Dialga ex Card Guide: How to Build the Best Dialga ex Deck in Pokemon TCG Pocket

Pokemon’s ruler of time, Dialga, has arrived in TCG Pocket, allowing players to accelerate Energy production and fast-forward in time.

Pokemon’s ruler of time, Dialga, has finally arrived in TCG Pocket, and its presence is sure to impact the metagame significantly. As the first ramp card in the game, Dialga ex allows players to accelerate Energy production and fast-forward in time. But how can Pokemon Pocket players make the most of this ramp-friendly ability? This guide provides the blueprint for building what appears to be the most consistent Dialga ex deck in the current meta.

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Dialga ex Card Overview

Dialga ex is a Steel-type Basic Pokemon ex with 180 HP. Its first move, Time Dial, generates two extra Steel Energy, making it a valuable Energy provider for both Steel and Colorless decks. Its second move, Metal Claw, deals 30 damage for two Colorless Energy. While Metal Claw is an average attack, it can be useful in specific situations.

However, as an ex Pokemon, Dialga ex has average HP and must be in the Active spot to use its ability, which can make it a somewhat risky play. Additionally, since Dialga ex is a Basic Pokemon, it can be easily countered by Shaymin ex, which is prevalent in the current metagame.

The Best Deck for Dialga ex

Since Dialga ex specializes in providing Energy for Steel Pokemon, it’s a perfect fit for the previously struggling Melmetal deck. To build a solid deck around this synergy, pair Dialga ex and Melmetal with the following cards: Meltan, Leaf, Dawn, Skarmory, Giovanni, Giant Cape, Rocky Helmet, Poke Ball, and Professor’s Research. (See the table below for card quantities.)

Alternatively, you can replace Skarmory with Mew ex. This adjustment will enhance the deck’s mobility and enable quicker access to Dialga ex and Melmetal. However, the deck may become more vulnerable to Shaymin ex and other Basic Pokemon counters as a result.

How to Play Dialga Effectively

Here are some key points to keep in mind when playing Dialga ex:

Prioritize getting Dialga ex into the Active spot as quickly as possible to start ramping Energy.

Use Leaf and Dawn to draw cards and thin your deck, increasing the chances of drawing Dialga ex and other essential cards.

Protect Dialga ex from being Knocked Out by equipping it with Giant Cape or Rocky Helmet.

Consider using Giovanni to disrupt your opponent’s strategy and slow down their tempo.

How to Counter Dialga ex

The newly revamped Fire-type Charizard ex and Moltres ex deck is a strong counter to most Dialga ex setups. To optimize this counter strategy, add Shaymin and Dawn, along with Pokemon Communication and Giant Cape, to the classic Charizard ex and Moltres ex decklist.

Given the current meta, Darkrai ex is also a reliable counter to Dialga ex. Alternatively, Gyarados ex and Greninja ex offer another solid option, as they can disrupt Dialga ex’s bench and interfere with the opponent’s ramp strategy.

Dialga ex Metagame Performance

I analyzed an 8-event sample of the highest-player-count Pokemon TCG Pocket tournaments to assess Dialga ex’s metagame performance. Based on my research, Dialga ex is averaging a #20 ranking, trailing behind its Space-Time Smackdown set competitors, Palkia ex and Darkrai ex.

Notably, no tournament in my sample was won with a Dialga ex deck, while six events (75% of the sample) were dominated by either a Palkia ex or Darkrai ex setup. While this isn’t enough to declare Dialga ex the biggest loser of the latest metagame, it does indicate that the Steel-type archetype continues to struggle against top-tier meta decks in Pokemon Pocket.