Roaring Moon ex is one of the most feared attackers in Pokemon TCG Pocket. It combines a cheap, high-damage attack with a Darkness typing that has excellent coverage, and it slots easily into both aggressive and midrange builds. This guide covers the core list, energy sequencing, and the matchups you need to respect.
What Makes Roaring Moon ex Tick
Roaring Moon ex is a Basic ex Pokemon, so it needs no evolution line to function. That single fact is why Darkness decks built around it feel so smooth: you can lead with it, pressure immediately, and never worry about drawing a Stage 1 you do not have. Its attack costs are low enough that a single energy acceleration effect puts it into attacking range a full turn early.
The weakness is the classic ex problem. Losing Roaring Moon ex hands over two prize cards, so every turn you leave it active is a risk calculation. Cards that heal, retreat, or redirect attacks are therefore just as important as your damage output.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Darkness |
| Stage | Basic (ex) |
| Role | Primary attacker |
| Strength | Cheap attack cost, high damage ceiling |
| Weakness | Fighting-type attackers |
| Best partners | Dark energy acceleration, Sabrina, healing |
Core Deck List
- 2x Roaring Moon ex – the deck’s primary threat
- 2x Umbreon ex – a Darkness partner that adds disruption and a second angle of attack
- 2x Dark energy acceleration support – anything that lets you attach earlier
- 2x Professor’s Research – keeps your hand flowing
- 2x Pokeball – fetches your Basic ex Pokemon
- 2x Sabrina – forces bad matchups and buys tempo
- 2x Potion – keeps Roaring Moon above knockout thresholds
Energy and Tempo
Darkness decks live and die by tempo. You want to be attacking every single turn from the moment Roaring Moon ex hits the field, which means your energy attachments need to be planned two turns ahead. Never split energy between Roaring Moon and your back-up unless the back-up is about to attack.
If your opening hand has an acceleration card and a Roaring Moon ex, that is a keep almost every time. If it has neither, mulligan thinking turns toward finding one immediately with Pokeball and Professor’s Research rather than setting up a slower, more passive board.
Matchup Table
| Opponent | Verdict | Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Psychic decks | Strong | Darkness hits Psychic for weakness; race aggressively |
| Fighting decks | Weak | Keep Roaring Moon benched; use disruption and trade cheaply |
| Metal decks | Even | Damage and healing timing decide it |
| Grass decks | Favourable | Out-speed their setup with early pressure |
Common Mistakes
The most common error is over-committing to one attacker. Roaring Moon ex is powerful but it cannot solo a game against a prepared opponent. Always have a second threat loaded or a Sabrina ready to reset the board. The second mistake is ignoring your opponent’s energy count – before you attack, check whether they can knock out your ex next turn, and retreat if the answer is yes.
Compare this list with our best Dark-type decks in Pokemon TCG Pocket and the Umbreon ex build guide. If you are chasing specific cards, our trading guide explains how to get them without opening dozens of packs.
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