Summary
Pokemon Pocket’s first post-release expansion, Mythical Island, introduced 68 new and reworked Pokemon, along with 18 Special Illustrations and rare variants, bringing the total number of cards in the set to 86. But one question many fans may have is:which Mythical Island cards are the best? Which ones are worth the time and grind? The following list ranks the top nine Pokemon from this expansion based on gameplay-centered criteria. Here are the most noteworthy cards fromPokemon Pocket’s Mythical Island mini-set.
The List’s Criteria
The following cards fromPokemon Pocket’s Mythical Island expansion were cherrypicked and ranked based on the following factors:
9Leaf
The Rising Star of Trainer Cards
Leaf’s utility cannot be ignored. She isthe best new Supporter card in the Mythical Islandexpansion and one of the most commonly used Trainer Cards in the entire game. Leaf is essentially X Speed on steroids, as she reduces the Active Pokemon’s Retreat cost by two Energies instead of one. This allows for much more flexible lineups, as Leaf removes Energy concerns from the equation.
The synergy between Leaf (a Supporter) and X Speed (an Item Card) is particularly interesting. In the best-case scenarios, players can pair the two cards to Retreat a Pokemon with a three-Energy cost for free—and only pay one or two Energies for Pokemon with a higher Retreat cost. That’s an incredible advantage.
8Scolipede
A Dark-Type That Revives Poison
Mythical Island’s most unexpected star is undoubtedly Scolipede. When the roster was first revealed, few players saw this new Pokemon as a META-shaking card. However, Scolipede’s seamless synergy withthe Poison archetype’s cardshas made it a formidable PvP option.
Scolipede owes its rise in popularity to the new Koffing card, which creates a more consistent link between Poison Pokemon. This A1a Koffing can pull another Koffing from the deck and add it to the Bench, making Weezing’s Evolution more frequent and more manageable to trigger. As a result, players can reliably stack buffs for Scolipede, boosting its effectiveness.
7Druddigon
The Daunting Deadly Dragon
Druddigon started as an underratedPokemon in Mythical Island. Initially, it seemed clunky in most decks due to being a dual-Energy card, and players struggled to find a consistent way to build Water and Fire decks that could take advantage of Druddigon’s damage. However, players’ approach to Druddigon changed once META decks began focusing on its free chip damage rather than its primary attack, which demands three Energies: one Water, one Fire, and one Colorless.
Once Druddigon’s true potential was realized, it became a go-to choice for slow-build decks. It has since become a sought-after mini-set card and a key component ofthe new Gyarados ex & Greninja deck, which is steadily climbing the META.
6Tauros
Every ex Pokemon’s Nightmare
Genetic Apex’s Tauros wasn’t very popular, with players mostly using it as a tank, an early-game wall to build up their primary DPS. However, the new Tauros in Mythical Island brings an entirely new role:It’s now an ex Pokemon assassin.
For three Energies, A1a Tauros can deal up to 120 damage, provided the enemy’s Active Pokemon is an ex. Despite this buff, Tauros retains its high HP, allowing it to continue to function as a wall. But now, if the opponent plays an early ex, Tauros can retaliate and destroy it.
A quick look atPokemon Pocket’s top-tier decksshows that Tauros has already made its way into many lineups. Thanks to its colorless Energy requirements, players can easily slot it into their decks as a tech card, regardless of the lineup’s primary type.
5Marshadow
The Tit-for-Tat Pokemon
Marshadow makes history as the first Pokemon inTCG Pocketto introduce a revenge mechanic. With its signature move, Revenge, Marshadow can replace a Pokemon that was just Knocked Out and strike back with a 100-DMG attack. The card’s description reads: “If any of your Pokemon were knocked out by damage from an attack during your opponent’s last turn, this attack does 60 more damage.”
Marshadow is currently boosting Fighting- and Colorless-Type decks as a tech card. Players often leave it on the Bench, waiting for an opportunity. If one of their Pokemon is knocked out early, Marshadow can jump in, deal 100 damage, and then retreat back to the Bench, thanks to its low Retreat cost of just one Energy.
4Golem
Massive, Muscular, and Mighty
The new Golem card addresses the Fighting-Type’s struggle with dealing high damage. With 160 HP, it can dish out 120 DMG while also tanking 30 less DMG from enemy attacks. This makes Golem capable of surviving many ofthe big hits from top-tier cards, especially if paired with Blue, the new Supporter card.
Golem decks have gained popularity in the metagame after a Golem player won a tournament with 500 participants. Their lineup capitalized on Golem’s synergy with Brock and Marshadow, forming a DPS-heavy setup with a solid HP.
3Serperior (& Celebi ex)
Masters of Energy Manipulation
Serperior made a strong start in the early days of the new mini-set, quickly gaining popularity. For a brief time,Pokemon Pocket’s PvP was dominated by Serperior & Celebi ex decks. However, as the metagame has evolved,Serperior’s limitations have become more apparent, which explains why it’s ranked number three on the list rather than number one.
The problem with Serperior is that it has few Grass-Type allies that can benefit from its effect. While it can help Celebi ex and Venusaur ex ramp up early attacks, neither synergy has been able to compete withthe dominance of Pikachu ex and Mewtwo exin the current META. As a result, Serperior remains a case of wasted potential—at least for now. A stronger Evolution line in the Grass-Type category could elevate Serperior to the top tier.
2Mew ex
The Factotum Pokemon
Pokemon Pocketplayers seeking a powerful anti-META tech card were thrilled with Mew ex, and it didn’t disappoint.Mew ex has the highly practical move Genome Hacking, allowing it to copy the enemy’s Active Pokemon’s attack. With this ability, Mew ex can one-shot Mewtwo ex and Charizard ex, while also taking down other prominent cards like Arcanine ex and Golem.
Despite its anti-META capabilities, Mew ex is also being praised for the utility it provides inMewtwo ex decks. Before its release, Pikachu ex dominated PvP, but since the release of the Mythical Island set, the META has shifted toward Mewtwo ex, with Mew ex playing a key role in this change.
1Gyarados ex
The Core of a Deadly Duo
Gyarados ex is the best card in the Mythical Island expansionfor one clear reason: it’s the only card that has led to a new top-tier deck. Most other cards from the mini-set either joined existing decks or formed strategies that still struggle against S-tier META decks. However, Gyarados ex, in combination with Greninja, created the first solid lineup that can compete with top cards like Pikachu ex, Mewtwo ex, and the newly popular Celebi ex.
What makes Gyarados ex so effective is its remarkable synergy with Greninja and Druddigon. Druddigon and Greninja wear down the enemy’s HP while Gyarados ex is built up on the Bench. By the time Gyarados ex is ready, the opposing Pokemon are usually weakened, making them vulnerable to Gyarados ex’s powerful 140-damage attack.
