Unlock a new dimension of strategy in Pokémon TCG Pocket with the arrival of Pokémon Tool cards-specialized Trainer cards that attach to your Pokémon to boost their power, protect them, or heal status conditions. From the defensive Rocky Helmet that punishes attackers, to the HP-boosting Giant Cape and the status-clearing Lum Berry, these Tools add fresh tactical layers to your deck-building and battles. Mastering their use could be the key to turning the tide in your favor in the latest Space-Time Smackdown expansion.
Certain Tool cards have synergy with current cards. For example, combining the Rocky Helmet with Druddigon’s Rough Skin ability can stall your enemy and chip away at the health of their active Pokémon.
This guide will explain what Pokémon Tool cards are and how they work in Pokémon TCG Pocket.
How to use Tool Cards in Pokémon TCG Pocket
Pokémon Tool cards in Pokémon TCG Pocket are special Trainer cards that you can attach to either an Active or Benched Pokémon to grant them various ongoing benefits. Each Pokémon can hold only one Tool card at a time, but you can attach multiple different Tools to different Pokémon in the same turn. Tool cards provide effects such as increasing HP (e.g., Giant Cape), reflecting damage back to attackers (e.g., Rocky Helmet), or healing special conditions at the end of each turn (e.g., Lum Berry). Once attached, a Tool stays with the Pokémon until it is knocked out or removed by specific effects, and you cannot manually swap or remove Tools. Strategically using Tool cards can enhance your Pokémon’s durability and offensive capabilities, adding a new layer of depth to gameplay in Pokémon TCG Pocket.
Pokémon Tool cards are specific kind of trainer card that you attach to a Pokémon. You can attach the Tool card to either a benched or active Pokémon. Each Tool card has a different effect and will typically provide some sort of bonus or buff to your Pokémon. Once you attach a Tool card to a Pokémon, you can’t detach it or swap it out for another one. (This is the general rule, but there are cards in the tabletop version of the game that allow you to swap it around.)
Here are the effects of all three Pokémon Tool cards in TCG Pocket:
- Giant Cape: “The Pokémon this card is attached to gets 20 HP.”
- Rocky Helmet: “If the Pokémon this card is attached to is in the active spot and is damaged by an attack from your opponent’s Pokémon, do 20 damage to the attacking Pokémon.”
- Lum Berry: “At the end of each turn, if the Pokémon this card is attached to is affected by any special conditions, it recovers from all of them, and discard this card.”
You can use as many Pokémon Tool cards as you want per turn, but you can only use one Tool card per Pokémon. So if you attach a Rocky Helmet on a certain Pokémon, you can’t stack another card, like another Rocky Helmet or a Lum Berry on top of it. Once your Pokémon loses HP and is sent to the discard pile, so too will the Tool card.
What cards get Pokémon Tool bonuses?
In Pokémon TCG Pocket, certain Pokémon cards receive bonuses when equipped with Pokémon Tool cards, enhancing their abilities or damage output. For example, Pachirisu ex deals an additional 40 damage with its Sparking Gadget attack if it has a Tool attached. Similarly, Skarmory’s Metal attack does 30 extra damage if it possesses a Tool card, and Rotom’s Assault Laser attack deals 30 more damage when targeting a Pokémon with a Tool. Additionally, Starly has the ability to remove an opponent’s Tool card before attacking, making it a key counter to Tool strategies. These synergies highlight the strategic value of Tool cards in boosting specific Pokémon’s performance in battle.
Some Pokémon either deal or receive more damage if they have a Pokémon Tool card attached. Others have attacks that directly target Tool cards. Here’s a list of those cards:
- Pachirisu ex deals 40 more damage with its attack, Sparking Gadget, if it has a Pokémon Tool attached.
- Rotom deals an additional 30 damage with the attack Assault Laser if it’s used against a Pokémon with a Tool card attached to it.
- Skarmory does an additional 30 damage with its Metal Arms attack if it has a Pokémon Tool attached.
- Starly has an attack called Pluck that discards all Pokémon Tools from your opponent’s active Pokémon.
How can I maximize the benefits of Pokémon Tool cards in my deck
To maximize the benefits of Pokémon Tool cards in your deck in Pokémon TCG Pocket, consider these key strategies:
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Choose the right Tool for your Pokémon and strategy: Attach Giant Cape to bulky Pokémon to increase their HP by 20, making them harder to knock out. Use Rocky Helmet on active Pokémon to deal 20 damage back to attackers, especially effective on tanky Pokémon like Druddigon. Lum Berry is ideal for Pokémon susceptible to special conditions, as it removes all such effects at the end of the turn but is discarded after use.
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Attach Tools wisely to avoid losing cards unnecessarily: Since Tool cards are discarded if the Pokémon they are attached to is knocked out, carefully select which Pokémon to equip to minimize losing valuable Tools early.
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Leverage synergy with Pokémon abilities and attacks: Some Pokémon deal extra damage if they have a Tool attached (e.g., Pachirisu ex), or have attacks that target opponent’s Tools (e.g., Starly). Use these interactions to your advantage by equipping Tools strategically and anticipating opponent responses.
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Balance your deck with multiple copies of key Tools: Including multiple copies of effective Tools like Rocky Helmet and Giant Cape increases the chance of drawing them when needed, improving consistency.
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Combine Tools with other Trainer cards and deck strategies: For example, use Supporter cards that accelerate Energy or draw cards to quickly set up Pokémon equipped with Tools, and consider retreat cost reduction cards if you plan to swap out Pokémon with Tools attached.
By thoughtfully selecting, attaching, and protecting your Pokémon Tool cards, and integrating them into your overall deck strategy, you can significantly enhance your Pokémon’s durability, damage output, and resilience in battle.
How can I choose the best Tool cards for my specific Pokémon strategies
To choose the best Pokémon Tool cards for your specific strategies, focus on the synergy between the Tool’s effect and your Pokémon’s role and abilities:
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Match Tools to Pokémon strengths: For bulky or tanky Pokémon, use Giant Cape or Bravery Charm to increase HP and improve survivability. For Pokémon that benefit from chip damage, Rocky Helmet punishes attackers, especially when paired with Pokémon like Druddigon that can capitalize on this effect.
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Consider attack cost and damage boosts: Tools like Hop’s Choice Band reduce attack costs and boost damage, ideal for aggressive decks aiming to maximize knockout potential quickly.
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Utilize evolution and setup Tools: Technical Machine: Evolution accelerates evolving your Pokémon on the bench, helping decks that rely on quick evolution chains to get stronger Pokémon out faster.
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Leverage niche or situational Tools: Binding Mochi, for example, increases damage on Poisoned Pokémon, which works well in decks that apply status conditions frequently.
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Plan for Tool limitations: Since only one Tool can be attached per Pokémon and Tools are discarded if the Pokémon is knocked out, prioritize attaching Tools to Pokémon that will benefit most and can retain them longer.
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Adapt to your deck’s meta and strategy: If your deck focuses on energy acceleration, consider Tools like Powerglass; if you need to recover or conserve energy, Exp. Share is useful.
By aligning Tool cards with your Pokémon’s strengths and your deck’s overall game plan, you can maximize their strategic impact and gain a competitive edge.
