3 of the Best Pokémon TCG Battle Decks in 2023
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By: Em Stonham
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2023 has been a busy year for collectors, and there are some fantastic Battle Decks on the way that are worth keeping an eye on. Some of them have some competitively viable cards, some of them have aesthetically-pleasing cards, and others offer a combination of both.
Here are 3 of the best Pokémon TCG Battle Decks to add to your collection. Two of them have just been released and the other one is just about to come out, so make sure to check out your favorite TCG store for any pre-order bonuses.
Please note that this article contains minor spoilers relating to what the Battle Decks contain.
What Are Battle Decks?
If you’re unfamiliar with Battle Decks, they’re large collection packs that feature a ready-to-use card deck alongside other useful items like coins, strategy sheets, and damage counters.
Battle Decks are not always the most competitively viable but they’re a solid way to keep up to date with current card releases and collectibles.
It is possible to customize a Battle Deck and swap out cards to make them competitively viable but generally, they’re better for collectors or for folk who want to play on a more casual level.
Chien-Pao ex Battle Deck
Chien-Pao is one of the most popular additions to the franchise from the Scarlet and Violet games and it looks absolutely incredible as an ex card in the trading card game.
This Battle Deck came out on July 14th as an international release and it’s been a hit with collectors so far. It follows the standard Battle Deck format (including everything from a 60 card deck and damage counters to reference cards and a playmat) and features a gorgeous Chien-Pao ex card with the ability Shivery Chill.
Alongside the Chien-Pao ex, there’s a handful of other iconic cards in the mix including Baxcalibur, Delibird, and Floatzel. All the cards in this Battle Deck follow a general theme and fit together well as a unit.
Tinkaton ex Battle Deck
The Tinkaton ex Battle Deck came out at the same time as the Chien-Pao ex Battle Deck and it’s no surprise why the Pokémon company chose Tinkaton as another featured Pokémon.
This Pokémon was immediately popular with fans who picked up the Scarlet and Violet games, especially when they learned about the fact that Tinkaton frequently wakes up and chooses violence against Corviknight.
The Tinkaton ex card that this deck features looks fantastic, with a bright and vibrant art style. The moves that Tinkaton has are decent enough (Big Hammer and Pulverizing Press) and it would be possible to build a solid deck around it.
Alongside the entire Tinkaton evolution chain, this deck also features other eerie fan-favorites like Drifloon, Drifblim, and Espathra.
Meowscarada ex Battle Deck
The Meowscarada ex Battle Deck is set to come out on the 1st of September this year alongside the Quaquaval ex Battle Deck and it’s looking like a must-have for both collectors and competitive players.
The star of the show isn’t the Meowscarada ex card, funnily enough – although it looks fantastic and has decently high stats.
It’s the Radiant Alakazam card which is featured behind the Meowscarada ex card on the official promo images. This card has been seen before, but it can do some serious damage in battle and the art style is exceptional. The Radiant Alakazam artwork has a definite retro feel to it.
This Battle Deck will launch with a 60 card deck (including 3 foil cards), utility items like damage counters and coins, and a code to unlock cards in the online version of the game.
You can pre-order this Battle Deck from a number of sites, including GameStop and 401 Games.
