Pokemon TCG Pocket (PTCGP)

Best Carnivine Decks and Card List

Pokemon TCG Pocket (PTCGP) Walkthrough Team

Last updated on: September 30, 2026 02:42 AM

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Pokemon TGC Pocket - Carnivine Best Deck Build and How to Play

This guide will show you how to build some of the strongest Carnivine Decks. We'll cover the best Carnivine Deck builds, how to use them, as well how to beat Carnivine Decks, and more!

The decks on this page reflect the meta around the Celestial Guardians Expansion.

List of Contents

Best Carnivine Decks
Other Carnivine Decks
Carnivine Deck Strategy Guide
How to Beat Carnivine Decks
Related Guides

Best Carnivine Decks

Carnivine Deck Variants	Strengths and Weaknesses
Carnivine and Arceus ex Deck [★ Best ★]	Strengths: • Carnivine can deal 50 damage for only one Energy as long as you have an Arceus in play. • Has multiple ways to reduce Retreat Costs. Weaknesses: • Not drawing Arceus ex early can be disadvantageous.

Carnivine and Arceus ex Deck

Zubat ×2	Carnivine ×2	Crobat ×2	Arceus ex ×2
Sabrina ×1	Leaf ×1	Pokemon Communication ×1	Giant Cape ×1
Cyrus ×1	Iono ×1	Rare Candy ×2	Poke Ball ×2
Professor's Research ×2
Energy Used

Carnivine with Arceus ex is used in this deck because of their ability to deal a good 50 damage on your first turn.

Use Carnivine to weaken your opponent's Pokemon. Having Arceus ex on the Bench will boost Carnivine's damage output, making it deal 50 damage for only one Energy. When the opponent's Pokemon are at low health, switch in Arceus ex to finish them off.

This deck has a line of Crobat and Rare Candy which can be used to snipe opposing Pokemon for 30.

Expansions	Cards to Get and Packs to Open
Genetic Apex (A1)	Zubat x 2 (Mewtwo Pack) Sabrina x 1 (Charizard Pack)
Mythical Island (A1a)	Leaf x 1 (Mew Pack)
Spacetime Smackdown (A2)	Pokemon Communication x 1 (Dialga Pack) Giant Cape x 1 (Dialga Pack) Cyrus x 1 (Palkia Pack)
Triumphant Light (A2a)	Carnivine x 2 (Arceus Pack) Crobat x 2 (Arceus Pack) Arceus ex x 2 (Arceus Pack)
Shining Revelry (A2b)	Iono x 1 (Shiny Charizard Pack)
Celestial Guardians	Rare Candy x 2 (Any Pack)
Extradimensional Crisis	No cards needed from this expansion.
Eevee Grove	No cards needed from this expansion.
Wisdom of Sky and Sea	No cards needed from this expansion.
Secluded Springs	No cards needed from this expansion.
Mega Rising	No cards needed from this expansion.
Crimson Blaze	No cards needed from this expansion.
Fantastical Parade	No cards needed from this expansion.
Paldean Wonders	No cards needed from this expansion.
Mega Shine	No cards needed from this expansion.
Pulsing Aura	No cards needed from this expansion.
Paradox Drive	No cards needed from this expansion.
Everyday Wonders	No cards needed from this expansion.
Ruler of the Skies	No cards needed from this expansion.
Team Rocket's Ambition	No cards needed from this expansion.
Promo-A	Poke Ball x 2 (Promo-A Pack) Professor's Research x 2 (Promo-A Pack)
Promo-B	No cards needed from this expansion.

Alternate Card Suggestions

Alternate Cards	Possible Cuts
Darkrai ex (A2 110)	→ • You can cut a Giant Cape for a copy of Darkrai ex which can give the deck another source of passive damage, and another late-game attacker.
Ilima (A3 149)	→ • Ilima can return a Colorless Pokemon back to your hand. allowing an Arceus ex to soak up damage while another Pokemon sets up on the Bench.

Other Carnivine Decks

Other Carnivine Decks
Meowscarada and Arceus ex	Exeggutor ex and Arceus ex	-

Meowscarada and Arceus ex Deck

Carnivine ×2	Arceus ex ×2	Sprigatito ×2	Meowscarada ×2
Erika ×2	Giant Cape ×2	Red ×2	Rare Candy ×2
Poke Ball ×2	Professor's Research ×2
Energy Used

This deck makes use of Carnivine and Arceus ex to easily set up for attacks while Meowscarada is being prepared in the Bench.

Expansions	Cards to Get and Packs to Open
Genetic Apex (A1)	Erika x 2 (Charizard Pack)
Mythical Island (A1a)	No cards needed from this expansion.
Spacetime Smackdown (A2)	Giant Cape x 2 (Dialga Pack)
Triumphant Light (A2a)	Carnivine x 2 (Arceus Pack) Arceus ex x 2 (Arceus Pack)
Shining Revelry (A2b)	Sprigatito x 2 (Shiny Charizard Pack) Meowscarada x 2 (Shiny Charizard Pack) Red x 2 (Shiny Charizard Pack)
Celestial Guardians	Rare Candy x 2 (Any Pack)
Extradimensional Crisis	No cards needed from this expansion.
Eevee Grove	No cards needed from this expansion.
Wisdom of Sky and Sea	No cards needed from this expansion.
Secluded Springs	No cards needed from this expansion.
Mega Rising	No cards needed from this expansion.
Crimson Blaze	No cards needed from this expansion.
Fantastical Parade	No cards needed from this expansion.
Paldean Wonders	No cards needed from this expansion.
Mega Shine	No cards needed from this expansion.
Pulsing Aura	No cards needed from this expansion.
Paradox Drive	No cards needed from this expansion.
Everyday Wonders	No cards needed from this expansion.
Ruler of the Skies	No cards needed from this expansion.
Team Rocket's Ambition	No cards needed from this expansion.
Promo-A	Poke Ball x 2 (Promo-A Pack) Professor's Research x 2 (Promo-A Pack)
Promo-B	No cards needed from this expansion.

Alternate Card Suggestions

Alternate Cards	Possible Cuts
Pokemon Communication (A2 146)	→ • You can swap out a copy of Red for a copy of Pokemon Communication. This can help you find valuable evolution cards for your Meowscarada line.

Exeggutor ex and Arceus ex Deck

Exeggcute ×2	Exeggutor ex ×2	Carnivine ×1	Arceus ex ×2
Erika ×2	Sabrina ×1	Leaf ×2	Pokemon Communication ×1
Giant Cape ×2	Cyrus ×1	Poke Ball ×2	Professor's Research ×2
Energy Used

Exeggutor ex proves to be a consistent threat, being able to hit for 40 to 80 damage and being able to take lots of hits before going down. Arceus ex is great for closing out games, while Exeggutor ex takes over early to mid games.

Expansions	Cards to Get and Packs to Open
Genetic Apex (A1)	Exeggcute x 2 (Charizard Pack) Exeggutor ex x 2 (Charizard Pack) Erika x 2 (Charizard Pack) Sabrina x 1 (Charizard Pack)
Mythical Island (A1a)	Leaf x 2 (Mew Pack)
Spacetime Smackdown (A2)	Pokemon Communication x 1 (Dialga Pack) Giant Cape x 2 (Dialga Pack) Cyrus x 1 (Palkia Pack)
Triumphant Light (A2a)	Carnivine x 1 (Arceus Pack) Arceus ex x 2 (Arceus Pack)
Shining Revelry (A2b)	No cards needed from this expansion.
Celestial Guardians	No cards needed from this expansion.
Extradimensional Crisis	No cards needed from this expansion.
Eevee Grove	No cards needed from this expansion.
Wisdom of Sky and Sea	No cards needed from this expansion.
Secluded Springs	No cards needed from this expansion.
Mega Rising	No cards needed from this expansion.
Crimson Blaze	No cards needed from this expansion.
Fantastical Parade	No cards needed from this expansion.
Paldean Wonders	No cards needed from this expansion.
Mega Shine	No cards needed from this expansion.
Pulsing Aura	No cards needed from this expansion.
Paradox Drive	No cards needed from this expansion.
Everyday Wonders	No cards needed from this expansion.
Ruler of the Skies	No cards needed from this expansion.
Team Rocket's Ambition	No cards needed from this expansion.
Promo-A	Poke Ball x 2 (Promo-A Pack) Professor's Research x 2 (Promo-A Pack)
Promo-B	No cards needed from this expansion.

Carnivine Deck Strategy Guide

Rush Enemies with the Carnivine and Arceus ex Combo

Carnivine's Power Link ability allows it to deal 50 damage using only one energy as long as Arceus ex is in play. This can quickly shut down most decks within the first few turns.

Due to how important Arceus ex is in rushing the opponent, we recommend using search cards like Poke Ball, Professor's Research, and Pokemon Communication to draw it ASAP.

Reduce Retreat Costs with Shaymin

Carnivine can retreat for free if Shaymin is on the bench due to its Sky Support ability reducing retreat cost by 1. This makes it easier to adjust to the situation and swap Pokemon as needed.

Use Arceus ex Against High HP Pokemon

Arceus ex's attack can deal up to 130 damage with a full bench and is a more capable attacker against Pokemon with high HP than Carnivine. Switch Arceus ex in after Carnivine has damaged a tanky Pokemon enough and take it off the board and get your point.

Giovanni can help you reach 140 damage, which is an important HP benchmark, letting you KO the likes of Darkrai ex, Weavile ex, and other Arceus ex.

Best Arceus ex Decks and Card List

How to Beat Carnivine Decks

Attack It for Weakness

Fire-type Pokemon can be used not only to deal with Carnivine itself, but to the other Grass-type Pokemon in the deck. The best counters to it are Pokemon that can knock it out in one hit while being able to withstand attacks from it. Heatran may be the best for this, as it is a Basic Pokemon with a relatively low Energy cost.

Damage Carnivine as It Attacks

Carnivine relies on quickly dealing damage per turn. Equipping your Active Pokemon with a Rocky Helmet allows Carnivine to damage itself as it attacks, allowing you to knock it out more easily. You may also opt to use the abilities of Pokemon like Druddigon and Pawmot, which function the same way.

Pokemon TCG Pocket Related Guides

Best Meta Decks Tier List

Team Rocket's Ambition Decks

TR Articuno ex	TR Zapdos ex	TR Weezing ex	TR Slowking ex
TR Raticate ex	TRA Garchomp	TR Moltres ex	TR Wobbuffet
Mega Garchomp ex	-	-	-

Top Decks in the Meta

Tier
Mega Lucario ex and Hitmonlee Deck	Darkrai and Mega Altaria ex Deck	Hoopa ex and Darkrai ex Deck	-
Tier
Chien-Pao ex and Baxcalibur Deck	Vespiquen ex and Shuckle ex Deck	Mega Sceptile ex and EW Butterfree Deck	Miraidon ex and CB Magnezone Deck
Mega Rayquaza ex and Gouging Fire Deck	-	-	-
Tier
Mega Altaria ex and Greninja Deck	Mega Absol ex and Hydreigon Deck	Mega Sceptile ex and Greninja Deck	Heliolisk and Mega Manectric ex Deck
Mega Charizard X ex and Entei ex Deck	Magnezone ex and Pom-Pom Oricorio Deck	-	-
Tier
Mega Sableye ex and Greninja Deck	Mega Blaziken ex and Greninja Deck	Team Rocket's Weezing ex and Hoopa ex Deck	Mega Altaria ex and Gourgeist Deck
Meowscarada ex and Teal Mask Ogerpon ex Deck	-	-	-
Tier
TRA Garchomp and Mantyke Deck	Ariados and Whimsicott ex Deck	Mega Sharpedo ex and Chien-Pao ex Deck	Hoopa ex and Zoroark ex Deck
Mega Diancie ex and Mega Gardevoir ex Deck	Flygon ex Deck	-	-

List of All Decks

Core Expansion	Decks
(B4a)	・Team Rocket's Articuno ex ・Team Rocket's Moltres ex ・Team Rocket's Slowking ex ・Team Rocket's Zapdos ex ・Team Rocket's Raticate ex ・Team Rocket's Wobbuffet ・TRA Garchomp ・Mega Garchomp ex
(B4)	・Beautifly ・Hoopa ex ・Mega Gallade ex ・Mega Metagross ex ・Mega Rayquaza ex ・Mega Sharpedo ex ・Rotom ex ・RS Heliolisk ・Swanna ex ・Typhlosion ex ・Vespiquen ex ・Wailord ex
(B3b)	・EW Butterfree ・Dedenne ex ・Hisuian Zoroark ex ・Mega Diancie ex ・Mega Sableye ex ・Milotic ex ・Puppy Pile
(B3a)	・Espeon ・Flutter Mane ex ・Iron Bundle ex ・Iron Valiant ・Koraidon ex ・Miraidon ex ・Raging Bolt ・Terapagos ex
(B3)	・Crustle ex ・Corviknight ex ・Flygon ex ・Inteleon ・Magnezone ex ・Mega Audino ex ・Mega Heracross ex ・Mega Camerupt ex ・Mega Lucario ex ・Mega Sceptile ex ・Vaporeon ex ・Zoroark ex ・Zygarde ex
(B2b)	・Darkrai ・Haxorus ・Mega Charizard X ex ・Mega Gengar ex ・Mega Manectric ex ・Mega Scizor ex ・Mega Slowbro ex
(B2a)	・Armarouge ex ・Baxcalibur ・Bellibolt ex ・Chien-Pao ex ・Gholdengo ex ・Meowscarada ex ・PW Pawmot ・Skeledirge
(B2)	・Alolan Ninetales ex ・Blacephalon ex ・Chandelure ・Galarian Obstagoon ・Gourgeist ・Gigalith ex ・Maushold ・Mega Gardevoir ex ・Mega Kangaskhan ex ・Mega Mawile ex ・Mega Medicham ex ・Mega Swampert ex ・Mimikyu ex ・Teal Mask Ogerpon ex ・Toxtricity ex ・Tyrantrum
(B1a)	・Ariados ・CB Ditto ・CB Heliolisk ・CB Porygon-Z ・CB Magnezone ・Mega Blastoise ex ・Mega Charizard Y ex ・Mega Lopunny ex ・Mega Steelix ex ・Mega Venusaur ex ・Reuniclus
(B1)	・Aegislash ・Dragalge ex ・Greninja ex ・Golurk ・Goodra ・Hitmonchan ex ・Hydreigon ・Indeedee ex ・Jolteon ex ・Luxray ・Mega Absol ex ・Mega Altaria ex ・Mega Ampharos ex ・Mega Blaziken ex ・Mega Gyarados ex ・Mega Pidgeot ex ・Mega Pinsir ex ・Melmetal ex ・Rapidash ex ・Tauros ex ・Whimsicott ex
(A4a)	・Altaria ・Celebi ・Dugtrio ・Entei ex ・Galarian Cursola ・Jumpluff ex ・Latios ・Miltank ・Poliwrath ex ・Raikou ex ・Slowking ・SS Eelektross ・Suicune ex ・Zoroark
(A4)	・Crobat ex ・Donphan ex ・Espeon ex ・Ho-oh ex ・Kingdra ex ・Lanturn ex ・Lugia ex ・Magcargo ・Raikou ・Scizor ・Shuckle ex ・Skarmory ex ・Steelix ・Umbreon ex ・WSS Gyarados ・WSS Tyranitar ・Xatu
(A3b)	・Alcremie ・Dragonite ex ・Espeon ・Flareon ex ・Glaceon ・Jolteon ・Leafeon ・Primarina ex ・Slurpuff ・Snorlax ex ・Sylveon ex ・Umbreon ・Vaporeon
(A3a)	・Alolan Dugtrio ex ・Blacephalon ・Buzzwole ex ・Guzzlord ex ・Lycanroc ex ・Naganadel ・Nihilego ・Pheromosa ・Shiinotic ・Silvally ・Stoutland ・Tapu Koko ex ・Ultra Necrozma ex
(A3)	・Alolan Muk ex ・Alolan Ninetales ・Alolan Raichu ex ・Araquanid ・Banette ・Crabominable ex ・Decidueye ex ・Dhelmise ex ・Incineroar ex ・Kommo-o ・Lunala ex ・Mimikyu ・Passimian ex ・Pom-Pom Oricorio ・Rayquaza ex ・Solgaleo ex ・Tsareena ・Turtonator ・Vikavolt ・Wishiwashi ex
(A2b)	・Beedrill ex ・Bibarel ex ・Dondozo ・Gholdengo ・Giratina ex ・Lucario ex ・Meowscarada ・Paldean Clodsire ex ・Pawmot ・SR Charizard ex ・SR Pikachu ex ・Tinkaton ex ・Wugtrio ex
(A2a)	・Abomasnow ・Arceus ex ・Bronzong ・Carnivine ・Crobat ・Donphan ・Garchomp ex ・Gengar ・Glaceon ex ・Heatran ・Houndoom ・Leafeon ex ・Origin Forme Palkia ・Probopass ex ・Snorlax ・Staraptor ・TL Tyranitar
(A2)	・Bastiodon ・Darkrai ex ・Dialga ex ・Empoleon ・Gallade ex ・Garchomp ・Infernape ex ・Lickilicky ex ・Lucario ・Luxray ・Magnezone ・Mesprit ・Mismagius ex ・Pachirisu ex ・Palkia ex ・Porygon-Z ・Rampardos ・Rhyperior ・Togekiss ・Torterra ・Weavile ex ・Yanmega ex
(A1a)	・Aerodactyl ex ・Celebi ex ・Golem ・Gyarados ex ・Mew ex ・Pidgeot ex ・Scolipede
(A1)	・Aerodactyl ・Alakazam ・Arbok ・Arcanine ex ・Articuno ・Articuno ex ・Blastoise ・Blastoise ex ・Centiskorch ・Charizard ・Dragonite ・Exeggutor ex ・Frosmoth ・GA Charizard ex ・GA Gyarados ・GA Pikachu ex ・Gengar ex ・Greninja ・Kabutops ・Kingler ・Lapras ex ・Machamp ex ・Marowak ex ・Melmetal ・Mewtwo ex ・Moltres ex ・Ninetales ・Omastar ・Pidgeot ・Poliwrath ・Primeape ・Raichu ・Starmie ex ・Venusaur ・Venusaur ex ・Weezing ・Wigglytuff ex ・Zapdos ・Zapdos ex

Best Rental Deck Tier List

Deck-Building Guides and Lists

Lists of Decks by Type
Best F2P Beginner Decks	Best Non-ex Decks
Which ex Starter Deck Should You Get?	List of Rental Decks
Best 18 Trainers Decks	Best Trainerless Decks for Solo Battle Missions
List of Meme or Troll Decks	List of Ultra Beast Decks
Best Eeveelution Decks	Best Baby Pokemon Decks
Deck-Building Guides
Deck Building Guide	How Rental Decks Work
Staple Cards for Decks	-
Deck Analyses
Deck Matchup Statistics	10 Match Tests vs Pikachu ex Deck - Statistics

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Best Carnivine Decks and Card List

Best Carnivine Decks

Carnivine and Arceus ex Deck

Alternate Card Suggestions

Other Carnivine Decks

Meowscarada and Arceus ex Deck

Alternate Card Suggestions

Exeggutor ex and Arceus ex Deck

Carnivine Deck Strategy Guide

Rush Enemies with the Carnivine and Arceus ex Combo

Reduce Retreat Costs with Shaymin

Use Arceus ex Against High HP Pokemon

How to Beat Carnivine Decks

Attack It for Weakness

Damage Carnivine as It Attacks

Pokemon TCG Pocket Related Guides

Team Rocket's Ambition Decks

Top Decks in the Meta

List of All Decks

Deck-Building Guides and Lists

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