Pokémon TCG: Top 10 Best Rayquaza of All Time

In this article, we'll keep exploring the Hoenn Pokédex by going through the best Rayquaza of all time. Rayquaza was a Dragon/Flying mythic Pokémon that first appeared in the Ruby & Sapphire block as part of the "Weather Trio". Rayquaza represents the "skies", Groudon represents the "earth", and Kyogre, which represents the "oceans".

Rayquaza often mediates the conflicts between Groudon and Kyogre, which constantly battle for dominance of the Earth's "territories" (as seen in the Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald game titles).

The remakes Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire introduced a new version of this story alongside Mega Evolutions (first introduced in the X/Y block). These games made these titans even more powerful, as they showed their Primal forms.

In these remakes, Rayquaza is phenomenal because it absorbed the energy of the Mega Evolutions from the meteorites that fell through the ozone layer and space itself. It became a lot more powerful and magnificent, as shown in this scene from Pokémon Generations:

As we mentioned back in our article about the best Deoxys of all time, Rayquaza is somewhat of a rival to this Alien Pokémon. Whenever an outer "threat" comes along, Rayquaza will be there, ready to stop it, like in this scene from Pokémon Generations:

Animated Series: Pokémon Generations

Japanese episode:

English episode:

Brazilian Portuguese episode:

As Pokémon is a multimedia franchise, though the basic story may seem the same, each title can change and adapt certain details, like these:

1) The Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire remake introduced the lore surrounding the Delta Episode. This piece of lore tells the story of Zinnia and her journey as part of the Draconid people.

2) The Ash Ketchum animated series, the "Destiny Deoxys" and "Hoopa and the Clash of Ages" movies, the special X/Y OVAs starred by Alain, the "Mega Evolution Specials", and even the most recent animated series, Pokémon Horizons, changed parts of the lore considerably.

3) The mangas, like the Adventure saga, have also changed a few details.

Movie: Destiny Deoxys

Japanese trailer:

American trailer:

Movie: Pokémon XY - Hoopa and the Clash of Ages

Japanese trailer:

OVA: Pokémon XY - Mega Evolution

Animated Series: Pokémon Evolutions

English episode:

Brazilian Portuguese episode:

This Pokémon might not have been that relevant since it was first released, in each of these generations' Standard era (since Ruby/Sapphire), there are at least ten Rayquaza in Pokémon TCG that we must discuss. We'll go through each of these top-tier Rayquaza, from its "baby" forms and the stronger, "ultra rare" versions.

Let's go!

10 - Rayquaza (Black/White: Dragon Vault)

Let's start with its "baby" version as a Dragon for the first time in the Black/White block, when it was first introduced as part of this archetype. Before, Rayquaza wasn't a Dragon Pokémon, and Dragon Pokémon were part of the colorless archetype. Nonetheless, this version stood out because of its attack, Shred, which goes through attack or ability effects on enemy Pokémon.

For instance, if a Pokémon has an effect like "doesn't take any damage from basic Pokémon attacks", Rayquaza simply goes through that and deals damage anyway.

You can use it in the Expanded and GLC format.

9 - Rayquaza (Sun/Moon: Guardians Rising)

In the Sun/Moon block, this Pokémon was a formidable recursive Pokémon because of its attack, Turbo Storm, which you can easily use it in the Expanded format with a Double Colorless Energy SUM 136 or a Twin Energy RCL 174.

As for the GLC (Gym Leader Challenge) format, Double Colorless Energy SUM 136 and Twin Energy RCL 174 are banned there, so this Rayquaza is a bit weaker.

8 - Rayquaza "Amazing Rare" (Sword/Shield: Vivid Voltage)

This Rayquaza stood out just a bit in Sword/Shield's Standard because it deals a lot of damage straight away. You can also set it up pretty easily because it is a basic Pokémon.

Here's an example of it in action in the hands of Azul Garcia Griego, alongside the Lost Box engine and Mirage Gate LOR 163.

Its attack, Amazing Burst, deals 80 damage for each different basic energy attached to it you discard.

7 - Rayquaza-EX (Black/White: Dragon Exalted)

This Rayquaza was incredibly iconic in the Black/White Standard. It was known for dealing a lot of damage and discarding a lot of energies to deal even more damage.

Its main attack, Dragon Burst, states that you can discard all basic Fire or Electric energies attached to Rayquaza-EX to deal 60 damage for each. To make this work, we'd also use Eelektrik NVI 40's ability, Dynamotor, which recycles one basic Electric energy from the discard pile and lets you attach it to one of your Benched Pokémon.

This Rayquaza-EX was so important at the time that, later on, the Pokémon Company released a Deck Battle Arena with it in front-center, to make it more accessible.

Here's a curious detail: This Rayquaza-EX DRX 85 was inspired by Rayquaza ex DR 97, from the Ruby/Sapphire block, which had the same attack. But, at the time, building a deck for it was a bit complicated.

6 - Rayquaza & Deoxys "LEGEND" (Heart Gold/Soul Silver: Undaunted)

We also mentioned this card in our article of the top 10 best Deoxys of all time. This card features the "LEGEND" mechanic, which shows Rayquaza facing its rival, Deoxys.

This is one of the best "LEGEND" cards introduced in the HG/SS block. It stands out because of its ability, Space Virus: each time you Knock Out an enemy Pokémon with this "LEGEND", you'll draw one extra Prize card!

So, for each Pokémon LEGENDs, Pokémon LV.X, and Pokémon-EX (since the end of the HG/SS block and into the beginning of the Black/White Standard) you Knocked Out with Rayquaza & Deoxys "LEGEND", you'd draw three Prize cards instead of two!

It only occupies our sixth spot because it doesn't have a lot of HP and setting it up is a bit difficult. You need both sides and Legend Box UD 75 to do it.

You can use it in the Legacy, U150, and Palace formats.

5 - Rayquaza-GX (Sun/Moon: Celestial Storm)

This Rayquaza-GX deals more damage for each basic Electric and Grass energy attached to your Pokémon.

Rayquaza-GX showed up quite often in tournaments at the end of the X/Y era and the beginning of the Sun/Moon era, up until the "second part" of the block.

This Rayquaza was so important that, later on, the Pokémon Company released an entire product around it: Battle Deck Arena: Rayquaza-GX.

UNBOXING

4 - Mega Rayquaza-EX -Dragon Type- (X/Y: Roaring Skies)

This Dragon version stands out because of its attack, which deals 300 damage but forces you to discard two energies attached to it. This is one of the few cards in Pokémon TCG that deals this much damage.

Nonetheless, attaching all the energies you need to use this attack is rather difficult, as you need 5 energies (F/F/F/L/C). Even with Double Dragon Energy ROS 97, you'll still have to recycle the energies you discard when you use its main attack, so it was a very slow Pokémon when it was released.

It was only in Expanded that it became more relevant, and after many years - practically at the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023. It was partly because of Sword/Shield: Silver Tempest, which reprinted Regidrago VSTAR SIT 136. This Pokémon can copy any attack on Dragon Pokémon in your discard pile. Later on, Regidrago was replaced by Salamence ex JTG 114 because it was more versatile.

3 - Mega Rayquaza-EX -Colorless Type- (X/Y: Roaring Skies)

This is one of the best Mega Evolutions in all of Pokémon TCG!

In the X/Y Standard, back in the Roaring Skies era, this Mega Rayquaza dominated because of the combo with Sky Field ROS 89, which expanded your bench to 8 slots. With it, you can deal even more damage with this Pokémon's main attack, which deals 30 damage for each Pokémon on your bench.

It was already better than M Rayquaza-EX ROS 61 because of its retreat cost, but, moreover, you need less energies to use M Rayquaza-EX ROS 76 as well. For instance, you can use a Double Colorless Energy XY 130 and a basic energy.

It was so critical that the Pokémon Company reprinted it in Sword & Shield, more specifically in Celebrations:

2 - Rayquaza V (Sword/Shield: Evolving Skies)

Its V form, from the Sword/Shield block, is similar to Rayquaza-EX DRX 85 (our 7th best Rayquaza) because of its attack, Spiral Bust. Nonetheless, it limits how many energies you can discard with it (only two), so you can only deal up to 180 damage with it. In the Sword/Shield Standard, it was a lot of help whenever you needed to Knock Out Pokémon V, so it was decent.

What made us put it in our 2nd spot is its VMax form. In any case, its base form is what lets you put this exceptional attacker on the board.

Furthermore, you can use many support cards with it to make it even more powerful because it is a Rapid Strike Pokémon, like the Rapid Strike Scrolls (Rapid Strike Scroll of the Flying Dragon EVS 153 and Rapid Strike Scroll of the Skies CRE 151).

Other Cards Rayquaza V Can Use

1 - Rayquaza VMax (Sword/Shield: Evolving Skies)

Our best Rayquaza of all time, besides being an upgraded version of Rayquaza V EVS 110, also benefitted from being a Dragon from the Sword/Shield block, as these Dragon Pokémon no longer have weaknesses.

Its main attack doesn't limit how many energies you can discard with it (like its V form). Just like Rayquaza-EX DRX 85, this card also interacts with Eelektrik NVI 40's ability. In fact, it came out with Flaaffy EVS 55 in the same set, which had the same ability!

Furthermore, it is very powerful in Expanded, as you have more ways of getting energies in this format. You can use the Fiery Flint DRM 60 / Emboar BLW 20 / Superior Energy Retrieval sv2 277 combo, besides Welder UNB 189a, which is the main Supporter to get more basic Fire energies.

Just like Rayquaza V EVS 110, Rayquaza VMAX EVS 111 can use Rapid Strike Scroll of the Flying Dragon EVS 153 and Rapid Strike Scroll of the Skies CRE 151.

Do you agree with our picks? Tell us your thoughts in our comment section below.

Thank you for reading, and see you next time!