Deck archetype (TCG)

Example of a sucessful archetype at the 2004 World Championships, later printed as a non-legal deck

A deck archetype is a deck, built by players of the Trading Card Game, that utilizes one set structure, although various players may have slight differences between their own decks of the same archetype.

An example of a now-defunct archetype is Haymaker, which commonly used Base Set Hitmonchan and Electabuzz, and Jungle Scyther. While these cards are usually a staple of the Haymaker archetype, they are not required to make a Haymaker deck. For example, instead of using the Jungle Scyther, a player may choose to instead focus on the Fighting-type in the deck, and utilize Fossil Hitmonlee. The exact number and kinds of Trainers used with an archetype may also differ, with some users of Haymaker preferring the drawing power of Professor Oak despite its disadvantage of discarding the entire hand, while others would choose Bill instead.

Deckbuilding guidelines

These guidelines apply to building any tournament legal deck of Pokémon cards.

In a standard legal deck, only four cards of the same name may be included, except for Basic Energy cards and Arceus (in Generation IV), of which there can be as many as a player desires to fill the deck to 60. This four-card rule includes cards with the same name but different effects: a player may have three Stormfront expansion Pikachu and one Majestic Dawn expansion Pikachu, but only four which have the name "Pikachu". Cards that have a different name (Dark Crobat and Crobat, for example) count differently, and thus players may have four of each in their deck. δ Delta Species Pokémon count as the same as their non-δ counterparts.

List of well-known archetypes

This is a list of many of the most competitive decks that were legal during their respective eras of play. Note that variants of some archetypes may have been played in multiple seasons of play. These will be listed during the most recent format in which they were viable.

Base Set-onward

Team Rocket-onward

Neo Genesis-onward

Expedition-onward

EX Ruby & Sapphire-onward

EX Hidden Legends-onward

EX Deoxys-onward

EX Holon Phantoms-onward

Diamond & Pearl-onward

Majestic Dawn-onward

HeartGold & SoulSilver-onward (2011-2012)

  • CaKE
  • Chindra
  • CMT
  • Darkrai-EX/Mewtwo-EX
  • Darkrai-EX/Terrakion
  • Darkrai/Sableye
  • DonDragons
  • Durant Mill
  • EelZone
  • Gothitelle
  • Kingdra/Yanmega
  • Klinklang/EXs
  • MagneBoar
  • MegaZone
  • MewLuxe
  • Party of Five
  • Quad Entei
  • Quad Terrakion
  • ReshiBoar
  • Six Corners
  • Stage Ones
  • Thunder Fish
  • The Truth
  • TyRam
  • VVV
  • ZekEels
  • ZPST

Black & White-onward (2012-2013)

Next Destinies-onward (2013-2014)

Boundaries Crossed-onward (2014-2015)

XY-onwards (2015-2016)

Primal Clash-onwards (2016-2017)

BREAKthrough-onwards (2017-2018)

Sun & Moon-onwards (2018-2019)

Ultra Prism-onwards (2019-2020)

Team Up-onwards (2020-2021)

  • ADP archetype
  • Baby Blacephalon
  • Centiskorch VMAX
  • Decidueye
  • Dragapult VMAX
  • ReshiZard
  • Eternatus VMAX
  • TinaChomp
  • Ice Rider Calyrex
  • Inteleon VMAX
  • LucaMetal
  • Mew3
  • Obstagoon
  • Oranguru Stall
  • PikaRom
  • Rapid Strike Urshifu
  • Shadow Rider Calyrex
  • Spiritomb
  • Sylveon VMAX
  • TrevNoir
  • Weavile Box

Sword & Shield-onwards (2021-2022)

  • Arceus Decidueye Pikachu
  • Articuno Box
  • Blissey V
  • Decidueye
  • Dialga VSTAR
  • Gengar VMAX
  • Goodra Box
  • Ice Rider Palkia
  • Jolteon VMAX
  • Kyurem Palkia
  • Lost Box
  • Lugia VSTAR
  • Mad Party
  • Mew VMAX
  • Mewtwo V-UNION
  • Palkia VSTAR
  • Rapid Strike Malamar
  • Rapid Strike Urshifu VMAX
  • Regigigas Box
  • Shadow Rider Calyrex
  • Vikavolt Box
  • Yveltal Control
  • Zoroark VSTAR

Battle Styles-onwards (2022-2023)

Brilliant Stars-onwards (2023-2024)

  • Ancient Box
  • Arceus Giratina
  • Arceus Vulpix
  • Archaludon ex
  • Blissey ex
  • Ceruledge ex
  • Charizard ex
  • Chien-Pao ex
  • Dragapult ex
  • Dragapult Charizard
  • Espathra ex
  • Festival Lead
  • Future Box
  • Future Iron Hands
  • Gardevoir ex
  • Gholdengo ex
  • Gholdengo Dragapult
  • Great Tusk Mill
  • Iron Thorns ex
  • Joltik Box
  • Lost Box
  • Lugia VSTAR
  • Raging Bolt Ogerpon
  • Regidrago Ogerpon
  • Roaring Moon ex
  • Slowking Box
  • Snorlax Stall
  • Tera Box
  • Terapagos ex

Scarlet & Violet-onwards (2024-2025)

  • Archaludon ex
  • Ceruledge ex
  • Charizard ex
  • Cynthia's Garchomp ex
  • Dragapult ex
  • Dragapult Charizard
  • Ethan's Typhlosion
  • Flareon ex Box
  • Future Box
  • Gardevoir ex
  • Gholdengo ex
  • Gholdengo Dragapult
  • Gholdengo Joltik
  • Hop's Zacian ex
  • Joltik Box
  • Marnie's Grimmsnarl ex
  • Milotic ex
  • Miraidon ex
  • Mega Lucario ex
  • Mega Venusaur ex
  • N's Zoroark ex
  • Raging Bolt Ogerpon
  • Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex
  • Terapagos ex
  • Toedscruel Ogerpon

Unlimited

These deck archetypes were either never legal in the Expanded format, or may have caused bans in said format.

List of well-known Pokemon TCG Pocket archetypes

Genetic Apex-onwards (2024-Present)

Mythical Island-onwards (2024-Present)

  • Celebi ex and Serperior
  • Celebi ex and Exeggutor ex

Space-Time Smackdown-onwards (2025-Present)

  • Darkrai ex and Weavile ex
  • Gallade ex and Lucario
  • Lucario and Rampardos
  • DarkZone

Triumphant Light-onwards (2025-Present)

  • Arceus ex and Carnivine
  • Arceus ex and Dialga ex
  • Garchomp ex and Rampardos

Shining Revelry-onwards (2025-Present)

Celestial Guardians-onwards (2025-Present)

Extradimensional Crisis-onwards (2025-Present)

Eevee Grove-onwards (2025-Present)


Wisdom of Sea and Sky-onwards (2025-Present)

  • Ho-Oh ex and Lugia ex
  • Espeon ex
  • Donphan ex and Lucario


Secluded Springs-onwards (2025-Present)

  • Suicune ex and Greninja
  • Raikou ex and Oricorio
  • Poliwrath ex and Lucario
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