Giratina EX / Darkrai EX – The New Meta 

✅ Strengths

• Free Energy Acceleration: Giratina EX provides effortless energy attachment.
• Consistent Heavy Damage: Nearly every turn, Giratina EX + Darkrai EX or Red ensures lethal damage.
• Self-Sufficient Setup: Giratina EX powers itself up without relying on other cards.
• Minimal Pokémon Requirement: A streamlined deck means you’re setting up from turn 1 in almost every game.

❌ Weaknesses

• Weak to Bench Swapping: Opponents who disrupt your setup can take you down.
• Slow Without Giratina EX Turn 1: If you don’t pull Giratina early, your late game slows down.
• Reliance on hand control: Without the use of Red Card or Mars, some matchups are simply unwinnable. 

Why This Deck Runs the Show

This deck is still the meta. Unlike last month, this deck has a couple of counters in the form of Meowscarada, Charizard, Decidueye and decks primarily focusing on Oricorio. However, with a well-timed Mars or Red Card, these matchups aren’t a total loss unless it’s Oricorio; in that case, you will usually lose. However, let’s talk game plan. The strategy is so simple it’s almost unfair. Here’s how it plays out:

1. Start with Giratina EX or Darkrai EX in the active spot (preferably Darkrai, but it is matchup dependent).
2. Bench Giratina EX immediately.
3. Attach energy to Darkrai EX, dealing chip damage every turn.
4. Use Giratina EX’s ability to attach a free Psychic Energy (always do this last, as it ends your turn).
5. Stack this ability until Giratina EX has 3 Psychic Energy attached.
6. Attach a Dark Energy to Giratina EX so it can start swinging (it only needs 3 Psychic + 1 Colourless).

Once you reach this point, let the chaos begin. Giratina EX and Darkrai EX can start obliterating everything, while Giant Cape ensures they survive most attacks. The ideal board state includes:

• 2x Darkrai EX
• 2x Giratina EX

This setup prevents your opponent from easily claiming an EX knockout while keeping up relentless defensive pressure. The key here is forcing them into suboptimal Supporter plays and suboptimal attacks (i.e. Red) so that Darkrai EX and Giratina EX can clean up.

Key Card Roles & Highlights

Giratina Ex: Primary attacker and damage dealer

Darkrai Ex: Chip damage dealer and secondary attacker

Leaf: Board stabilizer

Red: Damage enhancer

Giant Cape: HP enhancer and helps Giratina Ex survive

Rocky Helmet: Chip Damage for damage breakpoints.

Tech Options & Variants

Do you prefer a more aggressive hand control playstyle? This variant replaces 1 Red for:

• 1 Mars

The extra Mars keeps unwinnable matchups like Charizard winnable while it wears down opponents' hand. The real kicker? A well-timed Mars might get your opponent to concede on the spot.

This variant also performs better against the mirror match. While it sacrifices some extra damage, it is no longer a loss if going second.

Another option is Komala as a tech for the Oricorio matchup. While it can hurt consistency a bit, it absolutely helps against matchups that would usually be an auto loss. 

Final Thoughts: Tier 1 and on a Tear

Let’s get real—anyone calling this no longer Tier 1 is not using appropriate data from Limitless. This deck boasts a 53.07% win rate. Even with the inclusion of Rare Candy and the menacing Oricorio, this deck has found a way to adapt, making this an absolute menace in the current meta.

Deck Status:

🏆 Tier 1 — Tournament Proven
✅ Strengths: Unlimited Energy and High Damage
⚠️ Weaknesses: Bench swapping and self-damaging