A list of noteworthy cards in each Standard-legal set. Not all of these cards will be meta relevant, but some make for fun decks and others may find homes with new releases. To cross-reference specific cards, pull up the Official Pokémon TCG Set Galleries.

If you'd prefer a visual list of just the most important cards, check out our Staples page.

General Staples

These cards see play in multiple relevant decks and form a flexible toolkit for deckbuilders.

Pokémon

Dudunsparce TEF 129
Teal Mask Ogerpon ex TWM 25
Munkidori TWM 95
Dusclops SFA 19
Dusknoir SFA 20
Fezandipiti ex SFA 38
Noctowl SCR 115
Fan Rotom SCR 118
Latias ex SSP 76
Budew PRE 4
Lillie's Clefairy ex JTG 56
Shaymin DRI 10
Psyduck ASC 39
Meowth ex POR 62

Supporters

Ciphermaniac's Codebreaking TEF 145
Boss's Orders ASC 183
Crispin SCR 133
Cyrano SSP 170
Team Rocket's Petrel DRI 176
Lillie's Determination MEG 119
Hilda WHT 84
Dawn PFL 87
Judge POR 76

Items

Buddy Buddy Poffin TEF 144
Night Stretcher SFA 61
Tool Scrapper WHT 85
Fighting Gong MEG 116
Mega Signal MEG 121
Ultra Ball MEG 131
Poké Pad ASC 198

Tools/Stadiums

Team Rocket's Watchtower DRI 180
Jamming Tower TWM 153
Forest of Vitality MEG 117
Area Zero Underdepths SCR 131
Gravity Mountain SSP 177
Counter Gain SSP 169
Air Balloon BLK 79
Battle Cage PFL 85

Temporal Forces

Essentials

Raging Bolt ex TEF 123
Dudunsparce TEF 129
Buddy Buddy Poffin TEF 144
Ciphermaniac's Codebreaking TEF 145
Hero's Cape TEF 152
Maximum Belt TEF 154
Prime Catcher TEF 157

Other Attackers

Iron Leaves ex TEF 25
Feraligatr TEF 41
Farigiraf ex TEF 108
Cinccino TEF 137

Support Pokémon

Rabsca TEF 24
Flutter Mane TEF 78
Relicanth TEF 84
Drilbur TEF 85
Metang TEF 114

Trainers

Eri TEF 146
Explorer's Guidance TEF 147
Heavy Baton TEF 151
Morty's Conviction TEF 155
Salvatore TEF 160
Mist Energy TEF 161
Neo Upper Energy TEF 162

Twilight Masquerade

Essentials

Teal Mask Ogerpon ex TWM 25
Froslass TWM 53
Wellspring Ogerpon ex TWM 64
Munkidori TWM 95
Cornerstone Ogerpon ex TWM 112
Drakloak TWM 129
Dragapult ex TWM 130
Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex TWM 141
Bug Catching Set TWM 143
Carmine TWM 145
Jamming Tower TWM 153
Lana's Aid TWM 155
Secret Box TWM 163
Unfair Stamp TWM 165

Attackers

Dipplin TWM 18
Palafin ex TWM 61
Iron Thorns ex TWM 77
Clefable TWM 79
Hisuian Arcanine TWM 100
Okidogi TWM 111
Scolipede TWM 117
Conkeldurr TWM 105

Support Pokémon

Volbeat TWM 9
Thwackey TWM 15
Infernape TWM 33
Palafin TWM 60
Tatsugiri TWM 131
Blissey ex TWM 134

Trainers

Enhanced Hammer TWM 148
Festival Grounds TWM 149
Hyper Aroma TWM 152
Kieran TWM 154
Lucky Helmet TWM 158
Scoop Up Cyclone TWM 162
Legacy Energy TWM 167

Shrouded Fable

Essentials

Dusclops SFA 19
Dusknoir SFA 20
Fezandipiti ex SFA 38
Pecharunt ex SFA 39
Binding Mochi SFA 55
Night Stretcher SFA 61

Attackers

Blodmoon Ursaluna SFA 25
Kyurem SFA 47

Support Pokémon

Genesect SFA 40

Trainers

Academy at Night SFA 54
Cassiopeia SFA 56
Colress's Tenacity SFA 57
Janine's Secret Art SFA 59
Neutralization Zone SFA 60
Xerosic's Machinations SFA 64
Powerglass SFA 63

Stellar Crown

Essentials

Joltik SCR 50
Noctowl SCR 115
Fan Rotom SCR 118
Terapagos ex SCR 128
Area Zero Underdepths SCR 131
Crispin SCR 133
Sparkling Crystal SCR 142

Attackers

Hydrapple ex SCR 14
Slowking SCR 58
Medicham ex SCR 80
Raging Bolt SCR 111

Support Pokémon

Lapras ex SCR 32
Bouffalant SCR 119

Trainers

Briar SCR 132
Glass Trumpet SCR 135
Grand Tree SCR 136
Gravity Gemstoone SCR 137

Surging Sparks

Essentials

Latias ex SSP 76
Cyrano SSP 170
Drayton SSP 174
Gravity Mountain SSP 177
Precious Trolley SSP 185

Attackers

Ceruledge ex SSP 36
Pikachu ex SSP 57
Archaludon ex SSP 130

Support Pokémon

Magneton SSP 59
Gastrodon SSP 107
Togekiss SSP 72
Azumarill SSP 74
Brilliant Blender SSP 164
Dusk Ball SSP 175
Scramble Switch SSP 186

Trainers

Counter Gain SSP 169
Energy Search Pro SSP 176
Miracle Headset SSP 183
Surfer SSP 187
Tera Orb SSP 189
Enriching Energy SSP 191

Prismatic Evolutions

Prismatic Evolutions contains reprints of many meta-relevant cards. This list only includes cards originally printed in the set.

Essentials

Budew PRE 4
Flareon ex PRE 14
Jolteon ex PRE 30
Seaking PRE 21
Eevee ex PRE 75

Relevant Cards

Sylveon PRE 40
Black Belt's Training PRE 96
Max Rod PRE 116
Roto-Stick PRE 127

Niche Cards

Leafeon ex PRE 6
Larry's Skill PRE 115
Treasure Tracker PRE 131

Other Noteworthy Cards

Umbreon ex PRE 60
Amarys PRE 93

Journey Together

Essentials

Lillie's Clefairy ex JTG 56
N's Zoroark ex JTG 98
Brock's Scouting JTG 146

Other Attackers

N's Darmanitan JTG 27
N's Reshiram JTG 116
Hop's Zacian ex JTG 111
Hop's Cramorant JTG 138
Mamoswine ex JTG 79
Dudunsparce ex JTG 121

Support Pokémon

Lilligant JTG 7
Maractus JTG 8
Hop's Snorlax JTG 117
Hop's Dubwool JTG 136

Trainers

Hop's Bag JTG 147
Hop's Choice Band JTG 148
Postwick JTG 154
Iris' Fighting Spirit JTG 149
Levincia JTG 150
Lillie's Pearl JTG 151
N's Castle JTG 152
N's PP Up JTG 153

Destined Rivals

The owner's Pokémon in this set create an abundance of cards that see play together, but nowhere else. I've rearranged the cards for this set to better showcase the decks found within.

Key Cards

Shaymin DRI 10
Crustle DRI 12
Arboliva ex DRI 23
Marnie's Grimmsnarl ex DRI 136
Spikemuth Gym DRI 169
Energy Recycler DRI 164

Team Rocket

Team Rocket's Spidops DRI 20
Team Rocket's Articuno DRI 51
Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex DRI 81
Team Rocket's Wobbuffet DRI 82
Team Rocket's Mimikyu DRI 87
Team Rocket's Archer DRI 170
Team Roocket's Ariana DRI 171
Team Rocket's Factory DRI 173
Team Rocket's Giovanni DRI 174
Team Rocket's Petrel DRI 176
Team Rocket's Proton DRI 177
Team Rocket's Transceiver DRI 178
Team Rocket's Watchtower DRI 180
Team Rocket's Energy DRI 182
Team Rocket's Murkrow DRI 127
Team Rocket's Sneasel DRI 128
Team Rocket's Porygon2 DRI 154
Team Rocket's Porygon-Z DRI 155

Other Owner's Cards

Ethan's Quilava DRI 33
Ethan's Typhlosion DRI 34
Ethan's Magcargo DRI 36
Ethan's Ho-Oh ex DRI 39
Ethan's Adventure DRI 165
Misty's Psyduck DRI 45
Misty's Gyarados DRI 49
Misty's Lapras DRI 50
Cynthia's Roserade DRI 8
Cynthia's Gabite DRI 103
Cynthia's Garchomp DRI 104
Cynthia's Spiritomb DRI 129
Cynthia's Power Weight DRI 162
Steven's Metagross ex DRI 145

Other Noteworthy Cards

Yanmega ex DRI 3
Sacred Ash DRI 168

Black Bolt & White Flare

Essentials

Eelektrik BLK 31
Genesect ex BLK 67
Air Balloon BLK 79
Hilda WHT 84
Tool Scrapper WHT 85
Ignition Energy WHT 86

Other Attackers

Samurott WHT 23
Jellicent ex WHT 45
Gigalith WHT 48

Support Pokémon

Emboar WHT 13
Gothitelle WHT 43

Trainers

Brave Bangle WHT 80
Pokégear 3.0 BLK 84
Prism Energy BLK 86

Mega Evolution

Essentials

Meganium MEG 10
Alakazam MEG 56
Lunatone MEG 74
Solrock MEG 75
Mega Lucario ex MEG 77
Mega Kangaskhan ex MEG 104
Boss's Orders MEG 114
Fighting Gong MEG 116
Forest of Vitality MEG 117
Lillie's Determination MEG 119
Premium Power Pro MEG 124
Ultra Ball MEG 131

Other Attackers

Mega Venusaur ex MEG 3
Mega Abomasnow ex MEG 36
Mega Manectric ex MEG 50
Mega Gardevoir ex MEG 60
Mega Absol ex MEG 86
Mega Mawile ex MEG 94

Support Pokémon

Cinderace MEG 28
Hariyama MEG 73
Garganacl MEG 84
Yveltal MEG 88

Trainers

Mega Signal MEG 121
Mystery Garden MEG 122
Risky Ruins MEG 127
Surfing Beach MEG 129
Wally's Compassion MEG 132

Phantasmal Flames

Essentials

Mega Lopunny ex PFL 84
Battle Cage PFL 85
Dawn PFL 87
Wondrous Patch PFL 94

Other Attackers

Moltres PFL 14
Mega Diancie ex PFL 41
Mega Sharpedo ex PFL 61
Empoleon ex PFL 70

Support Pokémon

Mega charizard X ex PFL 13
Oricorio ex PFL 18
Mega Gengar ex PFL 56

Trainers

Blowtorch PFL 86
Dizzying Valley PFL 88
Firebreather PFL 89
Grimsley's Move PFL 90
Jumbo Ice Cream PFL 91
Rotom ex PFL 29

Ascended Heroes

This set contains reprints of many meta-relevant cards. This list only includes cards originally printed in the set.

Essentials

Psyduck ASC 39
Team Rocket's Honchkrow ASC 127
N's Zekrom ASC 155
Poké Pad ASC 198

Other Attackers

Mega Meganium ex ASC 10
Mega Charizard Y ex ASC 22
Mega Feraligatr ex ASC 43
Mega Froslass ex ASC 47
Kingambit ASC 148
Mega Dragonite ex ASC 152

Support Pokémon

Golduck ASC 40
Dragonair ASC 151 Tapu Koko ASC 67

Trainers

Light Ball ASC 191
Nighttime Mine ASC 197
Canari ASC 185

Perfect Order

Essentials

Barbaracle POR 43
Meowth ex POR 62
Judge POR 76
Poké Pad POR 81
Rocky Fighting Energy POR 87
Telepathic Psychic Energy POR 88

Other Attackers

Mega Clefable ex POR 31
Serperior POR 6
Decidueye POR 12
Mega Starmie ex POR 21
Lapras POR 22
Tyrantrum POR 45
Mega Zygarde ex POR 47
Yveltal ex POR 53
Doublade POR 57

Supporting Pokémon

Vivillon POR 9
Dartrix POR 11
Talonflame POR 14
Aromatisse POR 36
Diggersby POR 65

Trainers

Core Memory POR 70
Curshing Hammer POR 71
Jacinthe POR 75
Lumiose City POR 77
Rosa's Encouragement POR 84
Tarragon POR 85

Upcoming Set

Placeholder for our next set

Essentials

Other Attackers

Support Pokémon

Trainers

Upcoming Set

Placeholder for a future set

Essentials

Relevant Cards

Niche Cards

Other Noteworthy Cards