Honestly, if you've been around the Pokémon TCG scene for a minute, you know that some cards just refuse to go away. Palkia EX is one of those legendary staples that keeps finding its way back into the conversation, whether we’re talking about the nostalgic "Team Plasma" era or the high-octane mechanics of the modern game.
There’s often a bit of a mix-up when people search for a "Mega Palkia EX." In the literal sense of the old XY-era Mega Evolution mechanic, a Mega Palkia EX card doesn’t actually exist in the official physical TCG. Palkia never received a Mega Stone in the video games, so it never got that specific $M$-prefixed evolution card. But here’s where it gets interesting: the community often uses that term to describe the absolute powerhouse versions of the card that feel like Megas, especially with the recent resurgence of the EX mechanic in the Scarlet & Violet era and the specialized Mega Evolution—Ascended Heroes expansion.
The Palkia EX Evolution: From Team Plasma to TCG Pocket
Palkia has always been about board control and "sniping." Back in the Black & White—Plasma Blast days, the Team Plasma Palkia EX was a nightmare to play against. Its "Strafe" and "Dimensional Press" attacks weren’t just about raw damage; they were about moving around and punishing your opponent for having a high-energy Bench. It was a tactical card. Fast forward to today, and we’re seeing a massive revival of this identity in Pokémon TCG Pocket.
The Pocket version of Palkia EX, specifically from the Mega Rising set, is currently a menace.
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It has 150 HP, which is decent for a Basic EX in that format. But it’s the "Dimensional Storm" attack that’s catching everyone off guard. Doing 150 damage to the active Pokémon while chipping 20 damage to every single Benched Pokémon? That’s basically a board wipe if you time it right. You do have to discard three Water energies to pull it off, but in a meta where Misty can accelerate energy onto your board with a lucky coin flip, Palkia EX can start swinging as early as Turn 2.
Why people keep looking for a Mega Palkia
It’s easy to see why the "Mega" label sticks. In 2026, the TCG has circled back to some of its most popular gimmicks. While Dialga and Palkia got "Origin Formes" in the Sword & Shield era (which gave us the incredibly dominant Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR), the itch for a true Mega Palkia EX remains. Collectors often hunt for high-rarity "Crown Rare" or "Special Illustration Rare" versions of the card, like the one illustrated by PLANETA CG Works, which features Palkia looking so imposing it might as well be a Mega.
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Building the Perfect Palkia EX Deck Right Now
If you're looking to actually win games with Palkia EX, you can't just slap it into a deck and hope for the best. It needs a support system.
- The Energy Engine: You need Misty. Without energy acceleration, Palkia is a sitting duck for three turns.
- The Bench Support: Manaphy is the MVP here. Its "Oceanic Gift" ability helps cycle energy back, mitigating the massive cost of Dimensional Storm.
- The Finisher: Pair Palkia with Starmie EX. Starmie has zero retreat cost and can hit for 90 damage consistently. You use Palkia to soften up the whole board with its bench-sniping, then retreat into Starmie to pick off the stragglers.
Many players make the mistake of trying to use Dimensional Storm every single turn. Don’t do that. You’ll run out of steam. Use "Slash" for a cheap 30 damage while you're building up, and save the big storm for when it actually nets you a prize card or sets up a multi-KO.
What Most People Get Wrong About Palkia’s Value
Collectors often get tunnel vision looking for the "rarest" version, like the 2-star rainbow border Palkia EX in the Pocket app. While those are gorgeous, the real value for a player is in the card’s versatility. Palkia EX isn't just a "Water deck" card; it's a "counter-meta" card. Because it hits the Bench, it ignores a lot of the defensive abilities that protect Active Pokémon.
Is it the best card in the game? Kinda depends on who you ask. In the current Space-Time Smackdown meta, it’s easily an A-Tier contender. It struggles against high-speed Electric decks—Pikachu EX is its natural predator—but against almost anything else, Palkia’s bulk and spread damage make it a wall that’s hard to climb over.
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Actionable Next Steps for Collectors and Players
If you're looking to add Palkia EX to your collection or your deck, here is the move:
- Check the Set List: If you're playing physical, look for the Plasma Blast Full Art for pure investment value. If you're playing Pocket, focus your pack-opening on the Mega Rising expansion.
- Monitor the Secondary Market: Prices for Palkia EX variants fluctuate wildly based on tournament results. If a Palkia deck wins a major Regional, expect the "Special Illustration" versions to spike by 30% within 48 hours.
- Master the Retreat: In the current game, knowing when to move Palkia EX to the bench is more important than knowing when to attack. Use tools like Giant Cape to give it that extra 20 HP buffer, ensuring it survives long enough to be healed or swapped.