Top 10 Tamer Cards in the Digimon TCG

Jeremy enjoys gaming when not helping manage the college he graduated from.

Tamers in the Digimon Trading Card Game

Of course, Digimon form the crux of any deck, but they're supported by their human allies called tamers. Tamers can't battle but boost their allies' power, find other cards, or increase memory to help afford bigger units.

Playing option cards also requires you to control a Digimon or tamer that matches its color—which companions reign supreme? These are the ten best tamers in the Digimon TCG!

10. Marcus Damon

Cost: 4
Color: Red

Like many tamers, Marcus sets your memory to three when your turn begins if it's lower, a nice way to ensure you have at least a few resources each round. More than that, you can suspend (tap) Marcus to gain one memory when one of your creatures with Greymon attacks, helping offset his higher cost.

And like every tamer, Marcus's security effect lets you play him for free if he's revealed from your security cards when directly attacked.

9. Tai Kamiya & Matt Ishida

Cost: 4
Color: White

While these two are in play, you gain two memory when your turn begins if your opponent controls a level 6 or higher Digimon, punishing their biggest threats. Additionally, they give your Omnimon security attack plus, meaning he hits an extra security card when directly attacking.

Omnimon is arguably the game's best Digimon card, so anything that boosts him is worthwhile.

8. Mimi Tachikawa

Cost: 4
Color: Green

Like Marcus, Mimi ensures you begin with at least three memory each turn. Also, you can suspend her to either hatch a Digi-egg or move a level 3+ Digimon from your breeding zone to your battle. These things automatically happen each turn, but only one at a time, letting Mimi greatly hasten green decks.

Useful as tamers with "at least three memory per turn" are, keep in mind they don't stack well (multiple copies of their memory-setting are redundant), so you don't necessarily want to run four copies.

7. Rina Shinomiya

Cost: 3
Color: Blue

Rina only really works with Veemon decks, but she offers invaluable boosts in the game's best color. She's a little cheaper than prior tamers at just three, and you can suspend her to give your attacking blue Digimon +1000 DP (power) for the turn.

Plus, when you play her, you can add any one "Vee" Digimon from your deck's top three cards to your hand.

6. Matt Ishida

Cost: 2
Color: Blue

Another blue ace, Matt's inexpensive at just two. He only offers one effect, but it's a strong one that can stacks with multiple copies, giving you one memory when your turn begins if your opponent controls a Digimon without any Digivolution upgrades.

5. T.K. Takaishi

Cost: 4
Color: Yellow

Matt's younger brother sets your memory to at least three when your turn starts, and when you play him, you look at your security cards, add one to hand, then if it's yellow, recover (add the top card of your deck to your security pile).

Basically, this not only lets you tutor one of several cards, but it also shows you what's in your security pile, so you know what's coming.

4. Nokia Shiramine

Cost: 3
Color: White

When first played, Nokia lets you play an Agumon or Gabumon from your hand for free. These are Tai and Matt's staple companions who belong to the red and blue factions, arguably the two best groups in the game.

Plus, Nokia further supports their family be suspending to give one memory when you digivolve anyone with Greymon, Garurumon, or Omnimon attached.

3. Arata Sanada

Cost: 3
Color: Black

Arata gives you a memory when your turn begins if you have an unknown-type Digimon in your trash (discard pile). So he'll often eventually pay for himself, and you can suspend him when you digivolve into Diaboromon to play a Diaboromon token.

These tokens are 3000-DP, not amazing but a useful bonus when you summon your ace.

2. Tai Kamiya

Cost: 2
Color: Red

Like Matt's two-cost form, Tai excels because he stacks well with himself, so you can safely run as many copies as you like. He simply gives all your Digimon an extra 1000 DP, making an already-dangerous color even stronger. Unlike some tamer boosts, this remains active on all turns, useful for both attack and defense.

1. Tai Kamiya

Cost: 4
Color: Red

Tai's more-expensive rendition resets your memory to at least three each turn. He's also great for helping you wrap up the end game, giving your Digimon with four or more digivolution cards security attack+1, meaning they can plow through an extra card when directly attacking.

Basically, if you're running red, you probably want at least one copy of this Tai.

Building your Digimon Deck

Useful as they are, remember that tamers should only encompass a small portion (probably six or less cards) in your deck. You can use tamers that aren't of your preferred color, but it's risky since you need your option cards to match.

I definitely believe this is the best Digimon card game yet, and we'll see what new tamers we'll encounter as new sets release. But for now, vote for your favorite character and I'll see you at our next Digimon countdown!

© 2021 Jeremy Gill