Physical TCG · Standard format · June 8, 2026
Pokemon TCG Standard meta tier list
The best decks in the current physical Standard format are Dragapult ex and Mega Greninja ex. Dragapult ex is the deck to beat, with the most Regional wins of any post-rotation archetype, while Mega Greninja ex from Chaos Rising is the fast-rising challenger. Below is the full S, A, B, and C tier read as of June 8, 2026.
The Standard format rotated on April 10, 2026 (March 26 on TCG Live). Cards with the G regulation mark are no longer legal. Only H, I, J and later marks are playable, a state players call "H-on". This rotated out the first year of Scarlet and Violet sets (Scarlet and Violet base through Paldean Fates), which retired several older staples.
The decks, broken down
Stage 2 spread and tempo
The defining deck of the format. Phantom Dive spreads six damage counters across the bench while Dragapult ex itself trades efficiently, and the line is flexible enough to run several partner shells. It has the most Regional wins of any 2026-rotation deck and sits around 9 percent of the field on its own, more counting variants.
- Dragapult ex
- Drakloak
- Dusknoir
- Dudunsparce
Damage-counter snipe combo
The breakout deck from Mega Evolution Chaos Rising (released May 22, 2026). Mortal Shuriken places damage counters from the active for the cost of a Water Energy, and it pairs naturally with Dragapult ex or Dudunsparce for draw and a second spread angle. Very high play rate, though its win rate is still settling as players learn the lines.
- Mega Greninja ex
- Drakloak
- Dudunsparce
Spread plus damage manipulation
The control-leaning Dragapult build. Dusknoir moves damage counters to finish off targets the spread has already softened, turning Phantom Dive into precise knockouts. A consistent top-tables performer that punishes decks relying on a single big attacker.
- Dragapult ex
- Dusknoir
- Drakloak
Slowking
ADisruption and grind
A disruption deck that has carved out a real share of the field. It leans on locking the opponent out of clean turns and grinding prizes while staying single-prize where it can, which makes it resilient against the spread decks above it.
- Slowking
Big single-attacker turbo
A returning power deck. Teal Mask Ogerpon ex loads Energy that Raging Bolt ex then discards to fuel a scaling attack, putting out very large numbers early. Strong against decks that cannot keep up with one-shot threats, weaker into disruption.
- Raging Bolt ex
- Teal Mask Ogerpon ex
Hand-size scaling attacker
A single-prize attacker that scales with hand size. With hand disruption uncommon in the current format it comfortably builds large hands and powers up its attack, using Dudunsparce as a reliable draw engine. Rewards tight sequencing.
- Alakazam ex
- Dudunsparce
Grass Energy acceleration
A Grass-based Energy-acceleration deck. Meganium and friends ramp Energy fast onto Hydrapple ex and Ogerpon attackers, posting one of the better win rates in the field when the engine comes online. Setup dependent.
- Hydrapple ex
- Teal Mask Ogerpon ex
- Meganium
Beedrill
BAggressive evolution swarm
An aggressive evolution deck that floods the board with cheap attackers and chips away while keeping its own prize trade favorable. Common enough to be a real metagame consideration, and a fast clock against slower setup decks.
- Beedrill
Toolbox and pressure
A toolbox deck built around N's Zoroark and the supporting N's line. It draws into its answers and applies pressure flexibly across matchups, sitting in the middle of the pack on both share and win rate.
- N's Zoroark
Fighting beatdown
A Fighting-type beatdown pairing that shows up at the top tables in smaller numbers. It hits hard into the right targets but has the lowest win rate of the commonly seen decks here, making it a sharper matchup gamble.
- Lucario
- Hariyama
Metal Energy value engine
A Metal-based deck that was a dominant force at the 2026 World Championships and still appears in Standard. With the rotation thinning some of its support it now sits as a known but lower-share option rather than a default pick.
- Gholdengo ex
Standard meta FAQ
What is the best Pokemon TCG deck right now (June 2026)?
Dragapult ex is the strongest and most-played deck in the current Standard format. Its Phantom Dive attack spreads damage across the board, it has the most Regional wins of any post-rotation deck, and it supports many partner builds. Mega Greninja ex from Chaos Rising is the other top-tier deck.
What rotated out of Standard in 2026?
Cards with the G regulation mark rotated out on April 10, 2026 for in-person play and March 26, 2026 on Pokemon TCG Live. That covers the first year of Scarlet and Violet sets: Scarlet and Violet base, Paldea Evolved, Obsidian Flames, 151, Paradox Rift, and Paldean Fates. Only H, I, J and later marks are now legal.
What is the "H-on" format?
"H-on" is the shorthand players use for the 2026 Standard format, meaning every legal card has a regulation mark of H or later. It runs from Temporal Forces forward, the full Mega Evolution series including Chaos Rising, and the current promo lines.
Is Alakazam ex or Hydrapple ex good in the current meta?
Both are viable B-tier picks. Alakazam ex is a single-prize attacker that scales with hand size and thrives because hand disruption is uncommon right now. Hydrapple ex anchors a Grass Energy-acceleration deck that posts a strong win rate once its engine is set up.
How often does this tier list change?
The meta shifts with each new set and major tournament. This is a dated snapshot as of June 8, 2026. New expansions like Chaos Rising can reshape the top tier within weeks, so treat tiers as a current read rather than a fixed ranking.
Sources, as of June 8, 2026
This is a curated, dated snapshot, not a live feed. Tier placement reflects recent tournament results and meta coverage. Metagame share and win rates move week to week, so treat the tiers as a current read.
- Limitless TCG, Standard 2026-rotation deck standings
- Limitless TCG, Dragapult deck overview
- TCGplayer, The Best Pokemon TCG Decks Right Now (May 2026)
- Pokemon.com, 2026 Standard Format Rotation Announcement
- Bulbapedia, 2026-27 Standard format
- Pokemon.com, Mega Evolution Chaos Rising expansion overview
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