Hi there. I think I will have a mini series of posts where I present alternative Pokemon TCG decks. In a metagame filled with Gholdengo ex decks, Gardevoir ex decks, Dragapult ex decks and Charizard ex decks, there are a few decks out there that are not super popular but have good win rates.
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Popular decks tend to be decks that are simple, easy to play and have good firepower. Some popular decks may be hard to build as some cards can be expensive or worst yet hard to find.
An alternative deck like Greninja ex in theory can catch opponents off guard and should be fairly easy to build in December 2025 or January 2026.
Note: This post is long.
Key Cards
Froakie, Frogadier, Greninja ex
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Greninja ex is the main attacker. The first attack hits for 170 damage plus you get any 1 card from your deck.
The second attack can hit multiple Pokemon. There is potential for multiple knockouts.
Pidgeot ex
Pidgeot ex is very good still in the Phantasmal Flames format. The Quick Search ability lets you search for any 1 card from your deck once during your turn.
Dusclops, Dusknoir
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In theory, it sounds kind of dumb to sacrifice your Pokemon and give your opponent a Prize card in order to place damage counters. When used right, Dusclops and Dusknoir can deal enough damage for Greninja ex to deal a Knockout or more.
Dusknoir can also be used to sacrifice itself to take out a key Pokemon on the opponent's side. A one for one trade.
Grand Tree ACE SPEC Stadium
This Grand Tree ACE SPEC stadium card is not the most popular ACE SPEC card but it is interesting. After waiting 1 turn for a Basic Pokemon. You can find the corresponding Stage 1 Pokemon for that Basic from your deck then evolve it. Then you can find the Stage 2 Pokemon from your deck and evolve it too. Two evolutions in one turn instead of 2 separate turns.
For example, if you have Froakie on the Bench after 1 turn then you can use Grand Tree. Search your deck for a Frogadier to evolve Froakie. Then evolve Frogadier into a Greninja ex from your deck.
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Note that the opponent can use this Stadium too. They may not evolve all the way to Stage 2 but they can evolve a Basic Pokemon into a Stage 1 Pokemon from their deck.
Sample Decklist One - Rank 112 out of 2200 Players @ Stuttgart Regional
Pokémon: 20
3 Froakie OBF 56
2 Frogadier TWM 57
2 Greninja ex TWM 106
2 Duskull PRE 35
1 Dusclops PRE 36
1 Dusknoir PRE 37
1 Pidgey OBF 162
1 Pidgey MEW 16
1 Pidgeotto MEW 17
2 Pidgeot ex OBF 164
1 Fezandipiti ex SFA 38
1 Budew PRE 4
1 Klefki SVI 96
1 Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex TWM 141
Trainer: 33
3 Lillie's Determination MEG 119
2 Arven OBF 186
2 Hilda WHT 84
2 Colress's Tenacity SFA 57
2 Iono PAL 185
1 Professor Turo's Scenario PAR 171
1 Boss's Orders MEG 114
4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144
3 Rare Candy MEG 125
2 Ultra Ball MEG 131
1 Nest Ball SVI 181
1 Super Rod PAL 188
1 Switch MEG 130
1 Energy Search SVI 172
1 Counter Catcher PAR 160
1 Premium Power Pro MEG 124
1 Night Stretcher SFA 61
1 Air Balloon BLK 79
1 Technical Machine: Devolution PAR 177
1 Grand Tree SCR 136
1 Jamming Tower TWM 153
Energy: 7
4 Water Energy MEE 3
3 Ignition Energy WHT 86
This Greninja ex list has a lot of different cards in it. You have your Greninja ex evolution line, the Dusknoir evolution line and the Pidgeot ex evolution line. There are some 1 of cards like Budew for early game Item lock, 1 copy of Klefki to stall and shut off abilities of Basic Pokemon, one Fezandipiti ex and one Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex for the late game.
Colress Tenacity is for finding the Grand Tree ACE SPEC and a single Energy card (Basic Water or Ignition Energy). Hilda is good for finding an Evolution Pokemon and an Energy card.
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You have your staple cards like Arven, Lillie's Determination, Rare Candy, Buddy Buddy Poffin, Iono and Night Stretcher.
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The one Premium Power Pro is interesting. You would use this to have Greninja ex deal 30 more damage as it is a Fighting type.
One Air Balloon for retreating and one Technical Machine: Devolution to devolve damaged Evolution Pokemon and possibly getting multiple knockouts.
Sample Decklist Two - Rank 30 out 6500 Players Best of One Format at Champions League Aichi Dec 2025
Pokémon: 18
3 Froakie OBF 56
2 Frogadier TWM 57
2 Greninja ex TWM 106
2 Pidgey MEW 16
1 Pidgeotto MEW 17
2 Pidgeot ex OBF 164
2 Duskull PRE 35
1 Dusclops PRE 36
1 Dusknoir PRE 37
1 Fezandipiti ex SFA 38
1 Budew PRE 4
Trainer: 34
4 Lillie's Determination MEG 119
3 Colress's Tenacity SFA 57
2 Iono PAL 185
2 Boss's Orders MEG 114
2 Hilda WHT 84
4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144
4 Ultra Ball MEG 131
4 Rare Candy MEG 125
1 Nest Ball SVI 181
1 Night Stretcher SFA 61
1 Super Rod PAL 188
1 Switch MEG 130
1 Counter Catcher PAR 160
1 Air Balloon BLK 79
1 Technical Machine: Crisis Punch PAF 90
1 Grand Tree SCR 136
1 Town Store OBF 196
Energy: 8
5 Water Energy MEE 3
3 Ignition Energy WHT 86
This Greninja deck list does have similarities compared to the Stuttgart list above. The three Stage 2 evolution lines are similar. There is a Budew as well.
This Aichi list does not include Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex nor a Klefki nor a Technical Machine: Devolution. There are no Arvens in this list. There is a Town Store stadium to fetch for a Tool card like Air Balloon or a Technical Machine: Crisis Punch.
Advantages
Pidgeot ex Is Very Good Still
When Pidgeot ex was first released, it was a broken card due to its Quick Search ability. Then it went away for a while and now it is seen again even with Team Rocket's Watchtower in the format.
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Being able to search for any card from your deck without revealing it is very powerful. Pidgeot ex makes it possible for decks to run 2 or even 3 Stage 2 evolution lines. One being the Pidgeot ex line and the second evolution line being any Stage 2 evolution line you want.
Mutliple Knockouts Potential
Greninja ex's second attack of Mirage Barrage can possibly do multiple knockouts in one turn. The Dusclops and Dusknoirs help as well for more damage, maybe 3 Knockouts or even a full board wipe that eliminates the opponents Pokemon from play. If the opponent has no more Backup Pokemon then you win also.
Fighting Is A Good Type
Greninja ex being a Fighting type is helpful. This is because you do see some Mega Kangaskhans and some other popular Pokemon weak to Fighting.
Disadvantages
Weak To Psychic
Gardevoir ex decks are not the most popular but it is one of the highest performing decks in the Phantasmal Flames Standard format. Greninja ex being weak to Psychic hurts this deck a lot.
Centralized on Greninja ex Being The Main Attacker
Greninja ex is the main attacker in this deck. There are really no other attackers unless you have the Zoroark and/or Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex.
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There is a possibility that you can get walled off by stuff like Crustle and Mimikyu.
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Lack of Firepower
Greninja ex's first attack for 170 damage is not really high damage output. You are most likely trying to two hit bulkier Pokemon or get multiple knockouts.
Dusclops and Dusknoirs do help with increasing more damage but you give up Prize cards.
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Closing Notes
Greninja ex is a good alternative deck instead of Gholdengo ex, Gardevoir ex, Dragapult ex and Charizard ex. The cards should be fairly easy to find and cheap. Ignition Energy could be hard to find though.
The deck is unique as it can deal multiple knockouts in a metagame that does not see a lot of Shaymin.
Greninja does not have one hit knockout power on some more bulkier targets which makes this deck kind of hard to use. Beginners may have a tough time using this deck. The level of this deck is at least for intermediate players who are familiar with how the top decks play.
Pidgeot ex does rotate out of the standard format in April 2025 in my estimation. This deck would have a competitive lifespan of 4 months at the worst. It is unknown if this deck gets really good or worse in a new format when the G cards go away from standard play.