Raid Boss Pokémon are usually jumbo Pokémon cards, which have one or more powerful attacks. They are often rule-box Pokémon. Frankly, there’s something fun and impressive when fighting against a physically large Raid Boss Pokémon.
In the Miscellaneous page, we provide suggestions on how to keep these large format cards safe.
We have had good luck asking local game stores to see their Jumbo Pokémon Cards, and they are usually happy to part ways with them. As with the Raid Boss Deck, it’s possible to use Proxy Cards for your Raid Boss!
What Makes a Good Raid Boss Pokémon?
A few main factors make a particular jumbo Pokémon card a “good” Raid Boss. Many of these apply to the cards that make up the Raid Boss Deck as well.
- Multiple attacks: different attacks that are either randomly selected or picked, depending on the game difficulty.
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Pokémon with GX or V STAR Attacks: There is no limit to the number of times a GX or V STAR attack can be used, meaning that particularly challenging effects can result in opponents getting stalled out. Glaceon V STAR (SWSH197)’s Crystal Star prevents all damage from and effects of attacks the subsequent turn, shutting down damage from attacks like
Roaring Moon ex (PAR 124/182)’s Frenzied Gouging. - Risk of a powerful attack not landing: high Energy costs and coin flips can make attacks more challenging to land, which can be more fun for Players.
- Damage scalability: some attacks get stronger the more Energy cards are attached (or discarded) from a Raid Boss Pokémon. All Energy costs (and likewise, any attack specifying a particular Energy Type) are all Colorless, leading to many attacks doing high multiples of damage. Others scale with the number or types of cards in your opponents hand (e.g., Alakazam V [SWSH083], Banette ex [SVI 088/198]). In this case, a decision should be made in advance with the Players to decide if this would be on a per Player basis, or if all of the cards in all the Players’ hands should be counted.
- Spread attacks: attacks that place damage on Benched Pokémon could potentially do damage to 20+ Pokémon, and would place a lot of pressure on Players who are playing decks which use Evolution Pokémon!
- Unique attacks: Attacks such as Bewear GX (SM34)’s Big Throw GX, which discards Players’ Active Pokémon are highly disruptive!
- Extremely high damage attacks: for added challenge, cards like Raikou, Entei & Suicune (Promo), which hit for 1000 damage, would knockout all Pokémon without an ability like Pikachu (SSP 57)’s Resolute Heart. This type of card puts lots of pressure on Players, and required a different play style, with lots of work going to prepare Pokémon on the Bench to attack.
What Are Some Good Raid Bosses?
Here we suggest some possible Raid Boss Pokémon, but this is certainly not all the possible good Raid Bosses. Raid Format allows for creativity and using older Jumbo cards as Raid Bosses, including older Pokémon EX, GX, V, V STAR, V MAX, V UNION, and ex!