Mega Lucario ex has quickly become one of the scariest attackers in Pokémon TCG Pocket thanks to its ability to convert Energy into huge damage in the mid to late game. When you pair it with Darkrai and a small Sleep package, you get a deck that can stall your opponent early, chip away at their board, and then close out games with explosive Fighting-type attacks.
This guide covers the full 20-card list, the basic game plan, and practical tips so you can pilot the deck confidently on ladder. For players who want to start competing immediately without spending time building from scratch, buying a strong Pokemon TCG Pocket Account can also help speed up the process.
Deck List Overview
This is a streamlined 20‑card list focused on consistency and a clear game plan: put the opponent’s Active to Sleep, chip with Darkrai, then sweep with Mega Lucario ex.
1. Pokémon (8)
- 2× Riolu – Your key evolving Basic; protect at least one copy at all costs.
- 2× Mega Lucario ex – Main attacker; Fighting Pulse scales with Energy and damage buffs to break through even tanky ex Pokémon.
- 2× Igglybuff – Early‑game Sleep engine; Sleepy Lullaby slows the opponent so you can set up safely.
- 2× Darkrai – Chip attacker and Sleep punish; Bad Dreams adds extra damage between turns while the opponent is Asleep.
This package keeps your Pokémon count low but efficient: every Pokémon either sets up Sleep, punishes Sleep, or wins the game.
2. Trainers (8)
- 1× Korrina – Damage boost versus ex Pokémon and a way to push Mega Lucario ex into higher damage ranges.
- 1× Cyrus – Target switch effect that lets you drag damaged Pokémon Active for Mega Lucario ex to finish.
- 2× Copycat – Flexible hand refresh that often turns your opponent’s big hand into your advantage.
- 2× Professor’s Research – Best raw draw card to dig for Mega Lucario pieces and Energy.
- 1× Arena of Antiquity – Stadium that further boosts Fighting damage, perfect for Mega Lucario ex.
- 1× X Speed – Small tempo tool that helps you attack a turn earlier or outpace opposing Sleep/control decks.
These Trainers lean on consistent draw plus a few high‑impact techs (Korrina, Cyrus, Stadium) that directly increase your damage or board control.
3. Energy
The exact Energy split can be tuned, but the idea is simple: mostly Fighting with a smaller count of Darkness.
- Fighting Energy – Your priority; Mega Lucario ex wants to attack every turn once it comes Active.
- Darkness Energy – Enough copies so Darkrai can threaten attacks consistently in the mid game (usually 3–4 in a 20‑card build).
Because Pocket decks are small and games are fast, missing a Fighting attachment on Mega Lucario ex is often worse than missing a Darkness attachment on Darkrai, so bias your counts accordingly.
Core Game Plan
The deck follows a clear three‑phase plan: stall and set up, chip with Darkrai, then clean up with Mega Lucario ex.
1. Early Game: Sleep Setup
Your ideal opening is Igglybuff Active with at least one Riolu on the Bench. Use Sleepy Lullaby as soon as possible to put the opponent’s Active Pokémon to Sleep, forcing them to flip a coin at the start of their turn to wake up.
While they are Asleep, you:
- Bench extra Basics (another Riolu, Darkrai, or second Igglybuff).
- Start attaching Fighting Energy to Riolu on the Bench.
- Use Copycat or Professor’s Research to find Mega Lucario ex and extra Energy.
Even if the opponent wakes up on the first flip, they are still slowed down, and every turn they stay Asleep is effectively a “free” setup turn for you.
2. Mid Game: Darkrai Chip Damage
Once you have Darkrai powered up and your first Mega Lucario ex ready on the Bench, you shift into the mid game.
Darkrai’s role is to:
- Take over as the Active attacker once Igglybuff has done its job.
- Continue applying Sleep and leveraging Bad Dreams or similar effects to add extra damage between turns.
- Soften up key targets (usually opposing ex Pokémon or main attackers) so Mega Lucario ex can finish them in one hit later.
This chip‑damage phase is where you start thinking about prize mapping: ideally, Darkrai plus Sleep damage weakens two different Pokémon so that Mega Lucario ex can pick up back‑to‑back knockouts.
3. Late Game: Mega Lucario ex Sweep
When your opponent’s board is damaged and your Energy is stacked, you bring up Mega Lucario ex and start swinging.
Key points for this phase:
- Ensure Mega Lucario ex has enough Fighting Energy attached to push Fighting Pulse into the damage range you need.
- Use Arena of Antiquity and Korrina to further boost your damage, especially against other ex attackers.
- Play Cyrus at the right moment to drag a low‑HP or high‑value target Active and knock it out immediately.
If everything goes according to plan, your opponent spent the early game Asleep, the mid game getting chipped by Darkrai, and the late game being overwhelmed by Mega Lucario ex’s high‑damage attacks.
By combining steady setup, disruptive status conditions, and explosive late-game attacks, this list can handle many of the most popular strategies on the ladder. If you enjoy controlling the pace of the game while still having a powerful finisher, this archetype is one of the most rewarding choices right now. Players who want to jump straight into the action instead of grinding from scratch can also choose to buy Pokemon TCG Pocket Accounts.