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  1. Games
  2. Adventure Games
  3. Pokemon
  4. Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket

Best Pokemon TCG Pocket Hoopa ex deck

Guides
By Joel Franey
Published 11 August 2026

Hoopa ex, Bombirdier, and the famous Hydreigon make up this deadly PTCGP Dark deck

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Hoopa ex in Pokemon TCG Pocket
(Image credit: The Pokemon Company)
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The best Pokemon TCG Pocket deck for Hoopa ex is very good in the current meta, with Hoopa proving incredibly strong owing to its ability to target benches and disrupt strategies in the early game, but at the risk of hurting yourself the further you go into the late game. If you're willing to take this high-risk, high-reward strategy, here's how to make the best Dark Hoopa ex deck build in PTCGP, and what you need to know about strategies, pros and cons.

For more deck builds, find out the best decks in Pokemon TCG Pocket here!

Best Hoopa ex deck build in Pokemon TCGP

Best Hoopa ex deck in Pokemon TCG Pocket

(Image credit: The Pokemon Company)

The best Hoopa ex deck in the PTCGP meta right now is made with the following cards:

  • Hoopa ex x2
  • Deino x2
  • Hydreigon x2
  • Bombirdier x1
  • Cyrus x1
  • Rare Candy x2
  • Deceptive Needle x2
  • Copycat x2
  • Lucky Ice Pop x1
  • Field Blower x1
  • Poke Ball x2
  • Professor's Research x2

Energy: Dark

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QR code for Hoopa ex deck in Pokemon TCG Pocket

(Image credit: The Pokemon Company)

Dark decks are usually all about favoring aggressive play over anything else, even to the extent of hampering the user, and that's what both Hydreigon and Hoopa ex do, both damaging themselves to either generate energy or do big damage.

It's worth it through: this is a deck that can run very early on 1 energy, and Hoopa's basic attack is incredibly powerful, especially when it comes to targeting the opponent's bench. Meanwhile, Bombirdier is a major advantage for lowering retreat costs, and the Deceptive Needle doubles down on that early advantage by inflicting chip damage on opponents.

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  • Golden Munchlax card in Pokemon TCG Pocket Best Pokemon TCGP decks and meta tier list (October 2026)
  • The back of a trio of Pokemon cards, lying on a wooden surface Five essential rules for Pokemon TCG deckbuilding from pros
  • best decks in Pokemon TCG Pocket All Secret missions in Pokemon TCG Pocket

Want an alternative Dark build? Check out the best Mega Absol ex deck in Pokemon TCG Pocket, or the similar Zoroark ex deck.

  • Pros
    • Very good early game that also hits the bench
    • Hydreigon remains a low-cost powerhouse
    • Versatile but simple strategies
  • Cons
    • Weaker late game, as a result of low health and self-destructive attacks
    • Hydreigon is a Stage 2 evolution
Pokemon TCG Pocket Mega Sceptile ex deck:Pokemon TCG Pocket Mega Blaziken ex deck: Pokemon TCG Pocket Mega Manectric ex deck: Pokemon TCG Pocket Mega Scizor ex deck:

Pokemon TCG Pocket Mega Sceptile ex deck: Poison affliction and heavy damage
Pokemon TCG Pocket Mega Blaziken ex deck: Fire discards are made up for with high damage
Pokemon TCG Pocket Mega Manectric ex deck: A fast Electric build
Pokemon TCG Pocket Mega Scizor ex deck: A Metal deck focused on board control

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Joel Franey
Joel Franey
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Guides Editor, GamesRadar+

Joel Franey is a writer, journalist, podcaster and Very Tired Man with a BA from Brunel University, a Masters from Sussex University and a decade working in games journalism, often focused on guides coverage but also in reviews, features and news. His love of games is strongest when it comes to groundbreaking narratives like Disco Elysium, UnderTale and Baldur's Gate 3, as well as innovative or refined gameplay experiences like XCOM, Sifu, Arkham Asylum or Slay the Spire. He is a firm believer that the vast majority of games would be improved by adding a grappling hook, and if they already have one, they should probably add another just to be safe. You can find old work of his at Eurogamer, Gfinity, USgamer, SFX Magazine, RPS, Dicebreaker, VG247, and more.

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