10 Best Cards In Ruler of the Skies

Pokémon TCG Pocket has settled into a comfortable monthly cadence of releases for some time now. When a smaller set arrives, it’s much easier to plan for the cards you want and pick them up via pack points. But when a huge drop hits, it’s time to hunker down and really decide what you want to spend your hard-earned points on.

In that sense, Ruler of the Skies is a very fascinating set. It’s been a while since we’ve gotten a 155-card drop, following the smaller sets of Everyday Wonders (69) and Paradox Drive (74). As such, it’s more of a meta-defining shake-up for Pokémon TCG Pocket, and that includes plenty of new ex Pokémon to build entire decks around (plus the tools to support them). Let’s dig into the best cards for Ruler of the Skies.

Hoopa ex

Hoopa ex is a new card that’s already seeing some movement in the meta. Its first attack is Shadow Bullet (one darkness energy) – 30 Damage – “This attack also does 20 damage to 1 of your opponent’s Benched Pokémon.” Next up we have Dynamite Punch (two darkness energy, one colorless) – 100 Damage – “This Pokémon also does 20 damage to itself.”

Like Hitmontop and many other bench-based attackers, Hoopa ex is an incredibly versatile card. It can pack on 100 damage with relative ease after a few turns, but it can also pepper up the bench with small arms damage for one energy. By using cards like Cyrus, you can force out someone’s benched Pokémon after hitting it with Shadow Bullet.

Hoopa ex can also benefit from other Darkness-type cards, including Deceptive Needle, or even cards like Starting Plains, since it’s a basic Pokémon. You can build an entire deck around Hoopa ex if you happen to pull it. It’s also a prime card to save your pack points for.

Deceptive Needle

As Pokémon Tools are in high supply, we’re spoiled for choice when it comes to slotting them in. However, Deceptive Needle is an obvious choice for any Darkness-type deck.

Here’s what it does: “At the end of your turn, if the Darkness Pokémon this card is attached to is in the Active Spot, do 10 damage to your opponent’s Active Pokémon.”

It’s very simple, and functions kind of like a Rocky Helmet (which reflects 20 damage back to the attacker), but instead of requiring an attack, the damage is automatic and non-conditional. You may want to include two in a mono Darkness-themed deck.

Rainbow Cave

As one of the most interesting cards in the set, Rainbow Cave is a new stadium that’s set to inject more power into multi-colored decks: “Once during each player’s turn, that player may discard the energy that has been generated in their Energy Zone. If they do, the next energy is produced.”

It’s a simple effect, but very useful, especially if you’re using one of the few Dragon cards in the set, like Mega Rayquaza ex. Since it requires both Fire and Lightning energy to use its attack, being able to swap between types on a whim every turn is a useful ability. This can also slot nicely into any legacy deck that uses multiple elements, such as Lugia ex (which requires three different types of energy).

Soothing Shore

Every so often, you get a crucial class-based stadium drop, and we’re getting a lot this year. Soothing Shore does exactly what it says on the tin: “At the end of each player’s turn, that player heals 20 damage from each of their Pokémon that has any Water Energy attached.”

It’s a no-brainer for a water-based deck, and considering that there are some extra tools in Ruler of the Skies (like Wailord ex), it’ll help you on your quest to craft new set decks, as well as legacy ones.

Typhlosion ex

Jimmy's Typhlosion in battle in The Legend of Thunder! tv movie

This set didn’t necessarily get a lot of fire love, but we do have Typhlosion ex. As a stage 2 evolution, it’ll take a bit of work to get there, but its attack is extremely powerful: Destructive Inferno – two fire energy, one colorless – 110 damage – “Flip a coin until you get tails. For each heads, discard a random Energy from your opponent’s Active Pokémon.”

If you can protect Typhlosion on the bench until it’s fully online, you can rip apart your opponent’s setup with even one or two successful coin flips. Rely on classic items like Flame Patch to help assist a fire-based deck, and you can bring along Entei ex for card draw.

Pokémon TCG Pocket Ruler of the Skies Metagross ex

As yet another deck-defining card, Mega Metagross ex makes a splash in this set, and injects some love into steel. Its one attack, Gatling Slug, is massive: three colorless energy – 100+ damage – “This attack does 10 more damage for each Metal Energy attached to this Pokémon.”

While there isn’t a lot of steel support in this set, you do have the reliable Metal Core Barrier, as well as Steel Apron to choose from.

Mega Sharpedo ex

Mega Sharpedo ex is one in a big crowd of impactful ex Pokémon in Ruler of the Skies. Its one attack is short and sweet – Turbo Shark – one water energy – 70 damage – “Take a Water Energy from your Energy Zone and attach it to 1 of your Benched Water-type Pokémon.”

This is a powerful board-building attack for one energy, so it makes sense that Mega Sharpedo ex will need to evolve off of Carvanha before it becomes the big bad shark. Get Mega Sharpedo ex online fast, and use cards like Soothing Shore and Wallace to help it out.

Poltchageist

Poltchageist is the kind of Pokémon you keep around for its ability: “Once during your turn, when you put this Pokémon from your hand onto your Bench, you may heal 20 damage from your Active Grass-type Pokémon.”

Its sole attack, Spray Fluid, is less impressive – one grass energy – 10 damage. You don’t even necessarily want to take Sinistcha, as the Poltchageist’ ability will be doing the heavy lifting.

Vespiquen ex

Vespiquen ex is one of those cards that you can build an entire grass deck around. Its one attack is extremely useful for shoring up your board – Chase Order – three grass energy – 70+ damage – “Effect: You may discard one of your Benched Basic Grass-type Pokémon. If you do, this attack does 70 more damage.”

For two energy off a single stage 1 evolution, you can hit 140 damage pretty quickly and start wiping out your opponent’s board while securing your own. Vespiquen ex works well with classic grass items and tools, like Fragrant Forest, Leaf Cape, and Erika. Poltchageist can also help heal up your team. Just don’t forget to take Combee so you can hit the evolutionary track.

Mega Rayquaza ex

Mega Rayquaza ex is the key card in the set, adorning the digital pack art, so it’s obviously going to do some work in the new meta. Its attack is predictably devastating: Mega Burst – one lightning energy, one fire energy – Damage – 50x – “Discard all Fire and Lightning Energy from this Pokémon, and this attack does 50 damage for each Energy you discard in this way.”

As a basic ex with 180 health, it’s just a great pick for any deck in Pokémon TCG Pocket, and by using a Rainbow Cave or other energy trickery, you can build other dragon-based cards to help support Rayquaza.