Many of the best attacks inPokemonPocketrequire four energies to perform. Given that Pokemon Pocket is a fast game where matches only last a few minutes, dedicating four energies to one attack can make or break the game.
If a Pokemon requires four energy to use an attack, it likely needs an entire deck built around it. The quality of Pokemon that require the most energy is mixed. Some Pokemon are absolutely terrible due to this energy restriction, while many of the best cards in competitive play also have the highest costs.
Pokemon Red and Blue
Pack
Genetic Apex Mewtwo
Most Pokemon that use the most energy for their attacks are also among the highest attacking Pokemon. Venusaur Ex doesn’t follow this trend, as its Giant Bloom attack does a modest 100 damage. The base version of Venusaur is even weaker, dealing only 80 damage—the same amount Dragonair deals with a two-energy attack.
Giant Bloom, however, includes a significant life-drain effect. Venusaur Ex heals for 30 HP, partially compensating for its modest attack power. With enough energy, Venusaur Ex’s ability to heal itself, combined with its status as the Pokemon with the highest HP in Pokemon Pocket, makes it one of the hardest Pokemon to defeat.
Genetic Apex Charizard
The highest base attack goes to Charizard Ex’s Crimson Storm, so it’s no surprise that it is also among the most expensive moves in Pokemon Pocket. Even the base Charizard hits very hard, with an attack power equal to Mewtwo Ex.
Moltres Ex’s Inferno Dance can produce up to three fire energies in one turn, making Moltres Ex a key card in Charizard Ex decks. Charizard Ex must discard two fire energies to use its strongest attack, so without an abundance of energies to back it up; it can be challenging to maintain the fiery onslaught.
Genetic Apex Pikachu
Golem is an unusual Pokemon in that it inflicts massive damage both on its opponent and on itself. Fortunately, Golem has some of the highest HP in the game, but taking 50 damage means that another fairly strong Pokemon could knock it out in one hit. Additionally, if Golem manages to attack twice in a row, it becomes vulnerable to being taken down by even basic Pokemon.
Most Pokemon with attacks as strong as 150 have some drawbacks, often involving discarding energy or flipping coins. While the self-damage may give Golem consistency, it essentially turns it into a glass cannon.
Just like in the series whereDragonite is not a legendary but hits just as hard as one, in Pokemon Pocket it is not an Ex Pokemon but has comparable firepower. Once Dragonite has enough energy to use Draco Meteor, the match can become chaotic. Draco Meteor attacks four times for a total of 200 damage, but the targets are entirely random.
More often than not, if you’re dealing 200 damage with Dragonite’s Draco Meteor, you’ll come out on top. However, there will be games where you lose since the damage was allocated to suboptimal targets. .
Pokemon Sword and Shield
Genetic Apex Pikachu, Charizard, Mewtwo
For fire deck users on a budget, Centiskorch can be a good option until they acquire rarer cards like Charizard. Centiskorch’s 130 damage is impressive, and unlike other powerful attackers like Mewtwo Ex, it only needs to discard one energy instead of two.
Since Centiskorch is a stage 1 Pokemon, it can get onto the field quickly. However, Centiskorch decks rely heavily on drawing Moltres early in the game. Without Moltres to generate energies, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to unleash Centiskorch’s explosive attack power effectively.
Similar to the anime and video games, Gyarados’s Hyper Beam is a powerful attack. Unfortunately, like in the anime and games, Magikarp is one of the weakest cards in Pokemon Pocket. Gyarados requires a significant investment, and while cards like Misty can speed up its setup, it’s often outshined by moreefficient water types like Starmie Ex and Articuno.
If you manage to get Gyarados fully equipped with energy, it can be a serious threat. While its 100 attack usually isn’t enough to knock out other boss monsters in one hit, the added effect of removing one energy from the active Pokemon can often prevent opponents from counterattacking.
More than any other lightning Pokemon, Magneton best captures the essence of a living battery. Its Volt Charge ability ensures that Magneton remains a low-investment option.
Since only one energy can typically be played per turn, building up multiple Pokemon on the bench is challenging. Magneton, however, manages this on its own, offering a cost-effective choice for quick strikes. When combined with Lt. Surge, Magneton’s energy can be reallocated to more powerful attackers like Raichu, enabling stronger hits.
Pokemon Black and White
No Pokemon can exceed 200 damage in Pokemon Pocket, so from a damage perspective, Golurk’s Double Lariat is worth the high energy cost. What sets Golurk apart from other heavy hitters like Charizard Ex is that its attack relies on coin flips.
If Golurk flips two heads, no Pokemon can withstand its attack. However, there’s an equal chance that Golurk deals no damage at all. Given the time it takes to set up Golurk, relying on a coin flip to determine the outcome of a match may not be the wisest strategy.
Both Rhydon and Rhyhorn rank among the least energy-efficient Pokemon. Rhydon’s attack only deals 100 damage, which is good for knocking out Stage 1 Pokemon like Arbok, but nearly every Stage 2 Pokemon has more than 100 HP. Nearly every Pokemon that uses three or four energy attacks deals more damage than Rhydon.
Rhydon’s basic form in Rhyhorn may even be less practical, as it can’t attack until turn 3. While Rhyhorn is tanky for a basic Pokemon, it often gets knocked out before it’s ready to attack, let alone last until a 4th to evolve into Rhydon for a stronger offensive role.
With stats comparable to some Ex monsters, Melmetal is an immensely powerful Stage 1 Pokemon. Its 130 HP and damage-reducing ability, which mitigates 20 damage per hit, make it challenging to knock out—beneficial since Melmetal requires a lot of setup to be effective.
Melmetal deals 120 damage, enough to knock out most Stage 1 and basic Pokemon. Fortunately for Melmetal users, it has a built-in energy engine. Melmetal’s basic form, Meltan, can generate extra metal energy each turn, enabling players to evolve and attack with Melmetal within two turns.
