Pokémon TCG Pocket: 10 Best Space-Time Smackdown Cards For Battles

The latest Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket expansion, ‘Space-Time Smackdown’, launched in the early hours of January 30, 2025, bringing a wave of fresh powerful new cards. From high-damage, deadly ex cards to Energy-supplying Basic cards, there is an abundance of cards that you may need in order to stay on top for competitive battles. The cards are available in two new packs — the Dialga Pack and the Palkia Pack — making them a perfect opportunity to spend any saved-up pack hourglasses.

The new expansion is set to shake up the meta for the long term, introducing Pokémon with fresh abilities and attacks capable of countering powerful decks like Pikachu ex and Mewtwo ex. This list will cover 10 of the best cards to be used in battles, highlighting their strengths and how they can be used to gain an edge in competitive play.

10 Dusknoir Is A Psychic Powerhouse

Protect Ex Cards And Finish Strong

Dusknoir is a Psychic-type Pokémon that has the potential to protect your stronger ex cards. What makes this card special is its ability “Shadow Void”. This allows the player to choose one of their Pokémon that has damage on it, and move it all to Dusknoir. The ability can be used as many times as you like during your turn, but you must be careful not to transfer more damage than its 130 HP can withstand.

Type	Psychic
Stage	Stage 2
HP	130
Attacks + Abilities	Shadow Void: As often as you like during your turn, you may choose 1 of your Pokémon that has damage on it, and move all of its damage to this Pokémon. Devour Soul: 70 Damage

Its attack, “Devour Soul”, does a solid 70 damage for three Energy – one Psychic Energy and two Colorless Energy. Since this is a Stage 2 card, its attack will likely be used later in battle, making it a powerful tool for finishing off opponents. Dusknoir will be highly effective for protecting cards that deal cheaper, higher damage, so it is best that you build this card on the bench of a Psychic-type deck as soon as possible.

9 Manaphy Makes Energy Generation Easy

Consistent and Reliable For Water Decks

Manaphy is a Water-type card that enhances Energy generation, helping to power up stronger cards in your deck more efficiently. Before this expansion, using Misty to test your RNG luck for Energy was commonplace. However, with Manaphy, a more efficient method may be to use its attack, "Oceanic Gift."

Type	Water
Stage	Basic
HP	50
Attacks + Abilities	Oceanic Gift: Choose 2 of your Benched Pokémon. For each of those Pokémon, take a Water Energy from your Energy Zone and attach it to that Pokémon.

This allows the player to choose two of their benched Pokémon and attach a water Energy to them. It may be argued that this is less strong since it only produces one Energy for a benched Pokémon, but the lack of reliance on RNG means it will be more consistent.

This Basic card can be placed into the Active Spot from the first turn, and it should be. This allows you to provide Energy to cards like Articuno ex and Gyarados ex, which deal high amounts of damage once they're swapped in. With just a one retreat cost, this card can be easily protected from giving the opponent an easy point, especially since it only has 50 HP.

8 Giant Cape Is A Game-Changing Tool

Boost Your Pokémon's Longevity

Pokémon Tools are a new type of card introduced in Pokémon TCG Pocket with the Space-Time Smackdown expansion. These can be attached to one Pokémon and remain attached to it. One notable example is the Giant Cape. This adds 20 HP to the card that it is attached to, giving it a handy boost when occupying the Active Spot.

Type	Pokémon Tool
Stage	N/A
HP	N/A
Attacks + Abilities	The Pokémon this card is attached to gets +20 HP.

This card can be used in any deck, regardless of time. This fact means that it is incredibly versatile and should be taken advantage of. The boosted health points give you the opportunity for greater longevity in battle, as well as the ability to protect key cards like Mewtwo ex and Weavile ex. These cards, in particular, would benefit from the added HP to reduce the chances of being knocked out by other fast-moving ex cards.

7 Dawn Is Used For Efficient Energy Transfer

Increasing Energy Effortlessly

Since the Mythical Island expansion, cards like Vaporeon have become popular due to its Energy-moving ability. Now, with the addition of the Dawn supporter card, you will have another efficient way to transfer Energy from one card to another. Dawn allows you to move one Energy from your benched Pokémon to the Pokémon in the Active Spot. This can be highly effective when placed in decks with high-cost cards like Gyarados ex.

Type	Supporter
Stage	N/A
HP	N/A
Attacks + Abilities	Move an Energy from 1 of your Benched Pokémon to your Active Pokémon.

This card can be used with any type of Pokémon. Vaporeon is a Water type and can only transfer Water-type Energy, whereas Dawn can transfer any kind of Energy regardless of which deck it is placed in. This could be a strong supporter card to use alongside Charizard ex, which needs four Energy to do its 200 damage attack.

6 Mismagius Ex Is Easy To Set Up

Make The Opponent Confused

Mismagius ex is easy to use and highly powerful. It’s a stage 1 card that evolves from Misdreavus, which means that it is an easy setup when using a Psychic-type deck. Its attack, "Magical Delusion” does a strong 70 damage. There are two reasons why this attack is so effective. Firstly, it only costs two Psychic Energy. When paired with Gardevoir, it can be fully charged in a single turn. This makes it quick and simple to put into play.

Type	Psychic
Stage	Stage 1
HP	140
Attacks + Abilities	Magical Delusion: 70 Damage + Your opponent’s Active Pokémon is now Confused.

Another reason why “Magical Delusion” is powerful is that it inflicts the “Confused” status effect on the opponent’s active Pokémon. This forces the opponent to flip a coin when they attack with their confused Pokémon. If the coin lands on tails, the attack misses. If it lands on heads, the attack deals its normal damage.

5 Infernape Ex Is A Powerhouse With A Trade-Off

High Damage With A Small Cost

Infernape ex is the only gen four starter to get an ex card in the new Space-Time Smackdown expansion, and has become one of the most powerful Fire-type Pokémon in the game. With 170 HP, this card is able to withstand the majority of attacks other Pokémon have to offer.

Type	Fire
Stage	Stage 2
HP	170
Attacks + Abilities	Flare Blitz: 140 Damage + Discard all Fire Energy from this Pokémon.

The pool of HP gives Infernape ex a solid foundation to stay active until the end of the battle. Its attack “Flare Blitz” does a massive 140 damage. This immediately discards the Fire Energy used to charge the attack. However, since it only costs two Fire Energy, this trade-off is worth the cost.

The new expansion introduces a variety of cards that can work together to create powerful synergies. Cards like Dusknoir’s “Shadow Void” ability, paired with higher-damage Pokémon, can protect your most valuable cards, while Manaphy’s "Oceanic Gift" helps power up your Water-type deck more efficiently. Make sure to explore combinations between these new cards.

This makes Infernape ex comparable to Charizard ex. They are both stage two cards that take time to set up but have a hugely effective damage output. It could actually be argued that Infernape ex is better due to “Flare Blitz” only costing two Energy.

4 Lucario Is A Versatile Fighting-Type

Boost Damage Across Your Deck

The fan-favorite Pokémon, Lucario, is a valuable card in Pokémon TCG Pocket. It has an ability that boosts the damage output of every card in a Fighting-type deck. “Fighting Coach” adds 20 damage to attacks done by your Fighting-type Pokémon. Lucario can be easily built up on the bench, evolving from Riolu, to enhance cards such as Aerodactyl ex and Golem.

Type	Fighting
Stage	Stage 1
HP	100
Attacks + Abilities	Fighting Coach: Attacks used by your Fighting Pokémon do +20 damage to your opponent’s Active Pokémon. Submarine Blow: 40 Damage.

Lucario also has 100 HP, meaning that it should be able to withstand any damage inflicted on it, which may occur if Sabrina has been used against you to force it into the Active Spot. Its attack, “Submarine Blow,” is somewhat underwhelming, but this shouldn’t deter you from using the card, as its ability is exceptionally productive. Its illustrated rare variant will also add some beautiful art to your deck.

3 Rocky Helmet Is A Solid Stall Tactic

Force Your Opponent Into Defensive Play

Since the introduction of Druddigon in the Mythical Island expansion, several players have taken advantage of its “Rough Skin” ability to stall for other cards that are being built up. Now, with the Rocky Helmet Pokémon Tool, you can attach it to any Pokémon to make it an exceptional stall card.

Type	Pokémon Tool
Stage	N/A
HP	N/A
Attacks + Abilities	If the Pokémon this card is attached to is in the Active Spot and is damaged by an attack from your opponent’s Pokémon, do 20 damage to the Attacking Pokémon.

If the Pokémon that the Rocky Helmet is attached to has damage on it (and is in the Active Spot), the opponent's attack will self-inflict 20 damage. This can be used in any deck to force the opponent into second-guessing their offensive tactic.

When building a deck, consider running fewer Pokémon and focusing more on Supporter, Tool, and Item cards. These cards can provide valuable consistency and flexibility in your strategy.

Place this on cards with lower attack damage in order to stall for cards that need to be prepared on the bench. For example, this could be attached to Vaporeon while Gyarados ex is being set up on the bench.

2 Darkrai Ex Is Very Consistent

A Nightmarish Ability And A Strong Attack

Darkrai ex has immediately stood out as one of the best cards in the game. Its classic nightmarish qualities have been transferred to Pokémon TCG Pocket, with a scarily good ability and a noteworthy attack.

Type	Darkness
Stage	Basic
HP	140
Attacks + Abilities	Nightmare Aura: Whenever you attach a Darkness Energy from your Energy Zone to this Pokémon, do 20 damage to your opponent’s Active Pokémon. Dark Prism: 80 Damage

Its ability, “Nightmare Aura,” does 20 damage to the opponent’s Active Pokémon every time a Darkness Energy is attached to this card. This ensures that you are doing consistent damage throughout the battle while also preparing its solid attack.

Darkrai ex’s attack, “Dark Prism,” does 80 damage for three Energy — two Darkness Energy and one Colorless Energy. This means that after fully charging the card, you will have already done 60 damage to the opponent. The only downside to this card is that its 140 damage seems low compared to other ex cards.

1 Weavile Ex Is Quick And Deadly

A Fast Set-Up For Quick Damage

Weavile ex is the best card in the new Space-Time Smackdown expansion to use in battles. Its attack, “Scratching Nails” is astonishingly quick, allowing you to start dealing significant damage from as early as your second turn. This attack initially does 30 damage. However, after absorbing some damage, this attack does an additional 40 damage.

Type	Darkness
Stage	Stage 1
HP	140
Attacks + Abilities	Scratching Nails: 30+ Damage + If your opponent’s Active Pokémon has damage on it, this attack does 40 more damage.

This card may only have 140 HP, but after evolving from Sneasel, it becomes a force to be reckoned with. Darkness decks have previously been underused, but this card propels them straight into the meta. You should partner this card with Darkrai ex in order to create a powerful Darkness-type deck that deals huge amounts of damage. This makes Weavile ex one of the best cards in Pokémon TCG Pocket.

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