often better to stick with something more stable.

Greninja Giratina ex Tapu Lele

And of course, we have to feature the champion’s deck — even if results are still limited. While I wouldn’t strongly recommend it just yet due to how new and untested it is, there’s clearly strong potential here. The list functions similarly to the A2a-063 version of A2b-035 builds, but trades raw damage for A3-084’s flexibility. While it hits for less overall, it’s stronger into A2b-035 A2-110 and provides a more reliable A2b-035 gameplan due to the streamlined Psychic-only energy line.

If you’re climbing and want to stay ahead of the meta, this might be the deck to help you reach the higher ranks — especially while it’s still fresh and fewer opponents know how to play against it. It’s one of those decks that rewards early adopters, so give it a shot if you’re looking to experiment with something off-meta but promising.

Arceus ex Crobat Darkrai ex Giratina ex

And finally, I want to spotlight one last list. Even though it didn’t show up in the final tournament breakdown, there’s a lot of potential here — and honestly, it might even be the best deck. The player who piloted it at the recent Ursiiday’s event was the only undefeated player on Day 1, but didn’t return for Day 2. Interestingly, they would have also played against the eventual tournament champion, meaning the outcome could’ve looked very different if this player had continued their run.

So what is this mystery list? It’s a spicy hybrid of A2b-035 A2-110 and A2a-071 A2a-050, but instead of A2a-009, it leans fully into the double EX package — and it works. A2-110 and A2b-035 serve as your usual win conditions, along with A2a-071, which also acts as a setup engine and an enabler for A2a-050’s damage Ability. The list also runs A2-154, letting you transfer Energy from A2b-035 even if you start with A2a-071 or A2-110. It’s a spiritual successor to the old Arceus-Giratina-Darkrai builds, and honestly? Someone definitely cooked. It’s crisp, clever, and absolutely worth sharing.

I won’t claim it’s the best deck in the format just yet — but if you're looking for something off-meta, innovative, and packed with synergy, keep your eye on this one.

Final Thoughts

Week 2 of Celestial Guardians showed just how fast this meta can evolve. A2b-035 A2-110 is still the deck to beat, but new builds like A1-089 A2b-035 A3-084 and A2a-071 A2a-050 A2a-009 are making serious waves. A3-066 variants finally proved themselves, while A2a-063 A2b-035 struggled to keep up.

Even off-meta ideas like the hybrid A2b-035 A2-110 A2a-071 list with A2-154 look promising. It’s clear the meta’s wide open — and if you want to climb, now’s the time to experiment.