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The entire Shining Revelry set has just been revealed — you can check it out here — and everyone’s curious about which cards might rise to the top. So, I'm here to share my thoughts on the top 10 cards to watch. While this is still hypothetical for now, we can compare them against the current meta to gauge their potential strength and see whether they’ll make a real impact. If you're planning to pick up new cards or just want to know what to keep an eye on, this guide is for you.
10. Pokemon Center Lady
Let's start things off with A2b-070: It is one of those cards you keep coming back to for free healing — but it's not this game sadly. Most of the time, it’s just +10 HP over Potion, but it comes at the cost of using your Supporter for the turn. That can be a hefty trade-off, especially when you’d rather be playing stronger utility cards like A2-150, A1-225, or A1a-068.
I’m still placing it at #10 because it’s a general-use Supporter that can go into any deck. While it’ll probably be the last Supporter you consider adding, it still has a role — especially in control or stall strategies that need to survive just one more turn.
If the meta shifts toward more status effects like Poison or Paralyze, we might see it gain relevance. But with powerful attackers like A2a-071 dominating the format, there may not be much room for special conditions to shine.
We’ll have to wait and see how well this card fares, but it’s worth keeping on your radar — just in case.
9. Wugtrio Ex
A1-185 is now getting an EX version — so is the trade-off worth it compared to the older Dragonite? It's a Stage 1 instead of Stage 2, has a single-type Energy cost (Water-only), and just 20 less HP. In my opinion? Yes, absolutely.
One of the biggest issues with Dragonite was its complexity — needing two different types of Energy for Draco Meteor and evolving from a Stage 2 made it clunky and slow. Wugtrio EX simplifies this: one Water Energy, Stage 1 evolution, and it still threatens significant damage output.
Cards like A2-050 or A1-220 make it easy to ramp up Water Energy quickly, so you’ll often be using its attack much earlier than Dragonite could. Even though it hits 50 damage less, the earlier pressure it creates more than makes up for it.
It also helps that A2b-018 is a solid Basic to start with, so you’re not losing momentum early if it’s in your opening hand.
While I don't see Wugtrio EX becoming tier 1 due to the randomness of its attack, I do think it can be a serious meta threat — especially in decks built around tempo and energy acceleration. It’s definitely a card to watch out for.
8. Red
We now have A2b-071 in the game — and the best thing about it is its general utility. Because of that, we’re likely to see it in a wide variety of decks moving forward.
The biggest question is: does Red replace A1-223? With the rise of EX-based decks and the gradual decline of non-EX strategies, it’s very possible. Red enables more decks to consistently reach that key 150 damage threshold, which can be huge in today’s meta.
For example, A2-089 can now hit 150 without needing A2-092, although that’s not always ideal — especially in the mirror. And for A2a-071, whose biggest weakness has been its ceiling of 140 with Giovanni, Red opens the door to knock out threats like A2-049, which were previously just out of reach.
Of course, this buff doesn't only help Arceus. Rampardos, one of the best non-EX decks, also benefits significantly from Red or Arceus rising, making it even more threatening.
Red also enables a lot of 150-damage attackers, like Palkia, to now one-shot 170 HP EX Pokémon such as the new A2b-003, A2b-054, A2b-048, or A2-095. That makes Red one of the most impactful Supporter options moving forward, offering value in both aggressive and late game decks.
7. Tinkaton ex
Tinkaton EX can be compared to A1-153, but with a few key differences. The big one is that Tinkaton has 170 HP, giving it much better survivability in today’s meta. However, it comes at the cost of being a Stage 2 and needing an extra Energy to use Terrific Thumping.
Unlike Marowak EX, though, Tinkaton always guarantees 80 damage, rather than relying on a flip that too often results in 0. That consistency alone gives it some real potential — but being a Stage 2 still puts it at a disadvantage, especially when A2-095 can deal higher damage for just 2 Energy and less setup.
Its evolution line is actually pretty solid — especially A2b-053, which makes the line a bit more flexible if you happen to start with it. That gives the deck some consistency and early-game presence.
Another point in Tinkaton's favor is its Metal typing, which opens up the possibility of pairing it with A2-119. A Dialga–Tinkaton deck could be a strong control or tempo-based strategy, and even adding A2a-071 on the side (though probably a weaker version) gives you some flexibility and acceleration options.
While it may not become top-tier right away, Tinkaton EX has a solid foundation, and it’s definitely a card worth experimenting with — especially in creative Metal-based builds.
6. Beedrill EX
A2b-003 has some real potential, but it may not be too powerful overall — mainly because it's a Stage 2. By the time you get it into play, its Energy-removing effect might come a little too late. Most attackers in the current meta deal heavy damage in the 130–150 range, and many of them are even Basic EX Pokémon like A2a-071 with HP around 140–150. At this point in the game, you ideally want to be closing things out — otherwise, you're at risk of getting one-shot.
Fortunately, Beedrill has 170 HP, which means it’ll likely survive a single hit. That gives you a chance to use Crushing Spear at least once or twice. However, your opponent will almost always have time to retreat, which limits how disruptive that Energy discard can be.
It’s also worth noting that the new A2b-001 and A2b-002 are clear upgrades over their older versions. One improves consistency, while the other provides a strong Paralysis option on heads — which is often more valuable than raw damage. I think Beedrill is best paired with A2a-010 for now so the only thing you have to deal with is finding the Beedrill line and let Leafeon build energy for it since you also want to be fast enough to put pressure.
If the meta continues to be dominated by fast, heavy-hitting attackers, Beedrill might struggle to find a spot. But if things begin to slow down, this card could definitely shine — especially in matchups where preventing your opponent from attacking for even one turn can turn the tide.
5. Iono
I'm a little skeptical of this card’s overall power level, but let’s be real — any card that prevents you from bricking will always have a place in certain decks. Especially those with linear win conditions or decks that rely heavily on strong openings, like Charizard or Gallade. When these decks get a god draw, they can be nearly impossible to stop — and this card helps enable those hands more often.
The shuffle effect on your opponent, however, is a bit of a double-edged sword. Sometimes it can completely disrupt their setup, and other times it might actually help them draw better. So it’s a situational tool — one that you'll want to use only when you're confident it benefits you more than your opponent.
Used well, this card can completely swing a game in your favor. Used poorly, it might just give your opponent a better hand. High risk, high reward — but definitely one of the more impactful Supporters in the right deck.
4. Charizard Ex
Okay, I know this might be a hot take, but hear me out — I still think the old A1-036 is better.
The new Charizard in Shining Revelry introduces Stoke, which lets you accelerate Fire Energy from your deck — but it forces Charizard into the Active Spot to do so. That’s a problem. You’re essentially taking a hit before you're ready to swing back. Sure, you can always wait until you have 5 Energy ready and go straight into Steam Artillery, but 150 damage might not be enough to handle every threat.
The old Charizard’s Crimson Storm, on the other hand, just deals with everything. The whole idea behind Charizard is to clear the board once it's active — ideally knocking out 2–3 targets over its lifetime. But the new one, having to take a hit before attacking, might not survive long enough to pull that off.
That said, the new Charizard isn’t without merit. Stoke allows it to fit into decks that aren’t exclusively Fire-type, since it pulls Fire Energy straight from the deck. And since Steam Artillery doesn’t discard Energy, you’re staying at 5 Energy consistently, which gives it long-term value. Compare that to the old Charizard, where you’d usually rely on A1-047 to rebuild Energy after using Crimson Storm anyway. If you don’t need to deal 200 damage immediately, the trade-off is actually pretty reasonable.
Because of that, I can easily see lists running a 1-of of each Charizard, especially with A2-146 helping you manage which one you want when. You gain flexibility without giving up raw power.
Also worth noting: the new A2b-008 and A2b-009 are miles better than the old ones, which boosts Charizard’s consistency and overall viability heading into the Shining Revelry meta. Even said that I still think Charizard is the new top card to get in Shining Revelry due to how Charizard might be in a better position in this meta
3. Clodsire ex
A2b-048 is looking really powerful and might even be a better fit than A1a-055 in certain decks — especially since it’s only a Stage 1, even if it comes at the cost of being an EX. The streamlined evolution makes it faster and more consistent, giving Poison-based strategies a real boost.
The main concern, though, is the A2a-071 matchup since it is unaffected by status effects. If Arceus remains one of the top decks — and based on the new cards revealed, it doesn’t seem like it’s going anywhere — then Venoshock becomes almost useless. Even with 160 HP, Clodsire EX struggles in that matchup, making it one of the few situations where the card really falls flat.
Outside of that, however, Clodsire EX shines. When paired with A1-177 and A2-110, and backed by A2b-047 for consistent Poison application, it becomes part of a potent Dark-based engine that constantly pressures the opponent through chip damage and disruption.
It might have a clear weakness in the current meta, but against the rest of the field, Clodsire EX looks like a serious threat — and a strong evolution of the Poison archetype.
2. Giratina ex
A2b-035 is looking like one of the most insane cards in this expansion due to it's ability to just charge energy and we all know what it looked like for A2-053 which was one of the best cards in the Space-Time expansion but this time, it's only a basic EX, I almost have tie this up with no.1 but I'll put it below since you can't really run it in everything. You can afford to not even run Psychic energy but you may be delayed for it to setup but it's looking like one of the strongest cards in this expansion.
1. Team Rocket Grunt
I can already see the disgruntled look on your face — and yeah, I hate that this card exists too.
I am putting this card on the no.1 spot just because it will actually affect the meta in some way and a way that you also wont forget because of how polarizing it is. Sometimes, just one well-timed Energy removal is enough to swing or outright win the game, and that’s exactly what this card enables.
Low-Energy decks like A2-110, A2-099, or other aggressive archetypes will love this. These decks don’t rely on hitting massive numbers — they just need to disrupt your setup early and keep the pressure on. A single Energy discard can be all it takes to throw your opponent off-curve and run away with the game.
It becomes even more dangerous in 18-Trainer-style decks like A1-084 or A2-049, where early-game tempo is everything. If A1-220 flips are already frustrating, imagine facing that alongside Energy denial — you’re forced to draw well, or you fall behind fast with almost no way to recover.
That said, this card isn't always impactful. Against decks that generate Energy passively or from the bench — especially those that tank with high-HP Pokémon like A1a-056 — it can be close to useless. In fact, we might even see a resurgence of Druddigon as a meta response to how disruptive this card can be in faster matchups.
It’s one of those cards you’ll hate seeing across the table. And while it might not define the format, it has the potential to make already strong decks feel even more punishing — especially when the matchup leans in their favor.
Conclusion
Have you been satisfied with my Top 10? Or do you have a different take?
What’s your Top 10 from Shining Revelry? Let me know in the comments what you think of the new set and what decks you’re planning to play — I’d love to hear your thoughts!
