It’s almost the end of 2025 and it’s a good time to look back and reflect on the year, and in this instance we’re looking at cards that were released in 2025. Loads of cards were introduced this year, including the return of not one but two different mechanics, Trainer’s Pokémon and Mega Evolution Pokémon (now with a different ruling).
So as per the yearly tradition now, I wanted to rank the best cards released this year and that will be based on stats from results of big major IRL events and also online events featuring 256 or more players. And I wanted to use a points system to rank these cards.
The way I did the points was quite simple:
- 1st - 5 points
- 2nd - 3 points
- 3rd and 4th - 2 points
- 5th to 8th - 1 point
And if you see the average points and was wondering how I calculated it, quite simple:
- Points scored from each set (termed as S1 to S5)/Events in each set
- The total of the average/how many sets they were played in = Average Points Scored per Sets
The tournaments included in these are any event that is recorded on Limitless for this year that had cards released this year (so no Korean League Season 2, Rio de Janerio, Birmingham and San Antonio). Also included are any Play Limitless online tournament that hit 256+ players. If I had included 128 like I used to, there would be too many and it might dilute the information, and there were just enough to make everything look perfect as S3 and S4 were lacking in IRL tournaments, so online had the most events, especially in S4, to help make the numbers more event. If anyone was wondering:
- S1 (BRS to PRE)
- 8 IRL events
- 4 Online events
- S2 (SVI to JTG)
- 15 IRL events
- 6 Online events
- S3 (SVI to DRI)
- 6 IRL events
- 7 Online events
- S4 (SVI to BLK/WHT)
- 6 IRL events
- 28 Online events
- S5 (SVI to MEG)
- 9 IRL events
- 16 Online events
- S6 (SVI to PFL)
- 5 IRL events
- 8 Online events
Results are as of December 24th, so any online events that were to happen between then and 31st, unfortunately I just don't have enough time to update it all and I don't think it will change this list much anyway.
For the results:
- Wins are wins, pretty easy
- Top 4 will be results from 2nd, 3rd or 4th, not including wins
- Top 8 will be results from 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th, and nothing from the above included
Some cards just missed out and honestly it wasn’t that much of a miss. Cards like Flareon ex, Maractus, Tool Scrapper, Team Rocket’s Petrel, Battle Cage, Mega Lopunny ex and Mega Mawile ex all just missed out on this list.
And with that, here are the best 25 cards released in 2025, not done by any sort of opinion or favoritism, just good old statistics and numbers, my favourite! And why just 25? 2025, that's why. We need to keep the gimmick going. Again. For another year. Because why not, I love it!
As for the "saw play in" sector for the cards, I will keep it to 5, not to make the list any more messy than it might already be. For the ones latter on in the list, I usually put the top 5 decks that used it the most from lists on Limitless.
#25 - Team Rocket's Watchtower - Destined Rivals (DRI)
Type: Stadium
Total Points: 44 (26th)
Average Points Scored per Sets: 0.61 (26th)
Points
- S1 - Not Released
- S2 - Not Released
- S3 - 11 / Avg - 0.84
- S4 - 9 / Avg - 0.26
- S5 - 14 / Avg - 0.56
- S6 - 10 / Avg - 0.77
Wins: 3
Top 4: 8
Top 8: 12
Saw play in:
- N's Zoroark ex
- Dragapult ex/Charizard ex
- Gholdengo ex
- Cynthia's Garchomp ex
- Iron Thorns ex/Crustle
We start off with my least favourite stadium card in the game right now, Team Rocket's Watchtower. Its sole purpose is to slow down decks utilising colourless Pokémon as their engine. The good news is that there are loads of decks who are very reliant on the likes of Pidgeot ex, Noctowl, Squawkabilly ex and Mega Kangaskhan ex just to name a few. And let’s not forget the new Meowth ex coming soon which has the same ability as Tapu Lele GX and Lumineon V.
But it’s not just the engine, some attackers are affected by it too. Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex cannot use it’s ability to pay less energies to attack when Watchtower is live. On the flip side, Slaking ex can attack as its ability will be canceled out by Watchtower.
#24 - N's Zoroark ex - Journey Together (JTG)
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Type: Stage 1 Pokémon ex
Total Points: 55 (21st)
Average Points Scored per Sets: 0.47 (30th)
Points
- S1 - Not Released
- S2 - 11 / Avg - 0.52
- S3 - 5 / Avg - 0.38
- S4 - 23 / Avg - 0.67
- S5 - 13 / Avg - 0.52
- S6 - 3 / Avg - 0.23
Wins: 3
Top 4: 12
Top 8: 14
Saw play in:
- N's Zoroark ex
- Gardevoir ex
- Archaludon ex
- Gholdengo ex
A Zoroark ex card with the Trade ability is back, but it's not the same as the previous one. That one was amazing with a great attack, this one copies attacks from your bench. And they aren't all that great to be fair but still enough for N's Zoroark to have some presence in the meta.
The one good thing about N’s Zoroark ex is it’s very flexible deck, it can play just about any techs and one list won’t look like the other, with so much room to play the game differently, be it a slow controlling game or keeping tempo wit your opponent or even going aggressive to run them off the game.
#23 - Crustle - Destined Rivals (DRI)
Type: Stage 1 Pokémon
Total Points: 51 (23rd)
Average Points Scored per Sets: 0.49 (27th)
Points
- S1 - Not Released
- S2 - Not Released
- S3 - 7 / Avg - 0.53
- S4 - 25 / Avg - 0.73
- S5 - 17 / Avg - 0.68
- S6 - 2 / Avg - 0.15
Wins: 3
Top 4: 11
Top 8: 12
Saw play in:
- Crustle
- N's Zoroark ex
- Mega Kangaskhan ex/Bouffalant
There will always be an annoying card like Crustle in the format, we just cannot escape it. Crustle is one of those decks that simply asks one question, “do you have an out to KO Crustle?”. Honestly there’s not much to talk about this, you either have an answer or you just lose to it.
#22 - Levincia - Journey Together (JTG)
Type: Stadium
Total Points: 54 (22nd)
Average Points Scored per Sets: 0.49 (27th)
Points
- S1 - Not Released
- S2 - 00 / Avg - 0.00
- S3 - 2 / Avg - 0.15
- S4 - 45 / Avg - 1.32
- S5 - 2 / Avg - 0.08
- S6 - 5 / Avg - 0.38
Wins: 3
Top 4: 11
Top 8: 13
Saw play in:
- Gholdengo ex
- Gholdengo ex/Joltik Box
- Raging Bolt ex/Teal Mask Ogerpon ex
The 2nd of two stadium cards on this list and it only really got good when Gholdengo ex got better in the latter half of the year. It is a good way to recover energies without relying on Superior Energy Retrieval, especially when you can’t use it under item lock from either Budew or Frillish.
I’m surprised it’s not seen more play in other decks using Lighting Energy, recovering 2 for free from a stadium is good value. Gholdengo still makes the best use of this because it does want to have as many energies as possible in hand.
#21 - Charmeleon - Phantasmal Flames (PFL)
Type: Stage 1 Pokémon
Total Points: 26 (30th)
Average Points Scored per Sets: 2.00 (13th)
Points
- S1 - Not Released
- S2 - Not Released
- S3 - Not Released
- S4 - Not Released
- S5 - Not Released
- S6 - 26 / Avg - 2
Wins: 1
Top 4: 6
Top 8: 7
Saw play in:
- Charizard ex/Pidgeot ex
- Charizard ex/Noctowl
- Dragapult ex/Charizard ex
Hang on, what is a normal looking Charmeleon doing on here? It's attack only does 40 damage, what's so special about it you ask? Well, the 110 HP is quite big for a Stage 1 Pokemon!
And so far all Charizard ex decks, be it the Pidgeot ex build, the Noctowl build or even the Dragapult ex build, they’ve all preferred to use the 110 HP Charmeleon and this likely to stay until rotation in April.
#20 - Hoothoot - Prismatic Evolutions (PRE)
Type: Basic Pokémon
Total Points: 83 (15th)
Average Points Scored per Sets: 0.68 (25th)
Points
- S1 - 00 / Avg - 0.00
- S2 - 38 / Avg - 1.81
- S3 - 17 / Avg - 1.31
- S4 - 18 / Avg - 0.52
- S5 - 9 / Avg - 0.36
- S6 - 1 / Avg - 0.07
Wins: 5
Top 4: 15
Top 8: 22
Saw play in:
- Tera Box
- Raging Bolt ex/Teal Mask Ogerpon ex
- Flareon ex/Noctowl
You might be asking, what the heck is a Hoothoot doing on here? If you remember from last year's list, Jewell Seeking Noctowl just missed out because it came out late and Tera-style decks didn't do much last year. It sure has made an impact this year, especially in the current format.
So why this Hoothoot? 80 HP protects it from being KOed by the combination of Hawlucha and Dragapult’s Phantom Dive which is only 70 damage. And you need the Hoothoot to stick around to get Noctowl going so it’s perfect for it’s role.
#19 - Jellicent ex - White Flare (WHT)
Type: Stage 1 Pokémon ex
Total Points: 75 (18th)
Average Points Scored per Sets: 1.31 (21st)
Points
- S1 - Not Released
- S2 - Not Released
- S3 - Not Released
- S4 - 15 / Avg - 0.44
- S5 - 30 / Avg - 1.2
- S6 - 30 / Avg - 2.31
Wins: 7
Top 4: 12
Top 8: 12
Saw play in:
- Gardevoir ex/Jellicent ex
- Dragapult ex
Jellicent ex is another one of those item-locking mons but it's not from an attack this time, it's from its ability while in active, and it also locks Tools cards! So it’s a very difficult 270 HP mon to deal with under both item and tool lock. The only way to get out of it is KOing it or gusting around it.
The attack is not bad too, 80 for 2 energy or 160 energy for 4 energy. And with those stats and numbers in mind, it was always bound to be a natural partner with Gardevoir ex and Munkidori.
Garde helps to charge it and Muncie moving damage around all whilst your opponent might not be doing much because of the double lock. It is a scary threat to deal with.
#18 - Dawn - Phantasmal Flames (PFL)
Type: Supporter
Total Points: 31 (29th)
Average Points Scored per Sets: 2.38 (10th)
Points
- S1 - Not Released
- S2 - Not Released
- S3 - Not Released
- S4 - Not Released
- S5 - Not Released
- S6 - 31 / Avg - 2.38
Wins: 2
Top 4: 6
Top 8: 8
Saw play in:
- Charizard ex/Noctowl
- Dragapult ex/Dusknoir
- Charizard ex/Pidgeot ex
- Alakazam/Dudunsparce
- Mega Venusaur ex
Maybe my favourite supporter card released this year not named Lillie's Determination. I knew Dawn was good the moment I read it. Basic, Stage 1 and Stage 2 Pokémon search, it had to be good right? So I knew what deck I wanted to build around it, Charizard ex/Pidgeot ex but the Stage 1 was the missing piece and then it hit me, Noctowl!
But I wasn't the only one with that idea, Oscar Madsen also had the same idea and we know the story now, Dawn Zard won Stuttgart Regional! Dawn is the main engine for that deck.
But it’s also a great tech card for stuff like Pult Dusk, Zara Pidgeot and Mega Venusaur. It’s also the perfect card for a deck like Alakazam. While Dawn Zard uses Noctowl to set up the deck, Dudunsparce helps to draw more cards for this deck that wants as many cards in hand as possible.
#17 - Genesect ex - Black Bolt (BLK)
Type: Basic Pokémon ex
Total Points: 109 (13th)
Average Points Scored per Sets: 1.5 (20th)
Points
- S1 - Not Released
- S2 - Not Released
- S3 - Not Released
- S4 - 55 / Avg - 1.62
- S5 - 34 / Avg - 1.36
- S6 - 20 / Avg - 1.53
Wins: 6
Top 4: 21
Top 8: 31
Saw play in:
- Gholdengo ex/Lunatone
- Gholdengo ex/Joltik Box
- Gholdengo ex
What is it with Genesects and it always getting playable tech cards haha! This version pretty much flipped the fortunes for one Gholdengo ex.
It was always a decent deck but once Genesect ex was released, it pretty much became one of the top tier decks in the format and as of writing, it is still one of the top decks of the current format going into it’s final few months of Gholdengo.
Being able to just search our two evolution metal Pokémon is just a great ability which is why Gholdengo as been thriving so far. I do think Genesect can find a place in annother evolving metal decks for the next few years but none of them might be as good as Gholdengo ex.
#16 - Mega Absol ex - Mega Evolutions (MEG)
Type: Basic Pokémon Mega Evolved
Total Points: 78 (17th)
Average Points Scored per Sets: 1.87 (16th)
Points
- S1 - Not Released
- S2 - Not Released
- S3 - Not Released
- S4 - Not Released
- S5 - 61 / Avg - 2.44
- S6 - 17 / Avg - 1.31
Wins: 5
Top 4: 16
Top 8: 13
Saw play in:
- Mega Box
- Tera Box
- Mega Kangaskhan ex/Bouffalant
- N's Zoroark ex
Mega Absol ex was initially overlooked by many upon release but not by the legend Tord Reklev who introduced to us the brand new Mega Box deck which is one of the most powerful decks in the current format. And it’s got two incredibly good attacks too.
Terminal Period may look awkward needing 6 damage counters on your opponent’s active Pokémon but let’s not forget that Munkidori exists which makes it easy to get those 6 damage counters onto their active Pokémon.
Claw of Darkness is probably the big selling point, as you can not just look at your opponent’s hand and then discard one card, and if they have a small hand size, especially after an Iono, it could be a game ender.
#15 - Frillish - White Flare (WHT)
Type: Basic Pokémon
Total Points: 101 (14th)
Average Points Scored per Sets: 1.81 (18th)
Points
- S1 - Not Released
- S2 - Not Released
- S3 - Not Released
- S4 - 15 / Avg - 0.44
- S5 - 44 / Avg - 1.76
- S6 - 42 / Avg - 3.23
Wins: 8
Top 4: 20
Top 8: 15
Saw play in:
- Gardevoir ex
- Gardevoir ex/Jellicent ex
- Pidgeot ex Control
- Mega Box
- Dragapult ex
Wait hang on we just saw Jellicent ex, why is Frillish ahead of it? Quite simply, it's the Psychic version of Budew and spoiler alert, it's quite high up on this list for a good reason. And more decks can simply just use one Frillish for the item lock, and you don’t need Jellicent ex.
In fact, I dare say Frillish is a better item locker than Jelicent ex. Garde decks often likes to use Frillish to keep the item lock going along with Munkidori moving damage to make it really tough for your opponent to set up with all that in mind. If it was a Jellicent, all you need is a gist to play items again, same can’t be said for Frillish.
#14 - Lunatone/Solrock/Fighting Gong - Mega Evolutions (MEG)
Type: Pokémon / Item
Total Points: 75 (18th)
Average Points Scored per Sets: 1.92 (14th)
Points
- S1 - Not Released
- S2 - Not Released
- S3 - Not Released
- S4 - Not Released
- S5 - 52 / Avg - 2.08
- S6 - 23 / Avg - 1.77
Wins: 3
Top 4: 15
Top 8: 27
Saw play in:
- Gholdengo ex/Lunatone
- Ceruledge ex
- Bloodmoon Ursaluna/Lunatone
- Mega Lucario ex/Hariyama
- Raging Bolt ex/Teal Mask Ogerpon ex
The first of two shared entries on this list and there was no reason to separate Lunatone, Solrock and Fighting Gong. Apart from Cynthia's Garchomp, any deck playing one of those cards are likely to play the other two.
Fighting Gong lets you search for either a Fighting energy or a Fighting Pokemon. And most of the time, if it’s not for the energy, it’s either for Lunatone or Solrock. Lunatone draws you 3 extra cards by discarding a Fighting energy while Solrock was on the board. Solrock does 70 damage if Lunatone was on board.
So they’re all connected! 3 great cards all working well together, and decks that made the most of these 3 cards were Gholdengo and Ceruledge. And yes Gholdengo has now become one of the top decks of the game because of firstly Genesect and now all 3 cards here. Because of them, Gholdengo can now play other Ace Spec cards and have an alternate attacker in Solrock, sometimes on Turn 1!
#13 - Mega Diancie ex - Phantasmal Flames (PFL)
Type: Basic Pokémon Mega Evolved
Total Points: 46 (25th)
Average Points Scored per Sets: 3.53 (6th)
Points
- S1 - Not Released
- S2 - Not Released
- S3 - Not Released
- S4 - Not Released
- S5 - Not Released
- S6 - 46 / Avg - 3.54
Wins: 4
Top 4: 8
Top 8: 6
Saw play in:
- Gardevoir ex
- Gardevoir ex/Jellicent ex
A Psychic-type attacker that isn't weak to Dark? Yup Mega Diancie might have been the missing piece for Gardevoir ex. One of Gardevoir’s biggest issue was not being able to keep up with some Dark decks (which honestly is not true, it still had so many other counter-play).
Diancie is effectively a 300 HP basic thanks to its ability and with Bravery Charm, it becomes 350 HP! Garland Ray is also a great attack, hitting 240 for just the cost of discarding 2 Psychic. And let’s not forget, Gardevoir is a deck that loves their energies in discard pile. And with Munkidori, Diancie can get some big KOs, even on 300 HP mons.
#12 - Marnie's Grimmsnarl ex - Destined Rivals (DRI)
Type: Stage 2 Pokémon ex
Total Points: 130 (9th)
Average Points Scored per Sets: 1.64 (19th)
Points
- S1 - Not Released
- S2 - Not Released
- S3 - 36 / Avg - 2.77
- S4 - 42 / Avg - 1.23
- S5 - 39 / Avg - 1.56
- S6 - 13 / Avg - 1
Wins: 7
Top 4: 27
Top 8: 33
Saw play in:
- Marnie's Grimmsnarl ex/Froslass
- Marnie's Grimmsnarl ex
It's another good Dark-type attacker in this Gardevoir-dominated year we've seen but Marnie's Grimmsnarl sure sticks out more than the rest. Technically I could have put Spikemuth Gym on here too since it only really works with this deck but I have too many shared entries already on here.
A Stage 2 mon hitting for 180 and 30 to another bench mon, sounds familiar? Yup it’s kinda like the old Darkrai EX that would hit 90 and snipe 30. And with the likes of Munkidori and Froslass, you can keep adding these numbers to either board wipe your opponent or set up enough numbers for a TM Devolution plays.
#11 - Mega Kangaskhan ex - Mega Evolutions (MEG)
Type: Basic Pokémon Mega Evolved
Total Points: 83 (15th)
Average Points Scored per Sets: 2.08 (12th)
Points
- S1 - Not Released
- S2 - Not Released
- S3 - Not Released
- S4 - Not Released
- S5 - 60 / Avg - 2.4
- S6 - 23 / Avg - 1.77
Wins: 5
Top 4: 17
Top 8: 17
Saw play in:
- Mega Box
- Tera Box
- Pidgeot ex Control
- Mega Kangaskhan ex/Bouffalant
- Mega Lopunny ex/Dusknoir
Mega Kangaskhan ex is not just a good draw supporter for many decks, it can also be a tanky attacker too, usually in it's own deck or Mega Box. And with stuff like Latias ex, you can easily draw 2 cards and then retreat into any other attacker. That’s the drawing bit.
The attacking bit? 200 +50 for each heads you flipped until you hit tails, which means it can do 500 damage if you’re really lucky. But even with the first tail flips, 200 is already a lot of damage.
And it could be 230 thanks to Munkidori. And with cards like Bouffalant, Bravery Charm and Jumbo Ice Cream, it becomes a near untouchable monster to deal with, with effectively 410 HP!
#10 - Brock's Scouting - Journey Together (JTG)
Type: Supporter
Total Points: 203 (6th)
Average Points Scored per Sets: 1.85 (17th)
Points
- S1 - Not Released
- S2 - 57 / Avg - 2.71
- S3 - 35 / Avg - 2.69
- S4 - 88 / Avg - 2.59
- S5 - 14 / Avg - 0.56
- S6 - 9 / Avg - 0.69
Wins: 12
Top 4: 38
Top 8: 53
Saw play in:
- Dragapult ex
- Dragapult ex/Dusknoir
- Gholdengo ex/Joltik Box
- Dragapult ex/Charizard ex
- Flareon ex/Noctowl
Any Supporter card allowing you to search for Pokemon is always worth a look, just like Jacq, Hilda, the previously mentioned Dawn or stuff like Bridgette or Korinna from back then. Brock's Scouting is the latest to join the list, and it gives you the option to search for 2 Basic or 1 Evolution Pokemon.
For decks like Dragapult, it’s great early game to get a Budew or Dreepy down even after Itchy Pollen is in effect, or one Drakloak to get your engine going. For Joltik decks, they tend to go for Latias ex and Miraidon ex which in turn gets Joltik and another lighting attacker to set their whole board up.
#9 - Yveltal - Mega Evolutions (MEG)
Type: Basic Pokémon
Total Points: 115 (11th)
Average Points Scored per Sets: 2.71 (9th)
Points
- S1 - Not Released
- S2 - Not Released
- S3 - Not Released
- S4 - Not Released
- S5 - 93 / Avg - 3.72
- S6 - 22 / Avg - 1.69
Wins: 8
Top 4: 23
Top 8: 22
Saw play in:
- Mega Box
- Marnie's Grimmsnarl ex/Froslass
- N's Zoroark ex
- Froslass/Munkidori
- Crustle
Initially Maractus would have made this list but then Yveltal showed up later in the year and it's now the preferred choice for the retreat-lock attack.
And perhaps the one thing it has over Maractus, apart from the bigger HP amount, is simply Yveltal having free retreat! That works perfectly with Pecharunt ex in mind, giving you a free out for…oddly enough…another retreat lock attack! Or decks that need to retreat to use it’s attack again, this could work with them.
#8 - Ralts/Kirlia - Mega Evolutions (MEG)
Type: Basic Pokémon / Stage 1 Pokémon
Total Points: 114 (12th)
Average Points Scored per Sets: 3.17 (7th)
Points
- S1 - Not Released
- S2 - Not Released
- S3 - Not Released
- S4 - Not Released
- S5 - 66 / Avg - 2.64
- S6 - 48 / Avg - 3.69
Wins: 10
Top 4: 18
Top 8: 21
Saw play in:
- Gardevoir ex
- Gardevoir ex/Jellicent ex
So yeah we got a new Ralts and Kirlia and they're both better than the previous ones we started with at the start of the year. Ralts two attacks are nothing special but you got the choice of either drawing one extra card, or doing 10 damage.
As for Kirlia, it’s also got two good attacks but most of the time, if it’s used, it will be the first attack. Call Sign let’s you search for 3 Pokémon and put it into your hand so you can set up the perfect board the next turn, with one of them surely being Gardevoir ex which is what the deck needs to get going!
#7 - Hilda - White Flare (WHT)
Type: Supporter
Total Points: 165 (7th)
Average Points Scored per Sets: 2.3 (11th)
Points
- S1 - Not Released
- S2 - Not Released
- S3 - Not Released
- S4 - 79 / Avg - 2.32
- S5 - 55 / Avg - 2.2
- S6 - 31 / Avg - 2.38
Wins: 13
Top 4: 28
Top 8: 30
Saw play in:
- Dragapult ex/Dusknoir
- Flareon ex/Noctowl
- Alakazam/Dudunsparce
- Conkeldurr
- Dragapult ex
As mentioned for Brock's Scouting earlier, any Supporter card that searches for Pokemon is usually very good. But Hilda doesn't just do that. While it does search for an Evolution Pokemon, it also search for an Energy card. Not just Basic, any energy card!
So for decks like Dragapult, it can search out Dragapult ex AND Neo Upper Energy, allowing Pult to attack right away. It also work for decks like Flareon to get the missing energy for Flareon or whoever might be attacking.
The new Mega Lopunny ex decks is also very reliant on Hilda to get Mega Lopunny or Dusclops/Dusknoir and with Jet Enegy, it can destroy and opponent’s board right away.
#6 - Shaymin - Destined Rivals (DRI)
Type: Basic Pokémon
Total Points: 222 (5th)
Average Points Scored per Sets: 2.95 (8th)
Points
- S1 - Not Released
- S2 - Not Released
- S3 - 80 / Avg - 6.15
- S4 - 69 / Avg - 2.03
- S5 - 54 / Avg - 2.16
- S6 - 19 / Avg - 1.46
Wins: 14
Top 4: 42
Top 8: 52
Saw play in:
- Marnie's Grimmsnarl ex/Froslass
- Charizard ex/Pidgeot ex
- Dragapult ex/Dusknoir
- Gardevoir ex
- Ethan's Typhlosion
We finally got a bench protector back in the game but with a bit of a catch this time around. Shaymin protects your benched Pokémon from attack, sounds like the old Mew or Manaphy or Mr Mime right?
Well not quite, it only protects Pokémon without a Rule Box, so your Pokémon ex are not protected. A nice change I’d say and hey Shaymin has saw play in loads of decks. The irony being that the one that used it the most is a deck that attacks the bench too, that being Grimmsnarl.
And with the likes of Scream Tail, Fezandipiti ex and Wellspring Ogerpon ex still such a big threat in the current meta, Shaymin will continue to be an answer for decks suffering from snipe attacks.
#5 - Psyduck - Promo (PR)
Type: Basic Pokémon
Total Points: 144 (8th)
Average Points Scored per Sets: 3.66 (5th)
Points
- S1 - Not Released
- S2 - Not Released
- S3 - Not Released
- S4 - Not Released
- S5 - 102 / Avg - 4.08
- S6 - 42 / Avg - 3.23
Wins: 9
Top 4: 33
Top 8: 22
Saw play in:
- Mega Box
- Charizard ex/Pidgeot ex
- Marnie's Grimmsnarl ex/Froslass
- Crustle
- N's Zoroark ex
Probably the hardest card to find on this list, because I myself do not own one of these. Psyduck was released as a 3-pack blister when Mega Evolution so it was tough to find. And it was super playable too with the top deck in mind during that time.
Psyduck shuts down ability that has Pokémon knocking itself out to use the ability and guess who takes the hit from this? Yup Dusclops and Dusknoir, the main thing helping Dragapult ex. Charizard Pidgeot is another one but the irony being it also using Psyduck, some of them habe started cutting Dusknoir as a way to help with the Pult matchup so Psyduck was the answer for them too.
#4 - Lillie's Clefairy ex - Journey Together (JTG)
Type: Basic Pokémon ex
Total Points: 433 (4th)
Average Points Scored per Sets: 4.07 (4th)
Points
- S1 - Not Released
- S2 - 145 / Avg - 6.90
- S3 - 40 / Avg - 3.08
- S4 - 119 / Avg - 3.5
- S5 - 82 / Avg - 3.28
- S6 - 47 / Avg - 3.61
Wins: 30
Top 4: 77
Top 8: 104
Saw play in:
- Gardevoir ex
- Tera Box
- Joltik Box
- Gardevoir ex/Jellicent ex
- Flareon ex/Noctowl
Lillie's Clefairy ex has been a welcomed addition to many decks this year and it's just a generally good card. The ability is already so good, giving your opponent’s Dragon Pokemon, a typing known to have no weakness, now having Psychic weakness when Clefairy on board meant stuff like Gardevoir ex now had an easier way to deal with Dragapult ex.
But it’s not just the ability, the attack is amazing too. The last time we saw a Rondo attack was with Entei, Suicune and Raikou Vs, all theee of them seeing play at one point or another during their time. You hit for as many Pokemon on both boards and adding Clefairy, if both boards are full, that’s an easy 220.
And that number can keep going up if Area Zero Underdepths is in play, and with your board full, it goes up to 280 which can knock out many big attackers like N’s Zoroark ex and Ceruledge ex. And if your opponent’s board is full, that means Clefairy does 340, enough to KO even Charizard ex!
And it’s quite splashable, just needing a Psychic and colourless to attack and there’s plenty of ways around that. Clefairy is here to stay and will always be relevant since Dragapult isn’t going away anytime soon.
#3 - Budew - Prismatic Evolutions (PRE)
Type: Basic Pokémon
Total Points: 673 (1st)
Average Points Scored per Sets: 5.87 (3rd)
Points
- S1 - 95 / Avg - 7.92
- S2 - 161 / Avg - 7.67
- S3 - 98 / Avg - 7.54
- S4 - 202 / Avg - 5.94
- S5 - 77 / Avg - 3.08
- S6 - 40 / Avg - 3.07
Wins: 46
Top 4: 115
Top 8: 172
Saw play in:
- Dragapult ex/Dusknoir
- Dragapult ex
- Gardevoir ex
- Dragapult ex/Charizard ex
- Marnie's Grimmsnarl ex/Froslass
Yup, Budew. You know it. You either love it or hate it. A 30 HP mon that hit for 10 and item lock for free and has free retreat, how can it not be good? It’s been the perfect partner for decks that like to play the comeback game but building their board and playing the slow game initially, mainly Pult, Garde and Grimm.
It’s the perfect turn 1 attack for most of these decks to stop your opponent from setting up by preventing them from using cards like Poffin, Nest or Ultra Ball and also Rare Candy. Speaking of which, one thing Budew has over Frillish (apart from the energy cost and the retreat cost) is that it is searchable through Buddy-Buddy Poffin, something the 80 HP Frillish is not.
But it’s not just a great early game attack, it’s also a great late game attack to stop your Gholdengo opponent from using Superior Energy Retrieval or other decks from using Prime/Counter Catcher. We will keep seeing Budew until it rotates, we won’t be able to escape it. It’s Itchy Pollen season!
#2 - Air Balloon - Black Bolt (BLK)
Type: Tool
Total Points: 465 (2nd)
Average Points Scored per Sets: 6.12 (2nd)
Points
- S1 - Not Released
- S2 - Not Released
- S3 - Not Released
- S4 - 239 / Avg - 7.03
- S5 - 164 / Avg - 6.56
- S6 - 62 / Avg - 4.77
Wins: 23
Top 4: 96
Top 8: 128
Saw play in:
- Gholdengo ex/Lunatone
- Marnie's Grimmsnarl ex/Froslass
- Gholdengo ex
- Gholdengo ex/Joltik Box
- Tera Box
Air Balloon is back and if not for the next card, might have been the best card released this year! It’s just a great pivot card and many decks have made good use of it. A lot of decks that used to rely on Rescue Board all swapped to Air Balloon since its release.
Two decks that have made the most of it are Gholdengo ex decks and decks that are reliant of Munkidori, be it Marnie’s Grimmsnarl, Froslass/Budew, Mega Kangaskhan/Bouffalant or even Gardevoir.
It makes the most sense in Gholdengo as you can make the most use of it’s Coin Bonus ability as it draws an extra card while being in the active and with Air Balloon, you cam draw up to 4 cards which is always a good thing.
#1 - Lillie's Determination - Mega Evolutions (MEG)
Type: Supporter
Total Points: 464 (3rd)
Average Points Scored per Sets: 11.97 (1st)
Points
- S1 - Not Released
- S2 - Not Released
- S3 - Not Released
- S4 - Not Released
- S5 - 318 / Avg - 12.72
- S6 - 146 / Avg - 11.23
Wins: 31
Top 4: 86
Top 8: 106
Saw play in:
- Dragapult ex/Dusknoir
- Gardevoir ex
- Charizard ex/Pidgeot ex
- Mega Box
- Marnie's Grimmsnarl ex/Froslass
Of course it had to be Lillie's Determination and for the first time since I started doing these lists back in 2019, it's not an Item card that tops the list. Well there's a good reason for that, there were no real good item cards released this year. But they did print perhaps one of the best Supporter cards ever in Lillie's Determination.
Shuffle and draw 6 is nothing new to us, we got that in older cards like Professor Oak's New Theory and Cynthia. What makes this better is that if you have not taken a prize card, it becomes 8 cards instead so now there is an incentive to not take prize cards but instead build your board state by seeing more cards in hands, which is why the slower set-up style decks have all used it, especially the 5 mentioned above.
A lot of these decks like to build their board first, sit behind one or two Budews, use Lillie’s for about 2-3 turns to get the perfect set-up and then launch an attack. It’s not bad in the late game too. With Iono you’re limiting yourself to maybe 2-3 cards. Lillie gets you 6 which is sometimes just enough to get you to a winning position.
That’s all I got for the cards released this year and that’s it for me this year too! I wish you all the best for the upcoming new years in 2026. Thanks for reading and enjoy the new years!
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