Pokemon TCG Pocket (PTCGP)

Best 18 Trainer Decks

Pokemon TCG Pocket (PTCGP) Walkthrough Team

Last updated on: November 16, 2025 08:35 PM

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2 Pokemon + 18 Trainer Decks is a deck archetype that maximizes its consistency and flexibility with their Trainer cards, while sacrificing Pokemon options. Read on to learn how to build these decks and how to play them!

List of Contents

Best 18 Trainer Decks
What are 18 Trainer Decks?
Pocket Related Guides

Best 18 Trainer Decks

18 Trainer Decks	Strengths and Weaknesses
Skarmory ex [★ Best ★]	Strengths: • Skarmory ex has an inexpensive Steel Wing Attack, which only costs 2 Metal Energy to use. • Can reduce damage done to it by 20, adding a little more survivability to it. Weaknesses: • Skarmory ex has low HP for an ex Pokemon, which makes it easy to KO despite using Steel Wing. • Relies on other cards to be more durable and tanky.
Articuno ex Deck	Strengths: • Can sweep through teams after a successful Misty. • Has access to a selection of all the best Trainer Cards. • Not susceptible to Sabrina because it can conserve Bench space by not Benching a Pokemon. Weaknesses: • Weak to Lightning-type decks. • Difficult to recover if Misty usage is unsuccessful.
Palkia ex Deck	Strengths: • Can sweep through teams after a successful Misty. • Has access to a selection of all the best Trainer Cards. • Not susceptible to Sabrina because it can conserve Bench space by not Benching a Pokemon. Weaknesses: •
Pachirisu ex and 18 Trainers Deck	Strengths: • Pachirisu ex is an efficient attacker that can deal 80 damage, 2HKOing most ex Pokemon. • Has access to a selection of all the best Trainer Cards. • Not susceptible to Sabrina because it can conserve Bench space by not Benching a Pokemon. Weaknesses: • Does not have the capability to consistently OHKO an ex Pokemon. • Has a difficult time against Fighting decks. • Pachirisu ex is an ex Pokemon with low HP.

Skarmory ex Deck

Skarmory ×2	Skarmory ex ×2	Giovanni ×1	Sabrina ×1
Leaf ×1	Rocky Helmet ×2	Cyrus ×1	Guzma ×1
Steel Apron ×2	Silver ×1	Jasmine ×2	Poke Ball ×2
Professor's Research ×2

This deck takes advantage of various cards to make Skarmory ex durable throughout the match. The goal is to set up Skarmory ex with Steel Apron and Jasmine, while you can use regular Skarmory to whittle down opposing cards.

This deck follows the 18 Trainer deck archetype, but adds in non-ex Skarmory as another attacking option, making it a 16 Trainer deck.

You can alternatively cut the non-ex Skarmory to keep the deck at 18 Trainers.

Best Skarmory ex Decks and Card List

Articuno ex Deck

Articuno ex ×2

Misty ×2

Sabrina ×1

Giant Cape ×2

Cyrus ×2

Mars ×1

Irida ×2

Red ×1

Team Rocket Grunt ×1

Potion ×2

Poke Ball ×2

Professor's Research ×2

Articuno ex with 18 Trainers iis a powerful deck that makes use of Misty as its primary means of gaining an advantage. This deck does not make use of Starmie ex and relies only on Articuno ex as its primary attacker.

With a single Misty heads flip and a turn attachment, Articuno ex can start attacking with Ice Wing. Multiple Misty heads flips means you're probably taking over the game.

Irida is a new inclusion from Triumphant Light that's able to keep your Pokemon healthy as long as they have a Water Energy attached.

Best Articuno ex Decks and Card List

Palkia ex Deck

Palkia ex ×2

Misty ×2

Giovanni ×1

Sabrina ×2

Giant Cape ×2

Rocky Helmet ×1

Cyrus ×1

Mars ×1

Irida ×2

Potion ×2

Poke Ball ×2

Professor's Research ×2

Palkia ex is a Water-type ex Pokemon introduced in Space-Time Smackdown which can take advantage of the 18 Trainer deck configuration. Access to all the best Trainers including Misty, Leaf, Giant Cape, and Cyrus make this a viable 18 Trainer option.

This deck also makes use of Irida to keep your Palkia ex healthy.

Best Palkia ex Decks and Card List

Pachirisu ex Deck

Pachirisu ex ×2

Sabrina ×1

Giant Cape ×2

Rocky Helmet ×2

Cyrus ×2

Iono ×1

Pokemon Center Lady ×1

Red ×2

Team Rocket Grunt ×2

Potion ×2

Poke Ball ×1

Professor's Research ×2

Pachirisu ex also takes advantage of a 18 Trainer Deck build, as it's able to reliably 2HKO most Pokemon and keep itself healthy with cards like Giant Cape and Potion.

Rocky Helmet can also do chip damage and get Pokemon down to KO range in later turns.

Best Pachirisu ex Decks and Card List

What are 18 Trainer Decks?

Decks That Have Only 2 Pokemon and 18 Trainer Cards

These are decks that fully utilize all the available Trainer cards in the format. They mostly operate under the same concept and strategy but with varying levels of power level.

18 Trainer decks also make use of powerful ex Pokemon, as well as Fossils to control the points that they want to give up and protect their Benched ex Pokemon.

Archetype is Less Popular Because of Pom-Pom Oricorio

18 Trainer decks have fallen out of style ever since the introduction of Pom-Pom Oricorio in Celestial Guardians, which most 18 Trainer decks that run ex Pokemon simply auto-lose to.

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

Comment

Anonymous over 1 year

The Palkia deck in the article is not an 18 trainer. Maybe it was mistaken for another Palkia deck in the meta.

Post (1 Comments)

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Pokemon TCG Pocket (PTCGP) Walkthrough Team

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Best 18 Trainer Decks

Best 18 Trainer Decks

Skarmory ex Deck

Articuno ex Deck

Palkia ex Deck

Pachirisu ex Deck

What are 18 Trainer Decks?

Decks That Have Only 2 Pokemon and 18 Trainer Cards

Archetype is Less Popular Because of Pom-Pom Oricorio

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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