InPokemon TCG Pocket, Item Cards are a subset of Trainer Cards, providing utility and technical advantages in the game. Currently, there are nine Item Cards available: Potion, Pokedex, X Speed, Hand Scope, Poke Ball, Red Card, Helix Fossil, Dome Fossil, and Old Amber. While they share names with their physicalPokemon TCGcounterparts, many have been revamped and reworked specifically forPocket—some so extensively that even veteran TCG players may find them challenging to use competitively. With that being said, here’s a ranking of these nine Item Cards from least to most effective.
7Hand Scope
Makes You Prone to Faints
Judging by its description, Hand Scope seems a potent Item Card. However, due toPokemon TCG Pocket’s fast-paced matches, foreseeing the opponent’s options doesn’t necessarily offer a significant advantage. On the other hand, professionalTCGplayers can quickly respond to this move by changing strategies or drawing more cards.
Knowing what’s in the opponent’s hand can be advantageous in certain situations. For instance, there are no Ultra Ball Item Cards inPocket, meaning opponents can’t discard cards from their hand and are mostly limited to drawing. Additionally, hands inPocketare capped at five cards, unlike the seven-card limit inPokemon TCG Live, which makes Hand Scope a worthwhile addition to competitive decks.
6Red Card
Causes Annoyance, Not Advantage
When a player drops a Red Card, the opponent must shuffle their hand into the deck and then draw three cards. Such an effect could normally mess up the enemy’s chance to play on curve. However, the combat system inPocket—andPokemon TCGin general—is limited to one Energy at a time, and dropping cards requires none. So, the mana curve is mostly unaffected by the cards players draw—it’s affected by the cards already in the game.
Even worse,Pokemon TCG Pocket’s decksare not as extended as the actualPokemon TCGandLive. Players can only have 20 cards in their lineups, which cuts back on the RNG involved in shuffles. In other words, forcing the opponent with a Red Card to shuffle and re-draw is unlikely to have a devastating effect.
5Pokedex
Good for Getting a Competitive Edge
A good chunk ofstrategizing the board inPokemon TCG Pocketis preparing the bench for big drops. Pro players usually keep the opponent busy fighting a sturdy Pokemon in the active spot while they’re cooking up their primary attacks in the back. For this very same reason, having the Pokedex Item Card in hand can become quite handy.
The Pokedex card allows the player to view the top three cards of their deck, helping them set up the board strategically. However, this plan can be disrupted by the Red Card, which shuffles the deck and alters its order. Despite this risk, the Pokedex card typically provides valuable insight to the player.
4Potion
Useful Only When It’s Plentiful
Healing can be a lifesaver inPokemon TCGgames, andPocketis no exception to that. However, what’s offered by the Potion Item Card as a healing effect often falls short of saving the game. Giving a damaged Pokemon only 20 HP points is not necessarily going to turn the game around unless in rare scenarios.
Potion is less competitive becausePocketlimits decks to only two copies of any card. This restriction means each player can only carry two Potions, restoring a total of 40 HP. In contrast, a Supporter like Erika provides 50 HP per card, totaling 100 HP, giving her a significantly higher healing capacity.
AMETA deck inPokemon Pockettypically includes two Potions and two Erika cards. The comparison between them isn’t to show that one is superior; rather, it highlights the Item Card’s effectiveness in context. Both cards complement each other in gameplay.
3X Speed
A Reliable Tech Card
Pokemon Pockethas limited each match to three knockouts—as opposed to the traditionalPokemon TCG’s six prize cards. It’s a fast-paced duelakin to that ofMarvel Snap. And X Speed suits this setup perfectly, as it accelerates retreats—a crucial aspect of combat.
When a player uses X Speed, their active Pokemon can retreat with one less Energy. Since mostPokemon cards inTCG Pocketonly need one Energy to retreat, X Speed often allows for a free withdrawal, making it highly effective.
2Fossil Trainer Cards
Vital for Countering Sabrina and Building Consistent Decks
TheFossil Trainer card problem of the physicalPokemon TCGpersists inPocket. Players need them to drop Fossil Pokemon. However, inPokemon TCG Pocket’scurrent metagame, Fossil Trainer cards are alsocritical for countering Sabrina and building consistent decks.
Fossil Pokemon cards in the physicalTCGandPockethave no Basic form. The lowest evolutionary tier among their species is Stage One. Therefore, players need placeholder cards like Fossil Item Cards to bring them into the game—because Stage One and Two cards cannot be played directly on the board. The high-risk process of mergingFossil Pokemonwith Item Cards has a dismissible reward. Fossil characters inPokemon TCGhave long been deemed mediocre, making them skippable cards. However, inPocket, players can’t skip Fossil Trainer Cards too quickly, as they’re essential for countering most META decks, making their absence a real challenge.
1Poke Ball
A Must-Have in PvP
Poke Ball has quickly enteredPocket’s metagame as the most critical Item Card for two reasons: 1) It guarantees drawing Basics, which are essential for playinghigh-stage Pokemon, and 2) decks inPocketcontain only 20 cards, which increases the chances of targeting specific cards with Poke Ball.
The revamped Poke Ball inPocketis less utility-focused than its counterpart in the physicalPokemon TCG, where it allows players to search their deck for any Pokemon. Nonetheless, it remains the most useful Item Card inPocketwith universal synergy, making it a valuable addition to any deck.
