The Fantastical Parade expansion dropped into Pokémon TCG Pocket on January 28, 2026, and it immediately shook up the meta. Mega Evolutions, new Stadium cards, and a wave of strong ex Pokémon have pushed the format into a much faster, more explosive direction. Decks built around cards like Mega Gardevoir ex and Teal Mask Ogerpon are setting the pace, especially in early February tournaments, where Psychic and Grass builds are putting up the most consistent results while slower setups struggle to keep up Pokemon TCG Pocket Items.
Mega Gardevoir ex has easily been the standout so far. Its Fantasia Force ability makes energy acceleration feel almost effortless, letting you power up heavy hitters like Giratina ex or Mewtwo ex much earlier than expected. Getting meaningful knockouts by turn two is very realistic in Psychic mirrors. Teal Mask Ogerpon has also been everywhere, mostly because Soothing Wind shuts down status plays while Energized Leaves keeps damage pressure high. Mimikyu ex has found a home as well thanks to Disguise buying an extra turn, which often flips prize trades. Mega Mawile ex rounds out many top lists, slowly stacking damage with Heat-Up Crunch while Metal Core Barrier makes it surprisingly hard to remove.
Just below that top group are decks that are strong but a bit more matchup-dependent. Mega Kangaskhan ex has been doing well in Water builds, especially when Rare Candy lines come together early. It can snowball fast with the right supporter draws. Alolan Ninetales ex shows up in control shells, freezing boards and pairing nicely with Grass support, though Lightning matchups can be rough. Darkness builds with Galarian Obstagoon still see play for bench pressure, and Magnezone energy engines remain reliable for players who prefer steadier pacing over burst damage. Mega Altaria ex has also gained traction with the right draw support behind it.
Further down, you get cards that feel more like tech choices or comfort picks. Mega Absol ex paired with Hydreigon can spike damage in the right field but struggles into bulkier Metal lists. Greninja ex and Suicune ex offer flexible Water play, yet their ramp feels slow compared to Mega setups. Fire decks built around Entei ex or Mega Charizard Y ex can steamroll weaker ladders, but Water's popularity keeps them in check. The new Stadium cards from the set help certain archetypes but usually don't carry games on their own.
There are also a handful of builds that just haven't kept pace. Mega Lopunny ex lightning variants can flood energy but crumble into Darkness pressure. Buneary lines apply early chip damage without reliable finishers. Older ex options like Swampert still function in hybrid lists, though the format's speed makes their setup turns feel clunky. Trainer staples remain universal glue cards, even if faster draw engines have slightly reduced their relative impact.
On the ladder, Mega Gardevoir variants are everywhere, often splashing Ogerpon for hybrid disruption. Obstagoon-Hydreigon sits in that solid midrange space, while Kangaskhan Water lists handle aggressive queues well. Magnezone control still wins longer games but feels inconsistent across large ranked samples Items card Pokemon.
With February events rolling out, the top tier will probably tighten rather than flip completely. Balance tweaks could lift a few underperformers, but right now Gardevoir decks look safe going into the next cycle. If you're jumping into the meta, building around Gardevoir or teching for it is still the safest competitive entry point, and that doesn't look like it's changing anytime soon.