Here are the best stadium cards you can get your hands on in Pokemon TCG.

The Pokemon Trading Card Game, like many other modern TCGs, has a mechanic to alter the board and create overarching effects that are usually reciprocal between players. In Pokemon, this is exemplified in Stadium Cards, a special type of Trainer Card with passive or activated effects for both players.

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First introduced to the Pokemon TCG in 2010, Stadium cards have made a sizable impact on the meta. Of course, some of these fell by the wayside with each rotation, but many have been a staple in their respective formats.

Shrine Of Memories feels like a gimmicky card at first glance, and that is a fair assessment to an extent. This card allows evolution Pokemon to use the moves of its pre-evolved form, which lies under the card. While not immediately apparent in its strength, Shrine Of Memories can be quite an asset.

It should be noted that this card was predominantly played during the Mega-Evolution format of the mid-2010s. That means a Mega Evolution Pokemon could use some of the utility moves of its base form under Shrine. Mewtwo was a popular option for this gimmick. This card could even see play today if reprinted into Standard format, with VMAX Pokemon running around. In fact, Memory Capsule, a tool card, fills the gap in the current format.

Sky Field is another older card with a pretty unique effect. Released in Roaring Skies back in 2015, this card increases the bench capacity of both players from five to eight. That may seem simple, but it did facilitate some combos back in the day.

This card was mostly played alongside Pokemon, whose attack gets stronger with more Pokemon in play. This changed throughout the years, beginning with the dominant and badass Mega Rayquaza-EX and then evolving into Zoruark GX and Lycanroc GX.

In the Pokemon TCG, while the primary strategy of many decks is to attack with strong Pokemon and knock your opponent's active Pokemon, some cards and strategies focus on dealing damage to the benched Pokemon. A place that's supposed to be safe can be targeted by a myriad of different cards. In older formats, Sky Pillar was the card to protect it.

With cards like Rapid Strike Urshifu VMAX that target the bench with colossal damage, bench protection can be a huge asset. Despite not being legal in Standard Format anymore, Sky Pillar is a great example of a tech Stadium card, potentially shutting down whole decks. But, of course, you can still use the Manaphy from Brilliant Stars if you really need the protection.

Many decks utilized Pokemon Tool cards throughout the history of the Pokemon TCG. The current most popular ones seem to be Choice Belt and Cape Of Toughness. That is to say, negating said cards can be hugely beneficial.

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Lysandre Labs, unfortunately not in Standard Format anymore, cancels the effects of all Pokemon Tools in play. However, the effect is so good that a newer tool card with a similar impact sees regular play named Tool Jammer.

Heat Factory is a straightforward card in actuality. Once per turn, a player may discard Fire-type energy to draw three cards. That's it. However, despite its simplicity, Heat Factory is immensely powerful.

This card mostly saw play as part of the meta decks using Blacephalon GX and the Reshiram & Charizard GX Tag Team cards. However, with such a simple and beneficial effect, Heat Factory was splashable on any deck that uses Fire-type energies as a resource.

Stormy Mountains, a more recent Stadium card, also makes this list due to how generically beneficial it is to many decks. It lets you put a basic Electric or Dragon-type Pokemon onto your bench straight from the deck. There are also no drawbacks or costs to this fantastic effect.

This card was used in decks alongside Rayquaza V, Raichu V, Regieleki, Regidrago, and other strong Electric and Dragon types. Considering how many strong cards are basic in modern Pokemon TCG, setting up a benched Pokemon each turn is infinitely valuable. It also doesn't benefit your opponent if they're not on an Electric or Dragon-type deck.

After examining so many great Stadium cards and their effects on the metagame, it would make sense for a card that blanks your opponent's Stadium cards to be good. Well, Chaotic Swell is precisely that, and it was as useful as it appears to be when it was usable in Standard.

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This card immediately destroys the next Stadium card to be played in its place, giving you a safety net against any upcoming Stadium. You could also play this on top of an existing Stadium, discarding it naturally. That means Chaotic Swell could cost your opponent two Stadium cards, which would hurt a lot of decks. This was an anti-meta option when it was in Standard Format.

Tropical Beach, a Black & White promo card, is quite rare and by far one of the most valuable stadium cards ever printed. It's selling online for over $400. While that's not unbelievable for Pokemon Cards, this is not as old as some other collectibles, having been released in the 2011 & 2012 Worlds Championship events.

The card effect is as amazing as its value, though. Once per turn, you can draw cards until you have seven cards in your hand, after which your turn ends immediately. This is, of course, an incredible draw power that any deck would love to have. That is if you could find a copy for a reasonable price...

Training Court is potentially the card that exemplifies card advantage and generic support the best as a Stadium Card. It has a straightforward effect, allowing you to add a basic energy card from your discard pile to your hand once per turn.

While not an exceptionally distinct effect compared to other Stadiums, Training Court is incredibly powerful. Many commonly used cards in the Pokemon TCG require a discard for cost, and card advantage is central to the gameplay. With Training Court, you can loop energy back to hand to give you fuel for other cards. It is a strong, generic, and highly effective support for any deck playing basic energies.

The Pokemon TCG has evolved significantly throughout the years. While evolving your Charmeleon was a thrill back in the day, nowadays, you'll see gigantic legendaries and fully evolved Pokemon get slapped onto the board directly. These "Rule Box Pokemon," including Pokemon V, VMAX, Radiant, etc., are at the center of the current meta.

These Rule Box Pokemon are not only strong but most come with a fantastic ability to help you set up. Thus, it's fair to say neutralizing these huge threats are just as powerful as having them on your side. Path To The Peak negates all abilities of Rule Box Pokemon. In a meta dominated by these monsters, negating their abilities is just one of the best benefits you can get from a Stadium card, especially if you opt not to play too many of these special Pokemon in your deck.

Next: Pokemon TCG: The Best VSTAR Cards

A Lifelong gamer and freelance writer of over 5 years. He knows way too much about Pokemon, TTRPGs, and indie games. Professional Tetris player and the first Maxout player in Turkey.