Arceus EX / Dialga EX – The Tier 2 Powerhouse

Arceus EX/Dialga EX was dominating the metagame as the most consistent deck in the format. While other decks struggle to set up, this deck effortlessly assembles its game plan, making it a nightmare to face. The strategy? Fuel up Arceus EX as fast as possible, using Dialga EX to accelerate energy and unleash devastating attacks.

With a full bench, Arceus EX swings for 130 damage—enough to take down most threats in just two or, in most cases, one turn. Add Red into the mix, and that number jumps to 150 damage per hit, making mirror matchups much easier. And because the deck relies on bulky EX Pokémon, it’s much harder for opponents to punish misplays or force bad trades.

But, like all decks, it has its weaknesses. A bad start with Shaymin or Mew can slow you down and give you an early disadvantage. Worse yet, the Rampardos/Lucario deck directly counters this strategy, making matchups against it an uphill battle. However, a properly set-up Mew or Arceus can win that matchup with careful positioning and card consideration. 

✅ Strengths

• High consistency — easily finds key pieces
• Massive damage output — quickly swings for big numbers
• Bulky EX Pokémon — hard to take down, great for pivoting

❌ Weaknesses

• Risky starts with Shaymin, Mew, or Arceus
• Hard-countered by Rampardos/Lucario

Game Plan

Early Game:

Your ideal opener is Dialga EX. If you start with anything else, bench Dialga quickly and attach an Energy as soon as possible. Once Dialga has two Energy, use Leaf to bring it into the active spot. From there, your priority is to power up Mew EX or Arceus EX to smoothly transition into the mid-game.

Pro Tip: Dialga EX thrives with Rocky Helmet, helping Arceus hit key damage thresholds for efficient knockouts.

Mid Game: 

At this stage, Arceus EX should be swinging, applying pressure, and setting up for a fast win. To survive mirror matches and pesky Giratina EX decks, Giant Cape on Arceus is a must.

Depending on the board state, it is sometimes better to continue ramping up with Dialga instead of switching immediately to Arceus. However, this decision requires understanding both your opponent’s deck and the current board state.

Your ideal board:
✅ Arceus EX (Main attacker)
✅ Dialga EX (Energy acceleration)
✅ Shaymin (Healing support)
✅ Either another Arceus EX or Mew EX, depending on the matchup

Late Game:

By now, you should be swinging hard with Arceus EX, keeping it alive with Shaymin, and maintaining a full bench to maximize your 130-damage attacks. This consistent pressure is often enough to close out games in your favor. If your opponent has a 140 Hp Arceus EX, using Red while you have a full board will enable a win. 

Key Card Roles & Highlights

• Arceus Ex — Damage dealer + main attacker
• Dialga Ex — Energy acceleration/defense/secondary attacker
• Mew Ex — Counter in specific matchups where Arceus cannot help
• Shaymin — Healing Support
• Leaf — Free retreat

Skarmory Variant — A Risky but Effective Tech Choice

The Skarmory variant offers better trades against aggressive decks and slower setups, especially against Water decks with Manaphy. However, this version runs four Tools, which limits deck space for healing items—making you more vulnerable to bench swaps. While this variant excels in some matchups, it's a trade-off that requires careful consideration. Choosing a Skarmory-focused build is a meta call.

Final Thoughts: Mastering the Deck

If you want one of the strongest, most consistent decks in the current meta, Arceus EX/Dialga EX is the clear choice. Just be prepared for the few matchups that can shut it down.

Deck Status:

🏆 Tier 2 — Tournament Proven
✅ Strengths: Consistent, deals massive damage, bulky Pokémon
⚠️ Weaknesses: Potential for a weak start, bad matchup against Rampardos + Lucario