The Triumphant Light expansion has arrived inPokémon TCG Pocketwith a host of new cards that are great in battles and have the potential to change the in-game meta. The expansion is not the hardest to complete,only containing 75 base cards, but new gameplay elements introduced with these new cards are set to change how players plan for battle.
Battles inPokémon TCG Pockettake place in either PvP or Solo, but both require strategies to win, making using the most effective cards to build the best possible decks key. There are a host ofunderrated cards in the Triumphant Light expansion, but many are also the best for battles. Here are ten cards you want to collect to use in battles.
10Celestic Team Elder
A Surprisingly Effective Supporter
There are four new Trainer Supporter cards introduced as part of the expansion. While they all have their uses, one of the most effective is Celestic Team Elder. Don’t let appearances fool you — this card hasthe potential to save your decks if you get into trouble. I
N/A
Trainer
Put 1 random Basic Pokémon from your discard pile into your hand.
Celestic Team Elder allows you to put a basic Pokémon that has already been KO’d back into your hand from your discard pile. This could prove crucial if you have a Basic level Pokémon that you need to evolve quickly to start building up your deck.
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This will work especially well if you only use a limited number of base Pokémon, thus increasing the chances of getting the one you want. If you only use decks with a handful of base Pokémon, Celestic Team Elder is a must-use card.
9Staraptor
High Damage For A Colorless Type
While a Stage 2 evolution, Staraptor has one of the highest damage attacks of any card in the Triumphant Light expansion. Colorless cards tend to be underrated inPokémon TCG Pocket, but if you give yourself enough time to get to the final evolution stage, Staraptor can KO a large number of the best other cards in one go.
150
Stage 2
Attack 1
Brave Bird- Damage 130 - 3 Colorless energy. (This Pokémon also does 20 damage to itself)
Retreat
2 Colorless energy
A well-builtStaraptor and Barry deckcan be hugely effective in PvP competitions, so it is worth using them together to surprise teams. Even without Barry, Staraptor can still be a strong addition to any deck that properly supports it.
8Tyranitar
An Unstoppable Attacking Threat
Tyranitar has always been a strong Pokémon across a number of games in the series, and it is great for battles inPokémon TCG Pocket.It has one of the strongest attacks on offer, with Land Crush doing 130 damage. However, its real strength comes with its Ability Power Link.
160
Ability
Power Link - If you have Arceus or Arceus EX in play, attacks used by this Pokémon do +30 damage to your opponent’s Active Pokémon.
Land Crush - Damage 130 - 3 Fighting energy and 1 Colorless energy.
4 Colorless energy
A new concept introduced in this extension is specific Pokémon increasing others' abilities. If used alongside an Arceus or Arceus EX card, Tyranitar’s attack does an additional 30 damage.This takes it up to 160 damage, which can take out the majority of EX Pokémon in one hit, especially if used with a Giovanni card.
7Shaymin
Helping Your Pokémon Retreat From The Bench
Shaymin is one of the best supporting Pokémon introduced with the new expansion. While its HP and attack are below par, it has one of the most effective abilities. Sky Support is used when Shaymin is on the bench, meaning it never needs to attack itself. It reduces the retreat cost of your active basic Pokémon.
70
Basic
Sky Support - As long as this Pokémon is on your bench, your active basic Pokémon’s retreat cost is 1 less
1 Colorless energy
This is especially useful for a number of EX cards that have no evolution lines. They can withdraw from the firing line while you keep your Energy cards intact to bring them back into battle on another turn.
6Glaceon EX
Additional Damage During Checkup
A number of the Eevee evolutions are very effective in battles inPokémon TCG Pocket, and Glaceon is the latest of them. It has a good pool of 140 HP and a strong attack in the form of Freezing Wind, which does 90 damage. However, it’s the ability Snowy Terrain that makes it so good in battles.
140
Stage 1
Snowy Terrain - During Pokémon checkup, if this Pokémon is in the active spot, do 10 damage to your opponent’s active Pokémon.
Freezing Wind - Damage 90 - 2 Water energy and 1 Colorless energy.
During check-ups for both you and your opponent, the opposing active Pokémon receives 10 damage, so it is constantly under attack. It is a great option to get into the battle quickly to chip away at base Pokémon. Glaceon EX also has some of themost beautiful artwork from the new setwith several different versions.
5Crobat
A Two Pronged Attacker
Crobat is easily underestimated by opponents. Its only attack, Darkness Fang, does 50 damage, but its other ability has a huge impact. It is another that requires one of the Arceus cards in play, but if you do have one,you can do 30 damage to your opponent’s active Pokémoneach turn before you attack.
110
Cunning Link - Once during your turn, if you have Arceus or Arceus EX in play, you may do 30 damage to your opponent’s active Pokémon.
Darkness Fang - Damage 50 - 1 Dark energy
No Cost
Crobat can remain on the bench for this, meaning you’re able to do an additional 30 damage every turn. The only issue comes with it being a stage 2 evolution, so it does take time to build, but this can be done from your bench.
4Leafeon EX
A Grass Pokémon Energy Supplier
Another Eevee evolution joins the list with Leafeon EX. It’s only attack Solar Beam does 70 energy, but again its ability increases its value in battles.Forest Breath allows you to add additional grass energyto any grass Pokémon.
Forest Breath - Once during your turn, if this Pokémon is in the active spot, you may take a grass energy from your energy zone and attach it to 1 of your grass Pokémon.
Solar Beam - Damage 70 - 1 Grass energy and 2 Colorless energy
This means that in two turns you may have it powered up to deliver a big attack and then, once it has enough to use Solar Beam, you can then start powering up others on your bench. It also has a solid 140 HP.
3Irida
The Best New Supporter
The best supporter trainer card from the Triumphant Light set is Irida. It lets you heal 40 HP from any Pokémon with water energy attached to it. While other cards have similar links with other energy types, Irida has a further edge.
Heal 40 damage from each of your Pokémon that has any Water energy
You can attach water energy to any Pokémon so, in turn, you can heal 40 HP to any Pokémon card, which could make the difference between winning or losing in tight battles. This strategy is more relevant than ever before with popular decks containing different types of Pokémon.
2Garchomp EX
The Hardest Hitter On Offer
The most powerful card in battles from the latest expansionis undoubtedly Garchomp EX. While it is a stage 2 evolution, both of its prior stages can damage in their own right and Garchomp itself has a huge 170 HP, making it very durable while you are powering it up.
Gible and Gabite are both good attackers while you build up to Garchomp EX.
Unlike most Pokémon cards, it has two attacks, both of which have uses. Linear Attack only costs one energy to use and does a huge 50 damage. It can also be used to hit any Pokémon of your opponent’s, including those on your bench, so it can pick up quick points against weakened enemies.
170
Linear Attack- Damage 50 - 1 Fighting energy - This attack does 50 damage to 1 of your opponent’s Pokémon
Attack 2
Dragon Claw - Damage 100 - 2 Fighting energy and 2 Colorless energy
Its main attack, Dragon Claw, deals 100 damage, making it one of the strongest fighting attacks on offer in Pokémon TCG. In summary, it is a beast of a card which can overpower opponents quickly with its two attacks.
1Arceaus EX
The Best New Card For Battles
The biggest game changing card for battles in the Triumphant Light expansion inPokémon TCG Pocketis Arceaus EX. However, just as importantly, it improves the abilities of several other Pokémon, including some on this list, such as Crobat and Tyranitar.
Fabled Luster - This Pokémon can’t be affected by any special conditions.
Ultimate Force - Damage 70+ - 3 Colorless energy
Arceus EX is one of the rare cards that is a great supporter and attacker. Its own attack, Ultimate Force, has the potential to do 130 damage if you have a bench full of Pokémon.
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Its ability also means it can’t be affected by any of the special conditions inPokémon TCG Pocket, reducing the strength of several other decks. Arceus EX is the key card from the Triumphant Light set inPokémon TCG Pocket, powerful in its own right, but also enhancing several of the other best cards.
