Along with Trainer and Pokémon cards, of course, Energy cards are the backbone behind every Pokémon TCG deck. Providing the necessary resources to allow your Pokémon to attack, maximizing effectiveness if important.
You can only include up to 4 special energy cards in your deck. While this may seem too limited, it’s to prevent them from completely changing the entire game. Special energy cards not only provide good basic energy, but often have bonus effects to further increase reliability or power.
Each deck should contain some of the cards on this list, otherwise you could be at a serious disadvantage. With dozens of special energy cards available, choosing the right ones can be overwhelming. I’ve put together a list of the top 10 energy cards in the game, no other resource on the internet will serve you better!
10. Power Unit
Almost all Pokémon cards require normal energy for their abilities, Unit Energy provides 1 on its own. Additionally, while attached to a Pokémon, it can convert the normal energy provided into a Fighting, Dark, or Fairy energy.
For decks containing a mix of the aforementioned Pokémon types, Unit Energy will provide a reliable source of energy to meet the requirements.
9. Mix energy
There are two variants of Blend Energy in the Pokémon TCG, each transforming its normal energy into a different type. GFPD can provide Grass, Fire, Psychic, or Dark energy, while the WLFM version provides Water, Lightning, Fighting, or Steel energy respectively.
In decks with a mix of types, Blend Energy can be invaluable!
8. Call energy
Deckhunting is the lifeblood of the Pokémon TCG, just 1 basic Pokémon can propel you to victory. As such, any card that provides search power is incredibly powerful. Call Energy not only provides 2 basic Pokémon, it will also provide 1 normal energy.
Unlike the previous entry, Call Energy only provides normal power. Your turn also ends with the use. However, it is a good price to pay for search power.
7. Recycle energy
For decks that like to burn through their energy quickly through powerful shock abilities, Recycle Energy is your go-to energy card. Providing 1 normal energy, it returns directly to your hand if it lands on the discard pile.
Imagine having 4 of these in play at the same time, you’ll have an unlimited amount of energy. Of course, you can only have 1 special energy of the same name in your deck, or I’m sure this card would be overpowered.
6. Colorless double energy
Easily the simplest energy card on this list, Double Colorless Energy simply provides the name of your card. With the number of moves requiring more and more colorless energy (which makes deckbuilding and gameplay more fun), this special energy card is well worth using.
There are quite a few basic Normal-type Pokémon as strong first attackers early in the game. If you can equip one with double colorless energy right away, you’ve almost won!
5. Super Boosting Energy
Super Boost Energy is absolutely insane in the right deck, providing a standard 1 normal energy on its own. However, putting evolution stage 2 Pokémon into play is when it really shines, providing up to 4 energy of any type, on a single card!
Dragon-type Pokémon tend to have the most variety of energy requirements, and Super Boost Energy is arguably the best Special Energy card to go with them.
4. Energy Prism
If the attached Pokemon is basic, you can treat Prism Energy like any type of energy, limited to providing 1 at a time, of course. Pretty much a complete upgrade over Blend/Unit Energy, as this card can provide any type, instead of being limited to 3 or 4.
No deck would go without a card like Prism Energy. Such generic resource production is useful in any deck or strategy!
3. Memory power
While it may seem like the goal of Pokémon evolution is to access better moves, you’d be surprised how effective this special energy is. Some higher-evolved Pokémon may have an attack that can’t be used 2 turns in a row, for example, with no other moves to use. Others may have basic or stage 1 Pokemon with draw/search power.
The best way to see if you can make use of Memory Energy is to simply go through your deck, looking at all the Pokemon that aren’t at the final stage of evolution. If there are any that might be useful, throw a memory energy into the deck!
2. Holon energy
Like Blend Energy, this special energy card has multiple variants. The WP variant (pictured) boosts Water and Psychic Pokémon. Holon Energy FF Boosts Fire- and Fighting-type Pokémon. While the GL-variant buffs grass and lightning type pokemon. Each variant has different effects for each type but all of them are amazing.
One minor detail is how luck is based on this card, depending on your energy seeking power. Type-specific effects are only active depending on the energy attached, not the Pokémon itself.
Also remember that these bonus effects do not work in Pokémon EX.
1. Crystal energy
By far the most reliable way to provide multiple energy on one card, assuming you have different types of energy in your deck (most decks do). If a Pokemon with no other Energy is equipped to it, it will produce 1 Colorless Energy.
However, if you were to give the same Pokémon a Grass Energy, Crystal Energy will produce 1 Grass Energy instead of 1 Colorless Energy. Add a water energy on top to make the crystal energy provide 1 grass and 1 water energy, for example.
No other requirements are needed, making Crystal Energy the best energy card in the Pokémon TCG!