Pokémon TCG: Ascended Heroes - Best Pokémon and Trainers!

Greetings, Pokémon community!

The first special set in the Mega Evolution block, Ascended Heroes, is already out! It brought us more Mega Evolution Pokémon, a mechanic first introduced in Gen VI, in the X/Y era, like Mega Dragonite, Mega Froslass, Mega Scrafty, and others. This set also mirrors the VGC Pokémon Legends: Z-A.

We've already went over it a bit in this article. Now, though, we'll go over the staples in this set you should consider investing in if you're a competitive player.

Because this is a special set, it doesn't include many staples. The Pokémon Company often doesn't design staples or reprints for these sets.

Without further ado, let's go!

Pokémon ex

5 - Mega Feraligatr ex

Stage 2 Pokémon. It evolves from Croconaw.

- Attack - Mortal Crunch (W)(W)(C): deal 200 damage and, if the opponent's active Pokémon has any damage counters, deal another 200 damage.

This Pokémon could be really efficient and explosive with Baxcalibur sv2 60's ability, Super Cold. Like so, you'll be able to move basic Water energies from your hand to your Pokémon however you like.

To get the most out of its attack, you can play Munkidori PRE 44 and put many damage counters on enemy Pokémon with its ability, Adrena-Brain. It lets you move 3 damage counters from your Pokémon to any enemy Pokémon if it has one Darkness energy attached. That way, Mortal Crunch will deal 400 damage!.

But, beware! Baxcalibur sv2 60 will rotate out of the format in April, so Mega Feraligatr will be a lot less viable then.

4 - Mega Froslass ex

Stage 1 Pokémon. It evolves from Snorunt.

- Attack - Resentful Refrain (W): deal 50 damage for each card in your opponent's hand.

- Attack - Absolute Snow (W)(C)(C): deal 150 damage and the opponent's active Pokémon is now Asleep.

Mega Froslass could be great with Froslass TWM 53 and Munkidori PRE 44 in a damage counter strategy. Froslass TWM 53 will put damage counters on Pokémon in play that have abilities (but it will affect your Pokémon as well), whereas Munkidori PRE 44 will let you move those damage counters and gradually shift damage to the enemy board.

You should focus on Resentful Refrain (W) if you play this Pokémon because players usually keep as many cards in their hand as they can.

3 - Mega Eelektross ex

Stage 2 Pokémon. It evolves from Eelektrik.

- Attack - Split Bomb (L)(L): deal 60 damage to 2 enemy Pokémon (don't apply weakness and resistance to the bench).

- Attack - Disaster Shock (L)(L)(L): deal 190 damage. You may discard 2 energies from this Pokémon, and, if you do, the opponent's active Pokémon will be Paralyzed.

It mostly stands out because of its second attack. If you discard 2 energies, Mega Eelektross will Paralyze the opponent's active Pokémon, so they won't be able to attack or retreat in the following turn. To get out of this, your opponent will have to spend resources like Switch.

Furthermore, we also got Eelektrik BLK 31 in Black Bolt & White Flare. This previous evolution is essential for this deck because of its ability, Dynamotor.

2 - Mega Charizard Y ex

Stage 2 Pokémon. It evolves from Charmeleon.

- Attack - Resentful Refrain (F)(F)(C): discard 3 energies attached to this Pokémon and pick 1 enemy Pokémon. This attack deals 280 damage to it (don't apply weakness and resistance to the bench).

This Pokémon is an alternative attacker for Fire Box, as well as a "sniper" finisher.

We've covered it once before in this article.

1 - Mega Dragonite ex

Stage 2 Pokémon. It evolves from Dragonair.

- Ability - Sky Transport: during your turn, you may use this ability. Replace your active Pokémon with one of your benched Pokémon.

- Attack - Ryuno Glide (W)(L)(L): deal 330 damage and discard 2 energies attached to this Pokémon.

This is one of the most exciting competitive Pokémon in this set. We've also covered it once before in this article.

One of the best things about it is that it is a Dragon Pokémon, so it doesn't have any natural weaknesses to other Pokémon types. Its attack also stands out because it deals a lot of damage, even though it forces you to discard 2 energies. That won't actually be a problem because you can use Eelektrik BLK 31 to reattach these energies.

"Baby" Pokémon

5 - Frosmoth

Stage 1 Pokémon. It evolves from Snom.

- Ability - Alluring Wings: if this Pokémon is in the active spot, you may draw a card.

- Attack - Cold Cyclone (W)(W): deal 90 damage and move 1 basic Water energy from this Pokémon to one of your benched Pokémon.

Once Baxcalibur sv2 60 rotates out of the format in April, we won't have good Water Pokémon to attach energies. This Frosmoth will give you at least one Water energy per turn. To retreat it, you can equip it with Air Balloon BLK 79.

4 - Team Rocket's Dugtrio

Stage 1 Pokémon. It evolves from Team Rocket's Diglett.

- Ability - Pothole: whenever the opponent's active Pokémon leaves the active spot and goes to their bench, they get 2 damage counters.

- Attack - Mud Shot (F)(C): deal 50 damage.

This addition to the Team Rocket archetype is interesting, particularly because of Team Rocket's Tyranitar DRI 96. Its ability, Sand Storm, affects basic enemy Pokémon.

3 - N's Zekrom

Basic Pokémon.

- Attack - Shred (C)(C): deal 70 damage. This attack ignores any effects on the opponent's active Pokémon.

- Attack - Rampaging Thunder (F)(L)(L)(C): deal 250 base damage, but this Pokémon can't attack at all on the following turn.

This Zekrom is a great addition to the N archetype because its attack, Shred, ignores effects on the opponent's active Pokémon, and its second attack, Rampaging Thunder, deals a lot of damage. This is particularly useful considering N's Reshiram JTG 116 doesn't deal much damage, though you can copy it with N's Zoroark ex JTG 98.

2 - N's Vanilluxe

Stage 2 Pokémon. It evolves from N's Vanillish.

- Attack - Snow Coating (C)(C): double all damage counters on enemy Pokémon.

- Attack - Blizzard (W)(C)(C): deal 120 damage and 10 damage to all benched enemy Pokémon.

This is another great Pokémon for the N archetype.

This strategy centers around "sniper" damage. It begins with Blizzard, which deals AoE damage. After that, you can use Snow Coating to double damage counters on damaged enemy Pokémon.

1 - Dragonair

Stage 1 Pokémon. It evolves from Dratini.

- Ability - Evolutionary Guidance: if this Pokémon has any energies attached, you may use this ability. Look in your deck for an evolution Pokémon, reveal it, and put it in your hand. Next, shuffle your deck.

- Attack - Tail Snap (F)(C): deal 60 damage.

This Pokémon is mostly useful because of its ability. With it, you can easily get its evolution, Mega Dragonite ex.

Supporters

Canari & Waitress

- Attack - Canari: you can only play this card if you discard 1 card from your hand. Then, look in your deck for 4 Electric Pokémon, put them in your hand, and shuffle your deck.

- Attack - Waitress: look at the top 6 cards of your deck and attach a basic energy you find there to one of your Pokémon. Shuffle the other cards back into your deck.

Item

Poké Pad

Look in your deck for 1 Pokémon without a Rule Box and put it in your hand. Then, shuffle your deck.

Once Nest Ball rotates out of the format, this card will replace it. With it, you'll filter Pokémon, particularly "baby" Pokémon.

Stadium

Nighttime Mine

With this card, Terastal Pokémon ex attacks (both yours and the opponent's) cost 1 colorless energy (C) more.

Dragapult ex PRE 73 will probably become quite popular, and stronger than ever, so players will start using this Stadium to sabotage its Phantom Dive attack.

What do you think? Tell us your thoughts in our comment section below.

Thank you for reading, and see you next time!