The Pokemon TCG is full of vibrant card variants that often introduce novel mechanics, possess powerful moves, and require a slightly different playstyle; all of which keep things fresh and interesting in this long-lived card game. Shining Pokemon in the TCG are similar to the lustrous and alternately colored pocket monsters in the Pokemon video games called "Shinies". They also act a bit like Crystal Pokemon cards, in that most require multiple kinds of energy to perform their usually devastating or versatile moves.

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All Shining Pokemon are classified as being in the basic stage, so they can be played immediately without needing to evolve them or meet any other criteria. All of these traits make them fast to strike but fairly energy-expensive on average, though, more often than not, worth the cost. The best of the bunch even have energy-manipulating abilities for increased viability.

10 Shining Mew (CoroCoro Promo)

japan only pokemon card feature a shiny mew.

This Japan-only card was released through an issue of the magazine CoroCoro, which sometimes is known to have Pokemon-related events and promotions once in a while. Although this blue Mew does not have very much HP, it has a couple of great moves, though trainers will need Lightning, Psychic, and Fire energy to make use of them.

The move that costs 1 Lightning energy, called Flash Search, allows Mew's trainer to look at the top 3 cards of their deck and place 1 in their hand before returning the other 2 and shuffling the deck. The other move, Mystic Fire, will force the player to discard a Fire energy from Shining Mew to do 20 damage and flip a coin, which will cause the target to become confused if it lands heads up or make them fall asleep if the outcome is tails.

9 Shining Celebi (Neo Destiny)

shiny celebi grass pokemon card with good support moves.

While Shining Celebi is also lacking in HP and damage output, they have some of the best support skills out of all Shining Pokemon. Healing Water is an excellent and low-cost way to heal injured benched pokemon, and, since Celebi's retreat cost is also very inexpensive, they can switch out before they take too much damage.

Miracle Leaf, which takes advantage of this Grass-type pokemon's most natural elemental energies, is a very versatile way to possibly inflict 1 of 3 status conditions to lock down the opposing active pokemon and chip away at their HP.

8 Shining Mewtwo (Neo Destiny)

psychic mewtwo card with decent mvoes.

Shining Mewtwo is a card that can fit pretty well into many Psychic-type decks with only a few other kinds of energies needed. They possess a move that lets them potentially block all incoming damage while reflecting 20 points back to the attacker on their turn, though Mewtwo's trainer must use Reflect Shield in advance for it to take effect.

Their second move is a 40 base damage attack that will deal 10 more damage to a foe for each energy card attached to them, therefore Psyburst is most effective on pokemon who have been hoarding energy for long portions of the battle.

7 Shining Tyranitar (Neo Destiny)

energy expensive yet destructive darkness type pokemon.

This Darkness-type pokemon is exceptionally hungry for the energy of other types as well as for destruction. Shining Tyranitar's first move, Mountain Crush, deals minor damage, however, is better used for its secondary effect of sending random amounts of cards from the top of the enemy's deck straight into their discard pile. This can both prevent them from bringing out their best tactics and potentially cause them to run out of cards to draw, which would result in them losing the battle.

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Destruction Fire is an expensive way to mutually debilitate both Tyranitar and the pokemon facing them by sending energy cards attached to both to their trainers' respective discard piles. The 50 damage is not worth the high cost of this attack, so it is recommended to use this card for the Mountain Crush move.

6 Shining Kabutops (Neo Destiny)

fighting pokemon from the pokemon tcg.

Here is a Fighting-type card that has versatile applications and does not suffer from the slow evolving process that other Kabutops cards do. Shining Kabutops' Lightning Cut is a reliable, if moderate, way to deal between 30 and 40 damage to the enemy active pokemon while potentially dealing 10 damage to all the opposing benched pokemon as well, though, their other attack is much stronger.

Water Slash acts much like a variation of the Hydro Pump attack usually seen on Water-type cards and can be used in the same manner, making this fossil pocket monster a solid choice for decks focusing on such tactics.

5 Shining Rayquaza (Shining Legends)

a powerful yet risky dragon type card to play.

As Dragon-type cards very often require multiple types of energy to be effective, Shining Rayquaza can fit into many of them easily, though should only be played when a trainer needs to deal huge damage, regardless of the consequences. Dragon Pulse is a very energy-cheap move that deals respectable damage for the cost, yet will force Rayquaza's trainer to discard cards from their own deck.

Sky Judgment can unleash a massive 190 damage, though will cause this black dragon to discard 3 energies, so this move should only be used when one has an excessive amount of energy cards or as a finale to knock out a particularly deadly foe.

4 Shining Ho-Oh (SM Black Star Promo)

fire pokemon card of a legendary with great moves.

Shining Ho-Oh possesses a typical attack for an energy-hungry Fire-type, yet is not selfish with the resources their trainer attaches to them. Fire Blast, like many of the most powerful Fire-type attacks, will require one to discard an energy, however, this move costs Fire and Colorless energy and does not specify which energy needs to be tossed away, which makes this secondary effect far less annoying than similar ones on more common pokemon.

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Furthermore, this brilliant phoenix's ability allows them to move 2 energy cards to a benched ally if Ho-Oh gets knocked out, resulting in great synergy and energy efficiency that is immensely convenient in a large number of situations.

3 Shining Lugia (SM Black Star Promo)

awesome colorless card that can be great in almost any kind of deck.

Being Colorless means that Shining Lugia can be a great addition to almost any kind of deck, which is completely at odds with the majority of other Shining Pokemon who require a lot of specific kinds of energy to do anything worthwhile.

Lugia's Argent Wing is a pretty solid way to slam a foe with 120 damage, if they possess an ability, though will only do 60 damage otherwise. Because of the situational nature of this first move, most trainers will be more intent on using this legendary pokemon's Aero Force, which acts much like Shining Ho-Oh's Fire Blast, though will deal more damage and is much easier to power up thanks to the simple energy cost.

2 Shining Volcanion (Shining Legends)

strong legednary water pokemon card.

Shining Volcanion can deal a lot of damage, though sporadically and unreliably. Dual Pump can let them hurt 2 enemies at once, which is an ideal tactic for if the opposing active pokemon is low on HP and Volcanion's trainer wishes to start chipping away at incoming threats sooner.

Quad Smash is a heavy-hitting move that can be pretty quick to charge up due to any kind of energy being able to grant usage. With a max of potentially 200 damage, 50 per each of the 4 total coin flips, even if the outcomes are tainted by a few tails, sufficient hurt can still be unleashed onto the target.

1 Shining Genesect (Shining Legends)

very strong grass type legendary.

With an ability that lets them essentially pile on potentially twice the amount of Grass energy per turn than normally possible, Shining Genesect can not only swiftly charge up their mighty Gaia Blaster but also increase its damage every turn to become a devastating juggernaut.

There are also no negative secondary effects of this attack, meaning that trainers can use it over and over to break through almost any defense and lay waste to the opposing team with remarkable ease before they can even react.

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