Team Rocket’s Ambition: Best Decks to Try in Pokémon Pocket

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Hola Everyone! It’s your boy Anketsu here, and welcome to a brand-new Pokémon TCG Pocket Deck guide.

If you’re looking for the best decks from the Team Rocket’s Ambition expansion, you’ve come to the right place.

Team Rocket’s Ambition (B4a) is a mini expansion centered around Team Rocket and its Pokémon, with plenty of new support for Rocket-themed decks and several iconic Pokémon from Generation 1.

In this guide, you’ll find the main decks from the new expansion, each with a quick look at how it works and a deck list you can try from day one.

Whether you want to try the decks that look the most promising, build around your favorite Team Rocket Pokémon, or simply experiment with some of the new cards, there should be something here for you.

I’ll also add links to my full deck guides and in-depth analyses as I cover the most interesting strategies from the set.

Now grab a seat, relax, and let’s see what Team Rocket has in store for us!

🎓 New to Pokémon TCG Pocket?
Start with the Complete Beginner Guide before diving into deck guides, the meta, and advanced strategies.
→ Read the guide

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Team Rocket’s Moltres ex Deck 🔥

Team Rocket’s Moltres ex is a fast and aggressive Fire-type deck that aims to put pressure on the opponent from the very first turns. Two versions of Typhlosion, including its ex and non-ex versions, help spread Burn and add extra pressure to every attack.

Vicious helps you retry important coin flips, making the deck more consistent while keeping its gameplay explosive. If you enjoy aggressive strategies with a little luck involved, this is definitely one to try.

Team Rocket’s Articuno ex Deck ❄️

Team Rocket’s Articuno ex focuses on dealing damage to both the Active Pokémon and the opponent’s Bench. Being able to pressure Basic Pokémon before they have the chance to evolve or build up their Energy can be extremely valuable.

The deck can gradually weaken multiple targets at once, creating difficult situations for opponents who rely on setting up their Bench. It’s a great choice if you enjoy applying pressure across the entire board.

Team Rocket’s Zapdos ex Deck ⚡

Team Rocket’s Zapdos ex takes a different approach, focusing its damage on a single Pokémon sitting on the opponent’s Bench. This makes it particularly effective against slower decks that need several turns to set up their main attacker.

By threatening an important Benched Pokémon before it is ready to fight, the deck can disrupt an opponent’s strategy before it ever gets going. A simple but very annoying strategy to play against.

Team Rocket’s Slowking ex Deck 🧠

I have always loved cards that make you think, and Team Rocket’s Slowking ex is no exception. Its ability helps Psychic-type decks get their game plan moving while making it easier to find the pieces you need for your combos.

The deck rewards players who enjoy planning ahead and managing their resources carefully. If you like setting up combinations rather than simply attacking as quickly as possible, Slowking ex is worth a look.

Team Rocket’s Weezing ex Deck ☠️

Team Rocket’s Weezing ex is one of those decks that can be absolutely miserable to play against. When it evolves, it can immediately apply two different Status Conditions, putting the opponent under pressure while gradually wearing down their HP.

The strategy is all about controlling the pace of the game and making every turn uncomfortable for your opponent. It may not win through raw damage, but it can certainly make the other player lose their patience.

Team Rocket’s Raticate ex Deck 🐀

One of the best things about Colorless Pokémon is their versatility, and Team Rocket’s Raticate ex takes full advantage of it. It can fit into a variety of different decks while using its disruptive effects to slow down the opponent’s setup.

Rather than relying on a single type or strategy, Raticate ex gives you a flexible option that can interfere with many different game plans. Sometimes, simply making your opponent’s setup slower is enough to turn the game around.

Team Rocket’s Tinkaton Deck 🔨

Team Rocket’s Tinkaton is one of the most annoying cards in this expansion. Once it gets its attack off, it can prevent the opponent’s Pokémon from attacking or retreating, effectively locking it in place.

That combination can create some incredibly frustrating situations, especially when you manage to trap the right target. It may not look like the most threatening deck at first, but your opponent might quickly change their mind.

Marowak Deck 💀

Marowak is a particularly interesting addition to Team Rocket’s Ambition, both for its artwork and its connection to the original games and Lavender Town. But this card isn’t just here for the nostalgia: its main purpose is to counter Team Rocket Pokémon.

That makes Marowak a very thematic choice for the expansion, giving players a dedicated answer to some of the new Team Rocket strategies. If you want to fight Team Rocket with one of their classic rivals, this is the deck for you.

Team Rocket’s Houndoom Magmar Deck 😈

Team Rocket’s Houndoom and Magmar form a fun single-Prize deck built around Status Conditions. Rather than relying on huge attacks, the deck tries to pile different effects onto the opponent and can apply up to four Status Conditions at once.

It’s a chaotic strategy that rewards you for keeping the opponent’s Pokémon under constant pressure. If you enjoy unconventional decks and watching your opponent struggle with Status Conditions, this one should be a lot of fun.

Garchomp Deck 🐲

Garchomp takes advantage of the new Dragon-type support to accelerate its setup and reach its full potential more quickly. With Dragonite and Rainbow Cave helping with its demanding Energy requirements, the deck can get its main attacker online without taking forever.

Once fully powered up, Garchomp can hit for up to 170 damage, giving the deck a strong payoff for its setup. It’s a straightforward strategy, but one that can become very threatening once everything is in place.

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Tier List Team Rocket’s Ambition Decks (Early Meta Ranking)

Here’s my personal ranking of the decks I would recommend trying from Team Rocket’s Ambition. Keep in mind that this is a day-one tier list, so the meta could change significantly as players discover new combinations and optimize these decks.

🟢 Tier A – Strongest Picks

• Team Rocket’s Moltres ex
• Team Rocket’s Articuno ex

🔵 Tier B – Solid & Interesting

• Team Rocket’s Zapdos ex
• Team Rocket’s Slowking ex
• Team Rocket’s Weezing ex
• Team Rocket’s Raticate ex

💰 Budget Decks

• Team Rocket’s Houndoom & Magmar
• Garchomp
• Team Rocket’s Tinkaton

😂 Funniest Deck

• Marowak

Marowak might not be the strongest deck of the expansion, but it’s definitely one of the most fun to play (and it’s also one of my favourite Pokémon ever). Sometimes, that’s all you need.

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F.A.Q. 🚨

Related Guides 🔗

Below you can find more decks and guides from the same set, along with strategies and Pokémon that share similar mechanics with this Koraidon ex build. Feel free to explore them and find the deck that best fits your playstyle.

• Team Rocket’s Ambition Set Guide