Every year, thousands of Pokémon TCG, Video Game Championship (VGC), Pokémon Go, and Pokémon UNITE players around the world converge on a single location for their chance to ascend to the pinnacle of the game—the Pokémon World Championships.

Since the very first Pokémon World Championships back in 2004, the biggest stage of the Pokémon TCG has seen countless unforgettable moments, spectacular plays, shocking upsets, and even gut-wrenching errors that have lived long in the memories of all who witnessed them.

The Pokémon TCG World Championships are also the culmination of the preceding season and the metagame that has developed over the past year. As such, the decks that some of the greatest players ever have used on their path to ultimate glory can serve as a snapshot of the meta during the period when that specific edition of Worlds was being held.

We’ll now take a look back at some of the decks that have made it all the way to the top—one for each generation starting from Gen 3 (the inaugural Worlds was held in 2004 during Gen 3; hence, Gen 1 and Gen 2 don’t have any World Championship-winning decks).

Each deck has also been given a name by The Pokémon Company International (TPCi) for reprinting and distribution purposes. As such, each deck’s description will feature this name as well.

Gen 3 – Team Magma’s Groudon Deck

Year: 2004
Player: Yamato Tsuguyoshi (Japan)
Name: Magma Spirit

The first deck to ever clinch the biggest title in the Pokémon TCG, this deck is built around the Legendary that created the in-universe landmasses. For three Energy cards, Team Magma’s Groudon from the Magma Deck Kit can unleash its Pulverize attack for 50 damage, rising to 70 if the opposing Pokémon has at least two damage counters on it. While this may seem pedestrian by today’s standards, those same figures made Team Magma’s Groudon one of the meta’s biggest forces back then—long before the power creep of today came into effect.

For Energy ramping, this deck also includes Team Magma’s Camerupt from the Magma Deck Kit and Team Magma’s Claydol from Magma VS Aqua: Two Ambitions. Team Magma’s Camerupt has the Poké-Power of Overheat which allows it to receive a Basic Energy card at the expense of suffering 20 damage. Its Flame Ball attack then allows it to transfer that Energy card to, ideally, a Team Magma’s Groudon on the bench.

Team Magma’s Claydol has a similar Poké-Power: Magma Switch. It enables Team Magma’s Claydol to move an Energy card attached to any of the player’s Team Magma Pokémon to any other Pokémon the player has in play. This sets up Team Magma’s Groudon more rapidly. Finally, to ensure consistency in the early game, Team Magma’s Zangoose from Magma VS Aqua: Two Ambitions fills the bench with its Call for Family attack.

Gen 4 – Rayquaza ex δ Deck

Year: 2007
Player: Tom Roos (Finland)
Name: Legendary Ascent

In the early game, this deck places heavy emphasis on spread damage. Jolteon ex from the Holon Research Tower Lightning Quarter Deck has the Evolutionary Thunder Poké-Power which places a damage counter on each of the opponent’s Pokémon upon its own evolution from Eevee. This Poké-Power can be activated multiple times via the Super Scoop Up card from the same set that returns Jolteon ex to the player’s hand.

Absol ex from the World Champions Pack adds to the spread damage with Psychic Pulse, an attack that does 30 damage to the opposing Active Pokémon as well as 10 damage to all opposing Benched Pokémon with damage counters on them. It also has the Cursed Eyes Poké-Power that moves three damage counters from an opposing Pokémon to another.

Rayquaza ex δ from Offense and Defense of the Furthest Ends can then either finish off the opposing Active Pokémon with Sky-High Claws or go in for the snipe with Special Circuit. If absolutely necessary, Espeon ex from Golden Sky, Silvery Ocean and Mew ex from Mirage Forest can clean things up with late-game pickoffs via their Devo Flash Poké-Power and Versatile Poké-Body respectively.

Gen 5 – Darkrai ex/Mewtwo ex Deck

Year: 2012
Player: Igor Costa (Portugal)
Name: Pesadelo Prism

Decks built around Darkrai ex from Dark Rush [BW4] dominated the 2012 World Championships, taking seven of the top eight spots. This deck was a perfect fit for the lightning-fast tempo of the era’s meta. The idea is to lead off with Smeargle from Reviving Legends [L2] and its Poké-Power of Portrait which functions as a de facto additional Supporter card. This would greatly speed up the process of powering up Darkrai ex and its Night Spear attack.

This deck also made use of a Trainer card combination involving Junk Arm from Clash at the Summit [L3] and Pokémon Catcher from White Collection [BW1]. By using Junk Arm to retrieve Pokémon Catcher from the discard pile throughout the game, multiple gusting opportunities could be set up, allowing the player to easily pick off vulnerable opposing Pokémon.

Shaymin from the Leafeon vs Metagross Expert Deck [E], meanwhile, is primarily included for its Celebration Wind Poké-Power that loads up Mewtwo ex from Psycho Drive [BW3] with Energy cards. As for Mewtwo ex itself, its X Ball attack deals 20 damage per Energy card between both Mewtwo ex and the opposing Active Pokémon—allowing it to lay out some truly devastating blows even against some of the bulkiest opponents.

Gen 6 – Virizion ex/Genesect ex Deck

Year: 2014
Player: Andrew Estrada (Canada)
Name: Emerald King

At the 2014 World Championships, this deck more than lived up to its title of Best Deck in Format (BDIF), sweeping the top three spots and featuring many times among the top-ranking players. The deck’s two titular cards from Megalo Cannon [BW9] work in tandem. First, the player would attach a Plasma Energy, a Special Energy card from Plasma Gale [BW7], to a Benched Genesect ex to activate Red Signal, its Ability. Red Signal allows the player to switch the opponent’s Active Pokémon with a Benched Pokémon.

Following this, the player can attack with Virizion ex’s Emerald Slash attack which deals 50 damage but more importantly, enables two Grass Energy cards to be attached to a Benched Pokémon—such as Genesect ex. This would thus set up Genesect ex to attack with Megalo Cannon which inflicts 100 damage and 20 to an opposing Benched Pokémon. However, if Genesect ex has G Booster from Megalo Cannon [BW9] attached, it can use the eponymous attack to strike for 200 damage even in the early game.

Another card important to this deck is Skyarrow Bridge from Psycho Drive [BW3] which reduces retreat costs, enabling the player to freely switch between the two core Pokémon. It should also be noted that Virizion ex’s Ability of Verdant Winds shields all Grass-type Pokémon such as both of the deck’s cores from Special Conditions. This made the deck an effective counter to Hypnotoxic Laser, a card from Plasma Gale [BW7] which was among the most common in that era’s meta.

Gen 7 – Gardevoir GX Deck

Year: 2017
Player: Diego Cassiraga (Argentina)
Name: Infinite Force

Everything about this deck is built around readying its titular Pokémon from Darkness that Consumes Light [SM3N] for combat. Getting things started is Brigette from Blue Shock [XY8], a Supporter card that fills up the player’s Bench. Alolan Vulpix from Islands Await You [SM2K] serves the same purpose through its Beacon attack.

Tapu Lele GX from Alolan Moonlight [SM2L] has the Wonder Tag Ability which allows the player to take any Supporter card from the deck—such as Brigette. Finally, the Abyssal Hand Ability of Octillery from Blue Shock [XY8] serves as a major draw engine. With all this put together, the player shouldn’t have much difficulty getting the cards needed for and setting up Gardevoir GX.

Gardevoir GX itself is an absolute powerhouse. Its Infinite Force attack deals 30 damage for each Energy card attached between itself and the opposing Active Pokémon. The attack’s power can be further augmented by Secret Spring, Gardevoir GX’s Ability which allows it to accumulate even more Fairy Energy cards, as well as Twilight-GX, its GX Attack which once per game, shuffles 10 discarded cards into the deck, thus allowing additional opportunities for further setup or powering up of Infinite Force.

Gen 8 – Arceus VSTAR/Flying Pikachu VMAX Deck

Year: 2022
Player: Ondřej Škubal (Czechia)
Name: ADP

As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, just one World Championship was held during Gen 8; however, the deck that won it all was no less formidable than its predecessors. With this deck, the idea is to get Arceus VSTAR from Star Birth [S9] into play as soon as possible. Not only does its Trinity Nova attack hit for a massive 200 damage; it also enables the player to attach three Energy cards across the player’s Pokémon V in any arrangement.

Arceus VSTAR’s Energy distribution is able to set up the deck’s two other main attackers: Flying Pikachu VMAX from the 25th Anniversary Collection [S8a] and Hisuian Decidueye from Battle Region [S9a]. Flying Pikachu VMAX’s Max Balloon attack deals 160 damage while also shielding it from damage from opposing Basic Pokémon on the next turn, making it a viable counter against cards such as Regigigas from Time Gazer [S10D] and Miltank from Battle Region [S9a].

Hisuian Decidueye also serves as an effective counter for Miltank as well as mirror matchup decks due to its type advantage; Somersault Feathers is capable of one-shotting any opposing Arceus VSTAR. Star of Fortune, its VSTAR Power, can also be whipped out as an emergency draw engine if necessary. Finally, further assisting with card-drawing are Bibarel from Star Birth [S9] and Marnie from Shield [S1H].

Gen 9 – Mew VMAX Deck

Year: 2023
Player: Vance Kelley (USA)
Name: Mew’s Revenge

This deck solidified its spot as the BDIF by taking the title at the first World Championships of the ninth generation. This fast-paced deck is designed to pick up KO’s on opposing Pokémon in a hurry. The deck is built around two Pokémon from Fusion Arts [S8]: the titular Mew VMAX and Genesect V. The player should start with Mew VMAX being Active and Genesect V being benched so that Mew VMAX can use Genesect V’s Techno Blast by copying the attack via Cross Fusion Strike and thus connect for 210 damage for just two Energy cards.

There should be multiple Genesect V cards on the Bench. This not only gives Mew VMAX backup options in case a Genesect V has to be sacrificed for whatever reason; it also enhances the power of Fusion Strike System, Genesect V’s Ability that allows the player to draw cards until the number of cards in the player’s hand equals the number of Fusion Strike Pokémon the player has in play. Of course, Genesect V itself can attack with Techno Blast as well.

Path to the Peak, a Stadium card from Silver Lance [S6H], is a crucial supporting piece that simplifies counterplay against decks which would otherwise have the matchup advantage. Meloetta from Fusion Arts [S8] shouldn’t be overlooked either—its Melodious Echo attack not only deals serious damage for just two Energy cards; it also serves as a crucial single-Prize decoy that can be sacrificed to protect the two main cards.

With this year’s Worlds almost here, only one question remains unanswered: who and what deck will be added to this hallowed list come the 18th of August, the day of the final? Well, there’s only one way to find out—pull up a seat, tune in, root for your favorite players, and witness the unfolding of the next chapter in the history of the Pokémon TCG tournament of all tournaments.

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