The strongest dark cards in Pokemon TCG Pocket's Mythic Island set

If there's any Pokemon type that needs more options in Pokemon TCG Pocket, it's Darkness, Steel, and Dragon. Darkness has the most of the three, and with the new card options made available through the Mythical Island set, you can beef up your Darkness deck to be stronger than ever.

This set offers alternatives to some of the best Darkness cards already out there, as well as a powerful new Evolution line that can devastate your opponent's field with toxic abilities. Darkness is more viable than ever before, so here are every additional Pokemon found on Mythical Island, ranked by their usefulness.

7

Purrloin

A little cat

If you want a beginner-friendly Pokemon to jump into, then Purrloin is as easy as it gets. In fact, the whole line doesn't offer much in terms of power or abilities but can serve as a budget option for Darkness decks. Purrloin has 60 HP and a retreat cost of one. This is pretty basic, but what gives it some intrigue is that it isn't weak to Fighting types like the rest of the Darkness Pokemon.

Instead, Purrloin is weak against Grass, which gives it a little extra durability during a bad matchup. You also always only need one energy to hit the entire line. So once it has an energy attached you are good to go, even as it evolves.

6

Leopard

A fast cat with weak claws

Liepard doesn't gain much in power when it evolves. However, it's a fast Pokemon that doesn't take much to start hitting your opponent. Just one energy is enough to pay for its move and retreat cost. It also has a decent 90 HP, which can help it stand up against Basic and Stage One Pokemon that come its way.

This makes Liepard a decent budget option if you're looking for a Stage One Pokemon that can damage slower threats like Mewtwo ex before your opponent can finish setting them up. Like its previous Evolution, Liepard is weak against Grass, making it exempt from being instantly demolished by Fighting Pokemon.

5

Coffee

One Koffing becomes two

Mythical Island introduces an alternative to the standard Koffing from Genetic Apex. This one has the same HP stat of 70 but has a unique Move as well as a higher retreat cost. For a Darkness Energy, you can use Division, which allows you to take another of your Koffings from your deck and place it on your bench.

This move makes it so that if you open at least one copy of Koffing, you're guaranteed to get another one on the field as soon as you can charge this one up with an energy. This also helps improve consistency when using a Poke Ball, as it takes a Basic Pokemon out of rotation. This limits what you can get when you use the Poke Ball to search for your other Pokémon from the deck.

4

Weezing

An evasive cry

Weezing from Mythical Island has a unique effect that can enhance already existing stun decks. This Weezing has 110 hp and a retreat cost of three. Fortunately, it can retire for free just to be compatible with the Koga. While this Weezing cannot poison your opponent's Pokemon through an ability, it can instead add an extra coin flip to your opponent's next turn.

Some stun decks like to have Paralysis and Sleep. However, you can only inflict one of these status effects on your opponent at a time. Smokescreen's lingering effect can stack with Sleep, as it does not count as a status effect. So if you can put your opponent's Pokemon to sleep, they have to flip to wake it up, and if Smokescreen hits, they have to flip again just to see if they can even use their Move.

3

Venipede

When small insects become big

Venipede has a tough road to go through if you want to make it a Scolipede. The line itself has a good order though, despite not getting too much of a raw power boost between stages.

Venipede starts with 60 HP, Ram (which does 20 damage for one energy) and a retreat cost of one. Venipede will not weigh you down if forced into the active spot at the start of a match. Once you get it moving up the evolutionary ladder, it will increase by making the next stages more viable. Meanwhile, this is a Basic Pokemon that your opponent's Psychic-types don't want to run into.

2

Whirliped

Quick married

Whirlipede is Venipede's first Evolution. This Pokémon has 90 HP and a retreat cost of two. While this Stage receives no increases in terms of power, it also does not increase the cost of its Move. Poison Sting still does 20 damage for one energy.

The biggest change is that Whirlipede can now poison your opponent's Pokemon by hitting them with Poison Sting. This status effect can be devastating if left unchecked and can force your opponent to recall their Pokemon. This is a decent effect for Whirlipede to have as the next Stage can immediately take advantage of the situation if you manage to poison your opponent's Pokemon.

1

Scoliped

A better Muk?

Scolipede is a surprisingly cheap step two to produce. With 140 hp and a retreat cost of two, it has pretty decent stats and mobility. Scolipede's Venoshock Move only costs two energy to use with a base damage of 70. This means it's easy to attack with the entire lane regularly, as there are no points where Evolving it leaves a gap in your energy costs.

This Pokemon's Move gets even better if your opponent's Pokemon is poisoned. This raises Venoshock's power from 70 to 120. You can take advantage of this by poisoning your opponent's Pokemon with Whirlipede's Move before evolving into a Scolipede. You can also use Abilities on the Bench, like Weezing's Gas Leak, to apply Poison on the same turn before attacking.