Surging Sparks Review - The Best Pokémon, Trainers, and ACE SPECs!

Pokémon TCG's new base set, Surging Sparks, is out! In this article, we'll show you which cards to invest, mainly considering how important they are in Standard competitions.

And, of course, we'll also show you the best Trainers from this set. Getting four copies of them is always interesting, particularly now that they're more accessible, as you never know how much they'll cost in the future.

10 - Tapu Koko

Tapu Koko SSP 65, a "single Prize" attacker, is incredible. It is great with Electric Generator sv1 170, which you can use to attach Electric energies to Tapu Koko if it is on your bench. Magneton SSP 59, a new card from this set, is also great with it.

Magneton SSP 59's ability lets you attach energies to an Electric Pokémon, but it is then knocked out. This, in turn, enables Tapu Koko's "Prize Count" attack, which deals 180 damage if you have more Prize cards than your opponent. This is enough to knock down a Lugia VSTAR SIT 139 thanks to its weakness to Electric Pokémon.

9 - Magneton

Magneton SSP 59 is essential in any Electric deck. Its ability, Overvolt Discharge, lets you recycle three basic energies from your discard pile and attach them to any Electric Pokémon, but it is then knocked out.

This is particularly useful with Pikachu ex-SSP 57, whose attack costs one Metal energy, one Electric energy, and one Grass energy. It is quite unusual.

Furthermore, Magneton SSP 59 can help you activate Counter Catcher sv4 160 if you're behind.

8 - Latias ex

Latias ex SSP 76 is a great support Pokémon because of its Skyliner ability, which makes the retreat cost of your basic Pokémon free. This is useful in decks that rely on moving your Pokémon to play specific combos, such as:

- Decks with Gouging Fire ex TEF 38, as you need to retreat it to reuse its attack, Blaze Blitz.

- Decks with Iron Valiant ex sv4 89, whose ability, Tachyon Bits, lets you put two damage counters on an enemy Pokémon when you move it to the active position. You can put even more damage counters on enemy Pokémon with multiple Iron Valiant ex sv4 89 in play.

7 - Archaludon ex

Archaludon ex SSP 130 might not be very popular, but I see potential in it against Chien-Pao ex sv2 61, which is weak against Metal Pokémon. Its ability, Assemble Alloy, lets you recycle two basic Metal energies from your discard pile and attach them to Metal Pokémon when you evolve it to Archaludon ex.

Its attack, Metal Defender, makes it immune against Fire Pokémon, which would usually be a weakness. It turns it into a true "tanker".

6 - Scovillain ex

What makes this Pokémon stand out is its ability, which makes it a Grass and Fire Pokémon at the same time! This means you can use it to beat Grass Pokémon, common in many decks (like teal-mask-ogerpon-ex-twm-25), and Charizard ex sv3 125, which is weak against Grass Pokémon.

Its attack, Spicy Rage, is the same as Reshiram & Charizard-GX UNB 20's Outrage attack, from the Sun/Moon era: it uses damage counters to deal even more damage.

5 - Black Kyurem ex

Black Kyurem ex SSP 48 will be a new attacker for the Water archetype, and its attack is particularly efficient against Dragons like Raging Bolt ex TEF 123 and Regidrago VSTAR SIT 136, which are very common. Ice Age Paralyzes the enemy Pokémon if it is a Dragon, and forces your opponent to spend resources to remove this special status.

Furthermore, Baxcalibur PR-SV 19 is also in Standard. Its ability, Super Cold, makes attaching energies to your Pokémon really easy. This is how you'll be able to attack with Black Kyurem ex SSP 48.

4 - Milotic ex

In our fourth spot, we have Milotic ex SSP 42 and its ability, Sparkling Scales, which prevents any damage or attack effects by Terastal Pokémon. This includes opponents like Pikachu ex SSP 57 and Mewtwo ex sv4 58, and other popular Terastal Pokémon, like Charizard ex sv3 125 and Dragapult ex TWM 130.

Its attack, Hypno Splash, makes the opponent's active Pokémon fall Asleep, so you can use it with Jynx ex sv3pt5 124.

3 - Alolan Exeggutor ex

In our third spot, we have Alolan Exeggutor ex SSP 133, which is ideal with Regidrago VSTAR SIT 136. You'll copy its attack with Regidrago while it is in your discard pile.

Its attack, in turn, lets you attach any basic energies in your hand to the Pokémon on your board in any way you want. Earthen Vessel sv4 163 will make finding these energies easier.

Its second attack is incredibly powerful, though you'll have to toss a coin to use it. If you get "heads" and the enemy Pokémon is a basic Pokémon, it is knocked out immediately! If it's "tails", a basic Pokémon on your opponent's bench is knocked out!

This is excellent to knock out basic Pokémon that tend to stay on the board but don't attack, like Rotom V LOR 58, Lumineon V BRS 40, or Squawkabilly ex sv2 169.

2 - Hydreigon ex

What makes Hydreigon ex SSP 119 stand out is its first attack, Crashing Headbutt, which deals 200 damage and discards 3 cards from the opponent's deck. You can use it to "deck out" your opponent, as an alternative win condition.

Its attack, Obsidian, deals 130 damage to two enemy Pokémon, but it is quite expensive. Using special energies, like Neo Upper Energy TEF 162, is risky, as your opponent can sabotage you in many ways, like with Temple of Sinnoh ASR 155 and Lost Vacuum CRZ 135. However, Hydreigon ex SSP 119's first attack is already enough to impact the metagame.

1 - Pikachu ex

To complete our list, we have Pikachu, as popular as ever. Its ability, Resolute Heart, lets you return it to the game with 10 HP if it is knocked out with a single blow. If you use it with cards that buff its HP, like Lively Stadium SSP 180 or Bravery Charm sv2 173, it is a resilient threat.

Its attack, Topaz Bolt, is powerful, as it deals 300 damage, but you'll have to discard all energies attached to it. Gravity Mountain SSP 177 nerfs your opponent's stage 2 Pokémon by 30 HP, so Pikachu ex-SSP 57 will be able to knock out very resistant Pokémon, like Charizard ex sv3 125 and Dragapult ex TWM 130.

Cards for "Ancient Box" Decks

Gouging Fire & Koraidon

These two Pokémon will be great additions to the Ancient Box archetype: Gouging Fire SSP 38 is a "Single Prize" Fire attacker. Its attack, Blazing Charge, deals 340 damage to Grass Pokémon if your opponent has 4 Prize cards or less.

Koraidon SSP 116's attack, Unrelenting Onslaught, enables a perfect combo for this archetype. If you attacked with an Ancient Pokémon on the previous turn, it deals 180 damage.

Quaquaval

Its ability, Up-Tempo, draws you cards, and is very useful in decks with Kingdra ex SFA 12. It lets you summon it from your discard pile onto your bench, which saves you resources and time.

Azumarill

Azumarill SSP 74's ability, Glistening Bubbles, makes its attack, Double-Edge, cost just one Psychic energy if you have a Terastal Pokémon in play. This way, you'll deal a whole lot of damage for just one energy!

Terapagos

Terapagos SSP 161's attack, Prism Charge, lets you get three different basic energies and attach them to your Terastal Pokémon. This is incredibly helpful in this strategy.

Supporters

Lisia's Appeal SSP 179 lets you swap the opponent's active Pokémon with another and makes this new attacker Confused. It is great for control strategies.

Surfer SSP 187 draws cards and lets you move your Pokémon around. With this card, you'll be able to swap your active Pokémon and draw until you have five cards in hand.

Drayton SSP 174 lets you get one Pokémon and one Trainer from the top seven cards in your deck, but you'll have to reveal them to your opponent.

As for Cyrano SSP 170, it lets you get three Pokémon ex from your deck. It is a great tool for strategies that focus on this type of Pokémon.

Tools

Counter Gain

This reprint makes attacks cost less colorless (C) energies if you're behind.

Item

Call Bell SSP 165 lets you get a Supporter from your deck on turn 1 if you're going second.

Meddling Memo SSP 181 shuffles your opponent's hand and puts it at the bottom of their deck. Then, it draws them another hand.

Tera Orb SSP 189 lets you get a Terastal Pokémon from your deck.

Stadium

Gravity Mountain SSP 177 reduces the HP of basic Pokémon, so it's great with Pokémon like Iron Hands ex sv4 70 and Raging Bolt ex TEF 123.

Megaton Blower SSP 182 practically combines Choice Belt and Defiant Band, as it makes your Pokémon ex deal more damage when you're behind.

With Miracle Headset SSP 183, you'll only need to use one colorless energy to attack with your active Pokémon.

Amulet of Hope SSP 162 makes Pokémon ex and Terastal Pokémon deal 50 less damage, so it's excellent in control decks.

Scramble Switch SSP 186 lets you swap your active Pokémon and all energies attached to it with one of your benched Pokémon, so it's a versatile card for this format. First, you'll swap your active Pokémon with one of your benched Pokémon, and then transfer all its energies to the new active Pokémon. You'll recycle everything to the new attacker, so you won't lose anything if your active Pokémon is about to be knocked out.

What did you think of these cards? Which ones do you think will be more relevant for their strategies? Tell us your thoughts in our comment section below.

Thank you for reading, and see you next time!