Although Zapdos is not the most powerful card among the legendary birds in Pokémon TCG Pocketyou still create a decent deck to help you defeat your opponents with electric attacks that deal heavy damage. Zapdos is a simple EX card to attack early, as it only needs one energy to use Peck and deal 20 damage. However, its main damage-dealing move, Thundering Hurricane, has its total damage depending on four coin flips. Ranging in multiples of 50, from zero to 200, this can be a juggernaut in battle or a total disappointment.
Although it is not among the best decks for beginners in Pokémon TCPGone focused on Zapdos can pave the way for dangerous damage dealers, which are easy to set up if you include multiple support cards and items to support them. Perfectly pulling off the ideal deck for Zapdos may require some luck depending on the Energy cards and coin toss. Still, the specific set of cards required is a particularly fun variety, as you can quickly deplete your opponent’s Pokémon’s HP if done correctly. It’s not the best Electric-type deck, but it’s worth a try.
Best cards for a Zapdos EX deck in Pokémon TCG Pocket
Combine with Pikachu Ex
The best cards for a winning Zapdos deck in Pokémon TCG Pocket include other Electric types like Pikachu ex, Tynamo, Eeletrik, and Eelelktross. It should be easy to get most of these cards from the Genetic Apex set once you learn how to farm packs and cards in Pokémon TCGP. The only Item cards required are two Potion cards and two Poké Ball cards each. The complete list of cards in the best Zapdos deck is as follows:
Card |
Card type |
Amount |
Attacks and effects |
---|---|---|---|
Ex-Pikachu |
Ray |
2 |
|
Zapdos ex |
Ray |
2 |
|
tynamo |
Ray |
2 |
|
Electric |
Ray |
2 |
|
Electros |
Ray |
2 |
|
Potion |
Item |
2 |
|
Poké Ball |
Item |
2 |
|
John |
Supporter |
2 |
During this turn, the attacks your Pokémon use deal +10 damage to your opponent’s Active Pokémon. |
Teacher Research |
Supporter |
2 |
|
Sabrina |
Supporter |
2 |
|
Both Zapdos ex and Pikachu ex can be found in Genetic Apex’s Pikachu boosters. In the meantime, you need to open the Mewtwo Genetic Apex boosters to find Tynamo, Eelektrik, Eelektross, and Giovanni. Sabrina can only be found in the Charizard booster for Genetic Apex. To obtain the Potion, Poké Ball and Professor’s Research cards, you must go to the Store and exchange them for two tickets each.
Zapdos ex can also be obtained from the Pack Point Exchange for 150 pack points, which you earn by opening boosters.
Is Zapdos good in Pokémon TCG Pocket?
Not great for PvP, but can be fun
The Zapdos deck is only suitable for short battles in Pokémon TCG Pocket due to their ability to quickly set up their strongest cards like Zapdos ex and Pikachu ex for big damage, but they are not great for extended matches due to their low health. Your damage dealing abilities also depend heavily on luck. Zapdos ex’s coin flip-dependent Thundering Hurricane can make it unreliable for consistent damage. Ex Pikachu’s damage can be more controlled, but not as much, as you need Lightning Pokémon on the bench.
On the other hand, when combined with Giovanni for increased damage, Potions for healing, and Sabrina for switching out the opponent’s Pokémon, this deck can be exciting to use when it works. As a backup, Eelektross can still deal consistent damage, possibly leaving an opponent Paralyzed as a bonus. It’s not the best deck, but if you need a Lightning-type deck for a certain event or Pokémon TCG Pocket’s Solo battles against the game’s AI, Zapdos ex can still be a reliable option in the right circumstances.