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Now that the next Pokémon TCG expansion is virtually here, let’s take a look at the best decks in Temporal Forces. Expect to see ACE SPEC cards running rife in these decks, all of which have been racking up plenty of Championship Points in the Japanese City League tournaments.
The methodology behind these decks, as explained by OmniPoke who used TrainerHill’s City League scraping tool to build these decks based on the current Meta.
Best decks of Temporal Forces
Statistically speaking, these are the decks that racked up the most points during the Japanese release of Wild Force / Cyber Judge (the equivalent of the the Temporal Forces expansion). TrainerHill’s tool, as explained by OmniPoke, takes each of the 60-card decks used in the competition, then data analysis lifts outs patterns and highlights decks used consistently by competitors. Without further ado, here they are:
#1 Charizard ex / Bibarel – the best deck from the Japanese City League tournaments
| Card | Quantity | Set |
|---|---|---|
| Charmander | 3 | SV: Scarlet and Violet 151 |
| Charmander | 1 | SV03: Obsidian Flames |
| Charmeleon | 1 | SV: Scarlet and Violet 151 |
| Charmeleon | 1 | SV03: Obsidian Flames |
| Charizard ex | 3 | SV03: Obsidian Flames |
| Bidoof | 2 | Crown Zenith |
| Bibarel | 2 | SWSH09: Brilliant Stars |
| Radiant Charizard | 1 | Crown Zenith |
| Manaphy | 1 | SWSH09: Brilliant Stars |
| Skwovet | 1 | SWSH01 |
| Jirachi | 1 | SV04: Paradox Rift |
| Lumineon V | 1 | SWSH09: Brilliant Stars |
| Iono | 3 | SV02: Paldea Evolved |
| Boss’s Orders | 3 | SV02: Paldea Evolved |
| Arven | 3 | SV01: Scarlet & Violet Base Set |
| Code Breaker | 1 | SV05: Temporal Forces |
| Ultra Ball | 4 | SV01: Scarlet & Violet Base Set |
| Buddy Poffin | 4 | SV05: Temporal Forces |
| Nest Ball | 4 | SV01: Scarlet & Violet Base Set |
| Rare Candy | 3 | SV01: Scarlet & Violet Base Set |
| Super Rod | 2 | SV02: Paldea Evolved |
| Counter Catcher | 1 | SV05: Temporal Forces |
| Lost Vacuum | 1 | Crown Zenith |
| Switch | 1 | SWSH01 |
| Prime Catcher | 1 | SV05: Temporal Forces |
| Forest Seal Stone | 1 | SWSH12: Silver Tempest |
| Defiance Band | 1 | SV01: Scarlet & Violet Base Set |
| Technical Machine: Evolution | 1 | SV04: Paradox Rift |
| Collapsed Stadium | 1 | SWSH09: Brilliant Stars |
| Basic Energy | 7 | XY – Evolutions |
This deck focuses around Charizard ex. As with all of the decks released following Temporal Forces, it’s hard to see how any of them could ignore ACE SPEC cards such as Prime Catcher, which have changed the Meta significantly since their introduction.
At the most recent City League tournaments in Japan, this decklist was the best performer, and the Charizard ex archetype once again stood out.
Arven features heavily allowing you to search your deck for tool cards, while you’re also going to be using the Temporal Forces cryptographer alongside Bibarel’s Industrious Incisors. TM Evolution will also be used with Charmeleon and Bidoof, and the Radiant Charizard will support too.
#2 Roaring Moon ex
| Card | Quantity | Set |
|---|---|---|
| Comfey | 4 | SWSH11: Lost Origin |
| Radiant Greninja | 1 | SWSH10: Astral Radiance |
| Cramorant | 1 | SWSH11: Lost Origin |
| Sableye | 1 | SWSH11 |
| Iron Hands ex | 1 | SV04: Paradox Rift |
| Roaring Moon ex | 1 | SV04: Paradox Rift |
| Iron Bundle | 1 | PAR |
| Manaphy | 1 | SWSH09: Brilliant Stars |
| Raikou V | 1 | SWSH09 |
| Colress’s Experiment | 4 | Lost Origin |
| Roxanne | 2 | CRZ:GG |
| Boss’s Orders | 1 | SV02: Paldea Evolved |
| Super Rod | 4 | SV02: Paldea Evolved |
| Nest Ball | 4 | SV01: Scarlet & Violet Base Set |
| Mirage Gate | 4 | SWSH11: Lost Origin |
| Switch Cart | 4 | SWSH10: Astral Radiance |
| Buddy Poffin | 3 | SV05: Temporal Forces |
| Switch | 3 | SWSH01 |
| Counter Catcher | 1 | SV05: Temporal Forces |
| Heavy Ball | 1 | SWSH01 |
| Prime Catcher | 1 | SV05: Temporal Forces |
| Lost Vacuum | 1 | Crown Zenith |
| Forest Seal Stone | 1 | SWSH12: Silver Tempest |
| Pokegear 3.0 | 1 | SV05: Temporal Forces |
| Rescue Board | 1 | SV05: Temporal Forces |
| Artazon | 1 | Paldea Evolved |
| Water Energy | 3 | XY – Evolutions |
| Dark Energy | 3 | XY – Evolutions |
| Psychic Energy | 2 | XY – Evolutions |
| Electric Energy | 2 | XY – Evolutions |
While the Charizard ex archetype definitely dominates in the Pokémon TCG right now, there’s still room for decks with plenty of variety. This Roaring Moon ex deck is one of them. It’s going to include the Prime Catcher, again, and a few new other Temporal Forces cards; Pokegear 3.0 and the Rescue Board. There’s going to be a slight emphasis on Trainers, items, damage multipliers, and a more tactical play, rather than sheer dominance through different evolutions and natural growth.
#3 Charizard ex / Pidgeot ex
| Card | Quantity | Set |
|---|---|---|
| Charmander | 3 | SV: Scarlet and Violet 151 |
| Charmander | 1 | SV03: Obsidian Flames |
| Charmeleon | 1 | SV: Scarlet and Violet 151 |
| Charizard ex | 3 | SV03: Obsidian Flames |
| Pidgey | 2 | SV: Scarlet & Violet 151 (MEW) |
| Pidgeot ex | 2 | SV03: Obsidian Flames (OBF) |
| Radiant Charizard | 1 | Crown Zenith (CRZ) |
| Manaphy | 1 | SWSH09: Brilliant Stars |
| Rotom V | 1 | Crown Zenith (CRZ) |
| Jirachi | 1 | SV04: Paradox Rift |
| Lumineon V | 1 | SWSH09: Brilliant Stars |
| Iono | 3 | SV02: Paldea Evolved |
| Boss’s Orders | 3 | SV02: Paldea Evolved |
| Arven | 3 | SV01: Scarlet & Violet Base Set |
| Roxanne | 3 | CRZ:GG |
| Ultra Ball | 4 | SV01: Scarlet & Violet Base Set |
| Buddy Poffin | 4 | SV05: Temporal Forces |
| Nest Ball | 4 | SV01: Scarlet & Violet Base Set |
| Rare Candy | 4 | SV01: Scarlet & Violet Base Set |
| Super Rod | 2 | SV02: Paldea Evolved |
| Counter Catcher | 1 | SV05: Temporal Forces |
| Lost Vacuum | 1 | Crown Zenith (CRZ) |
| Switch | 1 | SWSH01 |
| Forest Seal Stone | 1 | SWSH12: Silver Tempest |
| Choice Band | 1 | SV01: Scarlet & Violet Base Set |
| Maximum Belt | 1 | SV05: Temporal Forces |
| Collapsed Stadium | 1 | SWSH09: Brilliant Stars |
| Basic Energy: Fire | 7 | XY – Evolutions |
| Mist Energy | 1 | SV05: Temporal Forces |
You will probably hitting up Iono quite a lot with this deck, while the Pidgey / Pidgeot archetype will swing into full too. Unlike the Bibarel deck, there’s no TM: Evolution in this one, which is counteracted by the increase in Rare Candies. This is one of the few Temporal Forces decks you will see without a Prime Catcher, though you will see a Maximum Belt from TEF instead. There’s also a Mist Energy, alongside the typical Manaphy, Jirachi, and Lumineon V.
How to improve your decks in Temporal Forces?
If you’re hoping to take advantage of the Temporal Forces changes to the meta, alongside the shifting Standard Rotation which will take place at the same time as the release, then you’re probably going to want to know how to improve your decks with cards from Temporal Forces.
In terms of items that you’re going to want to make use of, the Prime Catcher and Maximum Belt are both fantastic new additions that will fit into most decks. The former will allow you to switch in one of your opponent’s Benched Pokémon to the Active Spot, and if you do, switch your Active Pokémon with 1 from your Bench. This card lets you live up your wildest Team Rocket fantasies, while also offering up a huge competitive advantage.
The Maximum Belt on the other hand gives the equipped Pokémon a +50 damage boost, before Weakness and Resistance multipliers.
Similarly, you’re going to want to consider building balanced decks. This involves the following;
- Main attacking threat: The main card that your deck will likely be built around, such as Charizard ex or Roaring Moon, etc.
- Ability threats: You’re going to want to balance pure damage output with cards that can stall, buff, poke and interrupt your opponent’s strategy.
- An escape route: Items such as Escape Ropes and Prime Catcher let you quickly switch up the battlefield, and can be handy in a pickle.
- Tanks: Pokémon with high HP that can eat up damage and attacks
That’s as much as we have on the best decklists to come out of the Temporal Forces new meta. We’re going to be keeping this page updated with the latest as we see more and more decks built upon release, though for now these are three of the most powerful decks you can build that make use of Temporal Forces changes. In the meantime, you might consider having a read of the most expensive cards from the Temporal Forces expansion. While some of those cards won’t have the same competitive advantages as the likes of Charizard ex and more, they’re going to fetch a high price from collectors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What trainers should you include in Temporal Forces decks?
Switch is a brilliant Trainer card in Pokémon TCG that is definitely worth including in Temporal Forces decks, while Cynthia and Ultra Ball are also worth a penny.
What is the strongest archetype in Pokémon TCG Temporal Forces?
As has been the case for a long while now, Charizard ex continues to be the strongest archetype in the TCG, with the Temporal Forces expansion seeing little change. While plenty of new cards will be introducing themselves to the meta shortly, it’s hard to see how any of them can pip Zard decks.
