In Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket, players often gravitate toward the flashy ex cards to build their decks. This is understandable given their powerful attacks, useful abilities, and strong HP. However, this can result in certain Pokémon that can be highly effective in battle, being overlooked or underused. While these cards may not initially catch your eye when pulled from packs, especially if they lack a particular rarity, they certainly deserve a place in competitive decks. These cards hold features that can be the difference between you and your obvious opponent.

Certain Shining Revelry cards, like Giratina ex and Charizard ex, have quickly become staples in many competitive decks. However, this spotlight may have caused other cards to be underused. Whether it's for their disruptive abilities, high damage potential, or perfect stall tactics, these overlooked cards definitely deserve a spot in your next deck build. You might build your build your deck around these cards or simply use them to enhance the power of an ex card, but either way, they will undeniably elevate your game.

10 Pinsir

The Grass Type Can Create Huge Damage

Pinsir is a powerful Grass-type Pokémon that will be able to create a huge damage output. Firstly, its 90 HP is solid for a basic Pokémon, meaning it should hold its own when used in the Active Spot from the first turn. Additionally, Pinsir has an effective attack. Guillotine Rush originally does 50 damage for three Energy — one Grass Energy and two Colorless Energy. Moreover, this attack also lets you flip coins. For each heads, you'll add 40 extra damage, continuing until you flip tails. This makes Guillotine Rush a potentially devastating move.

The energy cost for this attack may seem high, but when paired with Grass-type Pokémon that provide extra energy, such as Leafeon ex and Serperior, Pinsir can dish out massive damage very quickly. This makes it an excellent choice for an aggressive strategy.

9 Mr. Mime

With RNG Luck, Mr. Mime Can Be Powerful

Mr. Mime is a basic Psychic-type Pokémon that may be overlooked in Psychic-type decks, especially with powerful options like Genetic Apex Jynx and Hypno available. However, you might want to give Mr. Mime a chance in a Mewtwo ex deck, where it can deal damage while stalling for Mewtwo ex and Gardevoir.

With a substantial 90 HP, Mr. Mime offers solid durability for a non-ex basic Pokémon, making it a strong starter for your strategy. The Shining Revelry Mr. Mime has one attack. Juggling relies on RNG Coin flips to create damage.

You may want to attach the Rocky Helmet tool card to MR. Mime when using it as a stall card. This will do 20 damage to the opponent’s Active Pokémon each time it is attacked.

For two Energy — one Psychic Energy and one Colorless Energy — you're to flip four coins. For each heads, you do 20 damage, totaling 80 damage if you're lucky. Its cheap attack cost and strong HP make Mr. Mime a good choice for your next deck.

8 Hitmonchan

Magnum Punch Does Some Serious Damage

Hitmonchan is another iconic Pokémon that can strengthen your deck in Pokémon TCG Pocket. As a basic card, it fits seamlessly into a Fighting-type TCG Pocket deck to boost your damage output. However, it may be best used as a stall card, giving you time to build up energy for your ex cards while still holding its own on the field. Its 90 HP and one Energy Retreat Cost make it ideal to use in the Active Spot to sustain damage.

Hitmonchan has a single attack called Magnum Punch, which deals 90 damage for three Fighting Energy. This is enough to seriously weaken most ex cards and can be perfect for delivering the finishing blow after another Pokémon has brought the opponent into knockout range for Hitmonchan to clean up.

7 Magmortar

Smoke Bomb Can Stop The Opponent In Their Tracks

Magmortar is a high-impact Fire-type Pokémon that can completely mitigate the opponent. Evolving from Magmar, this card can be the perfect addition to a Charizard ex deck, helping reduce the opponent to knock out territory. With 120 HP, this stage two card is almost as durable as most ex cards, obviously with the advantage of only giving the opponent one point, rather than two, when knocked out.

This card’s greatest strength lies in its attack. Smoke Bomb deals 70 damage for three Energy — two Fire and one Colorless — but it offers more than just raw damage. Its added effect forces your opponent to flip a coin if the defending Pokémon attempts to attack on their next turn. If tails, the attack fails entirely, giving you a chance to disrupt their momentum and put pressure on the opponent.

6 Flamigo

Double Kick Can Do A Massive 100 Damage

Flamigo is a basic Fighting-type Pokémon with a low-cost attack and solid HP, making it a great pick for your next deck. I’ve personally used this card alongside Marowak ex in an aggressive Fighting-type build. With 80 HP, Flamigo holds its own, but I highly recommend pairing it with the Giant Cape tool card to increase its durability, making it much more effective in prolonged battles.

Flamigo has an attack called Double Kick, which can deal substantial damage for just two Fighting Energy. You flip two coins, and each heads deals 50 damage, giving it strong potential for a basic Pokémon. It's a remarkably cheap attack for the possible damage output. While it does rely on RNG, the speed at which Flamigo can strike makes the risk well worth it.

5 Gimmighoul

The Psychic-Type Can Be Used In Any Deck

Gimmighoul is one of the least obvious choices from this list, especially as this card can’t do any damage at all. This will leave most players wondering what the point of using Gimmighoul is, but in the correct context, this card can be very effective. The basic card can easily slot into Psychic-type decks, standing as tool to disrupt the opponent while stalling for your own tactic.

Gimmighoul has an attack called Chest-ouflage. This does zero damage, instead giving you an opportunity to flip a coin. If heads, during your opponent’s next turn, you prevent all damage from — and effects of — attacks done to this Pokémon. Additionally, it only costs one Colorless Energy, meaning it can be used in any type deck to help stall for your tactic. This makes Gimmighoul a versatile option for you to use.

4 Cyclizar

Overaccelaration Does Damage That Ramps Up

Cyclizar is a Colorless-type Pokémon in Pokémon TCG Pocket that gets better the longer it stays in play. With 80 HP and a low Retreat Cost of just one Energy, it’s an ideal choice for the Active Spot in the opening round. It’s especially effective against decks that rely on weaker basic starters, like Charmander in Charizard ex builds, giving you an early advantage while setting up your strategy.

Cyclizar’s attack, Overacceleration, originally does 20 damage. However, in the next turn, this is increased by 20 damage. This allows you to easily destroy weaker basic Pokémon in a matter of a few turns. The damage output is even more impressive thanks to the cost of only one Colorless Energy. You are able to use this attack in your very first turn. This card also has a shiny version, which is an added bonus.

3 Revavroom

Spinning Drift Can End Battles In Victory

Aside from the fact that it has a shiny version, Revavroom has gone somewhat under the radar. The Metal-type Pokémon can be perfect for finishing a battle with the opponent lost for any action. The stage two card, evolving from Varoom, has a strong 110 HP and a Retreat Cost of two energy. This is a solid foundation for a strong card.

For cards with a higher Retreat Cost, use the Leaf er card to reduce it by two. This adds versatility to your strategy, especially when using cards like Revavroom.

Revavroom’s attack, Spinning Drift, does a dependable 70 damage. The cost of this attack is somewhat high: two Metal Energy and one Colorless Energy. This means that it is better for a late battle attack to finish off the opponent. This attack also allows you to flip a coin, with a successful head flip stopping the opponent from doing any damage to this card. Although it can depend on luck, this makes it an excellent choice for mitigating the opponent and winning the battle.

2 Meowscarada

The Stage Two Card Should be In Every Grass-Type Deck

Meowscarada may be the most obvious card on this list, but it remains underused compared to other Grass-type cards. While this Stage 2 Pokémon requires time to set up, it can be devastating once ready. With 140 HP, it rivals most ex cards and can serve as a powerful meta deck counter. This can also be helped by the Erika er card, which will heal Meowscarada by 50 damage.

Its attack, Fighting Claws, deals 60 damage for two Grass Energy, making it a cheap and reliable option. But there’s more. This attack deals an additional 70 damage when targeting an ex card, bringing the total to 130 damage. This makes Meowscarada the ultimate counter to some of the most popular cards in the game, and it's perfect for Grass-type decks.

1 Electrode

The Most Underrated Card From The Shining Revelry Expansion

The Shining Revelry Electrode is the perfect candidate for Lightning-type decks, especially the Pikachu ex deck. The stage one card has 90 HP and can easily tank most early battle attacks. Its one Retreat Cost makes it a versatile option for decks that want quick and simple attacks.

Electrode has one attack called Tumbling Attack. This initially does 50 damage, with the chance of doing an additional 30 damage with a successful coin flip. While this does rely on RNG, the guaranteed 50 damage makes it a safe option. The Shining Revelry Electrode should be included in more decks in Pokémon TCG Pocket.