There's a number of good cards in this set, so much so I had 36 cards down for the initial top 30 just from scanning through the card list and it took me a while to get it down to 30. Some old favourite concepts are coming back, some good for the game, some I'm not looking forward to playing against because it feels a bit toxic for some fun deck players. Hopefully the new introduction will make the game a bit more fun then the last set did.
And like the previous time, these are my own opinions, aka the opinions of an unproven player who does enjoys building decks whether it's good or not (AND I'VE NOT DONE ANY TESTING FOR THIS SET). My ideas are my own opinions, what I think could be good but may be bad to others or vice versa, take it with a pinch of salt since I'm coming into this set a bit blind and have been asking others for their opinion on most of these cards anyway. My ranking is dependent on these card's playability and what deck ideas you could build off them.
Side note, prices are taken from Troll and Toad as pre-order prices on the 26th April 2020. As always, prices are for the lowest rarity.
R - Rare
RH - Rare Holo
UC - Uncommon
UR - Ultra Rare
#30 - Cursed Shovel - 157/192 - UC - $0.25
If the Pokemon this Tool is attached to is Knocked Out by damage from an opponent’s attack, discard the top 2 cards of your opponent’s deck.
I don't really like this card since it helps Mill even more but it's obviously good so I don't have much of a choice but to add it on the list as much as I'd rather have some other card on this list like Malamar V-Max or Durant or whatever it may be. This card is good for only one type of deck and I'm never touching it so there we go. Got nothing to suggest since I don't play these god awful decks.
#29 - Galarian Meowth - 126/192 - C - $0.25
Ability: Evolution Roar
Once during your turn (before your attack), you may discard 2 cards from your hand. If you do, search your deck for 1 Galarian Perrserker, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then, shuffle your deck.
R - Rare
RH - Rare Holo
UC - Uncommon
UR - Ultra Rare
#30 - Cursed Shovel - 157/192 - UC - $0.25
I don't really like this card since it helps Mill even more but it's obviously good so I don't have much of a choice but to add it on the list as much as I'd rather have some other card on this list like Malamar V-Max or Durant or whatever it may be. This card is good for only one type of deck and I'm never touching it so there we go. Got nothing to suggest since I don't play these god awful decks.
Once during your turn (before your attack), you may discard 2 cards from your hand. If you do, search your deck for 1 Galarian Perrserker, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then, shuffle your deck.
[M][C] Scratch: 20 damage.
The good Galarian Meowth has finally shows up and this will surely see play in some Metal decks because of it's ability to help you search out Galarian Perrserker to get that extra 20 damage. No need for Comms or Evo Incense when you've got this little guy doing just that for you.#28 - Sigilyph - 80/192 - R - $0.49
If this Pokemon is your Active Pokemon and is damaged by an opponent’s attack, place 3 damage counters on the attacking Pokemon.
[P][C] Psychic Damage: Does 30 damage plus 10 damage for each damage counter on the opponent’s Active Pokemon.
The very last card I added to my list after reading it more from seeing a list a friend had sent to me about cards I should get and now I see why it's good. Spread decks will love this not just for his attack to hit more with however many counters the opponent already has but for the ability, adding more damage countes if Sigilyph is hit. Add Horror Psychic energy to it and that just adds up even more. And don't get me started on Spell Tag.
#27 - Cinderace V-Max - 36/192 - UR - $7.49
[R][R][C] Grand Fire Ball: 170 damage. Your opponent’s Active Pokemon is now Burned.
Of the three Galar starters with V-Max in this set, I'd say this one is slightly better than Inteleon (but worse than Rillaboom). The second attack is not bad, pretty much doing 190 which is a nice number to hit on certain attackers. And if your opponent is silly enough to hit you with a big attack that doesn't finish this guy off, just Counter them back and maybe gust someone up for game to take the easier KO.#26 - Capacious Bucket - 156/192 - UC - $0.25
This is only really good for one deck but it makes that one deck much more playable, and that being Frosmoth. Now it'll be more easier to power up attackers such as Lapras V-Max, Keldeo V, Volcanion Prism, Inteleon, Inteleon V-Max, Milotic V just to name the more likely ones to see play with Frosmoth. It might even see play in ADP decks just to get that Water energy out but I'd rather stick to Energy Spinner or Viridian Forest for that job in that deck. Capise?
[R][C][C] Flickering Flames: 90 damage. Your opponent’s Active Pokemon is now Asleep.
Not the first Ninetales you'll see on this list but this one is also not bad. The second attack isn't the most impressive attack but the first sure is. For just one energy, it can deal 120 to a Pokemon with an Ability on it. If you need that final 120, this Ninetales can get you there. And the best part is that it cleanly one hit KOs a Zacian V (or a Zamazenta V as well). Don't think it'll see much play since the gusting Ninetales is far more important in the decks using it.#24 - Vikavolt - 66/192 - RH - $0.49
[L][C][C][C] Electric Beam: 170 damage. This Pokemon does 30 damage to itself.
This Vikavolt has to be good surely. We've seen similiar attack to Powerful Storm and they've always found some way to work and having the use of Battery Charajabug, those numbers will just keep going up. Just by having the three energies on this Vikavolt you're dealing 120 damage. Say you've got 4 more energies with 2 Charjabug as those energies, that's another 80 damage, 200! And don't forget about Electropower.#23 - Galarian Cursola - 79/192 - RH - $0.79
If this Pokemon is your Active Pokemon and is Knocked Out by damage from an opponent’s attack, flip a coin. If heads, the Attacking Pokemon is Knocked Out.
[P][C] Corner: 60 damage. The Defending Pokemon can’t retreat during your opponent’s next turn.
I'm not a big fan of this card because I know some bugger will cheese a win out of me just by flipping coins and getting lucky by doing nothing which is what I hate most about the game. It's there, someone will abuse it and I will hate it. It's always a sad day when you lose because of someone else's luck and by something possibly out of your control.#22 - Falinks - 109/192 - UC - $0.25
[C][C] Team Attack: This attack does 30 damage for each Pokemon on your Bench with “Falinks” in its name.
This little guy reminds me of Passimian and I like it. If you've got a bench full of Falinks and Falinks V, you are doing 150 damage, not bad for a tingy 90 HP pokemon. That can go up to 190 with Fighting Dojo on board. And it can make best use of the new Twin Energy as well. Still not convinced? Falinks V ability means you take 20 less damage, which is still not bad. Might be the best budget deck to come out of this set.#21 - Turffield Stadium - 170/192 - UC - $0.75
Just like the bucket before this, this stadium only makes one type of deck good but it makes it insanely better. Rillaboom will love this as it's now easier to gain access to your Rillabooms if you've got Candy in hand. And hey, Rillaboom V-Max is an evolution pokemon after all. And of course, those silly people who play Lost March will play this since it helps you get Skiploom out easier.
Also great for decks trying the new Flapple spread decks to get those bigger apples out to do their abilities before they head back into the deck.
If this Pokemon would be damaged by an attack, flip a coin. If heads, prevent all damage done to this Pokemon.
[P][P] Ghost Dive: 120 damage. Put 3 damage counters on your opponent’s Benched Pokemon in any way you like.
Not the first Dragapult you'll see on this list and this one is not bad itself. We've seen the ability before in the form of Greninja and Whimsicott-GX and they've always bee annoying to deal with. The second attack is just like Giratina but for one less energy and instead of 4 damage counters on your side, you put 3 on your opponent's bench. But of course the down side is that it's a Stage 2 Pokemon which isn't the easiest to get onto the board. I still can see it being played in some ways.#19 - Rillaboom V-Max - 18/192 - UR - $6.99
[G][G][G][C] Max Barrage: 130+ damage. You may discard up to 3 [G] Energy from this Pokemon. This attack does 50 more damage for each Energy you discarded in this way.
Rillaboombox gets a new attack and it's V-Max version is not a bad attack itself. The four energy attack cost might look much but Rillaboom fixes that issue for you. Two Rillabooms is a god sent here. 130 is nice enough but if you're discarding 3 energies, that's 280 damage! Even discarding two will still dish out 230 damage, that will take care of all V Pokemons that have not gotten to the Max. Most GXes can't survive that hit and that includes a certain ADP-GX. 330 HP is nice but Fire weakness is still something I wouldn't want on my Pokemon.#18 - Capture Energy - 171/192 - UC - $0.25
When attaching this card from your hand to 1 of your Pokemon, search your deck for a Basic Pokemon and put it on your Bench. Then, shuffle your deck.
At first I wasn't sold on this Energy but after talking to a few friends I can see why it's good. Just a vanilla colourless energy but the ability to put any Basic onto the bench cannot be ignored. It has seen play in Japan with the likes of Falinks, Rillaboom and even ToxGarb! I'm curious to see how players will make full use of this particular energy. You could use this just to get a Zacian out for the draw power which some annoying decks will probably try to do.#17 - Coalossal - 107/192 - HR - $0.49
Once during your turn, you may search your discard pile for up to 1 [R] Energy and 1 [F] Energy and attach them to your Pokemon in any way you like.
[F][C][C][C] Burning Avalanche: 130 damage.
Sure it's a Stage 2 but I like Coalossal! Anything that gives Energy acceleration speaks to me instantly and this one gives it with two different energies. I've already had this in mind with Charizard V-Max but sadly that is not in this set so my idea might have to wait a while before I can try it out. Sanaconda V might make the best use of it for the time being.
I do like this in ReshiZard or Braixzard too helping you to power up that four attack cost and maybe do more damage with Fighting Dojo. I'm curious to see how other players will use this ability and who will it see play with in upcoming tournaments, if it see plays.
#16 - Copperajah V-Max - 137/192 - UR - $7.99
[M][M][M][C] Giant Hammer: 240 damage.
You've seen the meme. This tanky boy is a beast to deal with. As if 340 HP isn't already big enough, add Pan and LucMet's GX and it becomes 400 HP, which is very difficult for many decks to handle. The attacks aren't bad either so I can see Metal decks or even ADP adding this in for more options. But as the meme showed, Baby Blace can still knock this out in one hit.#15 - Galarian Weezing - 113/192 - RH - $0.75
Once during your turn, if there is a Stadium in play, you may leave your opponents Active Pokemon Poisoned.
[D][C][C] Sludge Bomb: 80 damage.
This gives me nightmares. Not so long ago when I first started out, of course I'd only play fun decks being just a casual player but the thing that almost made me quit Pokemon TCG straight away for one match with this arrogant player who for the first time since I got back made the game feel not fun for me. He had a Garbodor ability lock stall deck and I of course couldn't comprehend at that time, kept making mistakes forgetting the lock. This dude kept shit talking me "do you even know how to play?", which wasn't nice, since I had only just returned and I found out from the other players he wasn't the nicest player around. So yeah Galarian Weezing already has a bad rep for me just because of it's similarity to that Garbodor and that experience I had back then with that arrogant player.Back to this card. It's gonna cause a lot of problems. Many decks I can't deal with it. I don't really like it but let's see how it goes. I just sadly know this will somehow be good. I know my friend Luke is hyped on it and don't be surprised to see more people locking others out soon. Decks that rely on just poisoning others will love this. Stall will love this. I just don't want to see this mainly because I exclusively only play decks with abilities, makes the game more fun to me that way.
#14 - Milotic V - 43/192 - UR - $3.49
[W][C][C] Aqua Impact: 10+ damage. This attack does 50 more damage for each [C] in your opponent’s Active Pokemon’s Retreat Cost.
This will be an annoying attack to deal with. Aqua Impact can deal a lot of damage by itself but with the help of Galar Mine, that's an additional 100 damage. If your opponent had 3 retreat cost before adding Mine, that's an easy 260 damage right there.
The good thing about Milotic V is that there are a few ways to power it up. The main one being Frosmoth but Welder is another choice since it does make use of 2 colourless energies in it's attack and ADP could help you get there too. Or if you want to be really colourful, why not the previously mention Coalossal (I wouldn't try that out).
#13 - Galar Mine - $1.29 - UC - $1.29
The Retreat Cost of each Active Pokemon (both yours and your opponent’s) is [C][C] more.
This stadium will see play. Adding two retreat cost is painful enough, because decks that rely on Jirachi with board or Air Balloons will get punished by it. Milotic V and Tangrowth are the two main attackers that will make full use of this stadium as might some annoying mill/control decks.
And of course, if you're already playing Absol, that just adds to the misery of your opponent and does even more damage for your two attackers previously mentioned above.
#12 - Speed Lighting Energy - UC - $1.29
This card provides 1 [L] Energy while it’s attached to a Pokemon.
#11 - Dubwool V - 153/192 - UR - $3.99
Ability: Soft Wool
Damage done to this Pokemon by attacks is reduced by 30.
Soft Wool pretty much means Dubwool V has 240 HP which might be awkward for some attackers to deal with. Revenge Blast is a great comeback attack. A late 270 damage but might be enough to help you snatch a win from right under your opponent's nose. Decks like Fire Box, Malamar, Frosmoth and Rillaboom might fancy trying this out.
#10 - Horro Psychic Energy - 172/192 - UR - $0.99
This card provides 1 [P] Energy while it’s attached to a Pokemon.
The kings of the spread archetype just got more help. Even thought Malamar will be rotating in 4 months time, don't be surprised to see it using this in it's last run in the game. As if dealing with Giratina and Spell Tags weren't enough, now you might have to be even more careful on hitting a Pokemon with this energy as you'll take 2 damage counters.
[W][C][C][C] Hypno Splash: 150 damage. Your opponent’s Active Pokemon is now Asleep.
This will be an annoying attack to deal with. Aqua Impact can deal a lot of damage by itself but with the help of Galar Mine, that's an additional 100 damage. If your opponent had 3 retreat cost before adding Mine, that's an easy 260 damage right there.
The good thing about Milotic V is that there are a few ways to power it up. The main one being Frosmoth but Welder is another choice since it does make use of 2 colourless energies in it's attack and ADP could help you get there too. Or if you want to be really colourful, why not the previously mention Coalossal (I wouldn't try that out).
#13 - Galar Mine - $1.29 - UC - $1.29
This stadium will see play. Adding two retreat cost is painful enough, because decks that rely on Jirachi with board or Air Balloons will get punished by it. Milotic V and Tangrowth are the two main attackers that will make full use of this stadium as might some annoying mill/control decks.
And of course, if you're already playing Absol, that just adds to the misery of your opponent and does even more damage for your two attackers previously mentioned above.
When you attach this card from your hand to an [L] Pokemon, draw 2 cards
Pretty simple, attach it and draw 2 cards. Not a bad effect for Lighting decks and it's already seen play over in Japan with the likes of PikaRom, ToxGarb, Nuzzle and Morpeko V. Simple yet effective.
Damage done to this Pokemon by attacks is reduced by 30.
[C][C][C] Revenge Burst: 120+ damage. This attack does 30 more damage for each Prize card your opponent has taken.
Soft Wool pretty much means Dubwool V has 240 HP which might be awkward for some attackers to deal with. Revenge Blast is a great comeback attack. A late 270 damage but might be enough to help you snatch a win from right under your opponent's nose. Decks like Fire Box, Malamar, Frosmoth and Rillaboom might fancy trying this out.
- If your opponent has taken 1 prize, you do 150 damage.
- If your opponent has taken 2 prizes, you do 180 damage.
- If your opponent has taken 3 prizes, you do 210 damage.
- If your opponent has taken 4 prizes, you do 240 damage.
- If your opponent has taken 5 prizes, you do 270 damage.
- If your opponent has taken 6 prize, you do 0 damage. You've already lost!
#10 - Horro Psychic Energy - 172/192 - UR - $0.99
When the [P] Pokemon this card is attached to is your Active Pokemon and is damaged by an opponents attack, put 2 damage counters on the Attacking Pokemon.
The kings of the spread archetype just got more help. Even thought Malamar will be rotating in 4 months time, don't be surprised to see it using this in it's last run in the game. As if dealing with Giratina and Spell Tags weren't enough, now you might have to be even more careful on hitting a Pokemon with this energy as you'll take 2 damage counters.
Dragapult V-Max is the deck I see using this the most since it help with the damage spread tactics and that combination has already seen success in Japan so it's one I'd watch out for the most in the upcoming set.
#9 - Boltund V - 67/192 - UR - $5.99
[L][C] Lightning Storm: 10+ damage. This attack does 30 more damage for each [L] Energy attached to your Pokemon in play.
I actually am a fan of Boltund V. I think it's a card that has a lot of potential just because of it's two attacks. The first one is helpful in many different ways and leads in nicely with the second attack.
- With 2 Lighting Energy on board, you're doing 70 damage
- With 3 Lighting Energy on board, you're doing 100 damage
- With 4 Lighting Energy on board, you're doing 130 damage
- With 5 Lighting Energy on board, you're doing 160 damage
And it'll keep going up. You do have Electropower to add to those numbers too and it's not hard to get those energies in play. PikaRom have always had as many as 6 energies on board during it's games. Nuzzle will easily build up energies in their games as well so I can see Boltund V being a nice addition to those decks. You could even have the likes of Naganadel to help build up your energy on board. Heck, Magnezone is still in the format too. This will be a fun idea I'm surely going to try out with any of those combinations.
#8 - Toxtricity V-Max - 71/192 - UR - $9.99
It's only got the one attack and even with the 2 Lighting and 1 Colourless cost for it, it's still dangerously good. 160 isn't a bad number to hit but if the opponent is Poisoned, you're hitting for 240, that's a huge number to hit these days. It's not hard to get the Poison effect too with Garbodor the easiest way to do so. And it's a lighting type, Electropower is still in the format for the time being so that number will keep going up, even enough to cleanly hit Tag Team GXes.
Toxtricity V-Max has 320 HP so it's not easy to knock it out. And sure the attack cost isn't the nicest but there are ways around it with the likes of Tapu Koko Prism, Thunder Mountain and Magnezone still around. People who like playing Lighting type deck just found a new deck to try out in the coming months.
[R][C][C][C] Flamethrower: 180 damage. Discard an Energy from this Pokemon.
I can see a few different attacks I would copy. You could use this against a Dragapult V-Max and hit their own bench at the same time. You could also use Resource Management against those annoying decks. Up against ADP? You could even use Altered Creation GX to do 30 more and if by some chance you've added an Aurora/Rainbow or Water Energy to your deck, you could even get the full effect. Or just do Ultimate Ray and set up your next big attacker on the bench (Turtonator, Blacephalon-GX or Heatran-GX). I'm excited to see how people will exploit this card, easily one of my favorite from this set and probably the first one I will get.
We've finally got an Acerola/AZ recovery style card back in the format and in the form of an item too! The main partner I can see it being used for is Jirachi. With Tool Scrapper out, Jirachi might not get to retreat easily with Escape Board missing. This is where Scoop Up Net comes in. Get your Stellar Wish in, scoop it up and poof Jirachi is not in the active anymore. Good way to get around those annoying Absol/Galar Mine too without using Switch.
My other favourite use for this is with Mind Report Mewtwo. Using this will put a Supporter card from your discard pile and with the likes of either Jirachi, Oranguru or Dedenne, you can get that Supporter into your hand with ease and use that Mewtwo again with this Scoop Up Net.
This will also see play with a few more interesting abilities. Need to put two damage counters down? Galarian Zigzagoon has your back. Need to discard a few special energies? Giratina has your back. About to get one of your Pokemon knocked out by those spread decks, use this to get them away from the board. Sadly I can see this being abused by those dirty Mill/Stall/Control decks too.
If this card is attached to a Pokemon V or Pokemon GX, this card provides 1 [C] Energy instead.
This is purely for 1 prize decks (and EX too but we don't care about Expanded here) and there are many out there that are happy to see this and the ones I can think of are Weezing, Falinks and Lost March mainly. There aren't many other decks that can make best use of it at the moment but this will definitely have more decks to use in the future. Anything that gives two energy cost will always be good.
Tool Scrapper is back in the game and once again we finally have a Tool remover after months of Field Blower being rotated out of the format. This will see play in many decks and already has over in Japan with the likes of PikaRom, ADP/Zacian, Dragapult VMax, Falinks and Mew3 Maly to name a few.
I know I'll have a love-hate relationship with this card. Love it for the fact that it'll get rid of annoying tools such as Stealthy Hood, Spell Tag and the upcoming Cursed Shovel so we've finally got an answer to that instead of relying on Faba. Hate it because our Jirachi might not get to live their inner Tony Hawk spirit with Escape Board getting scrapped by this (Scoop Up Net can help with this thankfully).
Also worth pointing out that it gets rid of tools on either player's pokemon so if you really need to get another tool on your Pokemon, say you're worried about your Zacian V getting KOed, you might scrap your own attacking tool like Vitality Band and get a Frying Pan or Big Charm on that Zacian V. I do like that this card serves multiple purposes and for that, it will surely see a lot of playing for the next few years.
Once during your turn, when you play this card from your hand to your Bench, you may put a Supporter card from your discard pile into your hand.
[C][C] Soar Upward: 50 damage. You may shuffle this Pokemon and all cards attached to it into your deck.
Remember VS Seeker? Ok it's not an item card but the effect is back with Eldegoss V and I honestly think this will see a lot of play. It'll end up being the card to get you the game winning move with Boss's Orders or my personal favourite, Welder! The attack is not bad as well, similar to Shaymin EX but does 20 more damage which could be relevant in some cases.
Eldegoss V have already seen play in many different decks such as ADP/Zacian, Dragapult VMax, Toxtricity/Garb, Lost March, Rillaboom, Welder based decks, and yes that include Blacephalon UNB. It won't see as much play as Dedenne-GX but it'll still be just as effective, mainly for the late game.
And a special note to Chatot which has almost the same ability as Eldegoss but you do need to hit heads of a coin flip so if you're a fan of trying your luck, you might prefer that instead.
#2 - Dragapult V-Max - 93/192 - UR - $17.99
[P][P] Giganto Phantom: 130 damage. Put 5 damage counters on your opponent’s Benched Pokemon in any way you like.
Possibly the best attacker to come out of Rebel Clash. Dragapult might even be the best V-Max released so far too. The first attack is really good as we've seen these kind of attacks being useful against annoying decks trying to deny you.
But the selling point is Giganto Phantom. For just two Psychic energies, you're hitting 130. Same damage output as Giratina but for one less. Great isn't it? It gets better, instead of putting 4 damage counters on yourself, you put five damage counters on the other side, in any way you like and combined with the likes of Spell Tag, Horror Psychic and other spread attackers such as Mew, Blacephalon or even Roxie, that might be too much for your opponent to deal with. This will be a top tier deck.
This has already seen success in Japan and will continue to do so in our upcoming online tournaments. The best part of Dragapult V-Max is that it can even see play in a few different partners, be it Malamar or Roxie or maybe even something we've not discovered yet. I'll give this one a try for sure being a fan of spread decks myself.
#1 - Boss's Orders - 154/192 - HR - $12.99
You know this card and you know what it does. Lysandre saw play in every deck when it had it's time in the game and I am confident enough to say that Boss's Orders will see play in pretty much every deck from now till the time it rotates. We've finally got a powerful answer to those annoying mill/stall decks that rely on Dolls.
Even decks with a consistent gust engine will find a way to put this into the deck. I can see decks like Fire Box, even with Ninetales, will find a way to add a Boss's Orders or two in the deck. This card will win games. It's done it before in it's former guise as Lysandre and Guzma, it will continue to do so for the next two years.
I hope you've enjoyed reading this list and if anyone found it helpful, I'd be happy to hear that. I'm looking forward to seeing how the new set will impact our current online tourneys. Sadly I won't get to open or collect many cards from this set and I'm still putting myself in a strict no going out regime due to this pandemic but there will be some cards from these bunch I need to order since I can see them being use for the next 2 years to come.
Even decks with a consistent gust engine will find a way to put this into the deck. I can see decks like Fire Box, even with Ninetales, will find a way to add a Boss's Orders or two in the deck. This card will win games. It's done it before in it's former guise as Lysandre and Guzma, it will continue to do so for the next two years.
I hope you've enjoyed reading this list and if anyone found it helpful, I'd be happy to hear that. I'm looking forward to seeing how the new set will impact our current online tourneys. Sadly I won't get to open or collect many cards from this set and I'm still putting myself in a strict no going out regime due to this pandemic but there will be some cards from these bunch I need to order since I can see them being use for the next 2 years to come.
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