Pokémon TCG: Top 10 Best Pokémon With Zero Attack Cost

Today, we'll discuss some excellent Pokémon whose attacks cost nothing. They're quite useful to set up other Pokémon with energies, so they're great support Pokémon, but they can also be great attackers.

I'll divide them into two categories: attackers and supporters.

10 - Alolan Ninetales (Sun/Moon: Cosmic Eclipse)

This Pokémon was a nightmare for the Dragon archetype when it was valid in Standard, particularly for Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX CEC 156.

Ideally, you'd play it with Battle Compressor Team Flare Gear PHF 92 or any card that discards other Tools, like Zinnia's Resolve EVS 164 or PokéStop PGO 68.

9 - Hisuian Braviary (Sword/Shield: Silver Tempest)

This Pokémon is a finisher.

In Standard, it plays alongside Tsareena ex sv4 46. In Expanded, it plays in any "tech deck" that focuses on "sniper damage", like Kyogre SHF 21 and Tapu Koko PR-SM SM31, or "spread" damage through counters, like Haunter CIN 37 and Lunala CEL 15.

8 - Alolan Dugtrio (Sun/Moon: Ultraprism)

In the Sun & Moon block, there was an interesting combo with Mt. Coronet UPR 130 that retrieved basic metal energies, which was a nightmare for the Fairy archetype at the time.

Unfortunately, it is a stage 1 Pokémon and doesn't have a lot of HP.

7 - Kingdra (Diamond/Pearl: Legends Awakened)

In the Diamond & Pearl block, we got this wonderful Kingdra, whose attack deals damage based on how many Water energies you find in your discard pile. It deals 10 damage for each basic energy. Then, ideally, you'll return these energies to the top of your deck and shuffle them.

The most fun thing about this deck was finding a way to discard these energies and play the combo.

6 - Hisuian Basculegion (Sword/Shield: Lost Origin)

This Pokémon, from the Sword & Shield block, follows the same reasoning as Kingdra LA 7, but is a stage 1 Pokémon and easier to set up.

5 - Gyarados (Diamond/Pearl: Stormfront)

This Gyarados, from the Diamond & Pearl block, was the star of one of the best decks in that season. The most famous deck with it was Happy Luck, which put Mychael Bryan in the finals of the senior category that year.

4 - Hisuian Arcanine (Sword/Shield: Lost Origin)

This Pokémon's attack deals 160 damage for free if you have no cards in hand when you use it!

This strategy isn't new, considering it was identical to Granbull LOT 138.

Hisuian Arcanine LOR 84's strength is that, as it is a Fighting Pokémon, it applies damage to colorless and Electric Pokémon in Expanded.

3 - Hisuian Arcanine (Scarlet/Violet: Temporal Forces)

Hisuian Arcanine once again returns to the podium, this time in a version from more recent sets (Scarlet/Violet, released in 2024, most accurately, Temporal Forces).

Its role is quite simple:

"If any of your Pokémon have any damage counters, Hisuian Arcanine will deal 30 + 90 damage, so, a total of 120 damage!"

2 - Hisuian Zoroark (Sword/Shield: Lost Origin)

In our second place, we have one of the best "instant K.O." Pokémon. It is a baby Pokémon and its attack doesn't cost anything.

To use this Pokémon, you need to make sure your opponent can't retreat their Pokémon in any way. So, you can rely on Tool Jammer BST 136, which prevents them from using Tools to retreat their Pokémon, Galar Mine RCL 160, and Pokémon like Spidops ex sv1 19 or Absol TEU 88.

1 - Hisuian Electrode (Sword/Shield: Promo Card)

In our first place, we have Hisuian Electrode, which once stood out in Standard because of how aggressive it was. It deals up to 300 damage. Click here to find out more about this strategy.

Alolan Muk-GX (Sun/Moon: Burning Shadows)

Muk & Alolan Muk-GX (Sun/Moon: Unbroken Bonds)

10 - Weedle (Diamond/Pearl: Platinum - Rising Rivals)

This Pokémon may seem simple, but the fact its attack can recycle 5 of your Pokémon from the discard pile and put it in your deck is incredibly strong.

9 - Jirachi (Diamond/Pearl: Platinum - Rising Rivals)

Like any great Jirachi, it is a great support Pokémon.

Its first attack lets you reuse the effect of a Supporter Trainer you used on that same turn. You'll be able to use its effect "twice".

8 - Mew (Diamond/Pearl: Secret Wonders)

This Pokémon's attack only works if you have less cards in hand than your opponent. Then, you'll be able to draw cards until you have the same number of cards as your opponent. The best time to use it is when your opponent has a lot of cards.

7 - Chatot (Diamond/Pearl: Majestic Dawn)

Basically, this Pokémon's effect is similar to Copycat HS 90.

6 - Pichu (Heart Gold/Soul Silver: Base Set)

In HG/SS, a few "baby" Pokémon really stood out, like Magby, Elekid, Cleffa, Tyrogue, and Smoochum. Their abilities protected them against enemy damage as long as they were "Asleep", and their attacks put them under this condition and also included another interesting effect.

In Pichu's case, its attack let you search a basic Pokémon in your deck and put it on your bench. However, your opponent would also benefit from this effect.

5 - Alolan Vulpix (Sun/Moon: Guardians Rising)

Unlike Pichu HS 28, this Pokémon doesn't benefit your opponent, and only lets you look for basic Pokémon in your deck.

It is quite flexible because it can fit any deck (it was very popular in Sun & Moon's Standard), as well as closed "anti-GX and anti-EX" decks. These decks played Alolan Ninetales BUS 28 to beat Reshiram & Charizard-GX UNB 20 and Alolan Ninetales TEU 111 to beat Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX CEC 156. Not to mention, you could also use their GX evolutions, like Alolan Ninetales-GX GRI 22 and Alolan Ninetales-GX LOT 132.

4 - Gastly (Diamond/Pearl: Stormfront)

This Pokémon sabotages your opponent: during their next turn, they won't be able to play Trainers!

This means they can't play Supporters, Stadiums, Items, or Tools! It is perfect in a control strategy.

3 - Spiritomb (Diamond/Pearl: Arceus)

In our third place, we have Spiritomb, whose ability also sabotages your opponent: if it is your active Pokémon, neither player can play Trainers, including Supporters, Stadiums, Items, and Tools. Its attack also helps you evolve one of your Pokémon, though it places a damage counter on Spiritomb.

2 - Sableye (Diamond/Pearl: Stormfront)

This Pokémon was crucial in the Diamond/Pearl phase because setting it up on your first turn was incredibly easy with its ability, Overeager.

If you played first, you could use its attack to discard a Supporter from your deck, then use its effect.

1 - Cleffa (Heart Gold/Soul Silver: Base Set)

On our first place, we have Cleffa, which draws you an absurd number of cards with its attack.

Its ability states that Cleffa is immune to enemy attacks when it is Asleep, and, if you use its attack, Cleffa draws you cards then falls Asleep. This makes it immune temporarily (if you hit tails at the end of your turn).

Rowlet & Alolan Exeggutor-GX (Sun/Moon: Unified Minds)

Hisuian Lilligant V (Sword/Shield: Astral Radiance)

Kyogre (Diamond/Pearl: Legends Awakened)

Weavile (Diamond/Pearl: Secret Wonders)

Hisuian Lilligant (Sword/Shield: Silver Tempest)

What did you think of our picks? Do you agree with them? Tell us your thoughts in our comment section below.

Thank you for reading, and see you next time!