Now that we’ve all got a good load of Pokémon TCG Pocket cards, let’s look at which ones come out on top as our favorites, including both Pokémon and trainer cards to expand the selection. We’ve also picked out some options that we would love to see come to the game in the future.
To find out which cards are best, check out our Pokémon TCG Pocket tier list, or scroll down to see which ones we simply enjoy the most. If you’re looking for more people to battle with, take a look at our guide to Pokémon TCG Pocket friend codes and expand your roster.
Here are ten of our favorite cards in Pokémon TCG Pocket:
Articuno EX
- Ice Wing – 40 damage
- Blizzard – 80 damage
- This attack also does ten damage to each of your opponent’s benched Pokémon
Firstly, Articuno is a legendary bird, a true relic in the Pokédex. Not only can Articuno deal a good amount of damage, but it can also inflict damage onto benched Pokémon, potentially taking them out before they get a chance to move.
Blaine
- During this turn, attacks used by Ninetails, Rapidash, or Magmar do +30 damage to your opponent’s active Pokémon
Every deck needs good support and trainer cards, and Blaine fills his role spectacularly. He may look a little like Doctor Eggman, but he’s no villain – he adds 30 damage to any attack that Ninetails, Rapidash, or Magmar do in your turn. Just make sure to use this card when you have enough energy attached, or it’ll be wasted that turn.
Charizard EX
- Slash – 60 damage
- Crimson Storm – 200 damage
- Discard two energy from Charizard
Of course, Charizard is here. The fiery pseudo-dragon is a constant favorite and continues to shine in TCG Pocket. The only caveat is that you do need to discard two energy after using the big move, so it will take two turns to refill it. But the 200 damage can take out most other Pokémon cards in one fell swoop.
Gardevoir
- Psyshot – 60 damage
- Psy Shadow (ability) – During your turn, you may take an energy and attach it to your active Pokémon
Using Gardevoir as part of a Mewtwo deck is a popular choice, and it’s not hard to see why. This card lets you attach extra energy, which is always a handy bonus as it can take a while to load up four energy to your Mewtwo in order to do its big attack.
Gengar EX
- Spooky Shot – 100 damage
- Shadowy Spellbind (ability) – As long as Gengar is in your active slot, your opponent can’t use any supporter cards in their hand
Another constant favorite is Gengar. The Spooky Shot attack may take three energy to charge up but it does do 100 damage. Pair this with Giovanni and you can knock out a lot of different Pokémon cards. Using Gengar as your active Pokémon also stops your opponent from using supporters – that means no boosts, no healing, and no pulling extra cards to their hand. A truly hampering ability.
Giovanni
- During this turn, attacks by your Pokémon do +10 damage to your opponent’s active Pokémon
Good ol’ Giovanni provides extra damage. That’s it, really, but having two of these cards in your deck can pull you out of a pinch, and make sure you send that Venusaur packing in one big attack.
Greninja
- Mist Slash – 60 damage
- Water Shuriken (ability) – Once during your turn, you can do 20 damage to one of your opponent’s Pokémon
All starters are definitely worth their salt in Pocket TCG, but I really like Greninja. It only needs two energy, so you can easily build that up as you evolve it. The fact that this water Pokémon does +20 extra damage each turn is a blessing, especially as this isn’t a rare EX card.
Jolteon
- Pin Missile – 40+ damage
- Flip four coins – each heads deals +40 damage
My personal favorite is Jolteon. It’s getting me through the Lapras battles, and any other matches against water decks with ease. It does rely on luck and RNG, but if you manage to get even one heads in the four coin flips, you’re onto a winner. Getting all four coin flips correct will provide a huge amount of damage, easily knocking out any opponent.
Mewtwo EX
- Psychic Sphere – 50 damage
- Psydrive – 150 damage
- Discard two energy from Mewtwo
Of course, Mewtwo is on this list – the star of the show has potential in lots of decks, even if its big move requires four energy. Similar to Charizard, you need to discard two energy after using Psydrive, but if you have a Gardevoir you can quickly refill this and go again.
Pidgeot
- Wing Attack – 70 damage
- Drive Off (ability) – Once during your turn, you may switch out your opponent’s active Pokémon to the bench
Don’t overlook Pidgeot. It may not do the most devastating damage, but if you keep a Pidgey on your bench and build it up, you can then swap in Pidgeot and sweep away your opponent’s active Pokémon. It’s really annoying. It’s also really good. Your opponent won’t be able to get a move in while Pidgeot’s ability – which requires no energy! – forces it to move.
Sabrina
- Switch out your opponent’s active Pokémon to the bench. They choose the Pokémon to replace it
Last but not least, Sabrina is another excellent support card for any deck. What’s that? Your opponent puts down a full-health Lapras that can heal itself? I think not – let’s swap it out with Sabrina and make them choose a half-health Pidgey from their bench.
Five real-life Pokémon cards we want to see in TCG Pocket
This list could go on and on forever, so we’ve condensed it to five cards we’d love to see come to TCG Pocket. Obviously, any evolved Pokémon would come with their pre-evolutions too, but we feel these cards could really shake things up.
Clodsire EX
- Toxic Wetland (ability) – During your turn, if a Stadium is in play, you may poison your opponent’s active Pokémon
- Needle Bone – 200 damage
- Flip a coin – if tails, Clodsire can’t attack during your next turn
This may be my Clodsire-obsessed bias talking, but Clodsire EX is a great card. There aren’t too many Pokémon that can actively poison, and as the card pool expands, it may be that stadiums become a common supporter pick. Therefore, any Clodsire havers would be laughing. Plus, it does a hefty attack dealing 200 damage.
Dragapult EX
- Jet Headbutt – 70 damage
- Phantom Dive – 200 damage
- Put six damage counters on your opponent’s benched Pokémon
Not only does Dragapult’s basic attack do a big slice of damage, but the Phantom Dive move allows you to add extra damage to benched Pokémon. It’s unclear how damage counters would translate into Pocket for now, but Dragapult is good enough to warrant a deck dedicated to it anyway.
Mimikyu
- Safeguard (ability) – prevent all damage done to this Pokémon by your opponent’s EX and V Pokémon
- Ghost Eye – Put seven damage counters on your opponent’s active Pokémon
The best ghost Pokémon deserves to come to TCG Pocket. Mimikyu’s card is great, as it blocks damage from those dastardly EX and V Pokémon cards which are often rather strong. It’s similar to Dragapult’s situation with the damage counters, but we’re sure that Mimikyu would be a solid pick regardless.
Nest Ball
- Search your deck for a basic Pokémon to put on your bench, then shuffle your deck
Gaining random cards with the Poké Ball card is all well and good, but being able to choose a specific one could pay absolute dividends. Plus, shuffling your deck could also pay off – or not, but that’s the risk you have to take.
Toedscruel EX
- Protective Mycelium (ability) – Prevent all effects of attacks by your opponent’s Pokémon to all of your Pokémon that currently have energy attached
- Colony Rush – 80+ damage
- This attack does +40 more damage for each of your benched Pokémon that have grass energy attached
I’m not a big fan of Toadscool and Toedscruel’s designs, honestly – but this card won me over to like them as usable ‘Mons. The ability to prevent attacks? Amazing. Plus, any move that allows for extra damage with pretty low requirements is an excellent bonus and can swing a battle in your favor in an instant.
Some players – myself included – may be itching to complete their collections after this, so we’ve got a guide on how to get the Pokémon TCG Pocket Mew card here. Also, find out if there are any Pokémon TCG Pocket codes right here, too.