Hey everyone, Week 2 of Celestial Guardians just wrapped with Ursiiday’s Pocket Weekly #28 pulling in 941 players. And let me tell you, this format is evolving at warp speed. The variety is insane—over 270 decks were lumped into “Other.” So let’s break down what happened, which builds are worth your time on the ladder, and what you should keep an eye on.

The Big Picture

By raw entries, here’s how the top decks stacked up: Giratina ex + Darkrai ex (129 players), Giratina ex + Snorlax (89), Arceus ex + Crobat (87), Giratina ex + Greninja (81), and Garchomp ex + Rampardos (78). That’s a ton of variety for just the second week of a new set. But raw numbers don't tell the full story—conversion rates into Top 64 are where the real insights live.

Conversion Standouts

Giratina ex + Greninja posted the best conversion at 17.3% (14 of 81). That deck trades Darkrai’s chip damage for Greninja’s spread pressure, and the flexibility is paying off. Giratina ex + Darkrai ex remains the default best deck—17 of 129 made Top 64 (13.2%), the highest raw count among high-volume lists. But cracks are showing: players are teching in specific counters like the new EX punish cards, which forces Darkrai builds to adapt. Arceus ex + Crobat converted 8 of 87 (9.2%) thanks to explosive starts. Magnezone + Oricorio quietly hit 8.3% (2 of 24), proving that stall hybrids have real legs. Garchomp ex + Rampardos managed 7.7% (6 of 78). Meanwhile, Giratina ex + Snorlax cratered—only 1 of 89 made the cut, showing it can’t hang against the consistent pressure of Darkrai builds.

New Variants on the Rise

The big story is how quickly players are iterating. Giratina ex + Greninja builds are now running a Psychic-only energy line with a new tech card (call it the EX answer) to counter both Darkrai and itself. That variant sacrifices a bit of consistency for a much wider matchup spread. Arceus ex + Crobat remains strong, especially when it leads with its aggressive opener—if you start that pressure against a lone Darkrai, it’s nearly game over. And the new EX punish tool is popping up in hybrid stall builds, giving them credibility as a legitimate meta call. On the flip side, last week’s darlings—Charizard ex + Incineroar ex and Decidueye ex + Meowscarada—fell off hard, with conversion rates under 6%.

Ranked Advice

If you’re climbing the ladder, know that Giratina ex + Darkrai ex is still the rock-solid pick. But consider the Giratina ex + Greninja version with the EX counter tech only if you’re in high Master Ball where EX-heavy decks dominate. In lower Master Ball or Ultra Ball tiers, you’ll face more aggressive Stage 2 builds like Garchomp ex + Rampardos and Arceus ex + Crobat, where that tech loses value. Stick to the standard Darkrai build or a pure aggressive list down there.

The Hidden Gem

One off-meta hybrid deserves a spotlight. A player went undefeated on Day 1 with a double-EX package that blends Giratina ex + Darkrai ex with an Arceus ex + Crobat engine—dropping the usual aggressive starter in favor of a second EX pair and an energy transfer card. This lets you pivot energy between your attackers seamlessly. The pilot didn’t return for Day 2, and they would’ve faced the eventual champion. It’s untested at scale, but the synergy is crisp. If you like innovation, keep a close eye on this list.

Final Thoughts

Week 2 proves that Celestial Guardians meta is still wide open. Giratina ex + Darkrai ex remains the deck to beat, but the rise of tech cards and hybrid builds means you can’t autopilot. Experiment now—this format rewards early adopters.

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