Mega Altaria ex Igglybuff Deck Guide
PsychicMega Altaria ex Igglybuff is a Pokémon TCG Pocket archetype that generally aims to set up Darkrai alongside Igglybuff as its main attacker, supported by Psychic energy. Based on 30 recent tournament lists.
Deck List
Pokémon (8)
Darkrai
Igglybuff
Swablu
Mega Altaria ex
Trainers (11)
Professor's Research
Copycat
Cyrus
Poké Ball
Lisia
X Speed
Sabrina
Training Area
Pokémon Center Lady
Energy
Source decklists
Source decklists referenced for this guide:
Strengths
- Highly consistent core: Darkrai appears in nearly every tournament list, so the build has a settled identity.
- Clear win condition built around Darkrai paired with Igglybuff, so lines of play are easy to rehearse.
- Single-type Psychic energy keeps attachments efficient and rarely bricks on the wrong type.
- Built from 30 tournament lists across 16 events, so the consensus reflects real competitive play rather than ladder theory.
Weaknesses
- Needs its evolution line on board; a slow opener can leave the deck without a fully powered Darkrai.
- Predictable single-type Psychic energy lets opponents plan blockers and resistance once your attacker shows up.
- Disruption Supporters like Cyrus and Sabrina chain knockouts against the benched Pokémon this deck needs to keep alive.
- Stage 1/2 Pokémon in the list take an extra turn to come online — pure-Basic decks can race you before Darkrai attacks.
Key Matchups
- Aggressive Basic-only decks Even
- Mirror or other Darkrai lists Even
- Disruption / Cyrus + Sabrina decks Unfavored
Strategy Overview
Common builds of Mega Altaria ex Igglybuff aim to evolve into Darkrai and Igglybuff as quickly as possible, then trade prizes through repeated knockouts. The deck leans on Psychic energy attachments each turn, with draw Supporters and search items to find the key pieces. The list shown here is a consensus across 30 tournament decklists (top card appears in nearly every tournament list, average 2.00 copies).
Gameplay Video
Key Cards
Darkrai
appears in nearly every tournament list (average 2.00 copies). Core part of the archetype's engine.
Igglybuff
appears in nearly every tournament list (average 2.00 copies). Core part of the archetype's engine.
Swablu
appears in nearly every tournament list (average 1.97 copies). Core part of the archetype's engine.
Mega Altaria ex
appears in nearly every tournament list (average 1.90 copies). Core part of the archetype's engine.
Early Game
On turn one, prioritise finding Darkrai or Igglybuff and getting a basic on the bench so you can evolve next turn. Use Professor's Research or Poké Ball aggressively if your opener is weak. Avoid attaching Psychic energy to a Pokémon that will never attack.
Mid Game
By the mid game, Darkrai should be online with a back-up attacker on the bench. Sequence knockouts so each attack sets up the next. Use Cyrus to drag damaged opposing Pokémon active, and Sabrina to force unfavorable switches.
Late Game
Late game, count remaining prizes and build the exact line that closes the game. If ahead, deny the comeback with Sabrina; if behind, look for a single-turn knockout chain through Darkrai.
Card Replacements
Darkrai appears in nearly every tournament list and defines the archetype. If you cannot craft it, consider a different deck rather than substituting.
Iono is the closest universal draw Supporter if you are short on Professor's Research, though it trades raw card quantity for a hand reset.
Sabrina forces a switch from the opponent's choice; less precise than Cyrus but keeps disruption pressure.
Pokémon Communication swaps a Pokémon in hand for any from the deck — useful if Poké Ball's random pull is unreliable for this build.
Common Mistakes
- Benching Darkrai before you can protect it, letting the opponent snipe your main attacker.
- Attaching Psychic energy to a Pokémon that will not attack this game.
- Spending Cyrus or Sabrina too early when they would close a prize two turns later.
- Auto-attacking the active Pokémon instead of sequencing knockouts with Sabrina/Cyrus.
- Burning Professor's Research with a full hand and losing closing-turn resources.
Tips & Tricks
- Mulligan aggressively for Darkrai or Igglybuff in the opener.
- Bench every basic you intend to evolve as early as possible — empty benches lose tempo wars.
- Track prize counts carefully; this deck usually wants to chain knockouts in the mid game.
- If you fall behind on board, pivot to a single-prize attacker and rebuild rather than giving up a multi-prize knockout.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Mega Altaria ex Igglybuff deck in Pokémon TCG Pocket?
Mega Altaria ex Igglybuff is an archetype built around Darkrai and Igglybuff, using Psychic energy. This guide is built from 30 real tournament decklists across 16 events.
Is Mega Altaria ex Igglybuff good right now?
Based on current tournament lists, Mega Altaria ex Igglybuff appears regularly in competitive play. We do not claim a win rate — refer to the tier list for current placement.
What are the key cards in Mega Altaria ex Igglybuff?
The most-played cards across tournament lists are Darkrai, Igglybuff and Swablu. The list usually runs around 9 different Trainer cards for consistency and disruption.
What energy does Mega Altaria ex Igglybuff use?
Most lists run Psychic energy.
Where does this guide's data come from?
This is a generated draft based on 30 tournament decklists imported from Limitless. The card list reflects what appears most often in real competitive play, not a fixed recipe.
How This Deck Guide Was Generated
This guide is based on 30 tournament decklists across 16 tournaments imported from Limitless. The decklist shown reflects the most common competitive build at the time of generation.
