Pokémon TCG Pocket's latest set, Shining Revelry, is now out, and it has given us a few new powerful cards to help augment our decks. While there weren't a ton of cards that I would want to build a whole new deck around, there are several cards that I think would be good additions to decks. One card in particular I could see being a new evergreen inclusion in all decks.

Similar to how the Sabrina er card was in the first Pokémon TCG Pocket set, there is one new trainer card that I can see getting a lot of use, regardless of a given deck's strategy. There are also a few exciting new options for existing Pokémon that may be better options than the current ones we have. I'm interested to see how else this set changes the meta going forward, but here are some cards I expect to see getting played.

10 Iono Will Likely Find You The Cards You Need

A Draw Card Like Iono Is Powerful In A Game With Small Deck Sizes

In a typical TCG, a card like Iono could be a bit of a gamble. Letting your opponent refresh their hand alongside you can be just as helpful if not more so to them. However, I think this risk has a lot more of an upside in a game like Pokémon TCG Pocket that has such small deck sizes.

After a few turns, you won't have that many cards left in your Pokémon TCG Pocket deck. Add to that draw cards like Professor's Research and cards like Poké Ball that help thin it out, and you'll likely be down to just a few cards in your deck, and a decent number in your hand. Because of this, you're likely to draw what you need when you use Iono, though there is still a slight chance you end up with the same hand again.

9 Wigglytuff Is Like Having A Free Potion Every Round

Wigglytuff Can Heal Your Pokémon Each Turn

I can see Wigglytuff being a nice addition to any deck that uses a pillow fort strategy while waiting to deliver a powerful move with a fully-evolved Pokémon. This is essentially like having a Potion in your hand each turn, which can help your active Pokémon survive a few more hits. It also negates any small damage your opponent is chipping away at you with like poison damage or Darkrai's effect.

The Potion Trainer card also heals 20 HP, meaning Wigglytuff's ability is just as effective. However, Potions can target any of your Pokémon, giving them slightly more utility.

I can see this card working especially well for decks that already use Pokémon who can heal themselves a bit, as this will add even more to it. Alternatively, it could also be nice in something like a Druddigon build, as keeping your Druddigon alive longer means your opponent needs to keep attacking into it and taking more damage. Although not a major powerhouse, I could see this card having some useful utility.

8 Meowscarada Punishes Players For Using Pokémon Ex

Meowscarada Does 70 Extra Damage To Pokémon Ex

Meowscarada would be a good option for a build that is looking to punish opponents for running Pokémon ex and gain an advantage on points. Combining this with the new Red card would allow you to do 150 damage to a Pokémon ex for just two Energy, which is not bad at all. Needing so little Energy will help ensure that you can get this attack off as soon as you evolve into Meowscarada, and allow you to spread your Energy between other Pokémon.

Defeating a Pokémon ex gives you two points instead of the typical one for knocking out a Pokémon. Defeating a Pokémon ex can give you a quick leg-up in a game.

If you're running this card with a Grass type like Leafeon ex that allows you to distribute extra Energy, it will be even easier to make sure Meowscarada is ready to attack when the time comes. Although it can feel risky to include a card that is somewhat conditional, I think it's pretty safe to bet that most builds are running at least one Pokémon ex. That said, you'll likely still want another heavy hitter in your deck just in case.

7 Lucario Ex Fits Nicely Into Fighting-Style Decks

Fighting Decks Are Good At Damaging Pokémon On The Bench

Lucario ex is a good fit for Fighting-type decks that use abilities to hit Pokémon on your opponent's bench, like Hitmonlee or Garchomp ex. If you've been pinging benched Pokémon with your other abilities, Lucario ex's attack could take out an active Pokémon and a benched Pokémon at the same time. Even if it doesn't, you're still softening up another Pokémon and making it easier to take out when it gets put in the active spot.

150 health is also not bad for a Pokémon that only needs to evolve once, and will survive a lot of strong attacks. I can see preferring a Pokémon that has a stronger attack for the amount of Energy needed, but I think its ability to damage multiple Pokémon makes up for it. We're also getting a slightly stronger Riolu from the Shining Revelry set, giving you a few options to decide how to build around Lucario ex.

6 The New Charizard Ex Is More Consistent

You Don't Lose Energy For Attacking With Charizard Ex

Although this new version of Charizard ex doesn't hit as hard as the one from Genetic Apex, it has a few features that I prefer. Its ability to give itself three Energy can accelerate you towards its attack very quickly, and is a lot more reliable than Moltres ex's coin flips. I also like that you're not burning Energy with its attack, so you're still doing a lot of damage, and you can do so more consistently.

The Genetic Apex Charizard ex could do 200 damage with its attack, but it also lost two energy each time it attacked. This meant you would typically need to wait a full turn before attacking again.

This version of Charizard ex has the same amount of health as the previous one, so you're not sacrificing its longevity to run the new version. Although I can see you preferring the version that can one-shot any Pokémon in the game, I think I like the consistency better. There also aren't too many Pokémon that this Charizard ex doesn't take out with one hit. Plus, there's the pretty new shiny version that is hard to up.

5 Wugtrio Ex Can Do Serious Damage To All Your Opponent's Pokémon

Wugtrio Ex Can Hit Any Of Your Opponent's Pokémon For 50 Damage

There's nothing quite like Wugtrio ex in Pokémon TCG Pocket, which is why it appeals to me so much. A card with a unique ability is always going to threaten to change the way players build decks, and I can see this being an interesting addition to a Water-type build. A lucky Misty toss can bring this Pokémon online pretty fast, and an early attack by it could be devastating. 50 damage can be a significant hit if not a one-hit KO to an unevolved Pokémon sitting on your opponent's bench.

Wugtrio ex's attack also doesn't specify that a Pokémon can only be chosen one time. This means, if you're going one on one against a Pokémon, you're going to do 150 damage to it, which is a solid attack for three Energy on a Stage 2 Pokémon. Although I could see the random nature of this Pokémon's attack being potentially frustrating if you get unlucky, I personally prefer this to a coin-flip card like Celebi ex since I know I'll be doing damage no matter what.

4 Grafaiai Is The Perfect Poison Card

Grafaiai Can Poison Opposing Pokémon From Your Bench

Grafaiai is a good inclusion for a Dark-type deck that is looking to do extra damage on top of its attacks. I like that Grafaiai can poison your opponent's Pokémon from the bench, allowing you to keep it safe while dealing consistent damage. Adding this to a Darkrai build could give you multiple ways to chip away at your opponent's Pokémon each turn. There are also some new Shining Revelry cards that will work well with Grafaiai.

Although I think some builds will have space for extra Pokémon, I can see not wanting to mess up a well-tuned deck for a Stage 2 Pokémon that is best when sitting on the bench. As damaging bench Pokémon and finding ways to switch them out becomes more common, I can see using this card as a bit of a risk. Still, I think its ability has a lot of potential in the right build, and I am willing to risk it for decks with strong poison synergy.

3 Giratina Ex Ramps Quickly Into A Powerful Attack

Giratina Ex Can Place Extra Energy On Itself Each Turn

Giratina ex can get to its powerful attack pretty fast for a basic Pokémon. If you have this Pokémon on your first turn, you'll be able to place an Energy when you normally wouldn't, which is a pretty significant advantage. A Pokémon like this likely wouldn't be attacking in the first few turns anyway, so it isn't too much of a downside to just stack Energy on it quickly and forgo attacking.

If you get Giratina ex later in the game, I could see it being a bit more of an issue trying to choose between quickly putting Energy on it or attacking with other Pokémon. That said, I think if you build around it, and keep less basic Pokémon in your build, you can be pretty sure you'll get Giratina ex out earlier. Alternatively, if you're running a Gardevoir, you could put three Energy on Giratina ex in one turn, and have it ready to go the next one.

2 Paldean Clodsire Ex Is The Perfect Poison Finisher

Paldean Clodsire Ex Deals Extra Damage To Poisoned Pokémon

Paldean Clodsire ex is a good finisher for a deck that revolves around poison. Doing 120 damage for two Energy is a pretty strong attack, and if your opponent's Pokémon have been weakened by your poison, it could easily finish them off. A cheap attack is also nice because it allows you to spread Energy out for retreat costs on your other Pokémon, allowing you to switch Paldean Clodsire ex in when it's time to knock out a Pokémon.

Paldean Clodsire ex pairs nicely with Grafaiai from this set. If you use your Paldean Clodsire ex to knock out a Pokémon and a new one takes its place, you can try to poison it next turn with Grafaiai without having to switch to a new Pokémon. Paldean Clodsire ex also has a decent amount of HP, so it can probably take a hit if you miss your first coin flip with Grafaiai.

1 Team Rocket Grunt Can Slow Down Opponents Significantly

Team Rocket Grunt Discards Energy From Your Opponent's Active Pokémon

Team Rocket Grunt is the type of Trainer card I can see working in any Pokémon TCG Pocket deck. Taking Energy from your opponent's active Pokémon can throw off their timing and save you from taking a lot of damage. To put it into perspective, using a Potion can heal 20 HP, or a er card like Erika can heal 50. Preventing your opponent's Charizard ex from being able to attack is essentially like getting to heal 200 HP.

Although I like a lot of the new Shining Revelry cards, I don't think any of them will have as big of an impact on Pokémon TCG Pocket's meta game as Team Rocket Grunt will. I will likely be treating this card as an auto-include in most builds, and more powerful Trainer cards always mean that 18-Trainer builds get that much more consistent. This is likely the most effective Team Rocket has ever been.