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Pokemon TCG Pocket: Best Genetic Apex pack to open

Pokemon TCG Pocket starter packs.

With three options to choose from, players should know which is the best pack to open in Pokemon TCG Pocket for them in the Genetic Apex set.

The new Pokemon TCG Pocket has over 280 cards available in the Genetic Apex set, ranging from a standard Meowth to an immersive art Mew. Certain packs can have certain cards that are essential to battling, depending on what the player’s game style and preferences. Players have the option to use starter or rental decks, but some packs provide cards that are needed to unlock the desired decks that others don’t. Plus, many of the best decks need to be built from scratch.

For competitive players, here’s what they need to know to decide what the best pack for them is in Pokemon TCG Pocket.

Best cards from each pack in Pokemon TCG Pocket

Each Pokemon TCG Pocket deck offers a different array of card options, some better than others.

Pokemon TCG Pocket banner

The Charizard pack offers the best ex cards to use in meta deck building, even if they’re rare. Charizard can sweep almost any other Pokemon and, with Moltres powering it up, can stay in play for a long time. Many fans have found this to be a winning combination. Starmie ex and Exeggutor ex are also major figures in meta deck building.

  • Starmie ex
  • Charizard ex
  • Moltres ex
  • Exeggutor ex

In comparison, the Mewtwo pack features some of the outright most powerful cards. For instance, Articuno ex can damage benched Pokemon alongside its main attack, while Mewtwo can do a flat 150 damage. However, most of these cards require a lot of energy to power up, making them later game picks.

  • Articuno ex
  • Mewtwo ex
  • Venusaur ex
  • Marowak ex

While neither the strongest or best for card building, the Pikachu pack’s best ex cards do come with the benefit of being basic. That means that unlike Venusaur ex or Charizard ex, they can go right into play once the battler pulls them.

  • Pikachu ex
  • Zapdos ex

Most fans think that either Mewtwo ex or Pikachu ex is the best card in the game currently. Mewtwo ex, with its 150 damage attack, can take out most cards in competitive play. Paired with Gardevoir, it can quickly become unstoppable. Pikachu ex, in comparison, only takes two energy to deal up to 90 damage as a basic Pokemon. Both can also be part of decent meta decks.

Which pack offers the best competitive deck?

Based on the current meta, the Charizard pack offers the best pulls for the most competitive early decks in Pokemon TCG pocket.

The Charizard pack has a number of advantages over the other Genetic Apex decks, particularly when looking at the first pull. Players who choose this pack first will get a Staryu. This becomes crucial to the later development of the Starmie ex/Articuno ex deck. Additionally, the first ex card they pull will be an Exeggutor ex. While its use does require finding an Exeggute, Exeggutor ex only requires one energy to do up to 80 damage. In early gameplay, players will find a lot of utility in this card.

Additionally, players can get every Pokemon card needed for the ultra-powerful Charizard ex/Moltres ex. The required trainer cards will either be in other decks, or players can unlock them using pack points. With this, Exeggute ex, and an early Staryu, the Charizard pack offers the best cards for early deck building.

Charizard ex and Moltres ex in Pokemon TCG Pocket.

While not as renown as the Charizard pack, the Mewtwo pack comes in close second for best pack in Pokemon TCG Pocket. Players can immediately pull the Marowak ex card which, while powerful, relies on lucky flips. It does form a good basis for a Brock deck, though. Moreover, the Mewtwo genetic Apex pack is where players can find Sabrina without having to spend pack points. Sabrina is essential to more advanced gameplay, as she forces opponents to possibly bench their most powerful cards. Players also have the option of pulling Mewtwo ex or Articuno ex, two of the best cards in the entire mobile game.

Although the Pikachu pack does contain the Pikachu ex card, it’s widely considered to be the worst to open for competitive play in Pokemon TCG Pocket. Its signature ex, Arcanine, takes a lot of energy to build up and no great assistive cards to do so. Most of the meta decks also require cards from other packs. However, the Pikachu pack does have some of the most aesthetic cards in the game.

Regardless of which pack players choose to begin with, they should consider sticking with it until they collect all of the cards for that set. This will help them build the most consistent decks, even if they aren’t necessarily the most powerful ones in the meta. Ultimately, though, the best pack in Pokemon TCG is whichever one a player likes the best.

Written by M Alzamora X Twitter Logo

M Alzamora is partial to indie games and Pokemon, but loves to learn more about other games and genres. She collects every Eevee and Eeveelution in Pokemon Home, and that's in addition to her giant stuffed Leafeon and smaller stuffed Piplups. Her previous work has been seen on Working Classicists and in the From the Sublime zine. You can find her on X / Twitter at @mkalza_writes.

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