We’re starting a new series on the blog where the Partner Battles Rules Team* will opine on the cards we see as format staples (although, we don’t always agree).
Today, we’re taking a look at Trainer-Item cards. Item cards were introduced in Black and White base set, so most players will already be familiar with most of these, since they are (for the most part) legal in the Expanded format.
Let’s take a look:
Acro Bike
Blaine1/10
This card pretty much never makes my deck lists (and is not even a part of my staples list) because seeing two cards and only replacing itself in a singleton format isn’t worth one of the very limited slots.
Tony7/10
Drawing cards to dig deeper is always good. The discard can sometimes make it a tough choice, but usually it’s a fairly easy choice.
Dowsing Machine
Blaine10/10
As discussed in my Ten Prizes article, decks don’t need to include the ACE SPEC Computer Search (instead opting for the Base Set version), so this is the best ACE SPEC that you can choose. Very few, specific decks might choose a different one.
Tony10/10
An essential part of the trainer recovery trio (with Junk Arm and Item Finder). There are very few decks that would choose a different ACE SPEC.
Evolution Incense
Blaine7/10
Most decks run an evolution or two. This is less versatile than an Ultra Ball or Luxury Ball, so it would be one of the first “Pokemon search” cards to get cut.
Tony6/10
If you run evolution Pokémon in your deck, you need this. If you don’t, you don’t. Simple.
Muscle Band
Blaine8/10
Sometimes, twenty damage can make-or-break a knockout and this tool doesn’t depend on the opposing Pokemon being a EX, GX, or V. I don’t think I would cut this in most lists unless they have alternative win conditions.
Tony8/10
The best damage increasing card in the game because it doesn’t have any restrictions. It just adds 20 damage to any attack.
Nest Ball
Blaine8/10
Nest Ball (like the old-school Great Ball) is great for getting an early Pokemon onto your bench and avoid being “donked”. It can be cut in decks where you want Pokemon in your hand to discard or play with a “from hand” ability.
Tony9/10
The only reason it’s a 9/10 rather than 10/10 is because it benches the Pokémon instead of putting it in your hand. A great way to search up one of the baby Pokémon in your deck.
It seems that I judge most “ball” type effects around a 7 or 8. This is probably because there are so many of them and you can choose the best for your deck. Quick Ball doesn’t usually get cut from my lists.
Tony9/10
Another way to search for basic Pokémon? And it goes into your hand? And the only downside is a single card discard? Yes, please!
Red Card
Blaine5/10
Great card, but doesn’t make most of my lists because light disruption makes your deck more janky. This is always in my full-disruption decks.
Tony7/10
Hand disruption is good, and there are only a few non-supporter trainer cards that can disrupt your opponent’s hand this much with no downside.
Rescue Stretcher
Blaine7/10
In a singleton format, these “revive” effects are great. I usually fit either a Rescue Stretcher or Pokemon Retriever in every deck (sometimes both!).
Tony8/10
It’s really the first option that is good here. The second option is available on several other cards. Recovering ANY Pokémon card to hand is a pretty powerful effect.
I want to say this card is great. It looks great on paper, but I almost never want to dedicate a slot to it. Since bouncing your partner would give up a prize, it looses the potency it would have in standard or expanded formats.
Tony9/10
No flip scoop up. The only downside is the restriction on GX and V Pokémon . But there are plenty of other Pokémon you’ll want to scoop up.
Trainers’ Mail
Blaine1/10
Looking at 4 cards and replacing itself is almost as bad as Acro Bike, but I give it the same score. Don’t give up a deck slot for this.
Tony10/10
Since your deck is probably 50% Trainer cards, you’ll want this to help dig a little deeper for the one you need.
Ultra Ball
Blaine8/10
Like Quick Ball above, this card is another “ball” effect. I generally keep it over Quick Ball if I play an even amount of Basic and Evolution Pokemon.
Tony8/10
This would be a 10/10 in most other formats, but there are actually better cards in this format. But not many, so you’ll still want this.
VS Seeker
Blaine10/10
The only time this is a bad card is in your opening hand on the very first turn of the game (and you can’t play a supporter). Generally, I rate all “recursion” effects very highly in a singleton format.
Tony10/10
As a singleton format, getting multiple uses out of your best supporters is absolutely essential. Every deck should run this. 100%.
* Well, 2/3rds of the rules team. One apparently couldn’t be bothered to write 10 sentences for this blog post.
Format Staples - Part 2: Trainer Cards - Base Set through Skyridge 
Milestone Release: Rules Version 3.00