Is Malamar Deck good in Pokemon TCG Pocket?

Malamar Deck is a Tier 3 deck with a 27% win rate and 0.0% meta share. It's a viable deck that can perform well in the right hands.

What cards do I need for Malamar Deck?

The core cards for Malamar Deck are: Malamar. Top tournament builds also commonly include Bombirdier, Darkrai ex, Inkay, Mega Absol ex.

How do you play Malamar Deck?

Build your strategy around Malamar. It's the deck's main damage dealer. This is a mono-darkness deck, giving you consistent energy draws. Every energy card works for any attacker.

What is the best Malamar Deck deck list?

The top-performing Malamar Deck list runs: 1x Bombirdier, 1x Darkrai ex, 2x Inkay, 2x Malamar, 1x Mega Absol ex, 1x Oricorio, 1x Pichu, 2x Copycat, 1x Cyrus, 2x Poké Ball, 1x Pokémon Center Lady, 2x Professor’s Research, 2x Rocky Helmet, 1x Team Rocket Grunt. This build achieved 1W-2L at BOAT CLAN TOURNAMENT ദ്ദി₍𝄐⩌𝄐₎ 𝟯𝘃𝟯.

What beats Malamar Deck in Pokemon TCG Pocket?

Malamar Deck's core Pokemon are weak to grass types. Strong counters include Mega Sceptile ex Deck, Meowscarada ex Deck, Decidueye ex Deck.

How many packs do I need to build Malamar Deck?

Based on pull rates, you'll need approximately 57 packs to collect all core cards for Malamar Deck. Most cards are reasonably accessible through regular pack opening.

Malamar Deck

0.0% of the meta · Updated June 10, 2026

Tier 3

Win Rate

26.9%

Meta Share

0.0%

Core Cards

Estimated Pack Cost

estimated packs to collect all core cards

1x Uncommon~57/ea

MalamarUncommon

Pulsing Aura57 pks

Estimates based on pull rates. Actual results may vary.

Core Cards

Malamar

Pulsing Aura #112

Key Moves & Abilities

Strategy Guide

Auto-generated

Malamar wins by using Evolution Jammer to prevent the opponent from playing evolution Pokemon for a turn while chipping for 40 damage, stalling setup-dependent decks until they fold to a spread of Dark attackers. The deck pairs Malamar's lock with Zoroark's Night Daze and Naganadel for multi-threat pressure.

Start Inkay active and attach Darkness Energy immediately, aiming to evolve into Malamar as soon as possible via draw from Professor's Research, Copycat, or Sightseer. Poké Ball secures Zorua or Poipole to build the bench. Mid-game, use Evolution Jammer turn after turn to repeatedly deny the opponent key Stage 1 or Stage 2 evolutions, keeping them stuck on Basics. Zoroark and Naganadel handle damage output while Malamar applies the lock. Rocky Helmet, Poison Barb, and Bounded Field provide passive attrition. May supplements draw and Sabrina forces unfavorable active Pokemon.

Strengths

Evolution Jammer locks the opponent off all evolution plays for a full turn, stranding Basic Pokemon in play.
Multiple Dark attackers (Malamar, Zoroark, Nihilego, Absol, Sableye) pressure from every angle simultaneously.
Non-ex Stage 1 attackers mean the opponent only scores 1 point per KO against your main threats.

Weaknesses

40 damage per Malamar attack is low; opponents who do not rely on evolutions are unaffected by Evolution Jammer.Matchup
The deck runs only 1 copy of each key Pokemon, making early-game knock outs to Inkay or Zorua catastrophic to setup.Consistency
Armarouge ex, Mega Venusaur ex, and Mega Manectric ex all hold 75% win rates, suggesting poor damage coverage.Matchup

How to Play

Chain Evolution Jammer to Lock Setup-Heavy Decks

Against decks that rely on Stage 1 or Stage 2 evolutions, use Malamar every turn to re-apply the Evolution Jammer lock. Each turn the opponent cannot evolve denies them damage output, healing abilities, or key stage-unlock attacks. Bounded Field may prevent healing or tool effects that bypass the lock, and Field Blower strips defensive tools from opponent Pokemon.

Key cardsMalamarBounded FieldField Blower

Distribute Damage with Supporting Dark Attackers

Zoroark's Night Daze hits for 70 damage while Malamar keeps evolution pressure on. Naganadel, Nihilego, Absol, and Sableye each contribute different damage vectors to close out targets that Malamar softened. Sabrina forces vulnerable Pokemon active for clean KOs, and Cyrus redirects responses away from your key attackers.

Key cardsZoroarkNaganadelNihilegoAbsolSableyeSabrinaCyrus

How to Beat This Deck

Run Basic-Only or Completed Evolution Lines

Evolution Jammer only blocks evolution plays from hand; if all your Pokemon are already fully evolved or are Basics, Malamar's attack does 40 damage with no additional effect. Annihilape is actually a favorable matchup for Malamar at 75%, not a counter — decks that function on Basics or completed lines deny the lock entirely.

One-Shot Malamar Before It Attacks Again

Malamar has only 100 HP, making it susceptible to any attacker dealing 100+ damage. Since 1 copy is typical in the build, knocking out Malamar removes the lock engine entirely. Armarouge ex and Mega Manectric ex both achieve this while also exploiting type advantages, confirmed by 75% win rates.

Use Rocky Helmet and Passive Damage on Their Own Attackers

This deck's own Rocky Helmet strategy signals its vulnerability to contact punishment. Mirror that approach: equip Rocky Helmet to your own active Pokemon so Malamar or Zoroark take recoil damage each time they attack. Combined with Poison Barb conditions or Cyrus, you can drain Malamar's 100 HP across two attacks without engaging directly.

CountersRocky HelmetCyrus

Common Substitutions

Evolution lock support

Inkay:The only Malamar Basic; protecting it is essential since the deck typically runs just one copy

Passive damage tools

Rocky Helmet:Punishes every attacker that hits Malamar, accelerating the chip damage attrition strategy
Poison Barb:Applies Poison on contact to further chip attackers between turns