Kash Top 30 List: Best Pokemon Cards Released in 2020

Since I'm turning 30 this year, I thought why not create a few Top 30 lists of things that I like or have done so I've done a few list that covers my interest in just about anything, be it Motorsports, Pokemon, Wrestling, Gaming and also some general things. Those of you reading this know me from playing the Pokemon Trading Card Game, be it in real life or online but whatever the case is, 2020 has been an interesting year for the game with the introduction of Vs and VMaxes to counter the Tag Teams (with little to some success). 

So I thought, instead of doing a top 30 cards from a set, why not for once do a top 30 cards released in the year 2020. We've gotten 4 main sets and one mini set out, some have been great, some have been not so great but lots of good cards have been introduced to the game, some helping to bring a new archetype into the meta and others making an already good deck more broken. 

These are just my own opinion and as always, it's from someone who hasn't proven or done much in the game for real with my limited opportunities to do so (which will get even more limited due to the new Asian qualifying system) so if you disagree with some of these, that's completely fair. I just thought it'd be nice to look back at all the good cards we got out of 2020.

Prices were taken from Troll and Toad on the 10th of December 2020.

#30 - Turbo Patch - Darkness Ablaze - 172/189 - Uncommon - $0.20

Seen play in: Eternatus VMAX, Turbo Zacian V, Torkoal V, Sableye V

Turbo Patch was one of the more hyped up cards to be released from the Darkness Ablaze format. Sadly, it has not lived up to the hype mainly due to it needing to hit heads to attach energy from the bench. At least it can attach any energy which is why it's seen niche plays in various different types of decks but still not enough to show how good or bad it truly is. Not the like-for-like replacement of Max Elixir many were hoping for it to be.

#29 - Telescopic Sight - Vivid Voltage - 160/185 - Uncommon - $0.34

Seen play in: Inteleon VMAX, Blacephalon UNB

Finally some help was given to decks who are able to snipe the bench, specifically onto GX/V targets but sadly, the only ones who can make full use of it for the time being are the likes of Inteleon VMAX (which doesn't see play due to PikaRom still be popular), Cramorant V, Weezing or Ampharos V. Eventually this will find a space somewhere, the effect is too good to ignore.

#28 - Coalossal VMAX - Vivid Voltage - 99/185 - Ultra Rare - $9.99

Seen play in: Coalossal VMAX

We thought this would be the answer for the current meta. With PikaRom and Eternatus running havoc in the game and both having fighting weakness, it was thought that Coalossal would be a major player in the game. Sadly that hasn't turned out that way, PikaRom now has Mew3 to deal with it and Eternatus still isn't getting one-shot by Coalossal most of the time. But worry not Fighting type fans, help is on the way in the next set.

#27 - Dragapult VMAX - Rebel Clash - 93/192 - Ultra Rare - $8.45

Seen play in: Dragapult VMAX

The big game changer coming out of Rebel Clash, Dragapult VMAX forced many decks to be build differently solely because of it's ability to pick off single prize bench sitters at anytime. Coupled with Distortion Door Giratina and Obstagoon, benched Jirachis were never safe. Deck saw a lot of success in the Rebel Clash format and that was it as Eternatus VMAX has pretty much made the deck unplayable, even with all the disruption tools. It could make a comeback in the next set with many strong cards all weak to Psychic.

#26 - Jirachi Amazing Rare - Vivid Voltage - 119/185 - Amazing Rare - $29.99

Seen play in: Coalossal VMAX, ADPZ

While Jirachi from Team Up is still in Standard, it will still see more play over Jirachi AR. It's ability for the time being makes the most sense for decks like Coalossal who needs to discard an energy off the top of the deck or Zacian decks needing that one Metal energy for the ability. It will never compare strongly to Jirachi TEU but still a good consistency helper. 

#25 - Cinccino - Sword & Shield - 147/202 - Uncommon - $0.20

Seen play in: Control decks, Excadrill CEC

Zoroark-GX's trade ability came back in the form of Cinccino so obviously, it was going to see some play even though it wasn't as good as an attacker as Zoroark was. The deck found it's home mostly in Control decks just for it's drawing power but also saw play in Excadrill CEC to help thin the deck out as much as possible. I expected it to see way more play in other decks but that was never the case. 

#24 - Coating Metal Energy - Vivid Voltage - 163/185 - Uncommon - $0.35

Seen play in: LMZ

The perfect replacement for Weakness Guard Energy for LMZ players since it was a Metal energy, meaning Zacian now had the weakness removal effect. It has seen a bit of play in ADPZ as well but mostly in LMZ, just to cover it bases against the likes of Blacephalon, Centiskorch and ReshiZard.

#23 - Vikavolt V - Darkness Ablaze - 60/189 - Ultra Rare - $3.13

Seen play in: Vikavolt V, PikaRom

Quaking Punch returns but this time it needs more work to establish the item lock. Vikavolt was at it's best in the short space of time it was Standard legal with Thunder Mountain and Electropower, making it one of the best decks for the POG 2020 Championships. Since then it's been a tech choice for PikaRom, and saw fringe play with Amoongus. 

#22 - Bird Keeper - Darkness Ablaze - 159/189 - Uncommon - $0.20

Seen play in: Centiskorch VMAX, Control, Decidueye

One of the better supporters to be released later on in the year. Bird Keeper had the same draw 3 power as Welder but with the added effect of switching your active which can be useful in many different situations. 

It's a natual partner for Control decks to put a wall into the active or even Rowlet to hit for 60 for free. It has seen more play in Centiskorch recently to counter the Paralysis issue from PikaRom. This will likely see more play as more decks show up.

#21 - Metal Saucer - Sword & Shield - 170/202 - Uncommon - $0.20

Seen play in: Any Zacian decks

Only Zacian decks have been able to utilise Metal Saucer but you can see why it's stupidly good. Dark Patch and Water Patch had always seen play during their time and Metal Saucer had the same results, giving Zacian decks that comeback-ability when things are not looking so good. Addition energy attachment during a turn is always a huge bonus and it makes the already powerful Zacian V (and Zamazenta V in some cases) even that more painful to deal with.

#20 - Decidueye - Darkness Ablaze - 13/189 - Holo Rare - $0.98

Seen play in: Decidueye

The only playable Stage 2 in the current meta only because of it's wall-like ability. A lot of decks are built in such a way that they usually don't have a non-GX or non-V attacker, which helps Decidueye greatly. It's still a stage 2 deck meaning it'll still struggle a lot of times but once it's sets up, you'll be getting a few free wins. It should still see play until it's rotated just for it's ability alone.

#19 - Tool Scrapper - Rebel Clash - 168/192 - Uncommon - $0.20

Seen play in: ADPZ, LMZ, PikaRom, Coalossal VMAX

Simple effect. Remove two tools. Simple yet effective. It's ADPZ answer to help beat fellow Zacians, or an answer for other decks to get rid of annoying tools such as the bulky Big Charm or the annoying Stealthy Hood. Still doesn't see as much play as many first thought it would as not many decks are depending on tools for the most part, that could change soon.

#18 - Cramorant V - Sword & Shield - 155/202 - Ultra Rare - $3.10

Seen play in: Blacephalon, Centiskorch VMAX, ReshiZard

The attacker that no-one ever sees coming. The natural partner for Welder decks for it's 3 attack cost. It has seen play more for it's ability to take down Dedenne-GX for the last two prizes since Dedenne-GX sees play in most decks. The ability to snipe anyone is something only Cramorant can give decks that many others can't, making a great set-up attacker vs VMAX decks too. It may start to see less play once Welder rotates so it'll be harder to power it up. 

#17 - Galarian Zigzagoon - Sword & Shield - 117/202 - Common - $0.30

Seen play in: Obstagoon, Decidueye, Eternatus VMAX, Centiskorch VMAX, Dragapult VMAX

Speaking of snipers, Zigzagoon is one of the rare cases where the first line of an evolution sees more play just for it's ability to hit 1 damage counter to anyone. The one damage counter has come in very handy in many different situations, be it for Dragapult to snipe off benched basics or to help fix Centiskorch's or Eternatus' numbers to get a KO. This will continue to be used in many different decks all to fix up the numbers.

#16 - Speed Lighting Energy - Rebel Clash - 173/192 - Uncommon - $0.19

Seen play in: PikaRom, Vikavolt V, Ampharos V

Having the ability to draw extra two cards has made it a must have for PikaRom players who usually need to the perfect set-up to take KOs. Consistency boosting cards is always a good thing and PikaRom is already known for being one of the most consistent decks. It may only see play in PikaRom mostly but it's still one of the best decks in the format for a reason. 

#15 - Big Charm - Sword & Shield - 158/202 - Uncommon - $0.22

Seen play in: ADPZ, PikaRom, GreenZard, Mewtwo & Mew-GX

+30 HP? Why not! Big Charm sees play most in 3-prize attackers because as if they weren't already difficult enough to take down, having 30 more can sometimes gave them that extra turn to survive an onslaught. It can also be a great defensive tool, keep stuff like Dedenne-GX and Crobat V safe from being it for 180 or less damage. 

It's also a helpful tool for decks like Green's ReshiZard that already uses Heat Energy to buff it's HP up or even decks like Coalossal VMAX to make it near impossible to take down.

#14 - Oranguru - Sword & Shield - 148/202 - Holo Rare - $1.08

Seen play in: ADPZ, Magcargo-GX, Zacian Combo, Coalossal VMAX

Oranguru is just super helpful in many different situations, being able to swap one card with the top card of your deck can sometimes be the big game changer. Paired with Mewtwo UNB, it gives you a supporter straight back as well. 

It's seen play in ADPZ just to save important cards like a Boss Order's, help Coalossal VMAX stack a Fighting Energy to hit for 130 and is the piece to help Zacian pull off the Jirachi Prism Combo. Because of it's varied uses, Oranguru will continue to be one of the best tech choices for many different decks until it's rotated.

#13 - Air Balloon - Sword & Shield - 156/202 - Uncommon - $0.20

Seen play in: ADPZ, PikaRom, Mewtwo & Mew-GX

It's no float stone but it still gets the job done. Have the free retreat on certain attackers/bench sitters thanks to Air Balloon has been super helpful to many decks not needing to rely on Switch all the time. 

Stuff like Raichu & Alolan Raichu-GX and Zacian V cannot consistently hit for paralysis or a big 230 damage if not for the ability to retreat into something else and getting back into the active. 

#12 - Centiskorch VMAX - Darkness Ablaze - 34/189 - Ultra Rare - $9.95

Seen play in: Centiskorch VMAX

One of the best attackers to come out of Darkness Ablaze, Centiskorch has now become the natural replacement for Fire Box for it's ability to hit a lot of damage from out of nowhere. It's one of the few attackers with no damage cap. 

With enough energies, it can even one shot stuff like the 340HP Eternatus VMAX. The deck might struggle once Welder is rotated but it can still find it's way back, since the best card in the game right now, Zacian V, has a fire weakness after all.

#11 - Boltund V - Rebel Clash - 67/192 - Ultra Rare - $6.89

Seen play in: PikaRom, Mewtwo & Mew-GX, Turbo Boltund V

The perfect starter for lighting decks and also the perfect finisher, Boltund V is one of the reasons why PikaRom made a comeback to the top of PTCG. 

It's first attack is already helpful enough to get your attackers ready for Turn 2 but also a strong enough late game attacker to hit for possibly 250+ damage if all your main attackers are still around. Boltund may disappear from the format once PikaRom is rotated. 

#10 - Aurora Energy - Sword & Shield - 186/202 - Uncommon - $0.20

Seen play in: Mewtwo & Mew-GX, Welder Box, ADPZ

Aurora Energy was the perfect replacement for Rainbow Energy. It was even better for Mewtwo & Mew-GX as it discards a card from your hand, helping you add an attacker to your discard pile which is a bonus. It's seen play mostly in toolbox-style decks, specifically Welder decks giving you many attackers to choose from.

#9 - Eternatus VMAX - Darkness Ablaze - 117/189 - Ultra Rare - $9.49

Seen play in: Eternatus VMAX

The big hitter of the new format. The Mega Rayquaza-EX "look-alike" hits for 270 with an all-dark bench which goes up to 8, which can be easily filled with the likes of Crobat V (draw power), Zigzagoon (damage buff), Toxicroak, Slowbro (Poison) and Yveltal (free retreat). 

The deck will continue to be the ultimate beat stick right up until it's rotated. It might have some issue coming in the next set though. 

#8 - Marnie - Sword & Shield - 169/202 - Holo Rare - $0.99

Seen play in: ADPZ, PikaRom, Dragapult VMAX, Eternatus VMAX, LMZ

The only other hand disruption card available to us in Standard for the time being alongside Reset Stamp. It's can be worse to deal with as it shuffles your hand away and you'll be getting whatever is on top of your deck which can ruin combos your opponent is building up. 

It's the card that decks like Blacephalon, Centiskorch and Control don't want to see. It'll see play just for the disruption aspect with Reset Stamp rotating soon. 

#7 - Eldegoss V - Rebel Clash - 19/192 - Ultra Rare - $3.39

Seen play in: ADPZ, Centiskorch VMAX, Mewtwo & Mew-GX, PikaRom

Similar to Tapu Lele-GX of older rotation but instead of search your deck for a supporter, you take a supporter from your discard, similar to VS Seeker from yester years. 

Eldegoss has been the winning card in so many games, to get the Boss for game or stop your opponent winning with Marnie or helping you get the damage you need with Welder. Eldegoss will always see play in as many different decks as possible. 

#6 - Scoop Up Net - Rebel Clash - 165/192 - Uncommon - $0.92

Seen play in: Most single prizer decks, Centiskorch VMAX, Dragapult VMAX, Eternatus VMAX

One of the best items to be released in 2020. With Escape Board gone, Scoop Up Net is now the preferred switch out option for Jirachi but Net gives so you so many more options than that. It's Acerola for single prize cards but in the form of an item card so it's crazy good. It's so good, it's one of the only few new cards I've bought during the pandemic. 

The best part about it is the various plays you can use with it. Extra damage with Zigzagoon? Check. Extra energy denial with Giratina? Check. Saving a damaged attacker? Check. Nets will continue to see play in all sorts of decks, especially single prize decks. 

#5 - Crobat V - Darkness Ablaze - 104/189 - Ultra Rare - $15.77

Seen play in: ADPZ, PikaRom, Welder Decks, Eternatus VMAX, Coalossal VMAX,

As long as Dedenne-GX is still in Standard, it will always be the preferred choice for a Pokemon to draw you out of dead hands since it discard cards. Crobat V just fills your up to 6, same as what Shaymin EX used to do but the big difference is Crobat can only be used once. After the next rotation, Crobat will see more play as the natural replacement for Dedenne-GX. 

For now it's mostly seen in aggro decks trying to get all the pieces together. It's also the perfect partner alongside Eternatus VMAX since it only plays Dark pokemon and all you really need is Crobats to keep drawing you out of bad hands while adding more damage for your attacker.

#4 - Professor's Research - Sword & Shield - 178/202 - Holo Rare - $0.75

Seen play in: 3-4 off in almost every deck, 0-1 off in Welder decks

The discard hand and draw 7 effect made it's return back in Sword & Shield with Research. It first showed up in Base Set and since then, it's seen play many times before in the guise of Juniper and Sycamore and always saw play in almost every deck. 

Drawing 7 is just too good, most of the time you'd want to use that to clear your hand off and give you more stuff to work with. It will continue to see play until it's rotated out of Standard but will likely come back in another guise.

#3 - Boss's Orders - Rebel Clash - 154/192 - Holo Rare - $5.95

Seen play in: Almost every deck.

Lysandre came back in the form of Boss's Orders. A simple effect on this card, gust up one of your opponent's benched Pokémon. Simple and straight to the point. 

Lysandre saw play in almost deck when it was around, it's predecessor Guzma also saw play in almost every deck so it's no surprise to see Boss' Orders seeing play in almost every deck so far. It is usually the winning card, to grab an easy target off your opponent's bench for the win. Boss's Orders, like Research before it, will see play until it's rotated.

#2 - Zacian V - Sword & Shield - 138/202 - Ultra Rare - $3.47

Seen play in: ADPZ, LMZ, Zacian Combo, Control Decks, Blacephalon

The most played deck of 2020 is easily ADPZ. It's called that for a reason and the Z (Zacian) has been part of the reason why the deck has seen a lot of play, online or in real life. 

Zacian isn't just a great attacker, making it a natural partner with ADP-GX, but also great for set-up decks just because of it's ability to draw three cards at the end of the turn, seeing play mostly in Control deck for it's draw power.

Zacian has also been in it's own deck, either in a defensive style deck with Lucario & Melmetal-GX or a Combo-style deck with Jirachi Prism and Mr Mime. A great all rounder card, perhaps the reason why ADPZ is such a huge problem to deal with. It would be easily the best card released if not for another card released in Sword & Shield. 

#1 - Quick Ball - Sword & Shield - 179/202 - Uncommon - $0.19

Seen play in: Every. Single. Deck.

No question the best card to be released from this year has to be Quick Ball. It's a 4-off in almost every deck for a good reason. 

It's the best search card in the game since it gets you any Basic for the price of just one card, pretty much taking Ultra Ball's spot in decks in formats of the past. 

This card will continue to see play until the last day of it's rotation and even then, it'll continue to see play in Expanded. 

This one may look a bit messy as it took me a few weeks to finish due to my new working schedule but in any case, I hope you enjoyed reading it! Enjoy the holidays!