There are many strong Pokemon in Pokemon TCG Pocket, but there are few that can exploit the Bench. This means striking at your opponent’s most vulnerable Pokemon to score points faster and win the game. Many types have their own dedicated Bench Puncher, which gives those strategies new ways to keep your opponent on their toes.
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Some Pokemon drag their targets out of the Bench, while others can hit them directly. The amount of damage done and the methods of doing this vary from Pokemon to Pokemon, but they are all efficient in their own way. So here are some cards worth noting if you want to score some points easily.
10
Pidgeot
Some Honorary Mentions
First off, there are Pokemon that can’t hit the Bench directly but can drag them off of it for some easy hits. One of the best at doing this is Pidgeot, since it doesn’t have to be on the Active Spot or even attack to perform this task.
With a solid 70 damage, this can be enough to take down some unevolved Basic Pokemon. If your opponent only has one Pokemon on the Bench, then that one gets automatically swapped, so strategically using this ability can help you make the most of it.
9
Grapploct
A Yo Yo Effect
Grapploct is another Pokemon that doesn’t directly hit the Bench; it gets around that with its unique Move. Each time Grapploct does 70 damage with Knock Back, that Active Pokemon gets pushed back, and one on the Bench gets dragged out.
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This leaves that Pokemon open to getting hit by your next attack, which can help you spread damage counters across all of your opponent’s Pokemon, whether they’re in the Active Spot or trying to stay safe on the Bench. Because of this, Grapploct is an honorary Bench hitter.
8
Victreebel
Your Choice Of Benched Pokemon
The biggest downside to many of the Bench swapping cards is that your opponent gets to choose which Pokemon goes on the Active Spot, or they only swap after attacking, forcing you to wait a turn before you can hit that Benched Pokemon.
Victreebel not only lets you choose which Benched Pokemon to drag out but also lets you do it before it attacks. This means that you can potentially score a point by exploiting the weakest Pokemon on your opponent’s Bench by hitting them with Vine Whip.
7
Ditto
A Unique Way To Bench Hit
While Ditto does not have any native Moves that can damage the Bench, Copy Anything can duplicate any Bench-hitting Moves that your opponent’s Pokemon may have. You will still need the necessary Energy to perform the Move.
However, this means that if your opponent tries to set up any Pokemon that can potentially snipe your Bench, you can clap back with the same Moves using Ditto, even if you personally don’t run the Pokemon in your deck. This makes Ditto a special little Pokemon with limitless potential.
6
Zebstrika
Electrocute The Bench
Zebstrika is an excellent Electric-type Pokemon that can deal damage to the Bench due to the rulings of Thunder Spear. This Move lets you deal 30 damage to one of your opponent’s Pokemon. What makes this option better than some of the others is that the choice also includes Active Pokemon.
So, if Zebstrika needs to fight back against a threat in the Active Spot, it can do so. However, the choice also includes Benched Pokemon, so that 30 damage can be put to good use in sniping Pokemon that will become a threat later.
5
Articuno Ex
When Everything Freezes
Articuno ex is one of the best ex Pokemon in the game. Blizzard does 80 damage to your opponent’s Active Pokemon but also slaps every Pokemon on your opponent’s Bench for ten. While this damage may not be enough to outright knock out one of your opponent’s Benched Pokemon, every little bit of damage helps.
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This is also the only Pokemon that is guaranteed to hit all of your opponent’s Pokemon each time it uses its Move. This can make it easier for your other Pokemon or Articuno itself to land a killing blow on your opponent’s Pokemon once they get switched in.
4
Hitmonlee
One Stretchy Leg
Hitmonlee is a Fighting-type with its ups and downs, but its greatest strength is being able to hit the Bench for 30 damage using only one Energy. This is also a Basic Pokemon, meaning that it requires very little setup if you want to start using it.
Hitmonlee’s biggest weakness is that it cannot hit your opponent’s Active Pokemon. This means that if you open with Hitmonlee, but your opponent has no Benched Pokemon, then all it can do is sit there. Luckily, Hitmonlee has a Retreat Cost of one, so it can get out of the way if necessary.
3
Seadra
A Heavy Sniper For Water Decks
Seadra is the strongest Bench hitter because it can deal 50 damage using Water Arrow. With so many Basic Pokemon having an average of 60 HP, Seadra is only one Giovanni away from scoring you a free point or even closing games.
The only downside is that Water Arrow costs three Energy to use, but you can supplement this with Misty. This card can also hit targets right in front of it since the Move only specifies that you can deal the damage to one of your opponent’s Pokemon and not just the Bench.
2
Dragonite
Wild Damage And Calculated Plays
Dragonite’s Draco Meteor will do 200 damage each turn. This makes it one of the most powerful moves in the game, and it doesn’t make you discard Energy or flip coins to do the maximum amount of damage.
This damage is divided into increments of 50 and will hit your opponent’s Pokemon at random, including those on the Bench. The fewer Pokemon your opponent has in play, the more likely it is that some of their Pokemon might even get hit for 100 damage if they are selected twice.
1
Greninja
A Deadly Ability
Greninja may not do as much damage to the Bench as some of the other Pokemon, but it’s the fact that it can do so using an Ability that makes all the difference. This means that it doesn’t need to use a Move or be in the Active Spot to hit the Bench.
Water Shuriken will let you do this once per turn, but it can also do it once per copy of the Greninja. So, with two Greninja on the field, that’s 40 extra damage each turn you can dish out to the Bench.
- Released
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October 30, 2024
- Publisher(s)
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The Pokemon Company
- Multiplayer
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Online Multiplayer