It’s time to draw that deck and get some seriously tough creatures on your bench as we check out the strongest Pokemon cards of all time!
Since the first Pokemon Trading Card Game sets were released at the end of 1996 (though it wasn’t until 1998 that the game made its way to the West), an absolutely mind-blowing number of cards have been sold.
As of March 2022, over 43 billion cards have been sold worldwide.
So it’s fair to say that the Pokemon Trading Card Game is quite a phenomenon – and it’s still going strong to this day.
Over the years, many different card types have been released, with many – such as EX, GX and Mega versions of popular Pokemon – providing enhanced versions of already strong characters.
There’s lots of ways we could measure strength of various cards in the vast pantheon of Pokemon out there – but we’ve managed to narrow it down to ten cards that we believe are the absolute strongest, based on a few factors including the brute strength of attacks!
Which are the strongest of the ones we’ve chosen though?
Let’s find out, as we check out the strongest Pokemon cards of all time!
15. Black Kyurem EX
Released as part of the Pokemon Black and White: Legendary Treasures set in 2013, Black Kyurem EX is a Dragon type Pokemon with 180 HP.
Importantly – and something that isn’t the case for many cards on this list – Black Kyurem is a Basic Pokemon, so you won’t need to find other cards to evolve it into this super powerful form.
It’s basically ready for action as soon as you draw it – so we at Retro Dodo felt this was a great choice to kick off the strongest Pokemon cards list, even though many other cards are stronger when it comes to their attacks.
Black Kyurem EX has two attacks.
Dragon Fang does sixty damage and can be used once you have a single Electric energy card and any two other energy cards attached to Black Kyurem EX. Additionally, it can also Paralyze the defending Pokemon if you flip heads on a coin after attacking!
It also has Freeze Shock, an attack which does 150 damage and requires one water, two electric and any other type of energy to use.
Using Freeze Shock does stop Black Kyurem from attacking on the next turn, however, so it must be used with caution.
14. Dhelmise VMAX
Released in 2021’s Shining Fate set, this Dhelmise VMAX – which must be evolved from Dhelmise V – is an excellent choice for Trainers looking to build a strong Grass-based deck.
With 330 HP, it takes quite a lot to knock out a Dhelmise VMAX – but it’s also got some serious attack power too.
Swinging Chain does 30 damage to an opponent’s Pokemon for each Grass energy it has, so this is an attack that can really build up each turn!
Plus, Max Anchor does a phenomenal 240 damage using just three energy cards (two Grass and one of any other energy), though it can’t use this two turns in a row.
Will it need to though? Unlikely!
13. Blaziken GX
Pokemon Sun & Moon: Celestial Storm’s release in 2018 brought us this awesome Blaziken GX – which has 240 HP, two standard attacks and a great GX attack too.
First up, Blaziken GX has Slash, a two colorless energy attack that can be built up using any energy you have to hand.
Next is the devastating Explosive Kick, which requires two Fire energy and any other single energy card – but it does 210 damage.
This does have a bit of a price though – two Fire energy are removed from Blaziken GX when Explosive Kick is used.
Finally, the GX attack – Blaze Out GX – doesn’t do any damage, but does remove two energy cards from your opponent’s Pokemon.
This, as a GX attack, can only be used once per game – but if timed right, it can definitely turn the tables!
12. Coalossal VMAX
Hailing from Pokemon Sword and Shield: Vivid Voltage in 2020, this Coalossal VMAX has a massive 330 HP!
Not only that, but its Eruption Shot attack does 40 base damage (using just one Fighting energy!) and 90 more damage if an energy card is drawn from the top of the deck after attacking.
That energy card is then attached to Coalossal; accelerating its path to using the second attack in its repertoire, which is the amazing G-Max Boulder.
Though this does require three Fighting energy plus one of any other type, it does 240 damage and has no restrictions or penalties.
Though you’ll need to evolve a Coalossal V to get your Coalossal VMAX in play, I think it’s safe to say that it’s definitely worth it!
11. Alolan Golem GX
Evolving from Alolan Graveler, the Alolan Golem GX – which was released as part of the Pokemon Sun and Moon: Crimson Invasion set – may not rule the roost with any individual attack damage, but with three attacks on offer, it makes for an extremely tough Pokemon!
The Alolan Golem GX has 250 HP too, which it’ll need, as Super Electromagnetic Tackle – its strongest attack, dealing 200 damage to an opposing Pokemon, using two Electric and two colorless energy – also deals 50 damage to itself.
However, Alolan Golem GX also has Hammer In, powered by one Electric and two colorless energy cards – and this does 80 damage.
Finally, Heavy Rock GX – which can only be used once per game – does 100 damage and stops opponents from playing any cards from their hand during their next turn!
10. Mega Charizard GX
As one of the strongest Pokemon of all time, you’ll see a lot more of Charizard on this list – it tends to be extremely well represented when it comes to the Pokemon Trading Card Game!
This particular card was released in 2014 as part of the Pokemon X and Y: Flashfire set.
Evolving from a Charizard EX, this M Charizard-EX has 230 HP and just one attack – but it’s a very good one!
Wild Blaze does 300 damage and costs two Fire, one Dark and two colorless energy to use.
It’ll also cost you the top five card of your deck – which you’ll need to discard after attacking – but I think you’ll agree that being able to inflict 300 points of damage makes this a small price to pay!
9. Mega Rayquaza EX
Pokemon X and Y: Roaring Skies gave us this brilliant Mega Rayquaza EX card, which evolves from Rayquaza EX.
Having 230 HP, it can take a reasonable amount of punishment – but it also has a bit of protection, as any damage from Grass, Fire, Water or Electric Pokemon is reduced by 20!
Its only attack is Dragon Ascent – costing three Fire, one Electric and one colorless energy card.
However, Dragon Ascent dishes out 300 damage to the poor defending Pokemon!
After using it, the Mega Rayquaza EX needs to discard two energy cards – but even with this penalty, we still rank it highly as one of the strongest Pokemon cards!
You’ll also find Rayquaza on our best Dragon type Pokemon list!
8. Copperajah VMAX
With a phenomenal 340 HP, Copperajah already sets itself up as a great entrant on the strongest Pokemon list!
Yet it also has a few tricks up its sleeve, with two awesome attacks.
First up is Dangerous Nose – requiring two Metall energy and one colorless – which does 100 base damage.
This increases to a further 100 damage if the hapless defender happens to be a Basic Pokemon!
Then there’s G-Max Hammer – a 240 HP attack with no penalties that requires three Metal and one colorless energy to use.
So it’s clear why Copperajah makes it to such a prominent place on the strongest Pokemon cards list!
7. Gyarados VMAX
Swimming straight out of Pokemon Sword and Shield: Evolving Skies, the Gyarados VMAX – which evolves from Gyarados V – is a card that reflects the strength of this particular OG Pokemon in the video game series.
An HP of 330 gives it some serious bulk, but it also has two awesome attacks with no drawbacks!
First up is Hyper Beam, a 120 HP attack that also removes an energy card from the defender – and this only costs two Water energy and a colorless energy to use.
Secondly, Max Tyrant – which requires three Water energy plus any other single energy card – does a massive 240 HP of damage!
With all this strength and no penalties for using those attacks, it’s obvious why Gyarados VMAX makes it to our strongest Pokemon cards list!
6. Charizard GX (Burning Shadows)
Told you that you hadn’t seen the last of Charizard on this list!
Our choice for the number six slot on the strongest Pokemon cards list is this Charizard GX, from 2017 set Pokemon Sun and Moon: Burning Shadows.
Three colorless energy cards give this Charizard GX access to Wing Attack, which does 70 damage to an unsuspecting Pokemon.
That’s far from everything though; three Fire energy and two colorless allows the use of Crimson Storm – which does a whopping 300 points of damage. There’s a minor negative with Crimson Storm, in that you’ll need to discard three energy cards after using it – but with 300 damage done, this doesn’t seem like that much of an issue!
Lastly, Raging Out GX will compel the opponent to discard the top ten cards of their deck for the cost of a single Fire energy and two of any other type; as a GX attack this can only be used once, but it’s a great move if timed well!
Incidentally, this isn’t the only place you’ll find Charizard on Retro Dodo – it also features in our best flying type Pokemon (by strength) list!
5. Charizard VMAX
It’s clear that Charizard is always a great choice of Pokemon card, seeing how many times the Stage 2 Fire Pokemon appears on our strongest Pokemon card list!
This one is an awesome beast too – though you’ll need to evolve it from Charizard V to get it onto the table.
330 HP gives it a solid foundation to build on – but then when you realise that its ‘weak’ attack, Claw Slash, only requires three energy of any type to use, its value becomes even clearer. Especially as Claw Slash doles out 100 damage!
Where it truly excels is with G-Max Wildfire though – which does 300 damage and requiring two Fire energy, plus two of any other energy type, to use.
It does also require the attacking player to discard two energy cards from Charizard VMAX, however – but again, for a move that hits an opponent for 300 points, is that really a huge issue?
Still not enough Charizard for you? Why not check it out in our best fire type Pokemon list?
4. Aggron VMAX
One of the most recent releases on the strongest Pokemon cards list – having arrived in 2022’s Pokemon Sword and Shield: Brilliant Stars set – Aggron VMAX has already cemented its place as one of the toughest monsters on the block.
Aggron VMAX’s Cracking Stomp attack is powered by just one Metal energy and two colorless energy cards – yet does 150 points of damage and causes the opponent to discard the top card of their deck.
Max Take Down is also on offer if you have two Metal energy cards and three of any other type – this does a huge 270 points of damage to the opponent!
However, do be careful as Aggron VMAX also takes 30 damage itself when Max Take Down is used.
With 330 points of HP though, Aggron VMAX can soak up an awful lot of damage!
3. Charizard GX (Hidden Fates)
Yes, here we have yet another Charizard – but it’s also not the only Charizard GX to make it to this list.
Clearly, someone at Pokemon HQ has a real soft spot for this fearsome Fire Pokemon!
Putting it close to the top of the strongest Pokemon cards list, this Charizard GX has 250 HP and a Flamethrower attack – costing two Fire energy and two colorless – that does 140 damage.
It also has a Flare Blitz GX attack – available once per game, matching the cost of the Flamethrower but doing more than double the attack value; that’s right, this attack dishes out 300 points of HP damage!
So it’s clear that this formidable incarnation of everyone’s favourite Fire Pokemon (I mean, surely that’s correct, isn’t it?) more than earns its place near the very top of the strongest Pokemon cards list!
2. Charizard GX (Detective Pikachu)
A Promo card from 2019 featuring a still from the movie Detective Pikachu, this Charizard GX is incredibly powerful – which is why you have discovered it in the top three of the strongest Pokemon cards!
An HP of 250, plus multiple attacks make this Charizard one you won’t want to face; the act that it can evolve from any Charmeleon is the icing on this particularly hot cake!
First up, Raging Destruction is an ability that costs just a single Fire energy to use – and it allows Trainers to look at the top 8 cards of their deck; attaching any Fire energy cards they find to the Charizard GX and discarding the rest.
Which is great for accelerating this Pokemon towards its devastating pair of attacks!
Steam Artillery costs two Fire energy and three colorless; it does 200 damage without any penalty to Charizard (or its Trainer!) whatsoever.
1. Charizard VSTAR
Another very recent addition to the enormous selection of Pokemon on offer in the Pokemon Trading Card Game, the Charizard VSTAR is our choice for the top of the strongest Pokemon cards list!
That’s because this new version of Charizard – which appeared in Pokemon Sword and Shield: Brilliant Stars in 2022 – is a superb card with a couple of brilliant attacks.
An HP of 250 starts us off on the right foot. Then, the Explosive Fire attack – which only costs two Fire energy and one colorless – deals 130 damage.
Unless the defending Pokemon already has any damage counters on it, in which case, Explosive Fire causes an extra 100 points of damage!
The icing on the cake is this Charizard’s VSTAR attack: Star Blaze. Though only costing one extra Fire energy compared to Explosive Fire, Star Blaze hits the enemy with a huge 320 points of damage!
Sure, you can only use it once per game as it’s a VSTAR attack. Yes, you also have to discard two energy from Charizard VSTAR once you use the attack.
However, as a final attack, there’s no better blaze of glory to go out on than this!
Even better, that Explosive Fire can just keep on going. Your opponents won’t stand a chance!
So there you have it – it’s a list filled with different variations of Charizard as well as some surprising and lesser known Pokemon; I think you’ll agree that there’s something for almost any player in the strongest Pokemon cards of all time list!
While you’re here, why not check out Retro Dodo’s best Pokemon booster boxes list or even our guide to rare Pokemon cards for more on the Pokemon Trading Card game?
Jason – who lives in the UK – has had a lifelong interest in video games, which all started when he discovered Space Invaders in the early 80s. The first game he ever completed was Wonder Boy in Monster Land on the Sega Master System – which remains one of his proudest gaming achievements. Jason is a passionate writer – and has been writing about gaming since the late 90s. He currently runs pop culture blog midlifegamergeek.com, which he updates on a daily basis (and has written more than 700 articles on the blog alone!).
Outside of video games, Jason is a keen tabletop gamer, film buff and comic book fan.
