Pokemon TCG Pocket (PTCGP)

Best Ariados 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 - Ariados Best Deck Build and How to Play

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

List of Contents

Best Ariados Decks
Ariados Deck Strategy Guide
How to Beat Ariados Decks
Related Guides

Best Ariados Decks

Ariados Deck Variants	Strengths and Weaknesses
Ariados and Whimsicott ex [★ Best ★]	Strengths: • Ariados' Trap Territory increases the Defending Pokemon's Retreat Cost by 1, making it harder for them to Retreat. • Whimsicott ex's Grass Knot synergizes with Ariados' Trap Territory. Weaknesses: • Whimsicott ex can deal negligible damage to Pokemon with low Retreat Costs.

Ariados and Whimsicott ex

Cottonee ×2	Whimsicott ex ×2		Spinarak ×2	Ariados ×2
Cyrus ×1	Copycat ×2		Quick-Grow Extract ×2	Fragrant Forest ×2
Small Balloon ×1	Team Rocket's Goo-zooka ×2		Professor's Research ×2
Energy Used		Scan Code Save image to scan in-game.

Whimsicott ex is the deck's main attacker with Ariados' Trap Territory supporting it by giving Grass Knot a damage boost.

Ariados' Ability stacks, making it so two copies of it can increase the Defending Pokemon's Retreat by as much as 2.

This strategy is made even more consistent by Team Rocket's Goo-zooka, which increases the Retreat Cost of your opponent's Active Pokemon by 1.

Expansions	Cards to Get and Packs to Open
Genetic Apex (A1)	No cards needed from this expansion.
Mythical Island (A1a)	No cards needed from this expansion.
Spacetime Smackdown (A2)	Cyrus x 1 (Palkia Pack)
Triumphant Light (A2a)	No cards needed from this expansion.
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	Cottonee x 2 (Mega Altaria Pack) Whimsicott ex x 2 (Mega Altaria Pack) Copycat x 2 (Mega Gyarados Pack)
Crimson Blaze	Spinarak x 2 (Mega Charizard Pack) Ariados x 2 (Mega Charizard Pack) Quick-Grow Extract x 2 (Mega Charizard Pack)
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	Fragrant Forest x 2 (Mega Lucario Pack)
Paradox Drive	No cards needed from this expansion.
Everyday Wonders	Small Balloon x 1 (Picnic Pack)
Ruler of the Skies	No cards needed from this expansion.
Team Rocket's Ambition	Team Rocket's Goo-zooka x 2 (Team Rocket Pack)
Promo-A	Professor's Research x 2 (Promo-A Pack)
Promo-B	No cards needed from this expansion.

Alternate Card Suggestions

Alternate Cards	Possible Cuts
Copycat (B1 225)	→ • Because the Pokemon in the deck already have low HP, having Erika or multiple copies of it can be cut for Copycat.
X Speed (P-A 002)	→ • Erika can also be replaced with X Speed to allow your Pokemon to retreat more freely.

Ariados Deck Strategy Guide

Whimsicott ex Synergizes with Ariados

Whimsicott ex's Grass Knot synergizes with Ariados's Trap Territory.

By increasing the Defending Pokemon's Retreat Cost, Grass Knot's damage output also increases.

Grass Knot's Damage with Trap Territory

	Ariados x1	Ariados x2
1 Retreat	100	130
2 Retreat	130	160
3 Retreat	160	190

Ariados' Trap Territory's effect stacks, giving Whimsicott ex the ability to deal even more damage, helping it reach important HP benchmarks for decisive KOs.

Lisa and Quick-Grow Extract for Consistency

Lisia and Quick-Grow Extract give the deck valuable consistency, finding key pieces to your setup.

Increase Survivability with Erika and Leaf Cape

Even though your Pokemon have low HP, having Erika in the deck can keep your Pokemon in the game for longer. Leaf Cape increases your Grass Pokemon's HP by 30, giving them some added durability.

How to Beat Ariados Decks

OHKO Ariados and its Partners

Mega Blaziken ex has a good matchup against Ariados decks because of its ability to OHKO Ariados and its partners, as well as having a low enough Retreat Cost to not be hindered too much by Trap Territory.

Mega Blaziken ex Decks also have access to Flame Patch, which they can use to recycle discarded Energy from retreating.

Best Mega Blaziken ex Decks and Card List

Hand Disruption

Ariados decks would typically want to keep lots of options on-hand. Use hand disruption to shuffle away their options!

Don't Use Pokemon with High Retreat Costs

Pokemon with high Retreat Costs will naturally have a poor matchup against Ariados decks with Whimsicott ex.

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 Ariados Decks and Card List

Best Ariados Decks

Ariados and Whimsicott ex

Alternate Card Suggestions

Ariados Deck Strategy Guide

Whimsicott ex Synergizes with Ariados

Grass Knot's Damage with Trap Territory

Lisa and Quick-Grow Extract for Consistency

Increase Survivability with Erika and Leaf Cape

How to Beat Ariados Decks

OHKO Ariados and its Partners

Hand Disruption

Don't Use Pokemon with High Retreat Costs

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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