Solgaleo ex and Skarmory (TCG Pocket)

Solgaleo ex and Skarmory
Solgaleo ex and Skarmory Types used Major cards Solgaleo ex and Skarmory Era 2025-present

Solgaleo ex and Skarmory, more known as Solgaleo ex, is a Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket deck archetype that has been played since the release of the Celestial Guardians in 2025. The deck's strategy revolves around using Skarmory for early-game damage and quickly evolving Cosmog on the bench into Solgaleo ex. Solgaleo ex's Ability allows it to move into the Active Spot on the same turn it evolves without any additional resources.

Solgaleo ex and Skarmory is a strong archetype, with each expansion introducing new variations of this deck.

Strategy

This deck relies mainly on quickly evolving Cosmog into Solgaleo ex, preferably without the Stage 1 Cosmoem. Cosmog's Teleport allows it to retreat onto the Bench if it's put in the Active Spot at the start of the battle. Skarmory utilises Tools to deal decent damage in the first one or two turns, until Solgaleo ex is set up on the Bench and ready to attack.

Solgaleo's Rising Road Ability allows it to freely switch with the card in the Active Spot without having to rely on Items such as X Speed or Supporters like Leaf. It can also counter the opponent's Sabrina and Cyrus or Abilities that block retreating.

In case of not drawing Solgaleo ex or Rare Candy quickly, Cosmoem can also tank early hits with its Stiffen. Although Solgaleo ex's Attack Sol Breaker deals 10 damage to itself as well, with 180 HP and healing from Lillie, Solgaleo ex deals significant damage that can defeat most Pokémon ex in two turns.

Later versions of this deck utilize quicker ways to draw cards through Shiinotic's or Sylveon ex's Abilities, reducing the need to include Cosmoem cards.

Weaknesses

Starting without Skarmory or other Basic Pokémon in hand can prove difficult as Cosmog's 60 HP allows it to survive only one hit from most cards.

Hand disruptions such as Red Card or Mars are known for making decks with Stage 2 Pokémon more difficult to play and they can prevent getting both Solgaleo ex and Rare Candy in hand.

Decks with strong Stage 2 Fire types, such as Charizard ex and Incineroar ex may prove to be difficult to go against; notably, Charizard ex KOs Solgaleo ex in one hit after taking self-damage from Sol Breaker. Similarly, decks with Oricorio can prevent damage from Solgaleo ex completely and can easily deal with Skarmory due to its Lightning Weakness.

Key cards

Celestial Guardians

• Solgaleo ex - The deck's main damage dealer. It can gather Energy on the Bench, avoiding early-game damage. Its Ability can also bypass the opponent's attempts to switch the Active Pokémon.
• Skarmory - Tanks early-game damage, paired with Pokémon Tool cards can deal significant damage as well.
• Rare Candy - Allows Solgaleo ex to enter the battle as soon as the player's second turn.
• Lillie - Heals substantial 60 HP from Solgaleo ex, allowing it to survive more attacks against other powerful Pokémon cards.

Extradimensional Crisis

• Shiinotic - With its Ability, Illuminate, it accelerates drawing Pokémon cards for quick Solgaleo ex set-up. Additionally, since its attack requires Energy, it can use the deck's Energy.

Eevee Grove

• Sylveon ex - Its Ability allows for more cards to be drawn, giving the player more options. It helps against Red Card and Mars.
• Leftovers - Counteracts Sol Breaker's self-damage, and is a Pokémon Tool that can be used to power Skarmory.

Typical decklist

Celestial Guardians

{{{title}}}
Quantity	Card	Type	Rarity
2×	Skarmory
2×	Cosmog
1×	Cosmoem
2×	Solgaleo ex
1×	Pokémon Communication	Item	—
2×	Rare Candy	Item	—
2×	Poké Ball	Item	—
2×	Giant Cape	Tool	—
1×	Rocky Helmet	Tool	—
1×	Sabrina	Supp
1×	Cyrus	Supp
1×	Lillie	Supp
2×	Professor's Research [Professor Oak]	Supp	—
Energy used:

Extradimensional Crisis

{{{title}}}
Quantity	Card	Type	Rarity
2×	Morelull
2×	Cosmog
1×	Cosmoem
2×	Solgaleo ex
2×	Shiinotic
2×	Rare Candy	Item	—
1×	Poké Ball	Item	—
1×	Giant Cape	Tool	—
1×	Sabrina	Supp
1×	Cyrus	Supp
1×	Mars	Supp
2×	Lillie	Supp
2×	Professor's Research [Professor Oak]	Supp	—
Energy used:

Eevee Grove

{{{title}}}
Quantity	Card	Type	Rarity
2×	Cosmog
2×	Solgaleo ex
1×	Magearna
2×	Sylveon ex
2×	Eevee
2×	Rare Candy	Item	—
2×	Poké Ball	Item	—
1×	Leftovers	Tool	—
2×	Sabrina	Supp
1×	Cyrus	Supp
1×	Lillie	Supp
2×	Professor's Research [Professor Oak]	Supp	—
Energy used:

Possible tech cards

• Mars - Allows disrupting the opponent's hand, especially against other Stage-2 Pokémon or Sylveon ex decks.
• Red - Adding 20 damage to Solgaleo ex's attack allows it to Knock-out other bulky Pokémon after they heal.
• Guzma - Can help Knocking-out Pokémon that survive Solgaleo ex's attack with the help of Giant Cape or Leaf Cape.
• Pokémon Communication - Useful if the player has Cosmoem or another Pokémon and Rare Candy on hand to try and get Solgaleo ex.
• Iono - After using Shiinotic's or Sylveon ex's Abilities, allows to shuffle the hand and draw needed cards.
• Magearna or Scizor - Can substitute Skarmory to better deal with Oricorio match-ups.

This article is part of both Project Sidegames and Project TCG, Bulbapedia projects that, together, aim to write comprehensive articles on video games about the TCG.