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Hey everyone!
The biggest tournament of this week just finished which is Grails.gg Pocket Royale $10k hosted by Ursiiday. It had a whooping 2829 players who joined in which is the biggest showing of any Pocket tournament so far and boy I am excited how it turned out. There have been also a lot of changes and meta shift from last week as which we can feel in Ranked as well.
As always, we’ll break down the most popular decks from the event (a lot of new ones), 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
The chart is dominated by three decks: A2b-035 A1-089, A2b-035 A2-110, and A2b-007 A3-012—which together made up nearly half the tournament. It’s a clear reflection of what the community currently sees as the top contenders in the meta.
Let’s break down the most played decks from the event:
A2b-035 A1-089 – This number includes all variants—A3-084, the Snorlax version, and even a few that run a 1-of A3-066. It’s no surprise the count is this high, since these versions all share the same backbone and only slightly differ in tech choices. The more specialized A1-089 A3-066 version is separately listed with 215 players, meaning this core package is being used in multiple ways.
A2b-035 A2-110 – Already considered a staple deck after last week’s strong results, and it clearly stayed on top. Its huge 556-player count shows that it’s not just strong—it’s the deck people expect to face. You need to have a plan against A2b-035.
A2b-007 A3-012 – This archetype shot up in usage thanks to great matchups into both A2b-035 variants. It was already solid in previous weeks, but this was the breakout event that confirmed it as a top meta pick.
A2a-071 A2a-050 – Expected to stay strong after placing well the week before. It’s a consistent, tempo-based choice that many players trust, with decent matchups across the board and room for techs.
A1-089 A3-066 – Listed separately due to its 2-A3-066 focused strategy. It’s still based on the same A1-089 core. Strong tempo, but less reliant on A2b-035 to carry.
A2a-047 A2-089 – A respectable showing for a A3-144-heavy Stage 2 list.
A2b-010 A3-037 – The more popular of the two A2b-010 builds this week. A3-037 is included mostly for the A3-066 matchup.
A2b-010 A3-033 – Slightly behind A3-037 in usage, though it still appeared in solid numbers. Has better damage scaling but likely lost favor due to its vulnerability to A3-066.
A3-122 A2-111 – A noticeable drop compared to past events. Its slower ramp and lack of early pressure may have led players to pivot toward faster or more aggressive decks in this tournament.
A2-053 A3-066 – Fell off sharply as A1-089-based variants proved to be more consistent. It’s still playable, but the meta clearly favors other Lightning-based engines right now.
A2b-003 – A surprise appearance with 20 players. While A2b-007 is clearly the better Grass deck overall, some players likely preferred A2b-003 for personal comfort or specific matchups like A2b-010.
Top 128
- When it comes to performance, A2b-007 A3-012 stood out as the most efficient deck among top archetypes, converting 35 out of 313 players into Top 128 for an impressive 11.18% conversion rate—the highest among all decks with significant representation. This was an extremely strong showing, making it arguably the best meta call of the event thanks to its reliable matchup into A2b-035 A2-110. Converting 35 players from a 313-player pool—within a field of nearly 3,000—is no small feat and highlights just how well-positioned the deck was.
- Despite having the largest overall count, A2b-035 A1-089 posted a modest 5.75% conversion (33 out of 574), while A2b-035 A2-110 followed with just 3.60% (20 out of 556). These numbers suggest that high play rate didn’t necessarily lead to high success, and that A2b-007’s dominance likely played a major role in suppressing their conversions.
- Interestingly, one of the best performers by percentage was A2-053 A3-066, which achieved a 7.69% conversion despite only 26 pilots. Its niche strength comes from a solid matchup into A2b-007, while also maintaining strong play against A2b-035 decks—especially A2b-035 A2-110.
- A2a-047 A2-089 also outpaced both A2b-035 archetypes with a 6.29% conversion rate (10 out of 159), proving to be a consistent anti-meta pick. On the other hand, A2a-071 A2a-050 and A2b-010 A3-033 hovered around 3%, performing steadily but not making a standout impact. A1-089 A3-066 underperformed with just 2.79%, despite having a healthy player count. Finally, decks like A3-122 A2-111 and A2b-010 A3-037 fell below the 2% mark, while a handful of rogue decks managed to crack the Top 128 as one-offs—which we’ll be featuring in the next section.
Top 4 Decks
| Tournament | First Place | Second Place | Third Place | Fourth Place |
| Ursiiday's Pocket Weekly #27 | Oricorio Magnezone | Meowscarada Decidueye ex | Meowscarada Decidueye ex | Oricorio Magnezone |
- The two decks that clearly rose above the rest were A3-066 A2-053 and A2b-007 A3-012, claiming the entire Top 4. Both A2b-007 lists were nearly identical, with the only notable difference being the version of Rowlet used—a small tweak that didn’t change the core strategy much.
- The two A3-066 A2-053 lists that made Top 128 and then climbed all the way to Top 4 were nothing short of remarkable. Their success speaks volumes about their ability to counter the tournament’s most represented decks, namely A2b-035 variants and A2b-007 A3-012 itself. Despite that, A2b-007 not only maintained the highest conversion rate of the event but also proved its power by reaching the upper echelon of the bracket—solidifying its position as a format-defining deck.
- Interestingly, the Top 1 and Top 2 finishers navigated a wide variety of matchups throughout the tournament. The Top 3 player, in particular, faced five A2b-007 matchups and only lost to the eventual Top 2, making him the clear mirror king of the event. Meanwhile, the Top 4 finisher ran into four A2b-007 opponents, and his only loss was to the other A3-066 A2-053 list—showcasing just how dominant and well-positioned this counter-pick was.
Oricorio Magnezone – 1st Place
A3-066 A2-053 taking over an entire tournament is incredibly impressive, especially since it wasn’t even a hot pick in previous weeks. The deck’s biggest strength is how well it counters the most represented strategies of the event, namely A2b-035 variants and A2b-007 A3-012.
What makes this winning list unique is its shift from the typical builds. Instead of focusing on healing A3-066 with two A2b-070 and PROMO-001, this version puts more emphasis on keeping A2-053 alive. It runs two A2-147, boosting A2-053 to 160 HP, putting it safely outside common damage ranges like A2b-010’s. On top of that, it includes A3-155, which heals 60 damage from a Stage 2 Pokémon, giving A2-053 even more staying power throughout the match.
This approach clearly recognizes A2-053 as the true ace, with A3-066 acting as a smart tech rather than the centerpiece. Combined with A2-022, which keeps healing pressure high, the deck becomes incredibly frustrating for slower or damage-capped strategies to deal with—especially against popular picks like A2b-007 and A1-089.
Meowscarada Decidueye – 2nd and 3rd Place
A2b-007 A3-012 finally reaches the top, with the highest conversion rate into Top 128 among all decks. I’m only featuring one list here since the second and third place builds are nearly identical—the only difference being one used Rowlet. Personally, I prefer the snipe version, as it helps A3-012 finish off targets from the bench at key moments.
Who would have thought that a single-point attacker dealing 130 to EX decks would be this dominant? I actually covered this exact list in my recent guide, card for card, so I won’t repeat the strategy here—just check out the guide!
What’s even more telling is that this same list was used by most A2b-007 players who reached Top 128. The stats back it up—this is the definitive A2b-007 build right now.
Oricorio Magnezone – 4th Place
This 4th place A3-066 A2-053 list deserves a spotlight too, as it takes a different direction from the 1st place version. It sticks closer to older builds by running two A2b-070 and A2-022, doubling down on keeping A3-066 alive.
It also runs two A2-147 for bulk, and includes A2b-069 instead of Communication and A2-155. What’s clear is that no matter the variation, we now have a well-defined shell for A3-066 A2-053, with flexibility depending on how much you want to protect A2-053 versus A3-066.
Gengar Tapu Lele – Top 32
Yes, you're seeing it right—A2a-033 is back in the spotlight! While it wasn't the EX version leading the charge, there was one EX variant that made Top 128—but just as a one-of in a mix of A2a-033 cards. The more successful version, however, is a non-EX-focused build that impressed with a Top 32 finish.
This list features A3-084, which is incredibly strong in a meta full of A2b-035. It punishes decks that rely on loading up Energy, turning their setup into a liability. It also includes A3-077, which deals 60 more damage if one of your Pokémon was knocked out last turn—perfect for a deck that’s willing to give up points to gain tempo in return.
The new non-EX A2a-033 is the real star. With 140 HP and a A2-147, it reaches 160 HP. Its 2-Energy attack deals 70 damage and puts the opponent’s Active Pokémon to Sleep. If they stay asleep through both coin flips, you’re hitting 140 for 2 Energy—a very A2b-007-like value, but not limited to EX targets.
With only 1 retreat cost and synergy with A3-084 and A3-077, this build can quickly ramp up pressure and overwhelm decks relying on high-Energy attackers.
Togekiss Tapu Lele – Top 64
What’s with all these Psychic Stage 2 decks running rampant lately? We’ve seen A2a-033 make a return—and now A2-065 is in the spotlight too.
This list runs the same A3-084 and A3-077 package as the A2a-033 build. The synergy is clear: A3-084 punishes Energy stacking, while A3-077 boosts damage after knockouts—creating a deck happy to trade early points for tempo.
The real boost comes from A3-144, which lets A2-065 attack as early as Turn 2. Overdrive Smash threatens 120 damage immediately, and with the help of A2-152, it can reach 170—enough to one-shot almost anything in the format.
Altogether, this is a scary build with strong early pressure and a proven Psychic core behind it.
Gallade Rampardos – Top 128
Although not as flashy as some top-performing decks, A2-095 A2-089 deserves a mention. Two players made it into Top 128 with it—impressive for a deck that’s been under the radar.
What stands out is the matchup spread: it beat four A2b-010 decks and even took down the A2-065 list mentioned earlier. This makes it a strong counter-pick if A2b-010 surges again.
The plan is straightforward: with A3-144, you can attack as early as Turn 2 with either A2-095 or A2-089. Both are efficient attackers with high damage ceilings and are strong into multi-Energy threats like A2b-010 or A2b-035.
It might not be flashy, but it’s reliable, potent, and effective in the right meta.
Best Decks for Ranked
And finally, now that we’ve seen what topped the largest tournament ever, the question is—what will you bring to ranked? With the season wrapping up on May 26, now’s the time to grind if you’ve been eyeing that Masterball rank. Whether you’re climbing or testing fresh builds, don’t forget there are plenty of guides on the site for deeper breakdowns. Good luck out there!
A3-066 A2-053
The deck I’d definitely recommend right now is A3-066 A2-053. It has solid matchups into the dreaded A2b-035 A2-110 and is also decent against A2b-007, which is important considering how popular A2b-007 is becoming. That said, be prepared for A2-089 decks, which are likely to gatekeep this strategy—so this is probably a deck best suited for climbing in the higher Ultra Ball ranks and above.
The game plan is to ideally start with A3-066, using it to stall and chip away at EX decks while you set up your board. Evolve A2-051 into A1-098, which attaches Lightning Energy on its own, then evolve into A2-053 to consistently hit for 110. With support from A2-022 and A2-147, you’ll have time to stick to your plan and take control of the game.
A2b-007 A3-012
Next up is A2b-007 A3-012, a deck that performs extremely well against EX-heavy lists—especially A2b-035 A2-110, which it can one-shot consistently. It also fares well against non-EX decks, making it one of the most balanced picks in the current format.
It has a decent matchup into A3-066 A2-053, thanks to its sustain and healing. Just be cautious of early Bench snipes—only bench Pokémon when you're confident you can evolve them right away.
Check out the full guide for a deeper breakdown.
A2b-035 A2-110
Another week, another A2b-035 A2-110 deck—but this time with a new twist: the inclusion of A3-141 as a tech against A3-066. Its 2-Energy, 70-damage attack gives it an edge against the Psychic bird. Just remember: it falls asleep when Energized in the Active Spot, and it has a 2 retreat cost—so it’s best to power it up from the Bench.
As A2b-007 A3-012 continues to dominate, disruption tools like PROMO-006 and A2-155 are also rising in popularity. Expect these to show up more frequently in Ranked as counter options.
If you need help on how the deck plays out, check our guide.
A2b-010 A3-037
With the rise of A2b-007, A2b-010 returns as its strongest counter. This variant runs A3-037, giving it coverage against A3-066 as well.
Use A3-144 to evolve A1-033 into A2b-010, then use Stoke to load up for a 150-damage follow-up. A3-037 pairs well with A3-150, which attaches two Fire Energy at the cost of ending your turn—ideal for Turn 1 when going first, enabling a Turn 2 swing for 90 damage.
Fast and threatening, this version punishes A2b-007 while keeping A3-066 in check.
A1-089 A2b-035 A3-084
This list debuted strong last week and continued to show up in large numbers this tournament. A Top 5 finish proves it still has legs, but its popularity may start to fall with A2b-007 on the rise. It also struggles against A2a-047 A2-089, which doesn’t help.
It’s a bit weaker in Ranked where you’re locked into only Psychic Energy, making its flexibility in tournaments less applicable. Still, if piloted well, it’s capable of strong results.
Check out the full guide if you want to explore it deeper.
A2a-047 A2-089
This aggressive Stage 2 deck shines when you pull off A3-144 early. With solid matchups into A1-089 builds and A3-066, it’s a strong meta call—though it does struggle against A2b-035 A2-110 and A2b-007.
For more insights, you can check the full guide on how to pilot this power-heavy list.
A2a-071 A2a-050 A2a-009
A2a-071 A2a-050 remains consistent in Ranked. Open with A2a-009 and apply pressure early with 50 damage. The deck punishes A2b-007 and holds up against A2b-035, though it struggles into A1-089 A3-084 lists that can drag and KO A2a-071.
The build runs Grass Energy, ramps into A2a-071, and uses A1-172 → A2a-050 for an extra 30 damage boost.
A2a-033
And finally—A2a-033 is back. This non-EX version took Top 32 despite low representation. The game plan: evolve A1-120 fast and stack pressure. Its 2-Energy attack deals 70 and puts the opponent to Sleep—if they stay asleep, that’s 140 total.
It runs A3-084 and A3-077 to apply additional pressure and benefit from knockouts. Tapu Lele weakens Giratina and other high-Energy decks, while Oricorio boosts closing damage.
Let us know in the comments if A2a-033 is your next pick—or just a fun rogue to bring the heat.
Final Thoughts
Now that the biggest tournament of the month has wrapped up and we have a much clearer picture of the meta, it’s not just about A2b-035 A2-110—there are plenty of strong options out there. So it’s your turn to choose what to bring—whether that’s climbing to Masterball or taking down a tournament yourself. Good luck, and have fun out there!
