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You can’t hide from this one.
One of the most unexpected — yet deadliest — contenders to emerge this week. What began as a slow, chip-based concept in earlier iterations has evolved into a full-blown threat packed with board-wide pressure and calculated chaos. If you’re after a deck that punishes sloppy setups, dodges direct counters, and plays like nothing else in the meta — it’s A3-084 A1-089 A2b-035.
It’s a little tricky to pilot, but that’s exactly what this guide is for.
Get in here!
Strengths & Weaknesses
| Pros | Cons |
| +Contention for the best A1-089 package so far, fully utilizing A2b-035 with a focused Psychic-only build. | - No instant win button like other decks — relies on setting up multiple win conditions. |
| + Board-wide targeting offers a highly impactful and versatile win condition. | - Slow to set up, making it vulnerable to fast, low-energy attackers or decks that can blitz through quickly. |
| + Neutral to favorable matchups overall thanks to its flexible and unorthodox playstyle. | |
| + Highly potent in tournaments due to the flexibility of choosing between Water and Psychic Energy. |
How to Play Tapu Lele Greninja Giratina ex
Like other A1-089–A2b-035 decks, this one can be tricky to navigate due to multiple setup pieces and the lack of a clear “I-win” button. But once it gets going, few decks can pressure the board like this. A2b-035 is your primary attacker, supported by A1-089 and A3-084 to set up knockouts and control tempo.
We’re running Psychic Energy only, which simplifies setup and keeps both A2b-035 and A3-084 ready to strike. Most of the time, you’re relying on A1-089 for chip damage.
In tournament play, this shell becomes even more versatile if you opt to run both Psychic and Water Energy. Against matchups like Solgaleo, you can lean into A1-089 to deal 80+ damage over time, setting up clean knockouts for A2b-035.
Turn 1
If you start with A3-084:
Your go-to starter, especially going second. It lets you apply early chip damage, softening targets for A2-150 plays or even picking off fragile threats like opposing A2b-035 with help from A1-089.
Against Lightning decks, consider starting A2b-035 instead — you’ll want to preserve A3-084 from being knocked out by A3-066.
If you start with A2b-035:
Solid choice, particularly going first. You’ll be ready to attack by Turn 3. However, against Leaf Energy decks, be cautious — A2b-007 can one-shot A2b-035 unless you have A2-147 attached.
If you start with A1-087:
Not ideal. You’ll want to retreat early — A1-089 is too valuable to lose. If you can evolve quickly, you can soak a few hits with its 120 HP. Otherwise, retreat into A3-084 to avoid exposing A2b-035 too soon.
Early Priorities
- Attach Psychic Energy to A2b-035 as often as possible. You want to keep the pressure alive from the Bench.
- Set up A3-144 + A1-089 early. A1-089 enables A2-150 knockouts by softening targets.
- Use A2-146 to search for A2b-035. It’s your main attacker — always a high priority. If you have PROMO-007 and PROMO-005 in hand, use Research first, then Poké Ball for better odds of hitting it.
- Bench only what you need — usually just A2b-035 and A1-087, unless the matchup specifically calls for A3-084.
- Hand size manipulation matters — keeping your hand at 4–5 cards can bait your opponent into using PROMO-006, A2-155, or A2b-069, giving you a free reset. If you want to protect your hand, keep it at 3 or fewer to discourage shuffle effects.
Midgame
- Knowing when to attack with A3-084 versus when to activate A2b-035’s Ability is one of the most important decisions in this deck. In most cases, you’ll want to prioritize attaching Energy to A2b-035 first — A3-084 becomes much stronger once your opponent has multiple Energy in play.
- By this point, you should have at least one A2b-035 ready to attack. Your typical pattern is to chip with A1-089, then clean up with A3-084 or A2b-035. If A2b-035 is at risk of being one-shotted, it's often better to lead with A3-084 — especially if you have two ready. Together, A1-089 and A3-084 can pressure or eliminate key threats before unleashing A2b-035 once you're behind by two points.
- If you manage to get A2b-035 out quickly and land chip damage on a benched target, A2-150 becomes a game-winning play, letting you pull up high-value targets like A2a-071 or opposing A2b-035 for a clean knockout.
- If A2b-035 survives a hit or avoids damage, retreating with PROMO-002 (X Speed) preserves one Energy — letting you threaten again next turn. This is especially important when Energy attachments are tight or you need to reset positioning.
- Use A2b-070 or A2-147 to keep your Pokémon out of OHKO range. Many top-tier threats, like A2b-007, can still take out A2b-035 in one hit — so durability matters.
- Keep your Energy placement flexible. If A2b-035 is being targeted, shift Energy to A3-084 or another copy of A2b-035. When you have excess Energy, it's generally safest to stack it on A2b-035 for better retreat options and consistent attacking pressure.
Endgame
- This is where the deck’s flexibility becomes overwhelming. Looping between A2b-035, A3-084, and A1-089 keeps the pressure on with high-HP attackers that are difficult to take down.
- Use strategic retreats between attackers to deny knockouts and maintain board presence. A1-089 becomes a win condition on its own in the late game — especially with two in play — sniping away damaged Pokémon and enabling A2-150 to finish off survivors.
- Once enough chip damage has been built up and your opponent is down to their final few points, you can usually lock the game down. Whether it’s a final swing from A2b-035 or back-to-back snipes from A3-084, this deck shines in the final stretch — closing out games with relentless pressure and precise control.
Card Choices
Core
Must-have cards the deck relies on to function.
A2b-035 – Your primary damage dealer. With chip damage from A1-089 and setup via A2-150, it can take out any high-threat target.
A3-084 – Ideal starter to sponge hits and open targets for A2-150, while building up A2b-035 on the Bench.
A1-089 – Primary enabler for A2-150 plays. Also functions as a solid sponge with its 120 HP, helping stall or bait hits.
A1-087 – Bench if you want to bait out A2-155 or PROMO-006. Keep it safe early — it’s key to evolving into A1-089.
A3-144 – Essential for evolving into A1-089 quickly. Enables early pressure and opens up chip damage lines for A2b-035 and A3-084.
PROMO-005 – Use PROMO-007 first to dig deeper, then play to increase your odds of hitting A2b-035.
PROMO-007 – Core draw engine. Resets your hand and helps dig for key cards like A3-144 and A2b-035.
Adjustable
Flexible picks you can tweak based on meta or preference.
A2-150 – Running 2 to consistently secure high-priority knockouts like A2b-035 or A2a-071.
Optional
Cards that can be cut without hurting core consistency.
PROMO-002 – Crucial for retreating A2b-035, letting it threaten again next turn. Also enables a benched A2b-035 to attack when going first.
A2b-070 – Helps stall longer and mitigate damage, especially to protect your starter.
A2-147 – Mainly used to help A2b-035 escape knockouts from threats like A2b-007, opposing A2b-035, or to stall against 150-damage attacks.
Situational
Techs that only matter in specific matchups.
A1-088 – Adds consistency for A1-089, and can attack with Psychic Energy if needed.
A2b-069 – Another consistency option to reset your hand, though less rewarding since you’re usually just digging for A3-144 + A1-089.
A2-155 – Plays well into the long game and often loses points early — disrupts opponents while they’re still holding key setup pieces.
Final Thoughts
A2b-035 A1-089 A3-084 isn’t the flashiest deck — but it’s one of the most calculated and rewarding to pilot. Every move counts, every Energy attachment matters, and when played right, the deck feels almost impossible to pin down. It doesn’t rely on raw power. It wins through positioning, chip pressure, and precise knockouts.
It takes time to master, but if you're looking for a deck that punishes poor setups, dodges linear game plans, and closes out games with surgical pressure, this is the deck for you.
You can also check out our other guides for more insights! With the ranked format here, now is the perfect time to master these strategies, climb the leaderboard, and dominate matchups!
