Rotation is coming soon so I thought why not see which current top decks will be least or most affected by the rotation coming in September (one month away). And that's with one more extra set still to come this month (Evolving Skies)!
Just like before for lists like these, I'll use decks that have done well in the past few month in the online tournament circuit, getting their total prices in case anyone wants to build the deck right now and also the percentages number for how much of the current deck will be rotated out.
Prices are from TCG Player based on US Dollars as of August 9th 2021.
There are some top decks that I won't cover for the obvious reasons:
- Lucario & Melmetal-GX/Zacian V as the LM part is rotating as will most of the defensive tool from the deck
- Mewtwo & Mew-GX/Dark Toolbox, or basically anything with Mewtwo & Mew-GX as that is rotated and kills of that toolbox variant
- Spiritomb UNB since the main attacker and all of the important pieces will be rotated
- Pikachu & Zekrom-GX is finally gone
- Caturday Toolbox as all Caturday attackers and Persian are rotated
- Welder decks are sadly gone
Sets that will be legal are: SWSH, RCL, DAA, CPA, VIV, SHF, BST, CRE and the upcoming EVS set.
#15 - Tornadus VMAX
Total Top 4 Finishes in TEU-CRE (as of Aug 9 '21): 2
Cards affected by rotation in deck: 13.33%
The fact that Tornadus is only losing 13% of the deck was one of the reasons why I had it in mind for this list even though it's the only deck not to have won a tournament yet. I wanted to include a Single Strike deck and this is the best one I could come up with. Losing TAE is the biggest thing for Tornadus which might mean the deck returns to more of a Single Strike Toolbox style of deck with the likes of Single Strike Urshifu VMAX and the new Gengar VMAX making it's way into the deck soon.
Total Tourney Wins in TEU-CRE (as of Aug 9 '21): 2
Total Tourney Wins in TEU-CRE (as of Aug 9 '21): 2
Total Tourney Wins in TEU-CRE (as of Aug 9 '21): 9
Total Tourney Wins in TEU-CRE (as of Aug 9 '21): 9
Total Tourney Wins in TEU-CRE (as of Aug 9 '21): 2
Total Tourney Wins in TEU-CRE (as of Aug 9 '21): 13
Total Tourney Wins in TEU-CRE (as of Aug 9 '21): 35
Total Tourney Wins in TEU-CRE (as of Aug 9 '21): 29
Total Tourney Wins in TEU-CRE (as of Aug 9 '21): 25
Total Tourney Wins in TEU-CRE (as of Aug 9 '21): 31
#14 - Blaziken VMAX/Zeraora V
Total Tourney Wins in TEU-CRE (as of Aug 9 '21): 1
Total Top 4 Finishes in TEU-CRE (as of Aug 9 '21): 7
Cards affected by rotation in deck: 15%
The Blaziken/Zeraora deck won't actually lose much, just mostly tech cards, some of which could be replaced by other searching out cards (Level Ball, Evolution Incense). It's not the main Rapid Strike deck but with Mew from Unbroken Bonds rotating, Zeraora V might become an even bigger threat purely for it's ability to hit the active and the bench (and hit more than G-Max Rapid Flow as well).
#13 - Corviknight VMAX
Total Tourney Wins in TEU-CRE (as of Aug 9 '21): 1
Total Top 4 Finishes in TEU-CRE (as of Aug 9 '21): 5
Cards affected by rotation in deck: 10%
These Bronzong-style toolbox deck, be it Corviknight focused or otherwise, in all honesty, are losing nothing from the rotation. LM-GX was a tech choice and everything else is easily replaceable. And with ADP-GX gone, this may be the best way to play a Zacian deck, apart from a turbo-style Zacian deck by itself with perhaps Inteleon that has been seeing success in post rotation events.
#12 - Inteleon VMAX
Total Top 4 Finishes in TEU-CRE (as of Aug 9 '21): 7
Cards affected by rotation in deck: 11.67%
Just like the first few decks, Inteleon VMAX won't actually lose much from the rotation, just consistency boosters being the main loss. The biggest thing it'll gain is the fact that Pikachu & Zekrom-GX is finally rotating, giving it full reign for once. And there's another, possibly an even better Inteleon VMAX, coming soon to make the deck even better than it could be.
#11 - Blissey V
Total Top 4 Finishes in TEU-CRE (as of Aug 9 '21): 15
Cards affected by rotation in deck: 23.33%
Blissey is one of the decks that rotation will hit hardest purely for the fact that it's main draw/discard engine, Hapu, is rotating. It also doesn't help that Weakness Guard Energy is rotating, which makes the Rapid Strike Urshifu VMAX matchup near impossible now. The deck will likely need more new cards to be released to give it help in the next few months. It's still one of the better decks in Expanded format at least!
#10 - Malamar CRE/Rapid Strike Toolbox
Total Top 4 Finishes in TEU-CRE (as of Aug 9 '21): 20
Cards affected by rotation in deck: 6.67%
The malamar rapid strike deck was a terrible game design mistake. Seriously over powered. Needed to say discard the cards instead of shuffle back. It consistently 300 damages for 1 energy. And the scary fact that only 6% of the deck is rotating means we'll keep hearing about this. The biggest losses being Oricorio-GX does hurt it's consistency and losing Mew means it's an open target for snipe decks.
#9 - Rillaboom Toolbox
Total Top 4 Finishes in TEU-CRE (as of Aug 9 '21): 19
Cards affected by rotation in deck: 26.67%
Rillaboom toolbox-styled decks will survive in some way, but it won't be able to set up consistently now that EggRow-GX is rotating, meaning it'll have to depend on the trusted old Rare Candy method. The deck will have to go through a big overhaul with all of it's Tag engine rotating. Rillaboom may not even be the preferred Grass deck going forward with Leafeon V soon to be released.
#8 - Victini VMAX
Total Top 4 Finishes in TEU-CRE (as of Aug 9 '21): 21
Cards affected by rotation in deck: 36.67%
Victini VMAX will still see play post rotation simply due to the fact that all GXes are gone, and with a V-format, Victini will have an easier time dealing with 2 & 3 prize attackers. The issue will be that it will have to do that without our good friend Welder who will sadly rotate. Personally, that makes me very sad since most of my success in the game has been with Welder decks. It'll also need a complete makeover as it's tech attackers are all gone along with the Jirachi/Dedenne engine.
#7 - Malamar VMAX
Total Tourney Wins in TEU-CRE (as of Aug 9 '21): 8
Total Top 4 Finishes in TEU-CRE (as of Aug 9 '21): 34
Cards affected by rotation in deck: 40%
Just like Victini VMAX before it, Malamar VMAX can still feature in post rotation but it will need a complete makeover. Losing the Weavile-GX/Red & Blue engine will hurt it's ability to attack quickly, now needing to rely on Galarian Moltres/Energy Switch for that role. Losing Weavile also means Cheryl will most likely not see play in the deck going forward. Losing Forest also hurts Moltres' ability to quickly charge itself up.
Just a note, I've included the Sneasel from CRE. Sure, it's not rotating but the fact that Weavile-GX is rotating means there is no reason to play it thus why it's included in the numbers .
#6 - Decidueye DAA
Total Top 4 Finishes in TEU-CRE (as of Aug 9 '21): 51
Cards affected by rotation in deck: 15%
Decidueye's biggest loss would be Rosa which hurts it's ability to set up Decidueyes rather quickly but the Inteleon engine has been doing that job for it quite smoothly so it won't be the biggest loss. This deck will continue to wins tournaments out of nowhere just because of Decidueye and prey on people with no answer to it.
Also for note, I'm not counting the Rowlet here as there is a like-for-like replacement in other sets as Decidueye is still legal unlike the case for Weavile-GX mentioned for Malamar VMAX.
#5 - Ice Rider Calyrex VMAX
Total Top 4 Finishes in TEU-CRE (as of Aug 9 '21): 151
Cards affected by rotation in deck: 6.67%
Ice Rider Calyrex VMAX is the least effected top deck from the upcoming rotation which may be part of the reason why many think it could be the best deck going forward. The only real loss in Reset Stamp meaning it won't be able to the old "Path and Stamp" tactic going forward to make others stuck. Ice Rider has seen a lot of success since it's release and will continue to do so with 90% of the deck sticking around for the long haul.
#4 - Rapid Strike Urshifu VMAX
Total Top 4 Finishes in TEU-CRE (as of Aug 9 '21): 103
Cards affected by rotation in deck: 13.33%
Rapid Strike Urshifu may lose some important techs but what it gains is the fact that Mew UNB is gone, which might just make it the BDIF going forward as decks may not be able to deal with it's constant pressure. Losing Karate Belt does mean it can't just rely on going down on prizes for constant G-Max Rapid Flow. Losing Jirachi-GX also hurts vs Shadow Rider or any new Psychic type deck going forward but that may not be an issue if you can strike them first as seen in this format so far.
#3 - Arceus & Dialga & Palkia-GX/Galarian Moltres V
Total Top 4 Finishes in TEU-CRE (as of Aug 9 '21): 86
Cards affected by rotation in deck: 16.67%
The devil is dead. Two of the biggest pains in the past year or so, ADP-GX and Mawile-GX are both gone. But the funny thing is the fact that the deck won't actually lose much apart from the obvious losses. So that begs the question, can a Turbo Zacian or Turbo Moltres style deck (or together) still survive with the remains of this deck without the attack and prize boost of ADP?
#2 - Eternatus VMAX
Total Top 4 Finishes in TEU-CRE (as of Aug 9 '21): 141
Cards affected by rotation in deck: 20%
Even though I've got it at 20% loss here, Eternatus VMAX won't actually lose much. Before Moltres arrived on the scene, the deck didn't have the likes of Weavile-GX and 3 Swells, two of the main things it will lose from rotation. The deck will have to go back to a Moltres/Energy Switch engine to speed up it's attacks. Losing Swell might be the biggest pain for the deck as it will have a much harder time dealing with Path to the Peak. Eternatus will always be a force to be reckon with, anything that can possibly hit for 270 for just two energy cannot be taken lightly.
#1 - Shadow Rider Calyrex VMAX
Total Tourney Wins in TEU-CRE (as of Aug 9 '21): 74
Total Top 4 Finishes in TEU-CRE (as of Aug 9 '21): 249
Cards affected by rotation in deck: 10%
Shadow Rider Calyrex VMAX won't lose much of from the rotation but it will lose Gengar & Mimikyu-GX, which has been part of the reason why it's been so successful to help buy an extra turn to set up or even take cheeky turn 2 KOs. Losing Marshadow won't be a pain with the new Pumpkaboo that does a similar job. The deck should still be one of the best decks in the format even with the loss of Gengarkyu but time will tell if that is true or not since it won't lose much from the rotation.
Just a summary of which decks are more or least affected:
Not affected by much: (0-10%)
- Ice Rider Calyrex VMAX - 6.67%
- Malamar CRE/Rapid Strike Toolbox - 6.67%
- Shadow Rider Calyrex VMAX - 10%
- Corviknight VMAX - 10%
Slightly affected: (11%-20%)
- Inteleon VMAX - 11.67%
- Rapid Strike Urshifu VMAX - 13.33%
- Tornadus VMAX - 13.33%
- Decidueye DAA - 15%
- Blaziken VMAX/Zeraora V - 15%
- ADP-GX/Galarian Moltres V - 16.67%
- Eternatus VMAX - 20%
- Pikachu & Zekrom-GX - 20%
Severely affected: (21%-40%)
- Spiritomb UNB - 21.67%
- Blissey V - 23.33%
- Rillaboom Toolbox - 26.67%
- Lucario & Melmetal-GX/Zacian V - 28.33%
- Victini VMAX - 36.67%
- Malamar VMAX - 40%
Gone case (41%-100%)
- Caturday Toolbox - 45%
- Blacephalon UNB - 48.33%
- Mewtwo & Mew-GX/Weavile-GX Dark Toolbox - 53.33%
And just a recap or how cheap or expensive these decks are:
Budget Friendly ($0-$100)
- Blissey V - $41.80
- Rillaboom Toolbox - $54.78
- Malamar CRE/Rapid Strike Toolbox - $57.31
- Corviknight VMAX - $62.79
- Tornadus VMAX - $62.79
- ADP-GX/Galarian Moltres V - $68.71 (Yes, an ADP-GX deck is now budget friendly!)
- Blaziken VMAX/Zeraora - $71.77
- Inteleon VMAX - $76.48
- Decidueye DAA - $78.29
Standard Prices ($101-$200)
- Malamar VMAX - $109.79
- Ice Rider Calyrex - $112.69
- Victini VMAX - $115.27
- Rapid Strike Urshifu VMAX - $116.84
- Eternatus VMAX - $119.94
- Shadow Rider Calyrex VMAX - $185.84
Spend big to Win ($200 >)
- For once, there is no deck that falls into this category, showing how affordable the game has become with 9 of the decks listed here all under $100 total! I've never seen that before.
Thanks for reading and have a good day!
