Ex cards are some of the hardest to find inPokemon TCG Pocket. Yet they are considered some of the most important cards for making your deck function at a competitive level. However, there are many cards that aren’t Pokemon ex that can also dominate in battle. You just need to know where to look.
Non-ex cards have a few benefits. For starters, they can often be easier to find from packs. They also won’t score your opponent two points when they get knocked out. Some of these cards are great at supporting your deck, while others are fearsome attackers. Never underestimate the power of non- ex cards.
10Greninja
Striking The Bench
Greninja was released in Genetic Apex, but it is still an excellent Water-type to have creeping in your Bench. Greninja can do 20 damage each turn without attacking. It can do so using its Water Shuriken Ability from the safety of the Bench.
This 20 damage can do many things during a battle. It can make Benched Pokemon susceptible to Cyrus. It can also increase your damage output for the turn, allowing you to one-shot Pokemon that might just be out of reach of your current Pokemon’s capabilities.
9Arceus
A Great Budget Option
Arceus deserves a spot since it not only has a decent attack power of 100, but it also turns all your other Arceus Link Pokemon on while on the field. Having the same effect as Arceus ex, this card is a great option if you don’t want ex Pokemon on your field.
Arceus is also Colorless, which makes it compatible with any Energy acceleration technique that doesn’t specify a type when handing out the goods. With Water and Steel having the most flexibility, these make great matchups for Arceus.
8Magnezone
Feel The Electricity
Magnezone isone of the toughest Electric-typesthat isn’t an ex card. Magnezone can dish out 110 damage for only three Energy. While you do need to discard one Energy each time you use Thunder Blast, it is easy to work around this.
Genetic Apex’s Magneton lets you take an extra Electric Energy from the Energy Zone each turn. This lets you charge it up while on the Bench, allowing Magnezone to have more than enough Energy attached to it when it finally hits the field.
7Heatran
Pressure Your Opponent
The Steel-type Heatran found in Space-Time Smackdownis a fantastic card to pair with Dialga ex strategies. This is because it is a Basic Pokemon that can hit for 110 damage. Sure, it will take some damage every time it attacks, but does it matter?
Heatran can easily be in your opening hand or searched out using Poke Ball. That’s the benefit of being a Basic Pokemon. Steel Tackle can also take down any Pokemon in two hits. Get this ready early in the game and Heatran can overwhelm your opponent.
6Dragonite
Randomized Damage
Dragonite is one of the strongest Dragon-types in terms of power. It will do 200 damage each turn with Draco Meteor. This damage is distributed randomly in increments of 50. This can mean 50 damage done to each of your opponent’s Pokemon on a full Bench. Or 200 damage on just one.
The fewer Pokemon your opponent has on the field, the more likely Draco Meteor will be fatal. With two out of four Energy required for this Move being Colorless, it is also easier touse Energy accelerationto fill this out.
5Scolipede
A Venomous Strike
If you’re looking for heavy Poison damage, Scolipede can get the job done. Venoshock is a cheap Move that lets you do 70 damage for two Energy. You get an extra 50 damage done if you Poison your opponent’s Pokemon first.
Scolipede is one card release away from a decent power boost. 130 damage is fantastic for only two Energy. If there were a way to Poison your opponent from the Bench without attacking first, Scolipede would skyrocket. For now, Scolipede can use its previous form’s Poison Sting to get the job done before hitting the field.
4Tyranitar
Crushing Your Opponent
Tyranitar is one of the strongest non-ex Pokemon in the game. It can do 130 damage on its own but can deal up to 160 damage if paired with an Arceus card. This makes it an incredible attacker that can pummel some of the strongest Pokemon that attempt to go up against it.
Unlike some of the other high-attack Pokemon, Tyranitar doesn’t do damage to itself after attacking. If you may get it on the field fast enough, it can lead you to victory in a landslide.
3Tauros
An Anti-Ex Pokemon
If you have something against ex cards, then Tauros will see red whenever one is on the field. Fighting Tackle does 40 damage to non-ex cards but can hit for 120 when it attacksa Pokemon ex.
With a Colorless Energy requirement, Tauros can fit into any deck that has space for it as a way to counter your opponent’s best Pokemon. Some Pokemon ex will even go down after the first hit. This makes Tauros an incredible non-ex choice for dealing with Pokemon you want gone immediately.
2Togekiss
The Old One Two
Togekiss needs to strike a second time before it unleashes its power. Combines with Cynthia Togekiss becomes one of the deadliest non-ex cards to hit your field. Overdrive Smash does 60 damage for two Energy. This is enough to strike down almost every baby Basic Pokemon.
Add Cynthia and even Stage one Pokemon will tremble in their boots. The second time you use Overdrive Smash you deal 60 more damage. Time these attacks and your use of Cynthia well, and you may strike down one Pokemon each turn.
1Garchomp
Great Power And Utility
The non-ex version of Garchomp is a Dragon-type. It has no Weakness and requires a combination of Water and Fighting Energy. This Pokemon can do 100 damage with Dragon Claw but can do 150 if you combine it with Cynthia.
This is not only a powerful attacker, but it also lets you go through your deck faster. Reckless Shearing lets you discard less useful cards from your hand in order to draw a new one. This can help you sculpt your hand into whatever you need it to be.
