Over 200 different maps are already available in Pokémon TCG Pocket, and some are much stronger than others. So which Pokémon should you play to win the most battles? Which are over-rated and which are under-rated? Let's get down to the Pokémon TCG Pocket tier list of the best Pokémon cards in the game!
Pokémon TCG Pocket tier list: the card ranking system
This tier list is a ranking of the 50 best Pokémon cards in the game. With a few rare exceptions, only the maximum evolutions of each Pokémon will appear in this Pokémon TCG Pocket tier list. In the rankings, we take into account the power of its entire evolutionary lineage.
On paper, Golduck and Bisharp are equivalent. But the Water type is much better than the Metal type.
For this Pokémon TCG Pocket tier list, we're also taking into account synergy and the most common match-ups. Some Pokémon that are powerful on paper will therefore be low on the rankings if they lack support or have a lot of counters.
Our ranking system is based on tiers:
Tier S+: These are the best Pokémon cards in the game, the undisputed kings of the Pokémon TCG Pocket tier list, around which the strongest decks are built.
Tier S : These are excellent cards that can compete with or complement the Tier S+ cards.
Tier A: good Pokémon TCG Pocket cards, generally versatile support cards
Tier B: Pokémon cards in this tier are very useful in certain strategies, but are not essential.
Tier C: These are the hardest cards to play in the Pokémon TCG Pocket tier list. They can be used in specific decks, but will not be as effective as the others.
Pokémon TCG Pocket tier list: the complete card ranking
Here is the Pokémon TCG Pocket tier list of the 50 best Pokémon cards in the game, with their respective advantages and disadvantages.
Card
Tier
Advantage(s)
Disadvantage(s)
Pikachu-EX
S+
Speed + High damage
Needs a full bench
Starmie-EX
S+
High damage + Free retreat
Low pre-evolution
Gardevoir
S+
Free Psy Energy
Slow to evolve
Moltres-EX
S+
Additional Fire Energy
Depends on coin toss
Venusaur-EX
S
Very high healing + Highest HP in this tier Pokémon TCG Pocket list
Slow to evolve and attack
Mewtwo-EX
S
Very high damage
Loses its energy
Exeggutor-EX
S
Speed + high HP
Depends on coin throw
Weezing
S
Poison + Koga Synergy
Few good supports of its type
Greninja
S
Free damage to opponents' benches
Slow to evolve
Alakazam
S
Very high damage
Slow to evolve
Pidgeot
S
Talent that hinders the opponent
Slow to evolve
Dragonite
S
Enormous damage + high HP
Slow to evolve and attack, requires 2 types of energy
Charizard-EX
S
Enormous damage + high HP
Slow to evolve and attack, loses energy
Articuno-EX
A
Versatile
Slow to attack
Zapdos-EX
A
Versatile
Depends on coin toss
Machamp-EX
A
High damage + huge HP
Slow to evolve
Marowak-EX
A
Speed + High damage
Depends on coin throw
Sandslash
A
Good HP + High damage
Little damage to its pre-evolution
Butterfree
A
Best healing in the Pokémon TCG Pocket tier list
Slow to evolve
Victreebel
A
Talent that is annoying for opponents
Slow to evolve
Hypno
A
Puts your opponent to sleep with your talent
Lack of damage
Golduck
A
High damage + Good pre-evolution
Lack of HP
Primeape
A
Speed + Very high damage
Very risky pre-evolution attack, lack of HP
Wigglytuff-EX
A
Puts the opponent to sleep
Slow to attack
Lapras-EX
A
Versatile + Good healing
Slow to attack, very costly retreat
Electrode
A
High damage + Free retreat
Lack of HP
Farfetch'd
A
Speed + High damage
Lack of HP
Meowth
A
Draws cards, a unique effect in this tier list Pokémon TCG Pocket
Lack of HP, evolution too weak
Arbok
B
Prevents opponent's retreat
Slight lack of HP
Zebstrika
B
Speed + Damage to opponent's bench
Lack of HP, low damage
Kangaskhan
B
Speed + Good HP at the start of the game
Depends on coin toss, very costly retreat
Raichu
B
Enormous damage + Lt. Surge Synergy
Loses all his energy
Exeggutor
B
Speed + Good HP at the start of the game
Depends on coin toss, very costly retreat
Lilligant
B
Additional plant energy
Slight lack of HP
Ninetales
B
High damage + Blaine Synergy
Loses energy, lacks HP
Rapidash
B
Speed + Blaine Synergy
Low damage without Blaine
Articuno
B
Versatile
Slow to attack, depends on coin throw
Tentacruel
B
Poison
No particular synergy with Water types
Abomasnow
B
Puts your opponent to sleep
Lacks HP
Gengar-EX
B
Talent that hinders the opponent + high HP
Slow to evolve
Arcanine-EX
B
High damage
Inflicts damage
Blastoise-EX
B
High damage + huge HP
Slow to evolve and attack, depends on Misty's coin toss
Bruxish
B
Speed + High damage
Needs a target that has already taken damage
Melmetal
C
Useful defensive skill
Slow to attack
Jynx
C
High damage
Lack of HP, lack of damage if opponent has no energy
Zapdos
C
Useful against other Pikachu-EX decks
Inflicts damage on a Bench Pokémon
Vileplume
C
Puts the opponent to sleep
Slow to evolve
Omastar
C
Prevents the opposing Pokémon from attacking
Slow to evolve
Magneton
C
Accumulates Electric energy
Worst damage and HP of this Pokémon TCG Pocket tier list for an evolved Pokémon
Aerodactyl
C
Unique effect in the Pokémon TCG Pocket tier list, very annoying for the opponent.
No damage, depends on coin throw
If you want to know what to play with the Pokémon S+ tier in this Pokémon TCG Pocket tier list, we invite you to read our article on the game's best decks. To complete this tier list, we're now going to talk about the likely changes to the rankings in the future.
The Pokémon TCG Pocket tier list about to be shaken up?
In the upcoming releases found in the game's code by data-miners, most of the new cards are identical to their original versions in terms of stats. But one of them is different: it's Jigglypuff Promo-A.
Its attack can put an opponent to sleep for a single energy, something never seen before in Pokémon TCG Pocket. What's more, Jigglypuff Promo-A is a basic card of Colourless type: as soon as it's released, it will be playable in almost all decks.
Of all the cards in the Pokémon TCG Pocket tier list, those that are slow to evolve or attack could therefore move up the rankings.
Pikachu-EX: will the game's best card continue its reign?
So, will the arrival of Jigglypuff Promo-A be enough to dislodge Pikachu-EX from the top of the Pokémon TCG Pocket tier list? I'm not sure. Even if Jigglypuff Promo-A doesn't fit in well with the Pikachu-EX deck, it's unlikely to improve the other decks to the point of overtaking the Electric deck.
In short, we'll have to wait for a new expansion to find a replacement for the best card in this Pokémon TCG Pocket tier list. So if you don't have Pikachu-EX, we'd encourage you to give it a go... perhaps with our 5 tips for optimising the wonder pick?
We hope you've enjoyed our Pokémon TCG Pocket tier list! You'll have no trouble building powerful decks with the best Pokémon cards in our rankings. Stay tuned for more Pokémon TCG Pocket tips and tricks!
Mr Cold
As a writer for comics and video games, I like to spend hours playing on my sofa. Of course, the only reason I do this is to “find inspiration for my work”.