Since it's the base set, there's a lot of things to get, and a lot of them are very playable. It might be the best "base set" ever. Sure the first five are pretty obvious but the ones after that were really difficult for me to rank since they were all so good. This set is so good it's got me thinking of actually getting a booster box, something I don't always ever buy.
And like the previous time, these are my own opinions, aka the opinions of an unproven player who does enjoys building decks whether it's good or not. My ideas are my own opinions, what I think could be good but may be bad to others or vice versa. My ranking is dependent on these card's playability and what deck ideas you could build off them.
No special mentions this time around so I'll just get on to the top 30 cards in my own view from Sword & Shield. Also, cards that are already legal in standard won't be counted in this list (Pal Pad, Rare Candy, PokeGear 3.0 to name a few).
Side note, prices are taken from Troll and Toad as pre-order prices on the 28th January 2019. As always, prices are for the lowest rarity.
R - Rare
RH - Rare Holo
UC - Uncommon
UR - Ultra Rare
#30 - Rillaboom - 14/202 - RH - $1.49
#29 - Torkoal V - 24/202 - UR - $ 7.99
Steam Crash is another good attack, capable of disrupting decks like ADP or anything that needs to slowly charge 3 energies. Welder box-style decks and even the returning Magcargo-GX deck will be more than happy with this addition.
#28 - Inteleon - 58/202 - RH - $1.99
#27 - Gengar - 85/202 - RH - $1.29
#26 - Cinderace - 34/202 - RH - $1.49
#25 - Lapras V-Max - 50/202 - UR - $13.99
#24 - Galarian Perserker - 128/202 - R - $0.49
#23 - Snorlax V-Max - 142/202 - UR - $14.99
#22 - Vitality Band - 185/202 - UC - $0.49
#21 - Air Ballon - 156/202 - UC - $1.09
R - Rare
RH - Rare Holo
UC - Uncommon
UR - Ultra Rare
#30 - Rillaboom - 14/202 - RH - $1.49
Ability: Voltage Beat
Once during your turn, you may search your deck for up to 2 G energy cards and attach them to 1 of your Pokemon. Then, shuffle your deck.
[G][G][G][C] Hammer In: 140 damage.
Rillaboom's ability is similiar to that of Vikavolt from Sun & Moon base set but this time it's just two Grass Energy and to just one Pokemon. Cards like Rayquaza-GX, Alolan Exeggutor & Rowlet-GX and even stuff like Snorlax V-Max will be happy to have this help out with their hefty energy cost. It will see some play in certain rogue ideas.
#29 - Torkoal V - 24/202 - UR - $ 7.99
[R][R][C] Flame Pillar: 90+ damage. Discard the top card of your deck. If the card you discarded is a [R] Energy, this attack does 90 more damage.
[R][R][R][C] Steam Crash: 120 damage. Discard 2 Energy from your opponent’s Active Pokemon.
Torkoal's first attack is not to be messed with. 180 for just 3 energies is not bad and there are ways to fix the top card of the deck to be the Fire Energy needed to discard from the effect which can be done with the likes of PokeNav, Magcargo's Smooth Over ability or Oranguru's Ape Wisdom ability.Steam Crash is another good attack, capable of disrupting decks like ADP or anything that needs to slowly charge 3 energies. Welder box-style decks and even the returning Magcargo-GX deck will be more than happy with this addition.
#28 - Inteleon - 58/202 - RH - $1.99
Ability: Shady Dealings
When you play this Pokemon from your hand to evolve 1 of your Pokemon during your turn, you may search your deck for 2 Trainer cards, reveal them, and put them into your hand. Then, shuffle your deck.
When you play this Pokemon from your hand to evolve 1 of your Pokemon during your turn, you may search your deck for 2 Trainer cards, reveal them, and put them into your hand. Then, shuffle your deck.
[W][C] Aqua Bullet: 120 damage. This attack also does 20 damage to 1 of your opponent’s Benched Pokemon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokemon.)
I think I may regret putting this at just the 28 spot after seeing how good Shady Dealings have been in pre-releases. The ability to search out 2 Trainer cards cannot be understated. Need a Rare Candy and perhaps a certain Supporter card? Inteleon will get you there. The number of combination this card can come up with are limitless. It's got a decent attack as well but it will be used more of its ability. It'll mostly likely see play alongside other Stage 2 decks like Meganium and Charizard.#27 - Gengar - 85/202 - RH - $1.29
Ability: Life Shaker
As often as you like during your turn (before your attack), you may move a damage counter from 1 of your [P] Pokemon to another 1 of your [P] Pokemon.
As often as you like during your turn (before your attack), you may move a damage counter from 1 of your [P] Pokemon to another 1 of your [P] Pokemon.
[P][P][C] Hypnoblast: 90 damage. Your opponent’s Active Pokemon is now Asleep.
Yup it's the 3rd stage 2 on this list already and there are a few more to come, which shows that the game are giving some love to our Stage 2 friends. Gengar will see play more for it's Life Shaker ability. Cards like Wobbuffet-V and Drifblim from Ultra Prism could use Life Shaker to move all the damage counter from your Psychic Pokemon to your opponent's active pokemon.
#26 - Cinderace - 34/202 - RH - $1.49
Ability: Once during your turn, when this Pokemon moves to the Active Spot, you may attach up to 2 [R] Energy from your discard pile to it.
[R][R][C] Flare Striker: 190 damage. Discard 2 Energy from this Pokemon.
Of the three starter Stage 2 Pokemon, Cinderace will see play for its attack as the ability is linked to it. When it moves to the active, you can attach 2 fire energies onto it which is easily doable. You could even combo it with Ninetales' Nine Temptation ability to discard the two energies to gust out any target you want. 190 may not be enough against some V-Pokemon but still good enough to 2-hit certain 3 prize attackers.
#25 - Lapras V-Max - 50/202 - UR - $13.99
[C][C][C] G-Max Pump: 90+ damage. This attack does 30 more damage for each [W] Energy attached to this Pokemon.
Lapras V-Max has potential to do as much damage as it likes with it's G-Max Pump. Just the 3 water attachment alone will already be doing 180 damage, enough to take down Dedenne-GX. Energy attachment for Water types are a lot easier now with the likes of Quagsire and Frosmoth both in the format at the moment. It should see play for it's potential to knock out bigger targets. It'll see competition for spots in these water decks against Keldeo V. Just to show how the damage ramps up:
- For 3 Water Energy - 180 damage
- For 5 Water Energy - 240 damage (Most V-Pokemon KOed and some Tag Teams)
- For 6 Water Energy - 270 damage (Most Tag Teams)
- For 7 Water Energy - 300 damage (All Tag Teams)
- For 9 Water Energy - 360 damage (All V-Max)
#24 - Galarian Perserker - 128/202 - R - $0.49
Ability: Steely Spirit
The attacks of your [M] Pokemon do 20 more damage to your opponent’s Active Pokemon.
The attacks of your [M] Pokemon do 20 more damage to your opponent’s Active Pokemon.
[M][M][C] Metal Claw: 70 damage.
This will see play as it gives Metal attacks the small buffer of additional 20 damage, which could be just enough to help knock out certain attackers in the game. Metal attackers like Zacian V, Lucario & Melmetal-GX and Stakataka-GX (if it's still viable) will surely look to add one of these to help with their damage output. And the ability stacks so the more Perrserker there are, the more damage you're doing. This will see play, especially with the first two attackers I mentioned.#23 - Snorlax V-Max - 142/202 - UR - $14.99
[C][C][C] G-Max Fall: 60+ damage. This attack does 30 more damage for each of your Benched Pokemon.
340 HP. Yup. We have finally reached crazy numbers. And here's the sad part, it can easily go up to 370HP with the new Giant Charm. It's a colourless attacker which means it can pick and choose whichever energy acceleration it want, be it Welder, Malamar, Rillaboom, ADP-GX, PikaRom or Frosmoth.
Do note that since Snorlax V-Max is an evolved pokemon, it can use Triple Acceleration Energy too. The attack is not too bad as well. For a full bench you're doing 210 damage, KOing most Vs and close to taking out the other 3-prize attackers.
Do note that since Snorlax V-Max is an evolved pokemon, it can use Triple Acceleration Energy too. The attack is not too bad as well. For a full bench you're doing 210 damage, KOing most Vs and close to taking out the other 3-prize attackers.
#22 - Vitality Band - 185/202 - UC - $0.49
The attacks of the Pokemon this card is attached to do 10 more damage to your opponent’s Active Pokemon (before applying Weakness and Resistance).
Sure, it's a simple +10 damage but that can help out with the maths for some decks in a big way. Your Zapdos is missing the 10 damage to knock out a 120HP pokemon? Add a Vitality Band and your job is done. Need PikaRom to knock out a 270HP pokemon after using two Electropower? Yup slap that band and it'll get you there. Finding trouble knocking out Snorlax V-Max with your Charizard that has 6 energies on it? No worries, attatch the band and 330 becomes 340. This will see play in certain decks needing the right number.
#21 - Air Ballon - 156/202 - UC - $1.09
The Retreat Cost of the Pokemon this card is attached to is [C][C] less.
Float Stone is back in the form of Air Ballon and now with an additional colourless removed from your Pokemon. Float Stone saw play in many decks and I expect Ballon to do the same. Decks like Mewtwo & Mew, Malamar, Frosmoth will likely use this. Of course the best use is with Dawn Wings Necrozma for it's ability to give essentially a free switch anytime you need it, just like it was with Float Stone back in the day.
#20 - Cinccino - 147/202 - R - $2.49
Ability: Thrifty
Once during your turn (before your attack), you may discard a card from your hand. If you do, draw 2 cards.
[C] Energy Assist: 40 damage. Attach a basic Energy card from your discard pile to 1 of your Benched Pokemon.
Trade is back as well! This ability saw play everywhere and for the entire duration of it's standard existence with Zoroark-GX, just showing the power of it's ability. Cinccino's attack isn't as good but can still help certain decks. With hand disruption about to be a huge thing in the game with Mew3/Marnie being as hyped as it is, players might look to this to help draw them out of bad hands. Control decks may use this over the Pidgeotto engine.
#19 - Energy Retrieval - 160/202 - UC - $0.25
Put up to 2 basic Energy cards from your discard pile into your hand.
Energy Retrieval is back too! Blacephalon UNB will be happy to see this as that's another card to help bring back energies back into your hand. The new Frosmoth will also like this to help get more Water energy to your board state. Decks like ADP might consider this if they had to throw away a few energies due to early Professor's Research or Dedenne-GX draws.
#18 - Frosmoth - 64/202 - RH - $3.99
Ability: Ice Dance
As often as you like during your turn (before your attack), you may attach a [W] Energy card from your hand to 1 of your Benched [W] Pokemon.
As often as you like during your turn (before your attack), you may attach a [W] Energy card from your hand to 1 of your Benched [W] Pokemon.
[W][C] Aurora Beam: 30 damage.
More of the old favourites are back and this time the old Rain Dance ability is back in the form of Frosmoth's Ice Dance. Only big difference is that you can only attach it to your benched Water Pokemon but that won't be much of a problem with many switching options in the game (and possibly using a Jirachi engine in your deck). This will replace Quagsire as the Water energy accelerator deck as all you need is Frosmoth instead of two Stage 1s in Quagsire and Naganadel. And with many good Water attackers around, this might be one of the new popular decks to come out of the new set.
#17 - Morpeko V - 79/202 - UR - $8.99
[C] Spark: 20 damage. This attack does 20 damage to 1 of your opponent’s Pokemon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokemon.)
[L][L][C] Electric Wheel: 150 damage. Discard an Energy from this Pokemon. Then, switch this Pokemon with 1 of your Benched Pokemon.
Morpeko V will bring about a new Hit & Run style of deck in the standard format in combination with Lillie's Clefairy Doll thanks to it's Electric Wheel. Discard an energy, perhaps use Electropower to KO some GXes and then run back to the bench and Morpeko being a V, only Custom Catcher, Pokemon Catcher and Ninetales could drag it back out. It could also see play in other Lighting decks alongside Morpeko V-Max that can hit the bench. Morpeko V will see more play than it's own "evolution".
#16 - Sableye V - 120/202 - UR - $6.99
[D] Ore Search: Put a Trainer card from your discard pile into your hand.
[D][D] Wicked Claws: 10+ damage. This attack does 60 more damage for each damage counter on your opponent’s Active Pokemon.
Sableye V will see play just because of it's second attack. Sure the first attack is already pretty good, letting you get any Trainer cards back. Playing Obstagoon spread and need a Rare Candy next turn? There's a possible solution.Wicked Claws can reach big numbers. Sure needing two Dark energies isn't the most ideal attack cost but it shouldn't hinder it much. With the help of Galarian Zigzagoon and Obstagoon to spread damage whenever they come into play, Sableye V can take some big KOs with the right amount of damage counters on your opponent's active.
- With 1 damage counter, you do 70 damage
- With 2 damage counter, you do 130 damage (most basic non-GXes down)
- With 3 damage counter, you do 190 damage (most basic GXes and some V down)
- With 4 damage counter, you do 250 damage (all non-TAG GXes and Vs down)
- With 5 damage counter, you do 310 damage (all TAG GXes down)
- With 6 damage counter, you do 370 damage (everybody dies)
The Pokemon this card is attached to gets +30 HP.
Need something to protect your Pokemon? Attach a Big Charm! The effect may just be a vanilla +30HP but it goes well with anything. GX and V decks will love this. It's already seen play in the likes of Pikachu & Zekrom-GX and Mewtwo & Mew-GX decks over in Japan just to make it that bit harder for others to take a knock out on them. I've even seen it played with Rillaboom to give it 200HP for a non-GX pokemon! Yup, there will be some crazy combos to come out with this.
#14 - Lucky Egg - 167/202 - UC - $0.25
If two and three prize decks love Big Charm, single prize decks will love Lucky Egg instead. Draw cards until you have 7 in hand after a Pokemon was knocked out, especially in a format where hand disruption will be big? This will definitely see play. It's already being hyped up alongside Blacephalon UNB and should see play in Stage 2 decks since you are expecting your Pokemon to be knocked out most of the time. Great comeback card against a Marnie too.
#13 - Stonejourner V-Max - 116/202 - UR - $15.99
[F] Stone Gift: Attach 1 [F] Energy from your hand to 1 of your Pokemon. Then, heal 120 damage from that Pokemon.
[F][F][F] Max Rockfall: 200 damage.
Possibly the best V-Max attacker in the set. Stonejourner has a great typing in Fighting, meaning PikaRom, Snorlax V-Max and older Dark types will have a hard time against it. And since it's a fighting typre, Max Rockfall can esily go up to 240 damage with the help of Martial Arts Dojo and a further 20 with Diancie Prism on board. Add a Vitality Band and it will knock out a Mewtwo & Mew-GX too. Could be a great anti-meta deck in the first few weeks of the Sword & Shield era.
#12 - Ordinary Rod - 171/202 - UC - $0.75
Shuffle up to 2 Pokemon and up to 2 Basic Energy cards from your discard pile into your deck.
More recovery cards for Pokemon and Energy! And in this case, both of them. And because it does both, it should see play in a lot more decks. Decks like Malamar could use this just to recover one line of Malamars, giving you a possible 5-5 line in the deck at any time. Stage 2s will have to play this and in the case of Charizard, even helps to bring two energies back. Even 3-prize decks like PikaRom or Zacian could do with brining their one-off tech attackers back and get some energies back into the deck. Looking forward to seeing which decks will actually include this into their lists.
#11 - Aurora Energy - 186/202 - UC - $0.99
When you attach this card from your hand to a Pokemon, discard a card from your hand.
While in play, this card provides every type of Energy but provides only 1 Energy at a time.
It's Rainbow Energy but instead of putting one damage counter onto yourself, you just have to discard one card. Perfect for decks like Mewtwo & Mew-GX, Zacian-V and Pikachu & Zekrom-GX as they don't mind discarding cards one bit. Decks using Guzma & Hala engine will surely consider adding this to help with the one off energy attachment. Some decks surely wouldn't mind having "8 rainbow energies" for the time being.
#10 - Metal Saucer - 170/202 - UC - $1.49
Attach a [M] Energy card from your discard pile to 1 of your Benched [M] Pokemon.
If you're playing a Metal deck, this will be an easy 4-off in your deck and very likely you'll play all 4 in your games. These type of Patch cards have always seen play, be it the Dark version or the Water version. And with Zacian V coming out in this set as the best Pokemon in the set and with the likes of Lucario & Melmetal needing a lot of energies itself, this will speed up the process for those attackers. Even rouge ideas like Copperajah and Aggron wouldn't mind this one bit.
#9 - Evolution Incense - 163/202 - UC - $0.99
Search your deck for an Evolution Pokemon, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then, shuffle your deck.
Finally some help for Evolution decks! It's no Evosoda but being able to search out the exact Evolution Pokemon you need is better at times too, especially for cards like Ninetales-GX or Inteleon that needs to be put into play for their effects to work. Stage 1 or 2 GXes and V-Max will like this as well. This will see more play in Stage 2 decks as it helps to get your Pokemons out quicker without needing to hopefully draw into them or use Poke Comm to get the right Pokemon out. More search option is always good for the game!
#8 - Galarian Obstagoon - 119/202 - RH - $2.49
Ability: Violent Shout
When you play this Pokemon from your hand to evolve 1 of your Pokemon during your turn, you may put 3 damage counters on 1 of your opponent’s Pokemon.
When you play this Pokemon from your hand to evolve 1 of your Pokemon during your turn, you may put 3 damage counters on 1 of your opponent’s Pokemon.
[D][C] Obstruct: 90 damage. During your opponent’s next turn, prevent all damage done to this Pokemon by your opponent’s Basic Pokemon.
Obstagoon is low key amazing. The ability has seen success in the past with the likes of Crobat and Greninja-GX so that bit is self explanatory. Cards like Sableye-V and Yveltal-GX will be relying on it to help get the big KOs. Obstruct is amazing in the current format where big basic decks are ruling it at the moment and if they only play basics, they might not have many ways to get around Obstruct.
#7 - Victini V - 25/202 - UR - $9.99
[C] Fire Spreading: Attach up to 3 [R] Energy from your discard pile to your Pokemon in any way you like.
[R][R] Energy Burst: 30x damage. This attack does 30 damage times the number of Energy attached to both Active Pokemon.
The only Turn 1 Welder for 3 strategy may not be as common as it used to be but Victini V can still help with it's Fire Spreading attack. If you did miss Welder, not to worry, you can still get 3 energies onto your board in whatever way you like with it. Energy Burst is an attack that has seen success in the past with Mewtwo-EX and Gardevoir-GX. Going up against a fully charged up ReshiZard with 6 energies on it? All you need is 3 energies onto your Vicitini V and it will get the KO. Should see play in decks using Welder.
#6 - Tapu Koko V - 72/202 - UR - $9.99
[L] Spike Draw: 20 damage. Draw 2 cards.
[L][L][C] Striking Bolt: 200 damage. This Pokemon can’t attack during your next turn.
PikaRom has yet another ally to aid it's comeback into the top tables. Tapu Koko V is amazing as it has free retreat, good for Raichu & Alolan Raichu-GX's attack in mind. Spike Draw can get you out of some sticky situation and Striking Bolt can take down even some Tag Teams with a few Electropowers. Tapu Koko V could even see play in other decks or it might just have a deck by itself with other parters.
#5 - Marnie - 169/202 - RH - $7.99
You know what this card does. You know how good it's been in the past in the form of N and Judge. This card will see play in decks for disrupting your opponent's hand. The big difference from this to Judge is that you won't re-draw the cards you just got and you do draw 1 more card than Judge. This card is already being hyped with Trevenant & Dusknoir-GX's Night Watch to put your opponent down to 2 cards and make their games even more difficult. This will cause nightmares for many other decks and force them into adding cards just to help them get our of some nasty small hands.
#4 - Oranguru - 148/202 - RH - $3.49
Ability: Ape Wisdom
Once during your turn (before your attack), you may switch a card from your hand with the top card of your deck.
Once during your turn (before your attack), you may switch a card from your hand with the top card of your deck.
[C][C][C] What Down: 70 damage.
Might be my favourite card out of this set. Oranguru's Ape Widsom is broken good. Switching a card with your top deck is amazing. It can get you out of many situations.- Fear you might get Marnied next turn. Put a Professor's Research or Dedenne-GX as your next turn top deck to save you from it.
- Got an attack that helps charge your energies from deck but you got one too many energies in deck, just swap it around and you've got another energy to charge.
- Combo it with Magcargo's Smooth Over ability and you can swap for the exact card you need.
- Speaking of Magcargos, combo it with Magcargo-GX's Crushing Charge energy to swap the Fire Energy in your hand with your top deck so you can guarantee an energy attachment with the ability.
- Need to save a certain card (Custom Catcher, Fire Crystal or Electropower to name a few) before discarding your hand with Prof or Dede-Change?
#3 - Professor's Research - 178/202 - RH - $6.99
Discard your hand. Then, draw 7 cards.
#2 - Zacian V - 138/202 - UR - $39.99
Ability: Intrepid Sword
Once during your turn, you may look at the top 3 cards of your deck and attach any number of [M] Energy you find there to this Pokemon. Put the other cards into your hand. If you use this Ability, your turn ends.
Once during your turn, you may look at the top 3 cards of your deck and attach any number of [M] Energy you find there to this Pokemon. Put the other cards into your hand. If you use this Ability, your turn ends.
[M][M][M] Brave Blade: 230 damage. During your next turn, this Pokemon can’t attack.
Easily the best Pokemon out of this set. Zacian V not only has a great ability but it's attacking is great too. It may be the best Pokemon to have on your bench for Turn 1 just for Intrepid Sword. Even if you don't get any energies to attach out of the 3 cards, most of the time you just want to draw those 3 cards.The 3 Metal energies required for Brave Blade may look bad but with said ability and Metal Saucer, Zacian won't have any troubles getting those energies in no time! 230 is also great as it takes down most Vs and many GXes too. With the help of ADP, it will take down some Tag Teams as well and with Perserker on board, V-Max Pokemon might have some trouble against Zacian V. This will a Tier 1 deck right out of the box, be it by itself or with the likes of Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX or Lucario & Melmetal-GX.
#1 - Quick Ball - 179/202 - UC - $3.99
This is easily the best card out of this set. Nest Ball is back but at the price of discarding one card, but the fact that we've got a ball search in the game again is a very good thing! Just like how Cherish Ball gave a lot of deck consistency in the last set, this will do the same job but even better as it's for any Basic Pokemon. This will be played in almost every deck and should be a 4-of in almost every deck.
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