Extradimensional Crisis is here! You can check it out [here], and I’m sure everyone’s curious about which cards are actually worth paying attention to. So I’m here to share my early picks for the top cards to watch.

This list is based on my first impressions and some things I’ve seen around the community. Of course, a lot will change as the meta develops. But if you’re planning to pick up new cards or just want a heads-up on what’s worth testing, this one’s for you.

I’ll also be grouping some of the cards together where it makes sense—especially since a lot of the Ultra Beasts have strong synergy with each other.

9. Alolan Dugtrio

No joke, this card has insane potential. Even at 2 Energy for 60 damage, it’s already pretty decent—but what makes it scary is the chance to hit 120 for the same cost, and it’s only a Stage 1. If it ever lands the triple heads, it can take down just about anything.

On top of that, A3a-046 can hit for 40 with a coin flip, adding even more pressure early on. For just 2 Energy, this is still a surprisingly dangerous deck to go up against if you ask me.

8. Gladion and Type: Null and Silvally

The A3a-067 + A3a-060 and A3a-061 package is a strong tech option for any deck thanks to their Colorless Energy requirements. A3a-060 is solid on its own, but A3a-061 is where things get crazy—100 damage for just 2 Energy, as long as you played a Supporter that turn.

That’s a huge tempo swing, especially when it lets you snipe evolving basics before they become threats. It also cleanly answers A3-066, making it a great pick for EX decks looking for an efficient solution without giving up too much space.

It’s even worth comparing to the A2a-063 + A2a-074 package. Both hit for 100 damage with 2 Energy, but A3a-067 adds consistency while offering more flexibility overall. Of course, the A3a-061 package does take more deck space since you’ll need to run more Pokémon and enough Supporters—but it might be worth the trade.

7. Lusamine

Right now, Lusamine is the only neutral Supporter for Ultra Beasts. Most of them have pretty high Energy requirements, so this is one of the few ways to speed things up. It does come with a cost—you’ll need to give up a point first—so it’s not broken, but still very playable.

With help from A3a-062, you can even control which point you give up, making the Energy gain more consistent and targeted. Big Energy acceleration like this always has the potential to swing games, and it’s something opponents will have to respect.

6. Repel

A3a-064 is starting to show some real utility. You could argue it’s a weaker version of A1-225—but the key difference is that it’s an Item, meaning you can still play a Supporter alongside it.

With how common it is now for players to start with 2 Basics—especially with all the PROMO-006 and A2-155 running around—A3a-064 becomes a clean way to mess with their tempo without giving up your own. That alone can be huge early on.

We might even see a meta shift where players hesitate to bench two Pokémon on Turn 1, just to avoid getting punished by A3a-064 or A1-225. It’s turning into a risk-reward decision for the opponent, and that makes A3a-064 a card worth watching.

5. Pheromosa and Kartana

Ultra Beasts are finally here, and they’re looking like the backbone of future Grass decks. Both of them only need 1 Energy to attack, and with A3a-007 hitting around 40 damage when you factor in the bench, the value is real.

A3a-007 also pairs perfectly with both A3-012 and A3a-005—making both even stronger when it comes to sniping your opponent’s bench. This kind of pressure for just 1 Energy is something Grass decks have been waiting for.

4. Buzzwole

A3a-006 is shaping up to be one of the stronger EX cards in the new expansion. Its 120 damage for 3 Energy is solid on its own—and with A3a-069, you can quickly power it up if A3a-007 or A3a-008 gets KO’d. That often puts you in range to one-shot whatever threat your opponent has active.

Since it’s a Grass-type, A3a-006 also benefits from A3-147, pushing its HP to 170—which makes it hard to take down in one hit. Pair that with A1-219 for extra healing, and you’ve got an EX attacker that not only hits hard, but also sticks around.

3. Celesteela

A3a-062 is easily one of the best new additions for Ultra Beasts. It helps you get around their high retreat costs and Energy demands by letting you switch between them freely—so you can focus your Energy on the ones that actually need to attack. A key detail: it can even switch itself, which is huge considering its 4 retreat cost.

That kind of mobility changes everything. You can rotate attackers, absorb damage with their high HP, and control the pace of trades. If you’re running a full Ultra Beast lineup, A3a-062 is a must-have support that holds the whole strategy together.

2. Guzzlord ex and Nihilego

A3a-043 is shaping up to be one of the strongest picks from the set, mainly thanks to its Grindcore attack. It fits perfectly into the Ultra Beast gameplan—stalling and delaying your opponent while you get your key attackers online.

That said, Grindcore still relies on a coin flip, so it’s best treated as a backup or support option rather than your main win condition. The fact that it’s Colorless also means you can tech it into non-Dark decks if you’re looking for a defensive or disruption package.

A3a-042 pairs well with this strategy too. It leans into the stall plan with Poison pressure and also boosts your damage with its ability, adding +10 when Poison is in play. Together, they create a dangerous combo that’s hard to ignore.

1. Electrical Cord and Zeraora and Tapu Koko ex

So far, A3a-065 is looking like the strongest card in the set. It lets you move two Lightning Energy from a knocked-out Pokémon to any of your Benched Pokémon. And the best part? The Benched Pokémon don’t even need to be Lightning types—so yes, you can get creative and toss the Energy onto something like A2b-035 if you’re feeling bold.

The main question then is how to load up those two Lightning Energy in the first place. That’s where A3a-021 comes in—it can accelerate Energy to itself, which makes it a great lead. If you go first, you can use its ability at the end of your first turn, then attach next turn and swing for 50 right away.

As for A3a-019, it’s a bit trickier. You’ll need to attach Lightning Energy to fuel Plasma Hurricane and Mach Bolt, so it leans more toward going second. Still, it can help keep the Energy flowing to make the most out of A3a-065.

Decks for the New Cards

Guzzlord ex Nihilego Celesteela

This is a fresh deck archetype built around the new A3a-062, with a gameplan centered on poisoning with A3a-042 while setting up Energy for A3a-043. Using A3a-062’s ability, you can bring A3a-043 into play to start using Grindcore—stalling your opponent’s Energy gain while they’re also taking Poison damage.

A3a-069 plays a key role here too. If A3a-042 gets KO’d, you can immediately fire off Grindcore to keep up the pressure. One of the deck’s biggest strengths is its ability to rotate high-HP Ultra Beasts using A3a-062, letting you soak damage, survive big hits, and buy time to charge your main attackers.

It’s especially useful when you start with A3a-043 or A3a-062—you can easily switch into A3a-042 and get back on track, even from a rough opener.

Buzzwole ex Celesteela

This deck revolves around using A3a-006 as your main attacker, dishing out 120 damage with Big Beat. Ideally, you’ll want to start with A3a-007 or A3a-008 to begin applying pressure right away. But even if you open with A3a-062 or A3a-006, it’s not a problem—just switch them out and focus on charging up A3a-006 in the back.

If your starter gets knocked out, A3a-069 helps you bounce back fast. You can recover 2 Energy onto A3a-006, then attach manually to start swinging for 120 immediately. It’s a fast, aggressive setup that keeps the pressure on.

A3-149 also adds flexibility, letting you switch your Active with any Benched Pokémon while fully healing the one you return to hand. And with new tools like A3a-064 and A3a-066, A3a-006 can deal even more damage, turning it into a real threat once it gets rolling.

Darkrai ex Giratina ex Type:Null

This is one of the key uses for the A3a-060 package I mentioned—it serves as your answer to A3-066, replacing more niche options like A3-141. It’s definitely worth testing, especially since A3a-061 can take over games on its own if you start applying pressure early.

With A3a-067 in the mix, you’re not sacrificing much consistency either. It helps you find A3a-060 or A3a-061 quickly, making the whole package feel more reliable right from the start.

Decidueye ex Pheromosa

This time, we’re running A3a-007—but it’s even more impactful here since A3-012 takes the lead as the main attacker. That means we’re dropping A2b-007 entirely. A3a-007 helps soften up targets, including those on the bench, which lets you trigger Pierce the Pain more consistently.

With A3a-005 also in the mix, we finally have a clean answer to A3-066, so there's no need to split focus with A2b-007. It’s still too early to say if this version is stronger than the A2b-007 hybrid, but it’s looking really promising.

And don’t forget about A3-144—A3-012 only needs 2 Energy, so you can evolve straight into it and start swinging by your second turn without missing a beat.

Zeroara Tapu Koko ex Pikachu ex

Now here’s a deck that might have the highest potential so far from what I’ve seen. It’s still an early iteration, but this version already feels close to what a fully optimized list could look like.

Built around the new A3a-065, the deck runs two strong Lightning Energy engines—A3a-021 and A3a-019—giving you immediate acceleration. If either one gets knocked out, A3a-065 lets you recover that Energy instantly, fueling your backup attacker. That’s where A2b-022 comes in, swinging for 150 right away, or A3-066 if you’re facing an EX threat—keeping the pressure up without wasting any of your Energy investment.

With A2-154 in the list too, you can move Energy straight onto A2b-022 if it doesn’t have any yet, making sure the moment A3a-065 triggers, you can transfer the 1 Lightning Energy from the other Pokémon into A2b-022 right away. This one’s looking electric and explosive for sure!

Conclusion

What’s your top cards and deck from Extradimensional Crisis? 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!