Pokemon TCG Pocket Free-to-Play Deck Guide: Building the Perfect Ninetales and Rapidash Deck

Key Takeaways

1. This budget-friendly Ninetales and Rapidash deck is a strong choice for solo battles, especially for players who want to avoid high-cost, meta-heavy cards.
2. Combining essential Fire-type Pokemon and accessible Trainer Cards, this deck delivers both power and adaptability in Pokemon TCG Pocket.
3. With the right balance of offense, support, and strategy, you can optimize this deck to achieve victories without relying on rare or expensive cards.

In Pokemon TCG Pocket, solo battles offer a great way to earn rewards, but the Rental Decks provided often only go so far. While the game’s powerful meta decks are enticing, they can be costly or challenging to build without considerable luck. If you’re looking to progress through solo battles with a viable, free-to-play deck, this guide is here to help you craft a reliable Ninetales and Rapidash deck.

This deck builds upon the initial Rapidash deck you receive, enhancing its capabilities and making it a powerful option for solo play without costing a fortune. Read on to learn how to build this deck, which cards to include, and how to make the most of it in battle.

Building the Ninetales and Rapidash Deck: A Breakdown

As a free-to-play option, this Ninetales and Rapidash deck is designed for players without access to expensive or rare cards. Although it’s not as powerful as some of the high-end meta decks, this setup provides plenty of power to handle solo AI battles and secure solid rewards. Here’s what you need:

Core Pokemon Cards for Your Deck

• 2x Ninetales
• 2x Vulpix
• 2x Ponyta
• 2x Rapidash
• 1x Growlithe and 1x Arcanine ex OR 2x Magmar (optional substitute: Fossil Cards for versatility)

These primary cards Ninetales, Vulpix, Ponyta, and Rapidash form the core of your deck. With Rapidash and Ninetales as your primary attackers, you’ll be able to hit hard and fast, while Vulpix and Ponyta provide backup support to keep your momentum going.

Depending on the cards you have available, you can also add an extra Fire-type. Growlithe and Arcanine ex are ideal, as they bring strength to the deck, but if you don’t have them, Magmar serves as a solid substitute. Alternatively, Fossil Cards are another great addition. They act as basic Pokemon with 40 HP, and although they can’t retreat, they’re easy to discard, allowing you to efficiently cycle through your deck.

Substitutes for Limited Options

If you lack certain Fire-types, consider adding a Normal-type Pokemon like Meowth or Ditto as filler cards. Meowth allows you to draw an extra card when in the Active Spot, while Ditto can mirror an opponent’s attack if it has enough Energy, adding versatility to your deck.

Essential Trainer Cards for Support

To maximize the strength of your Pokemon lineup, supportive Trainer Cards are essential. These cards enhance your Fire-type attackers’ power, ensure consistent card draws, and keep your strategy flexible. Here’s what you should include:

• 2x Poke Ball – For drawing the Pokemon you need at crucial moments.
• 2x X Speed – Adds agility to help your Pokemon move quickly.
• 2x Professor’s Research – Helps you refresh your hand and find key cards.
• 2x Blaine – Boosts Fire-type attacks, making moves from Rapidash and Ninetales more potent.
• 2x Sabrina – Forces your opponent to switch their Active Pokemon, adding a strategic element.

Additional Trainer Cards: If you’re missing some of the more specific Trainers, you can substitute Red Cards or Potions for healing or disrupting your opponent’s hand. Additionally, using Pack Points to craft missing Trainer Cards is a great strategy, as they’re versatile and can enhance various decks.

Card Strategy: How Each Element Works Together

Fire-Powered Offense

The combination of Ninetales and Rapidash is the backbone of this deck’s offense. Ninetales’ Flamethrower attack deals a solid 90 damage, often enough to knock out basic Pokemon. However, with Giovanni’s Trainer card, you can boost that attack by an extra 10 damage, which can make all the difference against 100 HP Pokemon like Seaking, Articuno, or Lilligant.

Similarly, Blaine’s Trainer Card boosts your Fire-type attacks by 30 damage, allowing Rapidash to deal 100 damage with a single strike or Magmar to go from 50 to 80 damage, providing a serious threat to most AI decks in solo battles.

Versatility with Fossil Cards

Fossil Cards act as additional basic Pokemon and offer flexibility in early and mid-game. They give you time to set up stronger moves with Ninetales and Rapidash or pull other key cards without wasting Energy or Trainer Cards. Fossil Cards are also excellent defensive tools when you’re waiting for the right moment to attack.

Backup Options: Moltres ex and Eevee Evolutions

If you have Moltres ex on hand, it’s a valuable addition to the deck, especially for helping you power up other Pokemon with Energy while it’s in the Active Spot. Alternatively, Eevee and Flareon are decent choices for filling out the deck if you don’t have Arcanine ex or Moltres ex.

Trainer Card Substitutes: Enhancing Your Deck’s Power and Flexibility

If you lack some Trainer Cards, there are viable alternatives that can still add strength to your deck. Red Cards and Potions are flexible replacements for Sabrina, Blaine, or Giovanni and can fill out your Trainer lineup. If you’re missing a few cards, don’t forget to use Pack Points to craft the ones you need, focusing first on Trainer Cards, as they’re used in multiple decks and provide broad utility.

Mastering the Ninetales and Rapidash Deck in Solo Battles

With this deck, you’ll be well-equipped to tackle most solo battles in Pokemon TCG Pocket. Here are a few final tips for playing this deck effectively:

1. Set Up Strong Attackers First: Prioritize getting Rapidash or Ninetales ready as soon as possible. Use Trainer Cards to draw the cards you need quickly and ensure they’re powered up.
2. Utilize Fossil Cards for Defense: Don’t underestimate the power of Fossil Cards to hold off the opponent while you prepare your main attackers. They’re excellent for buying time and can be discarded at your convenience.
3. Time Your Power Boosts with Blaine and Giovanni: Use Blaine or Giovanni’s effects strategically to maximize the impact of Ninetales or Rapidash’s attacks. This can be especially effective for landing one-hit knockouts.

FAQ

Q: What if I don’t have all the cards listed in this deck? A: If you lack specific cards, you can replace them with Fossil Cards, Normal-types like Meowth or Ditto, or other Fire-types. You can also use Pack Points to craft Trainer Cards, which can be used across multiple decks.

Q: Can I use this deck in PvP battles? A: While this deck is optimized for solo AI battles, it could perform decently in PvP if you’re matched against other free-to-play decks. However, it may struggle against meta-heavy decks involving rare or high-cost cards.

Q: Why aren’t Charizard ex cards recommended? A: Without Moltres ex or another card to support its Energy needs, Charizard ex often doesn’t perform well in this deck setup. It’s best reserved for decks that can support its high Energy requirements.

Q: Are there any other Pokemon I should consider adding? A: If you have them, consider adding Moltres ex or even Eevee and Flareon as substitutes for Arcanine or other Fire-types, depending on what you have in your collection.

This Ninetales and Rapidash deck is ideal for players who want a strong, cost-effective deck for Pokemon TCG Pocket solo battles. With a mix of affordable Fire-type cards and versatile Trainers, this deck can deliver consistent results without requiring rare cards or a big investment.