The recently released Mythical Island mini-set for Pokémon TCG Pocket is changing the competitive landscape with an array of surprisingly effective cards. At the forefront of this set is Celebi ex, which may initially seem underwhelming. Its attack, Powerful Bloom, operates similarly to Zapdos ex’s Thundering Hurricane but requires a substantial Energy investment to become truly effective.
Fortunately, the introduction of Serperior in the Mythical Island set provides a significant boost. This Pokémon has a unique ability that allows a single Grass-type Energy to count as two. This feature can greatly enhance Celebi ex’s capacity to become a formidable attacker. Below is an overview of what constitutes the best Celebi ex deck in Pokémon TCG Pocket.
Optimal Deck Configuration for Celebi ex
The effectiveness of the Celebi ex deck heavily relies on Serperior. Without it, generating enough Energy for Celebi ex, alongside our secondary Grass-type Pokémon, Dhelmise, could prove time-consuming, giving your opponent a head start.
For players who enjoyed the Lilligant and Venusaur ex deck, this Celebi ex build can provide a similarly fun gameplay experience, even if outcomes vary.
- 2x Celebi ex
- 2x Serperior
- 2x Servine
- 2x Snivy
- 2x Dhelmise
- 2x Professor’s Research
- 2x Erika
- 2x Poke Ball
- 2x Sabrina
- 2x X Speed
The centerpiece of this deck is undoubtedly Celebi ex, whose Powerful Bloom attack allows you to flip a coin for each Energy attached, dealing 50 damage for every head. While the attack requires only two Energy to activate, stacking additional Energy is crucial for maximizing damage. This is where Serperior shines with its ability.
Serperior’s Jungle Totem ability is game-changing, enabling each Grass-type Energy attached to your Pokémon to count as two. Thus, if you attach two Grass-type Energies to Celebi ex while Serperior is on your bench, Celebi effectively gains four Grass-type Energies. This setup allows Celebi ex to unleash 200 damage (with some luck on the coin flips) for just two Energy attachments.
If you don’t have Serperior yet, you might consider using the Petilil and Lilligant evolutionary line as an alternative. Lilligant’s unique ability, Leaf Supply, can also support Energy attachment to Celebi ex, while simultaneously dealing 50 damage to the opponent. However, this play requires Lilligant to be in the Active Spot, unlike Serperior.
The additional Pokémon in this setup is Dhelmise. While its Energy Whip attack delivers only 20 damage initially, attaching four Energy boosts this to 90 damage. With Serperior’s ability, Dhelmise only requires two Grass-type Energy to achieve a similar output. This makes Dhelmise a solid choice in the Active Spot as you prepare Celebi ex for battle.
Should you opt for Lilligant instead of Serperior, it might be best to leave Dhelmise out of your deck since managing Energy for both could be challenging. An alternative could be Pinsir, which also requires two Energy for Double Horn, flipping two coins to deal 50 damage per head.
Another alternative option is Kangaskhan, whose attack, Dizzy Punch, allows you to flip two coins to deal 30 damage for each head. With a requirement of only one Energy, it provides a viable option, although it has a hefty three Energy Retreat Cost.
For players encountering difficulties in getting Serperior’s cards early on, Chatot could prove beneficial. Its Mimic attack does not deal damage but allows you to shuffle your hand into your deck and draw cards equivalent to your opponent’s hand size, helping to acquire necessary cards over multiple turns.
If Chatot is unavailable, consider Meowth, whose Payday move lets you draw an extra card each turn. While not as potent as Chatot, it can still aid in maintaining card flow while you collect more substantial cards.
Rather than including a third Pokémon, you can streamline your deck to feature just Serperior or Lilligant along with Celebi ex, filling the rest with useful Trainer cards. However, adding another Pokémon is advisable to prevent Celebi or Serperior from taking damage early on in the match. Should your options dwindle, Fossil Cards can serve as placeholders temporarily.
Regarding Trainer Cards, typical options for any Grass-type deck are essential. We recommend including Erika for healing Grass-type Pokémon by 50 HP and Sabrina for swapping out the opponent’s Active Pokémon.
Additionally, the inclusion of Professor’s Research and Poke Balls helps draw more cards and Basic Pokémon, crucial for acquiring your Serperior evolution line promptly.
Finally, some X Speeds will allow for quick retreats of your Active Pokémon when needed. Alternatively, consider trading X Speeds for the Mythical Island Supporter Card Leaf, which reduces the Retreat Cost of your Active Pokémon by two for that turn, but keep in mind that you won’t be able to use any other Supporter Cards during that turn.
To explore more strategies for Pokémon TCG Pocket, check out our curated list of the best current decks and learn how to craft essential cards if you’re in need of duplicates for your next deck.
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