The Best Trainer Cards From Base Set In Pokemon TCG

Summary

• Bill is a simple and effective Trainer card that aids in drawing cards without drawbacks.
• Gust of Wind disrupts opponents’ strategies by forcing a switch, buying you time.
• Energy Removal grants valuable control, slowing opponents down to your advantage.

For those new to Pokemon TCG, the variety of Pokemon types like GX, V, Tag Team, countless cards, and more may seem overwhelming. Over time, not only the Pokemon games but also the cards have evolved and taken their current form. However, if we go back to the origins of Pokemon cards, things weren’t as they are now.

It can be said that things were simpler back then, and since there weren’t as many cards, building a deck was easier. The Base Set, with its nostalgic aura and simplicity of playing without additional mechanics, serves as a great target for those who want to reminisce about the past. So, have you ever wondered what the best trainer cards in the Base Set are?

10

Bill

Bill is among the simplest and most effective Trainer cards. Drawing cards is always beneficial; whether you’re looking for a Trainer card, a Pokemon evolution, or a much-needed Energy, Bill increases your chances. Nobody wants to have too few cards in hand.

Additionally, unlike other Trainer cards, Bill has no drawbacks. However, since there’s no guarantee of which cards you will draw, you might prefer cards like Professor Oak, which lets you draw more, or Computer Search, which allows you to find a specific card. Still, keep in mind that those cards come with certain conditions.

9

Gust Of Wind

Gust of Wind is a highly effective card when used at the right moment. Forcing your opponent to switch their Active Pokemon with one from their Bench can disrupt their strategy. It’s especially useful for bringing a Pokemon with a high Retreat Cost and no attached Energy into the Active position, giving you time to power up your own Pokemon.

Additionally, if your opponent has a heavily damaged Pokemon on the Bench, you can bring it forward for an easy Prize Card. However, it’s not a card that can completely shut down a powerful Pokemon—it simply buys you time.

8

Energy Removal

Energy Removal is a very effective card for gaining control over your opponent. Especially if your opponent’s active Pokemon becomes unstoppable, this card can give you valuable time to turn things in your favor.

Additionally, using it early in the game, if your opponent has no energy in hand, can quickly give you an advantage. However, since you don’t know how many energy card your opponent has, sometimes this card might not be useful, but it’s still worth trying to use it to put your opponent in a difficult situation.

7

Switch

Switch may seem like a simple effect that lets you switch your Active Pokemon with one on your Bench, but its value becomes apparent in the later turns. Stage Two Pokemon have a high retreat cost, meaning you’ll have to discard a lot of energy cards to retreat them.

With Switch, you can retreat your Active Pokemon without any retreat cost, preventing your vulnerable Pokemon from being knocked out by your opponent and stopping them from taking a Prize Card. On the other hand, Switch allows you to quickly bring a Pokemon you’ve been preparing on the Bench into the Active position. In both cases, it’s a highly effective card.

6

Energy Retrieval

Unfortunately, it’s impossible to do much in a battle without energy. Sometimes, bad luck strikes and you might not have any energy cards in your hand. While Pokemon Powers and attacks of Pokemon in the current sets make it easier for them to find energy cards, this wasn’t the case during the Base Set era.

Therefore, having this card in your hand will ease your struggle during turns when you’re running low on energy. While it may not be useful in the early turns, it can become a lifesaver in the later turns. Taking two energy cards from the discard pile is quite good, but since you’ll also have to discard one of your own cards in exchange, you should make sure to make the right decision.

5

Item Finder

Of course, Pokemon TCG isn’t just about Pokemon cards. You might be able to get somewhere by simply playing them and powering them up with Energy cards, but you shouldn’t rely on that alone. Taking advantage of Trainer cards is always something you’ll want to do.

Effectively used Trainer cards—and a deck filled with good ones—will increase your chances of winning. With Item Finder, you can reuse a Trainer card that you’ve already played and is now in your discard pile, greatly expanding your options. However, don’t forget that using this card requires you to discard two other cards.

4

Professor Oak

Although the Professor Oak card is quite simple, it is a very effective card. Drawing cards is an important effect in itself, and drawing seven cards can give you another chance if you’re falling behind in the game; if you’re ahead, it will help you apply even more pressure to your opponent.

Sometimes, your hand may not be ideal, or you may have very few cards left. Regardless, the seven cards you draw can change the course of the game. However, remember that running out of cards in your deck will cause you to lose, so you should keep an eye on the number of cards in your deck.

3

Computer Search

Discarding two cards might seem intimidating, but in return, being able to search for any card from your deck is an incredible advantage. While Pokemon Trader only allows you to search for Pokemon cards, this card grants you whatever you need at that moment—like a genie fulfilling your wish.

However, you must carefully decide which two cards to discard. Additionally, if you don’t have two cards to discard, you won’t be able to use this card. Because of this, using a card like Professor Oak beforehand can increase your discard options and make it easier to play.

2

Pokemon Breeder

Pokemon Breeder is an impressive card that essentially lets you bypass the game’s rules. With this card, you can evolve your Basic Pokemon directly into a Stage Two Pokemon without needing a Stage One card. Turning a Caterpie into a Butterfree without a Metapod almost feels like cheating.

Because of this, it’s a highly effective card for gaining an advantage in battle. If needed, you can quickly evolve your Active Pokemon into a Stage Two to tank damage while strengthening your Benched Pokemon. Alternatively, you can ignore that strategy entirely and use Pokemon Breeder to turn your Stage Two Pokemon into a powerful destroyer as quickly as possible.

1

Pokemon Trainer

Honestly, Pokemon Trader is one of the strongest Trainer cards. The reason is simple—just by returning a Pokemon card from your hand to your deck, you can search for any Pokemon card you want, making it a true game-changer. This allows you to find the exact Basic or Evolution card you need without waiting for it to appear naturally.

Depending on the state of the battle, you can grab the best strategic option or simply your strongest Pokemon. The card’s downside is minimal—you have to reveal both the card you return and the one you draw to your opponent. However, even if they know what’s coming, it might already be too late for them.