Alright, trainers, gather round—if you missed it, the 2025 Pokémon Trading Card Game World Championships just dropped its biggest reveal: Canada’s own Riley Mckay is the new World Champ, and The Pokémon Company just shared his winning deck that totally crushed it in Anaheim this year.
So if you’ve ever wondered what it takes to win at the highest level, or you just want to shamelessly copy the best deck in the game, stick with me. Let’s break down what happened, the spicy TCG meta, and how Gardevoir ex just won Worlds… again.
World Championships: More Stacked Than Your Steam Library
For folks who think the Pokémon World Championships are just Pikachu cosplay and overpriced merch (guilty as charged… until this year), let me set you straight. This is where the best of the best battle it out—across the main games, the TCG, Pokémon GO, and even Unite. Endgame boss fights, but with international bragging rights.
This year was extra wild. Tons of decks showed up—some classics, some new faces. Gholdengo ex, Gardevoir ex (our star), and a few other strats kept popping up like ads in a free mobile game, all dominating with over 10% pick rates. But at the end, only one deck can stand at the rooftop with the victory emote.
Riley Mckay’s Gardevoir ex Deck: The Secret Sauce
Here’s the lowdown on the deck list that took our boy Riley from Canada straight to the winner’s circle. He pulled off a clean 2-0 win against American player Justin Newdorf in the finals—no RNG needed.
Riley’s Worlds 2025 Gardevoir ex Deck
- Ralts (SVI) ×4
- Kirlia (PAF) ×2
- Gardevoir ex (SVI) ×2
- Munkidori (TWM) ×4
- Scream Tail (PAR) ×1
- Flutter Mane (TEF) ×1
- Lillie’s Clefairy ex (JTG) ×1
- Mew ex (MEW) ×1
- Fezandipiti ex (SFA) ×1
Trainer & Item Cards:
- Professor’s Research ×4
- Iono ×4
- Arven ×2
- Ultra Ball ×4
- Earthen Vessel ×3
- Nest Ball ×2
- Rare Candy ×2
- Night Stretcher ×2
- Counter Catcher ×2
- Super Rod ×1
- Secret Box ×1
- Technical Machine: Evolution ×2
- Technical Machine: Devolution ×1
- Bravery Charm ×1
- Artazon ×2
Energies:
- Basic Psychic Energy ×7
- Basic Darkness Energy ×4
If you’re side-eyeing your Drifloon right now—yep, Riley dropped that card. Bold move, but hey, when you win Worlds, who’s gonna argue?
Why This Deck Slaps (Besides the Obvious)
Gardevoir ex has basically been the Charizard of the last couple years—showing up at pretty much every major event with different tricks up its sleeve. It dropped back in Scarlet & Violet and immediately started living rent-free in everyone’s heads (and deckboxes).
What makes this build so genius? Well, instead of relying on the same old attackers, Riley went with loads of flexible picks like Munkidori and some sneaky tech choices like Lillie’s Clefairy ex. This keeps the deck unpredictable, kind of like that one dude in ranked who always brings a wild meta counter and somehow wrecks you.
And let’s not forget: no Drifloon! Riley proved you don’t need the “safe” plays to take the most important match of the year.
The Meta Now: Gardevoir ex Still on Top—But For How Long?
So what’s next for Gardevoir ex? The deck’s been popping off forever (it was runner-up in 2024 and 2023), but now with the upcoming “Mega Evolution” expansion (dropping next month!), things are about to get even more hype. Mega Gardevoir ex, anyone?
Also, shoutout to Jellicent ex from White Flare, which has been a sick tech choice—locking down Items and Tools, and leveling up Gardevoir ex’s whole playstyle.
Real Talk: Should You Play This Deck?
Look, if you’re looking to level up at locals or just flex online—copying Riley’s deck is a solid move. It’s got history, power, and now, undeniable street cred. But remember: the meta changes faster than your KD ratio after a patch, so stay sharp!
And hey, whether you’re a casual or a ladder grinder, nothing feels better than winning with a deck that just snagged the World Champs title.
So there you have it. Gardevoir ex is still the best dancer on the TCG floor, with no signs of slowing down. Try the deck, have some fun, and who knows—maybe next year I’ll be writing about your winning list!
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