This is a tier list of the best cards to use in Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket (PTCG Pocket). Read on for a tier list and ranking of the best Pokemon and Trainer cards to use!

Best Pokemon Cards Tier List

Tier	Card

List of All Cards

Best Card Tier List Criteria

Best Card Tier List Criteria

	The best cards are in the S tier, which are cards that will always be impactful whenever they are played. These are cards that must always be answered or else they will take over a game.
	A Tier cards are cards that are also powerful but do not necessarily centralize a game when they are on the field.
	B Tier cards are less impactful compared to S and A tiers, but are still worth using in a deck.
	C Tier cards are also viable options that could warrant decks built around them.

Pokemon TCG Pocket Tier List Maker

Consistency

Powerful cards are cards that are able to implement a deck's strategy consistently and effectively. Its ability to be effective at all times is a consideration for a card's placing on this list.

Impact on Games

A card coming into play should be impactful at any stage of the game. It should also be able to give the player advantage of some sort, incentivizing its inclusion in the deck.

Oftentimes, Pokemon ex are impactful. But strong cards are not limited to only Pokemon ex.

Pokemon TCG Pocket Meta Guide

S Tier

Card	Commentary
Arceus ex	HP: 140 Type: ・Colorless attacker that can go in any deck ・Has a hefty 140 HP and can do up to 130 damage with Ultimate Force.
Dialga ex	HP: 150 Type: ・Is able to enable any attacker that has Colorless or Metal Attack Costs. ・Not easy to KO because of its 150 HP.

A Tier Cards

Card	Commentary
Palkia ex	HP: 150 Type: ・ Palkia ex can be powered up with Misty for a devastating Dimensional Storm.
Exeggutor ex	HP: 160 Type: ・ Huge 160 HP lets it stay in the battle for longer. ・ Can deal 40 to 80 damage with Tropical Swing.
Rampardos	HP: 150 Type: ・Rampardos is difficult to set up, but can pay off by taking KOs when it's able..

B Tier Cards

Card	Commentary
Darkrai ex	HP: 140 Type: ・ Nightmare Aura deals damage simply through an Energy attachment. ・ Useful even as a Bench sitter. ・ Dark Prism deals a respectable 80 damage.
Lucario	HP: 100 Type: ・Increases the damage of your Fighting-types by 20, making your attackers even more effective.
Articuno ex	HP: 140 Type: ・ Can sweep through unprepared teams with a successful Misty. ・ Blizzard deals damage to Benched Pokemon. ・ Blizzard can 2HKO most ex Pokemon.
Magnezone	HP: 140 Type: ・A very consistent and easily splashable attacker that gets set up easily by Genetic Apex Magneton.
Skarmory	HP: 80 Type: ・ Quick and efficient attacker that can do 50 damage if it has a Tool attached.
Charizard ex	HP: 180 Type: ・Once set up, is able to KO any Pokemon with its powerful Crimson Storm. Charizard ex can win games in just a few attacks.
Manaphy	HP: 50 Type: ・ Sets up Water-type attackers quickly and consistently, but has a low 50 HP.
Leafeon ex	HP: 140 Type: ・Effective new partner for Celebi ex and other Grass-types.
Carnivine	HP: 80 Type: ・Can deal 50 damage with Vine Whip if Arceus ex is on the field, and has a cheap 1 Retreat Cost.

C Tier Cards

Card	Commentary
Weavile ex	HP: 140 Type: ・An effective attacker that synergizes with Darkrai ex and other Pokemon that can deal incremental damage. ・Scratching Nails can do up to 70 damage for only one Darkness Energy.
Mew ex	HP: 130 Type: ・Colorless Energy cost for Genome Hacking makes it easy to splash in most decks. ・Genome Hacking allows it to use attacks like Palkia ex's Dimensional Storm, or Charizard ex's Crimson Storm and KO those Pokemon.
Garchomp ex	HP: 170 Type: ・Useful and cost-efficient Attacks, and is a Fighting-type that can be buffed by Lucario.
Glaceon ex	HP: 140 Type: ・Is able to deal incremental damage with Snowy Terrain, simply by staying in the Active Spot.
Celebi ex	HP: 130 Type: ・ Can be loaded up with lots of Energy to deal huge damage with lucky flips using Powerful Bloom.
Shaymin	HP: 70 Type: ・ Reduces the Retreat Cost of other Basic Pokemon, making it a useful Pokemon for decks that have lots of Basics.

Best Trainer Cards Tier List

Tier	Card

Best Card Tier List Criteria

Best Card Tier List Criteria

	S Tier Trainer cards are cards that should be run by every deck that can. These are staples and should be considered early into the deck building process.
	A Tier Trainer cards are cards that are also powerful but do are not always necessary in a deck. These cards may give situational benefits, which may also be seen as essential, but not as much as S Tier Trainer cards.
	B Tier Trainer cards give advantageous effects but are hindered by conditions of some sort. They may be limited to usage on only specific Pokemon, which may limit their splashability to every deck.

Pokemon TCG Pocket Tier List Maker

Consistency

Trainer cards should always be able to give you an advantage in a match. A Trainer card's consistency is indicated by how often it can bring you a desired result or advantage in a match.

Flexibility

The best Trainer cards are easy to slot in because of their obvious utility, which makes them staples. These staples are usable at any point in the game and can gain you an advantage whenever you play them.

S Tier Trainer Cards

Card	Commentary
Professor's Research	・ Essential to every deck. ・ Helps find cards needed for any situation.
Poke Ball	・ Can help thin the deck and get a Basic Pokemon out. ・ Great in all decks.
Cyrus	・ Can win games by gusting out a damaged Pokemon on your opponent's Bench.

A Tier Trainer Cards

Card	Commentary
Sabrina	・ Can help draw out an opponent's Benched Pokemon. ・ Can sometimes disrupt an opponent's gameplan by bringing out a Pokemon that they have to pay to retreat with.
Leaf	・ Helps with heavy Retreat Costs. Best used with 2 Retreat Pokemon like Palkia ex or Arceus ex.
Misty	・ Can help Water Pokemon like Articuno ex or Palkia ex sweep earlier than it should be able to. ・ Even 1 heads can put you one turn ahead.
Giant Cape	・ Can make your Pokemon even harder to KO by increasing their HP by 20.
Rocky Helmet	・ Is able to put opposing Pokemon in KO range, or force your opponents to not attack your Pokemon or risk getting 20 damage.

B Tier Cards

Card	Commentary
Irida	・Heals 40 damage from Pokemon with Water Energy, without being limited to only Water Pokemon.
Erika	・ Can keep Grass Pokemon like Celebi ex and Exeggutor ex healthy for longer in matches.
Giovanni	・Allows you to score important KOs by increasing your damage by 10.
Dawn	・ Makes you more efficient with Energy attachments, by transfering an already attached Energy from your benched Pokemon to your Active Pokemon.
X Speed	・ Reduces Retreat Cost, making retreating easier.
Potion	・ Can get damaged Pokemon out of KO range in plenty of situations.
Pokemon Communication	・ Helps find evolution cards from your deck, which can be helpful for Stage 2 decks.
Mars	・ Is able to punish opponents for taking KOs, and also works as a comeback mechanic that reduces your opponent's options.
Red Card	・ Can disrupt opponent's gameplan by reducing their hand size and giving them a new hand of 3. ・ Can be annoying early or late game.
Blue	・Can keep your Pokemon out of KO range. ・Best used by Pikachu ex decks, keeping Pikachu out of KO range of Arcanine ex or Ninetales with Blaine.
Budding Expeditioner	・Can scoop a Mew ex out of the Active Spot, protecting it from getting KOd.
Koga	・ Great for getting Muk and Weezing out of trouble. ・ Great for Dragonite decks that run Weezing.

Pokemon TCG Pocket Related Guides

Pokemon TCG Pocket Card List

TCG Pocket Card Lists

Cards by Expansion Set
Shining Revelry (A2b)																									Released: Mar 27, 2025 ・SR Pack
Triumphant Light (A2a)																									Released: Feb 28, 2025 ・ TL Arceus Pack
Space-Time Smackdown (A2)																									Released: Jan 30, 2025 ・ STS Dialga Pack ・ STS Palkia Pack
Mythical Island (A1a)																									Released: Dec 17, 2024 ・ MI Mew Pack
Genetic Apex (A1)																									Released: Oct 30, 2024 ・ GA Pikachu Pack ・ GA Charizard Pack ・ GA Mewtwo Pack
Promo-A																									・Shop Cards ・Special Gift Cards ・Premium Pass Cards ・Chansey Pick ・Promo-A Vol. 1 ・Promo-A Vol. 2 ・Promo-A Vol. 3 ・Promo-A Vol. 4 ・Promo-A Vol. 5
Pokemon Cards by Type
Grass												Fire												Water												Lightning												Psychic
Fighting												Darkness												Metal												Dragon												Colorless
Cards by Rarity
1◇															2◇															3◇															4◇
1☆															2☆															3☆															Crown
Pokemon Cards by Evolution Stage
Basic Pokemon Cards																				Stage 1 Pokemon Cards																				Stage 2 Pokemon Cards
Trainer Cards
Item Cards																														Supporter Cards
Fossil Item Cards																														Pokemon Tool Cards
Cards by Generation
Gen 1																				Gen 2																				Gen 3
Gen 4																				Gen 5																				Gen 6
Gen 7																				Gen 8																				-
Misc. Card Lists
Best Cards Tier List
List of New Cards																														Unreleased Cards
Full Art Cards																														Immersive Cards
ex Pokemon Cards																														Pokemon Cards with Abilities