Mega Lucario EX & Greninja Deck Guide

Strategy Overview

Mega Lucario ex Greninja is one of the most dangerous hybrid decks in the current Pokémon TCG Pocket environment because it creates pressure in two completely different ways. Mega Lucario ex threatens the Active Spot with heavy Fighting damage, while Greninja quietly builds damage across the opponent’s entire board through Water Shuriken. The deck does not need to win every game by taking one huge knockout immediately. Instead, it creates a board where the opponent is constantly under pressure. They have to respect Mega Lucario ex in the Active Spot, protect damaged Pokémon on the Bench from Greninja, play carefully around Cyrus, and avoid losing tempo to Chingling’s Item lock. Mega Lucario ex is the primary attacker and the deck’s main damage source. For two Energy, Mega Lucario ex can deal 90 damage. That is already a solid attack rate for a Stage 1 ex Pokémon. However, the deck becomes much more threatening when Mega Lucario ex has three Fighting Energy attached. At that point, its damage increases to 140. That 140-damage threshold is extremely important. It allows Mega Lucario ex to threaten many of the most relevant Pokémon in the format without needing prior chip damage. Against opposing ex Pokémon, the deck can increase its damage even further through Arena of Antiquity. This Stadium makes Fighting attacks more dangerous against ex Pokémon and allows Mega Lucario ex to reach knockout numbers that would otherwise be difficult. Arena of Antiquity is not only a damage card. It also changes how your opponent has to play. Once it is in play, ex Pokémon can no longer safely assume that they survive one Mega Lucario ex attack. This can force the opponent into awkward switches, defensive Tools, healing turns, or more conservative Bench development. Greninja is the deck’s hidden win condition. It is a Stage 2 Pokémon, but unlike Mega Lucario ex, its value does not come from becoming your main attacker. Greninja’s Water Shuriken lets you place 20 damage on any Pokémon on the opponent’s side of the field. That means it can hit the Active Spot, a damaged Bench Pokémon, a fragile support card, or an evolving Basic before it becomes a larger threat. Water Shuriken becomes stronger with every turn Greninja remains in play. One 20-damage placement may not look dramatic, but two or three turns of sniping completely change the board. A Pokémon that would normally survive Mega Lucario ex can suddenly be in knockout range. A Bench Pokémon can become a clean Cyrus target. A small setup Pokémon can be removed before the opponent gets value from it. This creates the core strategy of the deck: Mega Lucario ex applies direct Fighting pressure, while Greninja quietly makes every future attack more efficient. The deck also uses Chingling as an early disruptive option. Chingling is a Baby Pokémon that can attack without needing Energy. Its damage is only 10, but the important effect is Item lock. After Chingling attacks, the opponent cannot use Item cards during their next turn. This can be devastating against decks that depend on Poké Ball, Rare Candy, healing Items, switching Items, or setup Items to get their plan online. A well-timed Chingling turn can stop an opponent from evolving, deny them their search card, prevent a key Tool attachment, or force them to spend a turn playing only with what is already in their hand. Chingling is particularly strong in the early game. Many decks need Items to establish their board quickly, especially Stage 2 decks and combo-based archetypes. If you can attack with Chingling before the opponent finds their key setup pieces, you may buy enough time to establish Riolu, Froakie, and your future attackers. Lucky Egg is an important support Tool in this list because Chingling is naturally fragile. The best use of Lucky Egg is often to attach it to Chingling before using it as an early disruption piece. If Chingling is knocked out, Lucky Egg lets you draw until you have five cards in your hand. That means the opponent may take an easy prize, but you receive the resources needed to rebuild your board. This creates a good early-game trade. Chingling slows the opponent with Item lock, then Lucky Egg helps refill your hand when Chingling is removed. That can be exactly what you need to find Rare Candy, Greninja, Mega Lucario ex, Cyrus, or a replacement attacker. The deck’s Trainer core is built around consistency and board control. Professor’s Research gives straightforward draw power. Copycat can create a larger hand refresh when the opponent is holding multiple cards. Poké Ball finds your important Basics, especially Riolu, Froakie, and Chingling. Rare Candy makes the Greninja line much faster by allowing you to skip the middle evolution stage. Cyrus is one of the best cards in the deck because of Greninja. Every Water Shuriken placement should be considered with a future Cyrus turn in mind. It is often correct to snipe a Bench Pokémon for 20 damage even when the Active Pokémon is the immediate threat, because that Bench Pokémon may become the easiest prize later. Sabrina gives the deck another way to disrupt positioning. It can force the opponent to move an unwanted Pokémon Active, expose a support Pokémon, break a protected board state, or deny the opponent the attacker they were planning to use next. Overall, Mega Lucario ex Greninja is a tempo deck that rewards planning. It has direct damage, delayed bench pressure, Item denial, hand replenishment, Stadium damage boosts, and targeted finishing plays. The deck is strongest when it does not rush every resource at once. Instead, it establishes Greninja, uses Mega Lucario ex to control the Active Spot, and waits for the moment where Cyrus or Sabrina turns small damage into a decisive prize.

Gameplay Video

Early Game

The early game is about deciding which of three openings gives you the most value: Chingling disruption, Riolu setup, or Froakie setup. Chingling is often the best opener against Item-heavy decks. If the opponent needs Poké Ball, Rare Candy, or other Items to establish their board, an early Item-lock attack can slow them down dramatically. When possible, attach Lucky Egg to Chingling before attacking. This turns Chingling into a useful early sacrifice rather than a free prize. Against slower decks, prioritize Riolu and Froakie. Mega Lucario ex is your immediate attacker, while Greninja is your long-term pressure engine. You do not necessarily need both online immediately, but you should aim to establish at least one Riolu and one Froakie whenever the opening hand allows it. Poké Ball is especially important early because the deck has multiple Basic Pokémon that matter. Avoid using it carelessly if you still need to find a specific setup piece. Professor’s Research and Copycat should be used to stabilize hands, not just because they are available. Before playing a draw Supporter, check whether your Bench is already full or whether you need to preserve a key card such as Rare Candy, Cyrus, Lucky Egg, or Arena of Antiquity.

Mid Game

The mid game is where Mega Lucario ex becomes the main threat. Your ideal board includes Mega Lucario ex ready to attack, Greninja safely on the Bench, and Arena of Antiquity in play if the opponent is relying on ex Pokémon. At that point, the opponent must deal with both immediate Fighting damage and future Water Shuriken placement. Mega Lucario ex should usually attack first when it can create an efficient prize trade. At two Energy, 90 damage is enough to pressure many Pokémon. At three Fighting Energy, 140 damage can remove much larger targets or create a clean knockout once Arena of Antiquity is included. Greninja should normally remain on the Bench. Do not risk it in the Active Spot unless you have no other option. Its value comes from Water Shuriken, and every turn it survives gives you another 20 damage placement. Be deliberate with Water Shuriken targets. Targeting the Active Pokémon is correct when you need immediate knockout math. Targeting the Bench is better when a Pokémon is likely to become a Cyrus target, when it is a fragile support Pokémon, or when you can deny the opponent a future evolution. Sabrina is especially useful when the opponent has positioned a weak or damaged Pokémon on the Bench. You can force it Active, then use Mega Lucario ex to take the knockout or create a favorable trade.

Late Game

Late game is about exact damage math. Mega Lucario ex often closes games because its 140-damage attack can remove high-value threats. Greninja makes this easier by ensuring that damaged Pokémon cannot safely hide on the Bench. If the opponent has a damaged Bench Pokémon, count whether Water Shuriken plus Cyrus creates a winning line. Sometimes the correct decision is not to attack the biggest Active Pokémon. It is to pull up a damaged support Pokémon and take the final prize through a lower-risk knockout. Lucky Egg can still matter late. If a small Pokémon is going to be knocked out anyway, placing Lucky Egg on it beforehand can keep your hand healthy enough to find your final Cyrus, Sabrina, Rare Candy, or Mega Lucario ex. Do not forget Arena of Antiquity in your late-game calculations. Against an ex Pokémon, the extra Fighting damage can turn a two-hit knockout into a one-hit knockout. Always calculate the direct Mega Lucario ex damage, Stadium bonus, existing Greninja damage, and any possible Cyrus line before committing.