Pokémon TCG: Chaos Rising - Best Pokémon and Trainers

Chaos Rising, the new base set in the Mega Evolution block, came out on May 22nd!

We've covered the spoilers on this article. If you'd like to see more about the set itself, that is, products and how much they cost, check it out.

Today, we'll explore the staples that are really worth getting if you're a competitive player. Let's go!

Pokémon ex

5 - Cinccino ex

Stage 1 Pokémon. It evolves from Minccino.

- Ability: Smooth Coat. Whenever this Pokémon is attacked by the opponent's active Pokémon, you may flip a coin. If you get "heads", prevent that damage.

- Attack: Energized Slap (C). This attack deals 40 damage for each energy attached to this Pokémon.

In Standard, the only Pokémon that lets you attach over 4 energies to your Pokémon is Emboar WHT 13. Its ability, Inferno Fandango, is a sort of Rain Dance for the Fire archetype.

It's true that you can use strategies like the Meganium MEG 10 combo to put more Grass energies in play, but they're often too slow and not efficient straight away.

Another option is Metang TEF 114, but it's a bit riskier because you'll have to get lucky when you look at the top 4 cards in your deck. Or you can manipulate or filter your cards so that you can always find basic Metal energies with it.

Nonetheless, Cinccino ex stands out because of its ability, which prevents enemy damage if you get heads on a coinflip. It relies on luck, but still.

4 - Beedrill ex

Stage 2 Pokémon. It evolves from Kakuna.

- Attack: Rumbling Bees (G). This attack deals 110 damage for each Beedrill and Beedrill ex in play.

It's pretty straightforward, isn't it? Considering you can play 4 copies of the baby version of this Pokémon and 4 copies of the ex version (according to the rules regarding playing different versions of the same Pokémon), you'll multiply 110 damage by 8, essentially. In theory, if you put all of these Pokémon in play, you'll deal 880 damage for just one energy!

Four Beedrill or Beedrill ex will already be quite destructive in this strategy, as they'll make this Pokémon deal 440 damage. This knocks out nearly everything in the format. Furthermore, this card can face Cynthia's Garchomp ex DRI 104, the Pokémon that has been rising in the rankings since the latest rotation, head-on.

The format is full of cards that support the Grass archetype, particularly Forest of Vitality MEG 117, so you won't have any trouble evolving this Beedril ex.

3 - Mega Dragalge ex

Stage 1 Pokémon. It evolves from Skrelp.

- Attack: Corrosive Liquid (C)(C). Discard all Tools and Special Energies attached to enemy Pokémon.

- Attack: Pernicious Poison (W)(D). The opponent's active Pokémon is now Poisoned. During check-up (in between turns), put 16 damage counters on it instead of just 1.

Its first attack is a great way to control the board. It works like Megaton Blower SSP 182, which has almost the exact same effect.

As for Pernicious Poison, it will be great for strategies with Munkidori PRE 44. You can take advantage of its Adrena-Brain for one Darkness energy to move around the damage counters you get.

Mega Dragalge ex's Pernicious Poison also needs one Darkness energy, so this combination is a great idea.

Another viable alternative is using Mega Dragalge ex to support the Water archetype.

2 - Mega Gallade ex

Stage 2 Pokémon. It evolves from Kirlia.

- Attack: Gale Slash (F). This attack deals 50 damage plus 150 extra damage if Mega Gallade ex doesn't have any damage counters attached.

- Attack: Marvelous Edge (F)(F)(C). This attack deals 240 damage.

This Pokémon was released in Japan as a promo in the Mega Evolution block. A few months ago, we covered it in this article.

Its first attack, Gale Slash, will be the main star of any deck with it, and the idea is to use cards like Wally's Compassion MEG 132 to make it work!

1 - Mega Greninja ex

Stage 2 Pokémon. It evolves from Frogadier.

- Ability: Deadly Shuriken. During your turn, if Mega Greninja ex is your active Pokémon, you may discard 1 basic Water energy from your hand to use this effect. If you do, you may put 6 damage counters on 1 enemy Pokémon.

- Attack: Ninja Spinner (W)(W). This attack deals 120 damage and lets you return 1 basic Water energy attached to Mega Greninja ex to your hand. If you do, this attack deals 80 extra damage.

This is one of the most anticipated Pokémon in this set. Players were already keeping an eye on it since it came out in Japan in March and performed really well in a few tournaments. The best example of that is how it performed at the Kanagawa City League.

Another card that players have been using with this Pokémon is Greninja ex TWM 106, from Scarlet & Violet: Twilight Masquerade, which deals sniper damage.

Baby Pokémon

5 - Chesnaught

Stage 2 Pokémon. It evolves from Quilladin.

- Ability: Needly Armor. If this is your active Pokémon and it takes any damage from enemy attacks (even if it is knocked out in the process), put 3 damage counters on the enemy Pokémon for each Grass energy attached to this Pokémon.

- Attack: Impound (G)(G)(C). This attack deals 160 damage and prevents the opponent from retreating their active Pokémon in the following turn.

Because of Meganium MEG 10, you won't have any trouble getting the basic Grass energies you need to use its attack and put at least 6 damage counters (60 damage) on the opponent's active Pokémon.

Furthermore, you can also play Teal Mask Ogerpon ex PRE 12 to get a basic Grass energy and move it to Chesnaught CRI 7 through Energy Switch MEG 115.

4 - Metagross

Stage 2 Pokémon. It evolves from Metang.

- Attack: Bounce Back (M). This attack deals 60 damage. Then, retreat Metagross to your bench and put a new Pokémon in its place.

- Attack: Metallic Hammer (M)(M)(M)(C). This attack deals 150 damage. It also deals another 150 extra damage if you discard 3 basic Metal (M) energies from Metagross.

This is another decent baby Pokémon for rogue decks. Its previous evolution line includes Metang TEF 114 (from Temporal Forces), which gets Metal energies from the top of your deck for you. You can also use Philippe, which was designed with this strategy in mind.

3 - Goodra

Stage 2 Pokémon. It evolves from Sliggoo.

- Ability: Slimy Sliding. When your opponent tries to retreat their Pokémon, they must flip a coin. If it's tails, the energies they use to retreat their Pokémon can't be discarded, and they can't do it (this ability can't stack).

- Attack: Dragon Pulse (W)(P). This attack deals 160 damage and discards the top card in your deck.

This Pokémon is an excellent way to sabotage the opponent, and it's perfect for "stall" decks (that is, decks that prevent the opponent from retreating their active Pokémon).

The only problem is that it is a Stage 2 Pokémon, so you need to play its entire evolution line to make this strategy work. Usually, you'll need a 2-2-2 line.

2 - Crobat

Stage 2 Pokémon. It evolves from Golbat.

- Ability: Nighttime Maneuvers. If this is your active Pokémon, you may use this ability. Look for any card in your deck, shuffle it, then put the card you picked at the very top.

- Attack: Poison Sound Wave (D). This attack deals 80 damage and makes the opponent's active Pokémon Confused and Poisoned.

Its ability is decent enough, but it needs to be your active Pokémon to work. The problem is when you need to retreat it. You can use alternatives like Pecharunt ex SFA 39 in Standard or tools like Air Balloon BLK 79 if Pecharunt ex SFA 39 isn't available.

1 - Delphox

Stage 2 Pokémon. It evolves from Braixen.

- Ability: Flaring Magic. Once per turn, you can discard 1 basic Fire energy from your hand to draw until you have 7 cards in hand.

- Attack: Energized Storm (F)(F). This attack deals 30 damage for each energy attached to your Pokémon.

It's an excellent card draw Pokémon!

Once the next base set, Abyss Eye & Pitch Black, brings us Mega Delphox ex, it will be great.

Supporters

Emma and Philippe

Emma: Your opponent reveals their hand, and you'll draw 1 card for each Pokémon they have.

It's an excellent card draw tool against players that keep specific Pokémon in their hand, like Meowth ex, to protect them in certain turns. It's decent enough.

It also works really well when your opponent has certain Pokémon in play but can't evolve them straight away.

Phlippe: Look for up to 2 basic Metal energies and attach them to 1 of your Metal Pokémon in play (benched or otherwise).

It's a great support card for the Metal archetype, particularly if you enjoy playing Heatran TWM 123 rogue lists.

Items

Special Red Card & Great Haul Net

Special Red Card: You can only play this card if your opponent has 3 Prize cards left or less.

If so, the opponent will shuffle their hand, put these cards at the bottom of their deck, and then draw 3 cards.

This card will see play in nearly all decks in the format. It will certainly work as a sort of Unfair Stamp TWM 165, so you can just play this item instead and play another ACE SPEC.

Great Haul Net: You may pick one or both effects below.

1) Choose up to 3 Water Pokémon in your discard pile and shuffle them back into your deck.

2) Choose up to 3 basic Water energies in your discard pile and shuffle them back into your deck.

It's an excellent recycling card for the Water archetype as a whole. It will be great in Standard and Expanded, as well as other game formats (like GLC).

From left to right:

Nitro (F) Energy: You can only attach this energy to a Fire Pokémon, and it provides 1 Fire energy.

If this card is discarded by an attack effect on a Fire Pokémon, it returns to your hand instead of going to the discard pile (after you deal damage and resolve other effects).

Bubble (W) Energy: You can only attach this energy to a Water Pokémon, and it provides 1 Water energy.

The Pokémon with this energy attached recovers from all special conditions and is immune to them.

Magnetic (M) Energy: You can only attach this energy to a Metal Pokémon, and it provides 1 Metal energy.

The Metal Pokémon that has this energy attached can retreat for free.

These energies need no introduction. All special energies are great.

The most powerful one, though, is definitely Bubble (W) Energy, which will be excellent with Mega Greninja ex and other Water Pokémon.

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

Thank you for reading, and see you next time!