The Pokemon Trading Card Game, or Pokemon TCG for short, has been subject to power creep like many other card games. Throughout the years, the stats, effects, and mechanics have all evolved with an upward trend. We've had EX, GX, Tag Team, V, VMAX, V-Union, and VSTAR Pokemon throughout the game's recent history.

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Obviously, with each new mechanic and set, the cards' power level, especially the Pokemon, have risen drastically. VSTAR Pokemon are the latest unique style of Pokemon cards. They evolve from Pokemon V and have a once-per-game ability or incredibly powerful move. While they have less HP than most VMAX cards, these Pokemon are sure to be a huge swing when you use that VSTAR Power.

10 Charizard VSTAR

Charizard VSTAR with blurred background

Charizard is a fan favorite in both the media and the card game, without a doubt. In the TCG specifically, most Charizard cards focus on doing significant damages fairly quickly. Charizard VSTAR is no exception. Its VSTAR Power, Star Blaze, does 320 damage for three fire and one colorless energy.

You have to discard two energy attached to Charizard VSTAR, but that's not a huge issue. This card lands on this list due to its ability to knock out VMAX Pokemon with one attack. Any item that buffs damage, such as the Choice Belt, allow Star Blaze to reliably one-hit knock-out giant opposing Pokemon.

9 Whimsicott VSTAR

Whimsicott VSTAR with blurred background

Whimsicott VSTAR is a unique entry in this list because it's powerful, not due to its VSTAR Power, but its regular attack Trick Wind. While its once-per-game power Fluffball Star is decent in sniping benched Pokemon, Whimsicott is a better stun tool than a strong attacker.

Trick Wind does 160 damage for two psychic and one colorless energy and locks your opponent out of playing Pokemon Tools or Special Energies for a turn. A genuinely annoying cotton ball for sure.

8 Dragonite VSTAR

Dragonite VSTAR with blurred background

Dragonite is another fan-favorite Pokemon that's been loved since Generation 1. Its VSTAR Power lets it live up to the hype and be a powerful Pokemon. With Draconic Star, you get to look at the top 12 cards in your deck and attach the water and lightning you find to your Pokemon in any way you like.

Yeap, you heard that right, 12 cards. You can use this attack for one colorless energy and don't even discard the non-energy cards you reveal since they get shuffled back into the deck. This one-turn setup will carry you through the game for a cheap cost.

7 Darkrai VSTAR

Darkrai VSTAR with blurred background

Darkrai has been consistently a strong card throughout the history of the TCG. Darkrai VSTAR keeps this trend going with an explosive attack in Dark Pulse for just two colorless energy and a great VSTAR Power in Star Abyss.

This VSTAR Power is an ability that lets you put two item cards back into your hand from your discard pile. An attack that gets real strong fast and a very resourceful ability keeps Darkrai in the running for one of the best.

6 Leafeon VSTAR

Leafeon VSTAR with blurred background

Leafeon represents the Eeveelution family in this list, being the only member of them with a great VSTAR Power. Ivy Star is an ability you can use on your turn to switch one of your opponent's benched Pokemon with their active. This is a simple ability that is extremely useful.

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Having practically another copy of Boss' Orders in your deck is totally worth the effort, especially since this can let you knock some problem Pokemon out that are resting on your opponent's bench.

5 Hisuian Zoroark VSTAR

Hisuian Zoroark VSTAR with blurred background

A unique Pokemon from the Legend: Arceus game makes an appearance as a great VSTAR Pokemon. Hisuian Zoroark is somewhat similar to Leafeon in that it also has an ability with the effect of a supporter card, Professor Sycamore.

While currently out of Standard Format, the supporter was extremely common and used practically all competitive decks. Having one in your deck in the form of Hisuian Zoroark VSTAR is a worthwhile way around that.

4 Hisuian Starters, Typhlosion, Decidueye, And Samurott VSTAR

Hisuian Starters VSTAR: Typhlosion on the left, Decidueye in the middle, Samurott on the right

The Hisuian Starters Decidueye, Typhlosion, and Samurott are all great VSTAR Pokemon. They have differing usefulness of course, but can all put in work.

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You can go the route of Typhlosion for some cheeky, unexpected KOs with Spooky Flame, Heat Haze Star, and one Galarian Zigzagoon on the side. You could use Decidueye and have a great draw power in your arsenal with Star of Fortune, drawing until you have eight cards. Last but not least, Samurott can deal upwards of 260 damage with the combination of Moon Cleave Star and Merciless Blade. A real strong trio of starter Pokemon, without a doubt.

3 Origin Forme Dialga VSTAR

Origin Forme Dialga VSTAR with blurred backgrounda

In third place is the lord of time itself. This legendary is part of the creation trio and can back that up. With a wild move in Star Chronos, Dialga can give you one additional turn while also doing 220 damage to the opponent.

This means another potential supporter, evolutions, a draw, and another attack on top of that. While the VSTAR Power is quite costly, used for three steel and a colorless energy, the payoff is worth it and will let you KO some troublesome Pokemon.

2 Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR

Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR with blurred background

Coming in at second place is the lord of space Palkia this time. While it is considered strictly worse than Dialga in the video games, Palkia can compete in the TCG without a sweat. Its VSTAR Power is the Star Portal ability.

This lets you attach up to three water energy to your Pokemon from your discard pile. While simple on paper, this is a remarkable ability to get your Pokemon set up for some power pushes. Its regular attack Subspace Swell can also do over 100 damage consistently without even trying to buff it intentionally, so that's a huge plus.

1 Arceus VSTAR

Arceus VSTAR with blurred background

Finally, the Pokemon creator, the mythical deity Arceus, is at the top of the list. Despite being a literal godlike being in the lore, Arceus has never been that powerful in the TCG, except for Arceus, Dialga & Palkia GX. However, Arceus VSTAR changes that for good. The ability Starbirth allows you to add two cards to your hand from your deck. You heard that right, two cards with no restrictions or cost.

Pokemon is a game all about getting to the cards you need and making power pushes. Many decks play draw cards and search cards consistently. Getting access to any two cards when you need them is incredibly powerful. The generic nature of this ability also makes Arceus VSTAR incredibly splashable, and due to that, it has already seen consistent usage in a high variety of decks.

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