Pokémon TCG: Sinnoh Starters - Top 5 Best Cards (5 for Each!)

Greetings, Pokémon community! In this article, we'll explore Sinnoh starters and their final evolutions, Torterra, Infernape, and Empoleon!

We'll go over their 5 most relevant versions in the history of Pokémon TCG, from their "baby" versions to their "ultra rare" versions.

5 - Torterra (Diamond/Pearl: Base Set)

Diamond & Pearl gave us the first Torterra ever. It has two attacks that are relatively useful:

Body Slam may Paralyze the opponent's active Pokémon, and Leaf Storm heals two Grass Pokémon by 20 HP.

4 - Torterra (Diamond/Pearl: Stormfront)

This Torterra was also released in Diamond & Pearl. It stands out because of its ability, Sunshine Song, which states: "... When you play Torterra from your hand to evolve 1 of your Pokémon, you may choose as many of your Grass Pokémon in play as you like. For each Grass Pokémon you choose, search your deck for an Evolution card that evolves from that Pokémon and evolve it!

3 - Torterra (Sword/Shield: Brilliant Stars)

Now, let's move on to Sword & Shield, which rotated out of the format not too long ago. This set brought us the best "baby" Torterra in the game. Evopress, its attack, is what makes it so special, as it deals 50 damage to each evolution Pokémon in play.

This card was an efficient answer to Charizard ex sv3 125 when it was in Standard, albeit just briefly, in a "rogue" list. However, it is actually quite powerful in Expanded next to a few support "tech" cards like Cherrim BST 8 or Rillaboom SHF 13 because they make Evopress cheaper.

2 - Torterra LV.X (Diamond/Pearl: Base Set)

This is the first "ultra rare" Torterra in the game, and it is already an LV.X, the strongest type of rarity in Diamond & Pearl.

Pokémon LV.X can copy attacks and abilities from previous versions, so this Torterra can use attacks and abilities from Torterra DP 17, Torterra SF 11, or Torterra PL 39.

Its ability, Forest Murmurs, states that, if you have more Prize cards remaining than your opponent, you may pick a Pokémon on their bench and pull it to the active spot. It is basically identical to Counter Catcher sv4 160.

Its attack, Vigorous Dash, deals 100 damage to the active enemy Pokémon and 30 damage to a benched enemy Pokémon, so it is also quite useful. This type of sniper attack is always great.

1 - Torterra ex (Scarlet/Violet: Temporal Forces)

Our best Torterra is from the current block, Scarlet & Violet, and it is a Torterra ex. You can use it both in Standard (as of the date this article was written) and Expanded.

Its greatest strength is its attack, Forest March, which deals 30 damage for each Grass Pokémon on your board.

In Standard, we use it with Area Zero Underdepths PRE 94 to deal even more damage, as this card expands our bench to 8 slots if we also put a Tera Pokémon ex in play. The most obvious card for this strategy is Teal Mask Ogerpon ex PRE 12.

5 - Infernape (Diamond/Pearl: Majestic Dawn)

In the Diamond & Pearl era, this Infernape was very popular. It was perhaps the most popular Infernape out of the three released at the time.

Its first attack, Mach Puch, deals damage to the enemy bench. As for its second attack, Mega Bravo, it deals 40 damage according to how many Fire energies you discard from Infernape, so it is very powerful. Furthermore, it also didn't cost a lot of energies.

Another great thing about this Pokémon is that you can retreat it for zero energies. As such, you can move it around freely, which was incredible when it just came out.

4 - Infernape (Scarlet/Violet: Twilight Masquerade)

This Infernape came out in the current block, Scarlet & Violet, more specifically in the fifth base set, and stood out straight away for how recursive it is. Its ability, Pyro Dance, lets you attach 1 Fire energy and 1 Fighting energy from your hand to your Pokémon however you like.

3 - Infernape (Sword/Shield: Brilliant Stars)

This Infernape rotated out of Standard recently, in April 2025, so now it is only available in Expanded. It is also considered the best "baby" Infernape ever released.

Its main attack, Infernal Vortex, makes you reveal the top 5 cards in your deck, but it also deals 80 damage for each energy you find there. Then, you'll shuffle the other cards back into the deck and discard any energies you find this way.

2 - Infernape LV.X (Diamond/Pearl: Base Set)

This is the first "ultra rare" Infernape, and, just like Torterra, it is also an LV.X, which means it can copy attacks and abilities from its previous versions. Essentially, this Pokémon can copy attacks from Infernape DP 5, Infernape PL 31, Infernape MD 22, or Infernape SF 3.

It stands out because of its attack, Flare Up, which deals 150 damage, but only if you put at least 8 basic Fire energies in your discard pile. Afterward, this attack recycles these energies and shuffles them back into your deck.

Its ability, Burning Head, is also quite useful, as it lets you look at the top three cards in your deck and add one to your hand. Then, you'll discard the other two cards, so this ability may also put more energies in your discard pile and enable Infernape's attack.

1 - Infernape V (Sword/Shield: Promo Cards)

Our best Infernape is an "ultra rare' version that features a more "modern" mechanic - Infernape V.

This Infernape might not have been relevant in Standard, but it sees some play in Expanded as a "rogue strategy" with its attack, Meteor Punch. The idea is to use Glimwood Tangle DAA 162 and Trick Coin PHF 108 to always get heads when you flip a coin and deal even more damage.

Finally, you can easily use its second attack, Bright Flame, if you also play Welder UNB 189a. After discarding 2 energies from this Pokémon (which you must do to use this attack), you can recycle them with Fire Crystal UNB 173, and all of this is very efficient in Expanded, as we mentioned above.

5 - Empoleon (Diamond/Pearl: Base Set)

This Empoleon is from Diamond & Pearl and was also the first ever released. Just like other cards at this time, this version is valuable and flexible because it deals "sniper" damage. Its first attack, Ice Blade, deals damage to any enemy Pokémon. As for its second attack, Aqua Jet, if you hit heads when you flip a coin, it deals 20 damage to one of your opponent's benched Pokémon. It also deals 70 base damage to their active Pokémon.

4 - Empoleon (Black/White: Dark Explorers)

This card from Black & White is one of the best "baby" Empoleon ever created. It was very relevant in Standard in 2011, and, to this day, some players try to use it in Expanded with cards from Sword & Shield and Scarlet & Violet.

Its ability, Diving Draw, draws 2 cards if you discard one from your hand.

Its main attack deals 10 damage for each Pokémon in play, including your opponent's!

In Expanded, we can use Sky Field ROS 89 or Area Zero Underdepths PRE 94 (which came out recently in the Scarlet & Violet block) to expand our bench. Wellspring Mask Ogerpon ex PRE 27 is also quite useful in this format.

3 - Empoleon LV.X (Diamond/Pearl: Base Set)

This "ultra rare" Empoleon is also an LV.X, the strongest rarity in Diamond & Pearl. Pokémon LV.X can copy attacks and abilities from previous versions, so it can copy Empoleon DP 4, Empoleon PL 26, Empoleon MD 17, or Empoleon SF 2.

Its ability, Supreme Command, is a way to control your opponent's hand. During your turn, it lets you pick 2 cards in their hand (at random), and force them to put them next to their active Pokémon, face-down. They won't be able to use these cards in their next turn.

In Diamond & Pearl's Standard format, many players used Empoleon PL 26 with this card because of its attack, Knock Off. This attack forces the opponent to discard a card, so, together, they formed a pretty efficient control strategy.

Its main attack, Hydro Impact, deals 80 damage to a benched enemy Pokémon.

2 - Empoleon "BREAK" (X/Y: Promo Cards)

This Empoleon features the "BREAK" mechanic, so it is one tier above the other versions, but it doesn't give your opponent 2 Prize cards when they Knock it Out, which is a great advantage!

Its main attack is similar to Empoleon DEX 29's (from Black & White). It deals 30 damage for each Pokémon on the opponent's board.

Now, as for the "BREAK" mechanic, it lets you copy attacks and abilities from previous Empoleon versions. In Expanded, players often use Empoleon DEX 29 as a base to get as much as they can from this Empoleon BREAK.

1 - Empoleon V (Sword/Shield: Battle Styles)

Our best Empoleon is Empoleon V.

This card was essential in Sword & Shield's Standard format and popular in decks like Ice Rider Calyrex VMAX CRE 46, Rapid Strike Urshifu VMAX BST 88, or other "Water Box" versions.

Its ability, Emperor's Eyes, disables all abilities on your opponent's basic Pokémon as long as Empoleon V is in your active spot. However, it doesn't disable Rule Box Pokémon.

Furthermore, its attack deals 130 damage and lets you move an energy from Empoleon V to one of your benched Pokémon. So it's also very recursive.

Do you agree with our picks? Tell us your thoughts in our comment section below.

Thank you for reading, and see you next time!