Kash Top 24 List: Best Pokemon cards released in 2024 (stats based)

 It's the end of the year so once again, and as per tradition now, I'm hard at work trying to figure out the best way to showcase the best cards released in the year 2024. I've always enjoyed doing these types of list and I'm always looking for ways to make them look at least interesting for anyone who actually is interested to know what cards made the list and what didn't.

I made a shortlist of cards that I thought made an impact this year (it was as high as 60 cards) and started removing those that didn't really do much or had no top 8 finishes in either IRL or big online events. With the rest, I went ahead, found all the numbers and from there worked out what the best 24 cards for this list. 

But just doing points wasn't going to cut it. If I did that, cards released later on in the year wouldn't stand much of a chance of having an impact on the list so I based it off total points and also average points scored per sets released, so the cards that got released late, especially the last one, still had some chance to make it in. And two did!

Before I explain how I worked things out, I thought I should at the very least name the cards that didn't quite make the list but almost did:

• Iron Leaves ex (TEF)
• Counter Gain (SSP)
• Colress's Tenacity (SFA)
• Secret Box (TWM)
• Alolan Exeggutor ex (SSP)
• Roaring Moon (TEF)
• Cinccino (TEF)
• Terapagos ex (SCR)
• Noctowl (SCR)

And I still think Noctowl is one of the best cards printed this year yet it was the 25th card on my list! And let's not forget Terapagos ex, it's helped so many decks breathe new life, such as Palkia and Klawf, yet it too didn't make the cut here. So there's a lot of cards that were just as good, some clearly better.

The way I did the points was quite simple:

• 1st - 5 points
• 2nd - 3 points
• 3rd and 4th - 2 points
• 5th to 8th - 1 point

And if you see the average points and was wondering how I calculated it, quite simple:

• Points scored from each set (termed as S1 to S5)/Events in each set
• The total of the average/how many sets they were played in = Average Points Scored per Sets

The tournaments included in these are any event that is recorded on Limitless for this year that had cards released this year (so no Portland, Charlotte, Liverpool, Melbourne, Knoxville and Singapore Regional V2). Also included are any Play Limitless online tournament that hit 256+ players. If I had included 128 like I used to, there would be too many and it might dilute the information, and there were just enough to make everything look perfect as S3 was lacking in IRL tournaments, so online had the most S3 events to help make the numbers more event. If anyone was wondering:

• S1 (BST to PAF)
• 8 IRL events
• 1 Online events
• S2 (BRS to TEF)
• 26 IRL events
• 3 Online events
• S3 (BRS to TWM + SFA)
• 8 IRL events (2 from SFA)
• 12 Online events
• S4 (BRS to SCR)
• 11 IRL events
• 8 Online events
• S5 (BRS to SSP)
• 8 IRL events (Including the recent Osaka Champions League that will feature cards coming out in 2025)
• 6 Online events

For the results:

• Wins are wins, pretty easy
• Top 4 will be results from 2nd, 3rd or 4th, not including wins
• Top 8 will be results from 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th, and nothing from the above included

And with that, here are the best 24 cards released in 2024, not done by any sort of opinion or favoritism, just good old statistics and numbers, my favourite! And why just 24? 2024, that's why. We need to keep the gimmick going.

(Side note, I'm still trying to figure out a way to do a video version for this, but just haven't figured out how to do it properly)

#24 - Legacy Energy - Twilight Masquerade (TWM)

Type: Special Energy - ACE SPEC

Total Points: 91 (21st)

Average Points Scored per Sets: 1.62 (24th)

Points

• S1 - Not Released
• S2 - Not Released
• S3 - 42 / Avg - 2.10
• S4 - 36 / Avg - 1.89
• S5 - 13 / Avg - 0.87

Wins: 6

Top 4: 15

Top 8: 25

Saw play in:

• Lugia VSTAR/Archeops
• Iron Thorns ex
• Ceruledge ex

One of only two Ace Spec energy cards we've got in the current rotation but this one is by far the better one. It's a rainbow energy that helps disrupt the prize race in your favour since your opponent can only take 1 less prize from attacking a Pokemon with this on it. The natural partner for it is Lugia since it has the easiest access to it with Archeops but it's seen play in other decks too.

#23 - Ciphermaniac's Codebreaking - Temporal Forces (TEF)

Type: Supporter

Total Points: 86 (22nd)

Average Points Scored per Sets: 0.88 (Not Top 30)

Points

• S1 - Not Released
• S2 - 61 / Avg - 2.10
• S3 - 4 / Avg - 0.20
• S4 - 14 / Avg - 0.74
• S5 - 7 / Avg - 0.47

Wins: 3

Top 4: 21

Top 8: 26

Saw play in:

• Gholdengo ex
• Chien-Pao ex/Baxcalibur
• Gardevoir ex/Banette ex

One of the few Supporters to make the list this year, Ciphermaniac is pretty much Mallow from a few years ago, the effect in the same. And that card was very effective for a good reason and it's no surprise to see Ciphermaniac in decks that require a lot of combo pieces to work, as it did back then as well, such as Gholdengo, Chien-Pao and Banette.

#22 - Precious Trolley - Surging Sparks (SSP)

Type: Item - ACE SPEC

Total Points: 29 (Not in Top 30)

Average Points Scored per Sets: 1.93 (21st)

Points

• S1 - Not Released
• S2 - Not Released
• S3 - Not Released
• S4 - Not Released
• S5 - 29 / Avg - 1.93

Wins: 0

Top 4: 10

Top 8: 4

Saw play in:

• Klawf/Terapagos ex
• Dragapult ex/Iron Thorns ex
• Gardevoir ex

A 1-off buddy poffin that lets you fill the bench with not just less than 70 HP basic pokemon but any kind of basic Pokmeon? Yup I wasn't surprised to see Precious Trolley already making it's way into a number of decks. Decks like Klawf could even get a Terapagos ex down turn 1, play Area Zero and then fill up their bench to 8! Combo decks such as Dragapult, Gardevoir and Charizard are also happy to see this.

#21 - Area Zero Underdepths - Stellar Crown (SCR)

Type: Stadium

Total Points: 75 (23rd)

Average Points Scored per Sets: 2.20 (16th)

Points

• S1 - Not Released
• S2 - Not Released
• S3 - Not Released
• S4 - 43 / Avg - 2.26
• S5 - 32 / Avg - 2.13

Wins: 5

Top 4: 13

Top 8: 16

Saw play in:

• Terapagos ex/Dusknoir
• Miraidon ex
• Klawf/Terapagos ex

Speak of the devil, Area Zero has a similar ability to Sky Field from years ago. This time the catch is you need a Tera Pokemon in the field to increase your bench to 8. It's seen play mostly with any deck playing Terapagos ex, be it by itself, with Klawf or Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR or even Charizard ex, or decks like Miraidon ex that has Pikachu ex to be the bench sitting Tera mon. It works well for attackers like Terapagos ex, Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR and Raikou V as they both want bigger bench spaces, thus why they were mentioned earlier.

#20 - Hero's Cape - Temporal Forces (TEF)

Type: Tool - ACE SPEC

Total Points: 135 (14th)

Average Points Scored per Sets: 1.48 (25th)

Points

• S1 - Not Released
• S2 - 73 / Avg - 2.52
• S3 - 28 / Avg - 1.40
• S4 - 18 / Avg - 0.95
• S5 - 16 / Avg - 1.07

Wins: 8

Top 4: 27

Top 8: 34

Saw play in:

• Snorlax Stall
• Pidgeot ex Control
• Charizard ex/Pidgeot ex

It's like all the other HP boosting tool we've seen for a while now but this is easily the best one. There is no restrictions, you can play it on a Basic or Evolution pokemon, rule box or no rule box. Straight up you have +100 HP. And it's already been working, especially for controlling-style decks. Even attacking decks like Charizard ex have played it to make their biggest threat of Charizard ex be even bigger as it can be difficult to KO a 430HP pokemon!

#19 - Kyurem - Shrouded Fable (SFA)

Type: Basic Pokemon

Total Points: 106 (18th)

Average Points Scored per Sets: 2.02 (20th)

Points

• S1 - Not Released
• S2 - Not Released
• S3 - 26 / Avg - 1.30
• S4 - 40 / Avg - 2.11
• S5 - 40 / Avg - 2.67

Wins: 8

Top 4: 18

Top 8: 26

Saw play in:

• Regidrago VSTAR

What everyone initially thought would be the Lost Box killer has ended up becoming a set-up deck killer. And it's only really seen play in one deck, that being Regidrago. The threat of Kyurem hasn't stopped Lost Box from showing up but because it's in Regidrago (the current BDIF), there are less Lost Box players around. Kyurem has been wrecking benches as earlier as Turn 2, and decks without Manaphy continue to pay the price for omitting it. And it's not just targeting small basics, some players have used two Trifrost to take down 3 big basic mons to win the game in just 2 attacks.

#18 - Latias ex - Surging Sparks (SSP)

Type: Basic Pokemon ex

Total Points: 32 (Not in Top 30)

Average Points Scored per Sets: 2.13 (19th)

Points

• S1 - Not Released
• S2 - Not Released
• S3 - Not Released
• S4 - Not Released
• S5 - 32 / Avg - 2.13

Wins: 2

Top 4: 7

Top 8: 3

Saw play in:

• Miraidon ex
• Roaring Moon ex
• Klawf/Terapagos ex

Latias ex has just one job, a free retreat for any Basic Pokémon. That's it. And that's why it's already seen so much play despite being just released in the latest Surging Sparks set. As you know, these stats lists don't tend to favour cards that show up late in the year so when one does show up, you know how good it truly is. It's already helping decks like Miraidon and Klawf to move around freely and more will utilize it in the next few years.

#17 - Jamming Tower - Twilight Masquerade (TWM)

Type: Stadium

Total Points: 115 (17th)

Average Points Scored per Sets: 2.21 (15)

Points

• S1 - Not Released
• S2 - Not Released
• S3 - 26 / Avg - 1.30
• S4 - 43 / Avg - 2.26
• S5 - 46 / Avg - 3.07

Wins: 10

Top 4: 21

Top 8: 22

Saw play in:

• Regidrago VSTAR
• Lugia VSTAR/Archeops
• Charizard ex/Pidgeot ex

Jamming Tower is similar to Tool Jammer, aka tools don't work but instead of just the active's tool not working, now it's the entire board, and not just your opponent but yours too. For me it's much better than Tool Jammer and there's a good reason why the best decks in the format (Regidrago and Lugia) continue to keep using it. A number of decks are very reliant on tools and don't want to see even one Jamming Tower showing up.

#16 - Munkidori - Twilight Masquerade (TWM)

Type: Basic Pokemon

Total Points: 124 (16th)

Average Points Scored per Sets: 2.29 (14th)

Points

• S1 - Not Released
• S2 - Not Released
• S3 - 67 / Avg - 3.35
• S4 - 20 / Avg - 1.05
• S5 - 37 / Avg - 2.47

Wins: 10

Top 4: 22

Top 8: 20

Saw play in:

• Gardevoir ex
• Gouging Fire ex
• Lost Zone Box
• Arceus VSTAR/Armarouge

Munkidori breathe new life into decks like Gardevoir and Lost Box with one of the new interesting abilities in the game. It helps to counter spread decks but also helps decks like Gardevoir or Gouging Fire that naturally puts damage counters on itself to attach energies to do even more damage. There's a reason why some Gardevoir decks run two Munkidori to effectively do 60 more damage! It's got a very cheeky attack too, the confusion could help buy time against certain decks,

#15 - Charmeleon - Paldean Fates (PAF)

Type: Stage 1 Pokemon

Total Points: 214 (9th)

Average Points Scored per Sets: 2.14 (18th)

Points

• S1 - 19 / Avg - 2.11
• S2 - 111 / Avg - 3.83
• S3 - 27 / Avg - 1.35
• S4 - 29 / Avg - 1.53
• S5 - 28 / Avg - 1.87

Wins: 18

Top 4: 37

Top 8: 39

Saw play in:

• Charizard ex/Pidgeot ex

This was a cheeky choice to put onto this list but it was released this year so it counts. It's just a Charmeleon, but there's a very good reason why this is now the go-to Charmeleon to use. The ability helps to stop damage counter placement and effects like TM Devolution, meaning you're board is always guranteed a Charizard even after a TM Devo swing by your opponent. 

#14 - Unfair Stamp - Twilight Masquerade (TWM)

Type: Item - ACE SPEC

Total Points: 135 (14th)

Average Points Scored per Sets: 2.46 (13th)

Points

• S1 - Not Released
• S2 - Not Released
• S3 - 75 / Avg - 3.75
• S4 - 26 / Avg - 1.37
• S5 - 34 / Avg - 2.27

Wins: 10

Top 4: 27

Top 8: 22

Saw play in:

• Gardevoir ex
• Charizard ex/Pidgeot ex
• Dragapult ex
• Roaring Moon ex

This is the one that surprises me the most in this whole ranking. Everyone knows how strong Unfair Stamp is. Remember Reset Stamp? Yup it's back but now with a condition and a fixed number of cards to draw. A disruption item card should be good. It's seen play in a lot of decks, mostly in set-up decks like Gardevoir and Charizard that like to play from behind and Unfair Stamp is the perfect card to go with this gameplan.

But it's only down in 14th on this list? And I'm not being biased (anyone who knows me knows how much I dislike this card), but the fact that it had a mid-score rating with both systems I used shows it wasn't as good as I thought. Prime Catcher being the other viable Ace Spec doesn't help, neither did the introduction of Fezandipiti ex, decks can now easily draw out of a Stamp with Fezan so it just not as effective as it should be. It's still a very good card, but with Fezandipiti in the format and it being the one Ace Spec of choice, there might just be other better options for now.

#13 - Flutter Mane - Temporal Forces (TEF)

Type: Basic Pokemon

Total Points: 117 (10th)

Average Points Scored per Sets: 2.20 (16th)

Points

• S1 - Not Released
• S2 - 48 / Avg - 1.66
• S3 - 85 / Avg - 4.25
• S4 - 2 / Avg - 0.11
• S5 - 42 / Avg - 2.80

Wins: 11

Top 4: 37

Top 8: 32

Saw play in:

• Ancient Box
• Gardevoir ex
• Lugia VSTAR/Archeops
• Gouging Fire ex

Little ol' Flutter Mane has seen play in all sorts of decks mainly for it's Midnight Fluttering ability. The opponent's active pokemon has no ability. This can catch out a number of decks who won't want to have an ability mon in the active. Some decks have no choice like Iron Thorns where it's the only Pokemon and because of that, Flutter Mane let's you use your abilities before retreating.

It also has a useful attack. 3 colourless energy for 90 and you get to put 2 damage counters anywhere on their bench is quite handy. In decks like Gardevoir, you could even set up a 2-prize turn with Munkidori moving damage around. And because it's an Ancient Pokemon, you can use Sada to attach energy to it!

#12 - Briar - Stellar Crown (SCR)

Type: Supporter

Total Points: 106 (18th)

Average Points Scored per Sets: 3.10 (7th)

Points

• S1 - Not Released
• S2 - Not Released
• S3 - Not Released
• S4 - 62 / Avg - 3.26
• S5 - 44 / Avg - 2.93

Wins: 5

Top 4: 23

Top 8: 25

Saw play in:

• Charizard ex/Pidgeot ex
• Raging Bolt ex/Teal Mask Ogerpon ex
• Terapagos ex/Dusknoir
• Ceruledge ex

One of the strongest supporters in the game, you can take an extra prize! Cards with these type of effects do tend to see play but you'll need to meet the specific requirement to use it, which is your opponent having 2 prizes left. But there are ways to make your opponent have 2 prizes, one of the main ways being a Curse Bomb by either Dusclops or Dusknoir. 

And once you get it, Briar could swing the game to your favour or completely win you the game. There is one other condition. While you do take 1 extra prize card for a KO, it has to come from your Tera Pokemon doing the attack. It's been paired with the likes of Charizard ex, Terapagos ex, Teal Mask Ogerpon ex and Ceruledge ex, all capable of getting 3 prizes out of nowhere.

#11 - Dusknoir - Shrouded Fable (SFA)

Type: Stage 2 Pokemon

Total Points: 155 (13th)

Average Points Scored per Sets: 2.91 (9th)

Points

• S1 - Not Released
• S2 - Not Released
• S3 - 13 / Avg - 0.65
• S4 - 98 / Avg - 1.79
• S5 - 44 / Avg - 1.07

Wins: 11

Top 4: 30

Top 8: 32

Saw play in:

• Charizard ex/Pidgeot ex
• Dragapult ex/Dusknoir
• Terapagos ex/Dusknoir
• Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR/Dusknoir

Which brings us to Dusknoir. Briar helps complete one part of the puzzle but Dusknoir, and in some cases Dusclops, helps to start the puzzle. One of the best combo cards in the game right now, KOing itself to put 130 damage counters on your opponent is too good to be ignored which is why all sorts of decks have been playing it.

Some decks are even built with Dusknoir in mind. Palkia would play 4 PokeStop and 4 Rescue Stretcher to help turbo through the deck in the hopes of hitting the pieces you need (and Rare Candy too since it's an item after all). Can't use Radiant Greninja's attack because there is a Manaphy on board? Dusknoir fixes that problem. With Dragapult it helps set up numbers or just set up a 4 or 5 prize turn sometimes! And with the likes of Charizard and Terapagos, it's usually the pieces to help start a big combo turn to win games.

#10 - Teal Mask Ogerpon ex - Twilight Masquerade (TWM)

Type: Basic Pokemon ex

Total Points: 161 (12th)

Average Points Scored per Sets: 3.01 (8th)

Points

• S1 - Not Released
• S2 - Not Released
• S3 - 46 / Avg - 2.30
• S4 - 67 / Avg - 3.53
• S5 - 48 / Avg - 3.20

Wins: 11

Top 4: 24

Top 8: 53

Saw play in:

• Regidrago VSTAR
• Raging Bolt ex/Teal Mask Ogerpon ex

The introduction of Teal Mask Ogerpon ex didn't just help to bring about one of the strongest turbo decks in the game in Raging Bolt ex, but also helped to make Regidrago VSTAR go from a rouge deck that had little to no engine previously, thus seeing no play at all, into the clear BDIF going into Worlds 2024 and still the BDIF going into 2025.

Attach one grass, draw one card. Simple but effective. In most cases, you need the energy to either move to Regidrago or to use as extra damage for Raging Bolt. And it being a Grass-type Pokemon, it does one-shot one of the best attacking Pokemon in the game in Tera Charizard ex, which does have Grass weakness! And in some interesting cases, it can also help Grass decks accelrate energies for their own gameplans, like the recent Tournament of Doom winning Sinistcha ex deck!

#9 - Eri - Temporal Forces (TEF)

Type: Supporter

Total Points: 229 (7th)

Average Points Scored per Sets: 2.47 (12th)

Points

• S1 - Not Released
• S2 - 136 / Avg - 4.69
• S3 - 38 / Avg - 1.90
• S4 - 27 / Avg - 1.42
• S5 - 28 / Avg - 1.87

Wins: 16

Top 4: 41

Top 8: 57

Saw play in:

• Pidgeot ex Control
• Snorlax Stall
• Iron Thorns ex
• Charizard ex/Pidgeot ex
• Arceus VSTAR/Giratina VSTAR

The bane of any set-up decks. Eri discards two item cards. It's that good. Not only are you removing important resources from your opponent's hand, but the fact that you do get to see their hand gives you hand knowledge so you can then figure out what you should be doing for the next turns while having some idea of what your opponent can and cannot do, since you already know what is in hand!

Even though it looks like an obvious inclusion in stall and control decks, even some attacking decks have used it like Charizard/Pidgeot and Arceus/Giratina. Decks that rely heavily on items, such as Rare Candy, Super Rod, or any sort recovery card like Energy Retrieval or Rescue Stretcher, do tend to get punished by Eri. Biggest one being Lost Box that likes to play with a big hand as possible, meaning their Super Rods and Mirage Gates are always at risk.

#8 - Rescue Board - Temporal Forces (TEF)

Type: Tool

Total Points: 227 (8th)

Average Points Scored per Sets: 2.67 (11th)

Points

• S1 - Not Released
• S2 - 80 / Avg - 2.76
• S3 - 73 / Avg - 3.65
• S4 - 46 / Avg - 2.42
• S5 - 28 / Avg - 1.87

Wins: 16

Top 4: 39

Top 8: 54

Saw play in:

• Lost Zone Box
• Miraidon ex
• Dragapult ex
• Klawf
• Giratina VSTAR

It's not quite Escape Board but it's got a similar purpose. -1 retreat cost is always a good thing, and it becomes free it the Pokemon is down to 30HP or less. And there are a lot of bench sitting Pokemon who are there for their abilities, namely Comfey and Tatsugiri, and they pair well with Rescue Board. 

Decks that have ways to easily search out tool cards like Arven, Town Store or Oranguru V will have an easier time finding Rescue Board which is why you'll see Miraidon, Dragapult and Klawf decks all running at least one in their lists. Any sort of pivot to retreat is always a good thing.

#7 - Dragapult ex - Twilight Masquerade (TWM)

Type: Stage 2 Pokemon ex

Total Points: 164 (11th)

Average Points Scored per Sets: 3.11 (6th)

Points

• S1 - Not Released
• S2 - Not Released
• S3 - 42 / Avg - 2.10
• S4 - 64 / Avg - 3.37
• S5 - 58 / Avg - 3.87

Wins: 12

Top 4: 27

Top 8: 44

Saw play in:

• Regidrago VSTAR
• Dragapult ex/Pidgeot ex
• Dragapult ex/Dusknoir
• Dragapult ex (Lost Zone)
• Dragapult ex/Iron Thorns ex

The best attacking Pokémon to be released in 2024 is Dragapult ex! Yet it's seen most of it success with Regidrago VSTAR by simply copying it's Phantom Dive attack. The attack is almost identical to that of Dragapult VMAX, which then was 130 and 5 damage spread around the bench. 

Dragapult ex does 70 more damage and 1 more damage counter, but with Fire and Psychic energies needed, instead of two Psychic Energies. But there are ways around it! Well two of them were released in Stellar Crown. Crispin helps to attach one extra energy while finding the other. Sparkling Crystal lets you attack for one energy less. And with those in mind, Dragapult itself has seen play as it's own deck, be it with Pidgeot ex, Dusknoir, a Lost Box version or lately with Iron Thorns ex.

Not forgetting, it also has a very good Drakloak that it evolves into Dragapult ex. The ability is the old Air Mail last seen in Pidgeotto and everyone knows how strong that ability was, it was part of one of the strongest control decks. You get to see the top two cards in your deck, you take one, and the other goes to the bottom of the deck, similar to Comfey's Flower Selecting but you don't need to be in the active to use this one.

#6 - Mist Energy - Temporal Forces (TEF)

Type: Special Energy

Total Points: 237 (6th)

Average Points Scored per Sets: 2.82 (10th)

Points

• S1 - Not Released
• S2 - 83 / Avg - 2.86
• S3 - 49 / Avg - 2.45
• S4 - 74 / Avg - 3.89
• S5 - 31 / Avg - 2.07

Wins: 19

Top 4: 37

Top 8: 54

Saw play in:

• Lugia VSTAR/Archeops
• Pidgeot ex Control
• Snorlax Stall
• Charizard ex/Pidgeot ex
• Arceus VSTAR

Mist Energy is one of the better special energies we currently have in the game. It prevents all effects of attacks done to the Pokémon that has Mist energy on it. That is, no Sableye spread hitting you, no TM Devolution dropping you and no Frenzied Gouging KOing you in an instant.

Naturally it finds a home in decks that can easily find special energies, namely Lugia/Archeops and any deck with the Pidgeot ex engine. Control decks tend to use it as well to stop the likes of Roaring Moon ex or Sableye taking cheap KOs. Even Arceus VSTAR used it for a short while, it's just that good.

#5 - Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex - Twilight Masquerade (TWM)

Type: Basic Pokemon ex

Total Points: 259 (5th)

Average Points Scored per Sets: 4.70 (5th)

Points

• S1 - Not Released
• S2 - Not Released
• S3 - 89 / Avg - 4.45
• S4 - 120 / Avg - 6.32
• S5 - 50 / Avg - 3.33

Wins: 19

Top 4: 43

Top 8: 59

Saw play in:

• Lugia VSTAR/Archeops
• Klawf/Terapagos ex
• Pidgeot ex Control
• Lost Zone Box
• Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR/Dusknoir

The best attacking Pokémon released in 2024 outright is easily Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex. It's pretty much a colourless Radiant Charizard! The ability and the attack are honestly pretty much the same, just does 10 less damage but you can actually use it for free when your opponent is down to 1 prize card because, the attack cost is all colourless energies unlike Radiant Charizard.

A card that is splashable in pretty much any deck will be played in pretty much any deck, and that has been the case for BM Ursaluna since it's release. All sorts of decks have been using it for the late game KO out of nowhere. And you have ways to reduce your energy cost, using the Dusknoir line gives your opponent a prize but also by them taking a prize, you now need one less energy to use Blood Moon! The best closer in the game right now, and even Control decks are taking prizes with this thing.

#4 - Night Stretcher - Shrouded Fable (SFA)

Type: Item

Total Points: 388 (4th)

Average Points Scored per Sets: 7.46 (4th)

Points

• S1 - Not Released
• S2 - Not Released
• S3 - 47 / Avg - 2.35
• S4 - 192 / Avg - 10.11
• S5 - 149 / Avg - 9.93

Wins: 22

Top 4: 79

Top 8: 93

Saw play in:

• Pretty much every deck

Now normally for these lists, a card that is released mid-way through the year usually don't tend to do quite well. But this is just the first of two Shrouded Fable cards to feature in the top 4, which goes to show how impactful this mini set has been. Night Stretcher would be one of the best item cards to be released this year if not for two even better items cards!

The effect is quite simple, you either recover any Pokemon from your discard to your hand, or a Basic energy from your discard to your hand. Any recovery cards have always been good. Often times you will need to discard cards early with no ways to get them back, with the most common way being Super Rod and hope to draw it back. Now you can simply just take it right back.

And this card has been paired with PokeStop in many decks for a very good reason. You use PokeStop to run through your deck as quickly as possible and often times, you might discard your Rescue Stretcher, a Pokemon you need that turn and an item card you might need that turn as well, be it Rare Candy or whatever else. Almost every decks plays it and there's a good reason why. This card will continue to see play into 2025, even with the threat of Budew coming soon.

#3 - Prime Catcher - Temporal Forces (TEF)

Type: Item - ACE SPEC

Total Points: 664 (2nd)

Average Points Scored per Sets: 7.61 (3rd)

Points

• S1 - Not Released
• S2 - 283 / Avg - 9.76
• S3 - 134 / Avg - 6.70
• S4 - 178 / Avg - 9.37
• S5 - 69 / Avg - 4.60

Wins: 41

Top 4: 125

Top 8: 168

Saw play in:

• Pretty much every deck

This is the second of three straight entries where I just have too many decks to name that plays this card. The first Ace Spec card we got to see in this new era is still the best Ace Spec card so far. Prime Catcher is pretty much Guzma on a Item card, aka a gust and a switch. Ever wanted to use Counter Catcher but you are ahead on prizes? Well now you have Prime Catcher!

Gusting effects will always see play no matter how good or bad it is, even Custom Catcher eventually saw play because there was no other options around. If you can only use one Ace Spec in your deck, often times you might as well have the gusting option be that choice. There's really not much else I can say how about good Prime Catcher is. It's good to gust stuff around but also good to get someone stuck in your active out of there. Probably the most played Ace Spec so far and unlike Useless Stamp Unfair Stamp, it's actually successful.

#2 - Fezandipiti ex - Shrouded Fable (SFA)

Type: Basic Pokemon ex

Total Points: 475 (3rd)

Average Points Scored per Sets: 9.18 (1st)

Points

• S1 - Not Released
• S2 - Not Released
• S3 - 64 / Avg - 3.20
• S4 - 217 / Avg - 11.42
• S5 - 194 / Avg - 12.93

Wins: 32

Top 4: 86

Top 8: 113

Saw play in:

• Pretty much every deck

Fezandipiti ex is easily the best Pokémon card released this year. It's got Oricorio GX's ability, the exact same thing! But the difference is that wile Oricorio was released at a time when Arceus/Dialga/Palkia made it very unplayable to have bench sitting Pokémon anywhere around, there is no such thing that makes Fezandipiti unplayable. In fact, everyone is playing it!

Your Pokémon gets knocked out the previous turn, you draw 3 cards. And you can do that anytime during your turn so sometimes you could hold off on your draw, use another supporter or a disruption card like Iono or Unfair Stamp, and then from there continue to build up your board and increase your hand thanks to Fezandipiti. Many of the turbo decks are thankful for this and now they have ways to draw cards and not just rely on a specific supporter or solely on Radiant Greninja.

And it's searchable by Nest Ball so you can easily find it, especially after an Iono or Unfair Stamp. It's also got a decent attack, 100 to anything for 3 colorless could come up when you least expect it to. This card is too good, so good some might say not healthy for the game because every deck can now just recover from disruption, making the two disruption cards mentioned earlier a bit pointless.

#1 - Buddy-Buddy Poffin - Temporal Forces (TEF)

Type: Item

Total Points: 729 (1st)

Average Points Scored per Sets: 8.32 (2nd)

Points

• S1 - Not Released
• S2 - 326 / Avg - 11.24
• S3 - 154 / Avg - 7.70
• S4 - 160 / Avg - 8.42
• S5 - 89 / Avg - 5.93

Wins: 47

Top 4: 145

Top 8: 156

Saw play in:

• Charizard ex/Pidgeot ex
• Gardevoir ex
• Dragapult ex
• Terapagos ex/Dusknoir
• Lost Zone Box
• Gholdengo ex
• Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR/Dusknoir
• Chien-Pao ex/Baxcalibur

This is the best card to come out of 2024, Buddy-Buddy Poffin is a ball search card for set-up decks. You can search for up to 2 Basic Pokemon with 70 HP or less and put them straight onto the bench. This reminds me a lot of Brigette back in the deck. Zoroark GX decks would use it just to set up their Zoruas. But now it's an Item card so you don't have to waste a supporter for turn to search for stuff (but technically, in some cases, we are using Arven to find Buddy-Buddy Poffin, so we still are doing just that).

Set-up decks are the only ones using this, you won't see big basic Turbo decks playing Poffin unless they have Pidgeys or Bidoofs to find. All the decks named on top are all set-up decks, and even Palkia will use it to set up a Froakie and Duskull. A card like this will always be good. In Zard you can set up your Charmander, Pidgey, Duskull or Bidoof or any combination of those. Gardevoir usually wants Ralts right away. Same for Dragapult with Dreepy and maybe some Pidgey, Duskull or even Natu. Lost Zone Box wants to see it right away for the Comfey or Manaphy (the other decks might need that too). 

It's like Battle VIP Pass but you can continue using it, and only on these smaller guys. It was the best performing card in the first three sets, only beaten by Fezandipiti ex in the last two but that was enough for me to say it's the best card released in 2024. 

And I guess it's appropriate, it's the third Pokémon search card to top the list in a row, following on from Nest Ball in 2023 and Ultra Ball in 2022, and the first one in a while that is no a reprint (Escape Rope in 2021 was also a reprint). The last non-reprint card to top one of my lists was Quick Ball in 2020 (yes Quick Ball had an earlier print but it's a different effect). And that too was a Pokémon search card, goes to show how good these types of cards have always been. Thanks for reading and have a great 2025 ahead!

Kash Top 24 List: Decks to play post-Worlds 2024 (BRS to SFA) and new addition from Stellar Crown to these decks

I know this format won't last for long but some of us are still eager to play so why not share some lists that did well during the 2024 Pokémon TCG World Championships. There is still Baltimore Regional for our US friends to come and of course some local events for everyone else.

There were only 17 different decks that made Day 2 cut so I added 7 more decks that have done well in the online scene to make it a nice 24 number.

Price for decks are accurate as of August 26th and in USD.

I'll also add a "cards to add from Stellar Crown" section for each decks for those of you who want to start preparing for the new set coming out next month. These cards are just suggestions I'll have from lists I've seen doing well over in Japan.

24) Giratina VSTAR (Lost Zone)

List: 1st - Sharkbait502 - Ditto Masquerade #11

Price: $83.54

Cards to add from Stellar Crown:

• Crispin
• Gravity Stone
• Terapagos ex
• Briar
• Area Zero Underdepths

We start off with a classic favourite for many, it's Lost Zone Giratina! Yup it's still around and still winning events apparently. The deck does have quite a number of answers to a lot of the meta, the issue is just it's consistency, being a Lost Box deck after all. You are at the mercy of your own Flower Selecting.

I've seen a few of the newer cards in some of the list, mostly Crispin which helps to power up Giratina VSTAR without using Mirage Gate. Gravity Stone is another new addition seen in lost box style decks. Some have even tried a combo of Terapagos ex with lighting stuff, along with Briar and Aera Zero! Funky idea but hey it could work for some.

23) Lost Zone Box

List: 5th - SKY_SkyWolf93 - Pokémon Battle Park

Price: $69.26

Cards to add from Stellar Crown:

• Gravity Stone
• Crispin

Yup lost box is still a thing. You thought Kyurem would be the end of it. Techncially yes, the threat of Kyurem has made Lost Box less appealing but it's still very good into most other decks not named Regidrago VSTAR (or Dragapult ex for that matter). We've only got 7-8 months left with the Lost Zone engine so you might want to keep that in mind if you're looking to get new decks.

As for the new set, yeah not much has been added here, it's really only Gravity Stone that has been added in most decks and Lost Box is more than happy to use a card like that anyway.

22) Banette ex/Dusknoir

List: 1st - negrodelespacio - Torneio Teste

Price: $61.14

Cards to add from Stellar Crown:

• Gravity Stone
• Grand Tree

Quite possibly the most popular rogue deck in the game currently, and we can thank 2019 World Champion Henry Brand for that. He came 1 win short of making Day 2 with his Banette/Dusknoir deck. The deck has a lot of board control elements to it, you are trying to slow your opponent down with item lock from Bantte while setting up the board state where you can start getting prizes with either Dusknoir or Radiant Alakazam and have the perfect set-up where ideally your opponent is either down to 1-2 prizes and have Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex to sweep the game from there. Played it a few times myself, very cool deck.

I don't think the deck will gain much from the new set, but Gravity Stone could be a useful addition to help make it trickier for your opponent's active to retreat while under item lock. And since this deck does play multiple Dusknoirs, you could make use of Grand Tree. You'd probably need an additional Dusclops but that can never be a bad thing to make use of.

21) Bloodmoon Ursaluna/Iron Valiant ex

List: 7th - Rivalx92 - Silver Squad Standard Flips The Script

Price: $78.68

Cards to add from Stellar Crown:

• -

I've been seeing this deck pop up more recently and the idea is neat. You set damage up with Iron Valiant ex for Bloodmoon Ursaluna to start taking big KOs. Good against those aggro decks like Miraidon ex, Roaring Moon ex and Raging Bolt ex. Does seem similar to the old Entei V idea though.

I can't actually think of any of the new cards coming out of Stellar Crown that will help this deck, so it might just the stay the same as it is.

20) United Wings

List: 15th - NerdOut - Late Night Special #9

Price: $27.89

Cards to add from Stellar Crown:

• -

This deck was always around, but it felt like it was lacking something. And now with Dartrix, you have not just another United Wings attacker, but an attacker that can take down Charizard ex in one hit if the set-up is there. It can still be a bit fragile but it's in a much better spot than it was in any other format previously. 

What I mentioned for the previous entry, yup same thing here. I don't see any new cards coming into this deck.

19) Froslass/Munkidori

List: 5th - Facundo Romero - Evolve Thursday Night #7

Price: $55.16

Cards to add from Stellar Crown:

• Gravity Stone
• Crispin

This deck only gained Yveltal from Shrouded Fabled but what an addition, since Yveltal helps to spread damage onto those who already have damage, and guess how that can be done? With the combination of Froslass and Munkidori abilities. The damage might still not be enough against other decks but you still do have Mawile to trap stuff and Ursaluna ex to take the final big KO.

I don't see any real changes to the deck going forwards. Gravity Stone can help to make it difficult for your opponents to retreat. Crispin could be a cool addition to give you access to double Adrena-Brain earlier than usual, which has been one weakness of the deck but the deck will likely still have to rely on Iono, Irida and Arven first so I don't expect it to see much play.

18) Dragapult ex/Pidgeot ex

List: 8th - zaiuz69 - TOURNAMENT OF DOOM! I forgot to make this one...

Price: $88.03

Cards to add from Stellar Crown:

• Sparkling Crystal
• Crispin
• Briar
• Noctowl
• Grand Tree

Probably the best deck not to make Day 2 at Worlds is Dragapult/Pidgeot. There is a one Dragapult deck but it's with Bibarel. The deck has been struggling in this faster-paced format, even with the addition of the Dusknoir line which I initally thought would make the deck better. It's still a very good deck with it's consistency issues, and those who want to use Dragapult ex would rather play Regidrago VSTAR right now. That could start to change soon.

Dragapult might be the deck that gains the most from Stellar Crown. Not only does it now have TWO really good Ace Spec choices, but also Crispin! As mentioned before, Crispin helps decks that play multiple energy and Dragapult's biggest issue has been trying to, firstly, set it up, and then get both the Fire and Psychic onto play. Now Crispin solves that by getting both and you can attach both, one through Crispin and the other manually. 

And if you want to save the attachment, well Sparking Crystal makes any Tera Pokémon attack for one less energy, and Dragapult ex is a Tera Pokémon! Which means it can only make use of Briar to take multiple prizes (as if Dragapult didn't already revel from doing that) and also Noctowl. You could set Dragapult up first, get Noctowl into play to then set up Pidgeot. Or just not do that, play Grand Tree, evolve into Pidgeotto and straight into Pidgeot and get Dragapult ready for action that way too. I'm looking forward to see how everyone will innovate with Dragapult ex and surely now it will come good, right?

17) Dragapult ex/Bibarel

List: "123th" - Eddie North - 2024 World Championships (Edited list, list he used he said was wrong so I should share this one instead)

Price: $68.57

Cards to add from Stellar Crown:

• Sparkling Crystal
• Crispin
• Briar
• Noctowl

A dragapult deck did make Day 2, just not the one any of us probably expected. This one uses the Bibarel engine which can go around stuff like Iron Thorns as opposed to Pidgeot, and you are saving your Rare Candies just for Dragapult. It's still a stage 2 deck and will have it's issues and again, people might rather just play Regidrago VSTAR instead.

As for the newer cards, well just read the previous entry. It was a long one but it pretty much sums up why I'm excited for Dragapult in the next format. Just no Grand Tree here as you're not playing Pidgeot. It can still work for Dragapult but I think you'd rather just play Crystal instead.

16) Banette ex/Gardevoir ex

List: 67th - Aleksander Rutowicz - 2024 World Championships

Price: $51.39

Cards to add from Stellar Crown:

• Gravity Stone

This version of Banette with Gardevoir isn't new, it's seen play mostly with the Polish players in major events and online events. And it still works, item lock while using the Gardevoir engine. Is it better than Henry's version with Dusknoir? Not too sure. This deck is also only playing 56 cards, so I might say the Dusknoir one is probably better. It is one of the few decks still playing Spiritomb to stop the likes of Rotom V and Lumineon V.

The only new card I can see making this list is Gravity Stone just to trap some mons in the active while you swing into them with Banette ex and they will be under item lock, so they have to manually retreat with that being +1 now due to Stone. You can always add some new cards around, this deck is only playing 56 cards after all.

15) Lost Zone Box (Radiant Charizard)

List: 53rd - Marco Cifuentes - 2024 World Championships

Price: $49.75

Cards to add from Stellar Crown:

• Gravity Stone
• Crispin

This is the most successful Lost Box variant in Worlds 2024. SableZard has always seen play throughout the year, not as much as other decks let alone other Lost Box variants but it does like going up against these Aggro decks like Moon, Miraidon and RagBolt. This might also be the one Lost Box deck that could put up a fight to Regidrago with the double Manaphy. The deck can also capitalise on people continuing to disrespect the Sableye threat. Secret Box might be my new favourite addition to the deck with so many options for different moves at any time because of it.

This is probably the only Lost Box variant I don't see Crispin seeing much play sadly. Sure it helps to power Rad Zard and Ursaluna ex a turn earlier or so but with only 5 energy, might have lesser uses than the other two Lost Box decks. Stone will see play in this deck, likely with Sableye while you spread damage around and hope to trap something in the active.

14) Snorlax Control

List: 43rd - Ryan Antonucci - 2024 World Championships

Price: $37.96

Cards to add from Stellar Crown:

• Gravity Stone
• Bouffalant

This deck is still around and it's still good into a lot of the current meta decks so people will still play it. I've tried it a few times online, I can't say it's my favourite way to play the game but it does work most of the time when your opponent just has no answers to ever counter you can throw at them.

If there's one deck I don't want to see having Stone, it might be this one. It's bad enough with Snorlax, but imagine bossing something else up only for it to have Stone to prevent you from retreating. It will happen. I could see the new Bouffalant see play as a way to control your opponent's damage output. The deck could also play Terapagos ex and Aera Zero to trap even more stuff onto the bench.

13) Ancient Box

List: 1st - Sakuya Ota - 2024 World Championships (Junior Divison)

Price: $54.96

Cards to add from Stellar Crown:

• -

With the rise of these Aggro decks in the current format, I honestly think Ancient Box might be in a good spot in the current meta. It did just win back to back big online tournaments as of writing too. You're still attacking with Roaring Moon and sometimes stalling with Flutter Mane but these are still more than good enough to help you build up your damage. I can't say I'm the biggest fan of this particular list but it did win Worlds in Juniors. The Koraidon version got top 4 in Seniors and the Walking Wake made top 64 in Masters. 

As for the new set, yeah there's nothing new to add. I can't even find one card to recommend for this.

12) Gholdengo ex/Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR

List: 39th - Cameron Kawasaki - 2024 World Championships

Price: $70.72

Cards to add from Stellar Crown:

• Crispin
• Kofu

And people called me crazy for rating this deck highly going into Worlds. I said someone will get a decent run with it, and 3 of them made Day 2, one just outside of Top 32 as well. Gholdengo thrives on seeing 2-prize pokemon opposite it and with Aggro decks doing well currently, that's just more good news for Gholdengo. And now with the addition of Fezandipit ex, the deck can draw even more cards a turn with it, Radiant Greninja, Pokestop and Gholdengo ex itself.

I've only seen Crispin as the newest addition to Gholdengo decks, but this is also the new version to play Gholdengo as it now pairing up with Dragapult ex. Either way, Crispin helps decks that play multiple energy types and Gholdengo, whichever variant it may be, is known to have a few different types. 

There are some decks playing Archaludon but it doesn't look that good. One card that I've not seen anyone add into their lists that seems good after reading it is Kofu, a deck like Gholdengo wants to draw cards, and this sure helps with it.

11) Pidgeot ex Control

List: 27th - Alessandro Cremascoli - 2024 World Championships

Price: $59.07

Cards to add from Stellar Crown:

• Noctowl
• Bouffalant

This is one of the scariest decks for anyone to go up against. Pidgeot Control typical has answers to almost every deck in the meta, if you can set up a decent board state early on. It can wall stuff out with Cornerstone Ogerpon and Mimikyu, trap something with Wellspring Ogerpon, get rid of your trainers with Luxray and even attack with either Pidgeot ex itself or Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex. All that while it's array of supporters can pick apart your hand or the board state at any given time.

As you're already playing two different Ogerpons, you can easily make use of the Noctowl line to help you control the board state. The deck could also play Terapagos ex and Aera Zero to give you more options on the bench.

10) Charizard ex/Pidgeot ex/Dusknoir

List: 20th - Hayato Suzuki - 2024 World Championships

Price: $87.01

Cards to add from Stellar Crown:

• Briar
• Grand Tree
• Aera Zero Underdepths
• Noctowl
• Terapagos ex

And now we get to my favourite deck, Charizard ex. This is the first of two Zards on this list, and this variant with the new Dusknoir line was the most hyped 2 weeks before Worlds from seeing the results in Japan. It died off after the first week of online events as Regidrago VSTAR took over. It's still a very strong deck and can beat most of the meta, the biggest issue being it's Regidrago matchup that's stopping it from being back to it's position as the top deck.

Charizard ex gains two amazing new cards from the next set. Briar helps to take an extra prize from Zard taking a KO when they are down to 2 prizes and you can manipulate the game to where your opponent is down to 2 prizes with the help of the Dusknoir line. This alone makes me excited to play Zard again. If you didn't know, it's my favourite deck.

Grand Tree is another cool new inclusion for the deck. Remember Forest of Giant Plants? Well it's a nerfed version but not every type can use it, not just Grass from before. It's a new way to help get your Pidgeot ex into play by evolving into Pidgeotto first. Or you can always just get your Charmeleon into play and then evolve it into Charizard ex. Or just get a Dusclops and get the Dusknoir right away to start having some fun.

I have seen some lists adding Aera Zero Underdepths and it's not the worst inclusion since, you know, your main attacker is a Tera Pokémon! And with that, you can even add a Noctowl line to help you get those Stage 2 peeps up and running. I've seen a few decks running Terapagos ex to make it easier to use Noctowl, not the worst idea.

9) Chien-Pao ex/Baxcalibur

List: 16th - Lucas Xing - 2024 World Championships

Price: $101.22

Cards to add from Stellar Crown:

• Terapagos ex
• Area Zero Underdepths
• Grand Tree

Yup, this deck made top 16 at Worlds and everyone wrote it off, myself included. The one addition of Fezandipiti ex sure helps with the consistency issue this deck tends to run into, as you're now not too reliant on Bibarel for draw power. It's still pretty much the same deck, just with the Palkia line to give it more options into the Aggro decks not named Miraidon ex. And you still have Iron Hands ex to deal with the set-up decks.

No real new additions in the new set for Chien-Pao/Bax. Terapagos ex and Origin Forme Palkia will be the next big new deck in the coming set but some CP Bax decks have a small package of those two in their decks as well, along with Area Zero. I've even see some of them playing a Pidgeot ex line and Grand Tree as an additional way to get Baxcaliburs up, which also helps as a fool-proof way to get around TM Devo plays.

8) Gardevoir ex

List: 12th - Luo Tian Qing - 2024 World Championships

Price: $52.49

Cards to add from Stellar Crown:

• Gravity Stone
• Crispin
• Slowking

Gardevoir ex is still a good deck. Sure the meta looks hostile for it, maybe it's a bit too slow right now, but you can never truly write this deck off. It got 12th at Worlds and has also won a few online events recently. It does have the same issue as Charizard ex decks, that being the Regidrao VSTAR matchup. Apart from that, you're more than happy to see all the Aggro decks as Gardevoir has plenty of different attackers to deal with all sorts of decks, be it set-up, aggro, mid-tempo and even control!

The card that will most likely see play in Gardevoir from the new set has to be Gravity Stone. Since Gardevoir isn't bothered by energies, you don't mind adding another Retreat Cost to your attackers, likely Flutter Mane with this and hit your opponent's bench while your trap the active. Crispin could see play too since Gardevoir is already running Psychic and Dark energies.

There is a new way to play Gardevoir ex too, and that's with the inclusion of the new Slowking. It makes Gardevoir more of a toolbox deck with all sorts of attackers for Slowking to copy.

• Attack the bench? You've got Kyurem
• Hit 50x damage counters on you for big damage onto your opponent? You've got Onix
• Opponent is down to 1 prize and looking for a cheeky way to win? You've got Slowbro
• Want to hit 70 damage to one of their bench and move them onto the active? You've got Dipplin

And there's probably more niche attackers you never knew you could use until now, thanks to Slowking!

7) Charizard ex/Pidgeot ex/Bibarel

List: 10th - Tord Reklev - 2024 World Championships

Price: $85.66

Cards to add from Stellar Crown:

• Briar
• Grand Tree
• Aera Zero Underdepths
• Noctowl
• Terapagos ex

Not a fan of the Dusknoir line? No worries, you can always cut it or just adapt, like Tord has with his new build. TM Devo is back into the list and so are the Bibarel/Skwovet combo. The Rabsca line is added as a counter to Dragapult's attack. Apart from that, it's most the same type of Zard deck you'll see, but this less reliant of the Zard itself, with just a 2-1-2 line. Radiant Charizard plays a bigger role here as cards like Hisuian Heavy Ball, Thorton and DTE are all added to get it attacking whenever needed.

As for the new stuff, just see what I said previously for Zard. TM Evo could end up getting replaced by Grand Tree, but that will make it harder to get a Turn 2 Bibarel in play going 2nd. I do think the Dusknoir version of Charizard ex will get more popular purely because of Briar.

6) Lugia VSTAR/Archeops

List: 9th - Rahul Reddy - 2024 World Championships

Price: $81.16

Cards to add from Stellar Crown:

• Area Zero Underdepths
• Terapagos ex
• Noctowl
• Fan Rotom

One of the more hyped decks going into Worlds thanks to it's Japan Championship win, Lugia hasn't really changed much since the introduction of Shrouded Fable. In fact it too gains Fezandipiti ex for draw power and unlike most other decks, this Fezandipiti can probably attack as well! But of course we are talking about a Lugia deck and it has one glaring issue, it's set-up. If you can't set-up, you won't be having a good time and with many Aggro decks in the format right now that can take out a Lugia Turn 1, it can get even scarier with a bad first turn.

There aren't many big changes to the deck but some have been experimenting with the Terapagos ex package, where you have Area Zero, Noctowl to help you get Ultra Ball and whatever you need to get those Archeops out of the way and Fan Rotom to help set up the Cinccino line. Other than that, the deck doesn't really gain much from the new set. There aren't any new special energies anyway!

5) Raging Bolt ex/Teal Mask Ogerpon ex

List: 6th - James Goreing - 2024 World Championships

Price: $131.08

Cards to add from Stellar Crown:

• Area Zero Underdepths
• Noctowl
• Glass Trumpet
• Raging Bolt
• Joltik and Galvantula ex
• Crispin
• Briar

The three big Aggro musketeers have all made it into the top 5 and Raging Bolt is up first. Teal Mask Ogerpon turned what was a niche Raging Bolt attacker into one of the scariest attacker into any deck now, being able to hit 350 damage within Turn 2! It's the usual hit-hard-hit-fast type of deck that can steamroll any deck that can't respond back in time. And looking at the results in Japan for the next set, this deck seems to get even better.

There are quite a number of cards coming from the next set that can be included in Raging Bolt decks and there seems to be two different ways for it. The first is the inclusion of Area Zero to give you a bigger bench space, which means more space for Ogerpon and also the Noctowl line. You can even add a cheeky Glass Trumpet to add even more energies onto the board. The new Raging Bolt could see play, it can hit for each energy on it to any of your opponent's Pokemon on board.

The other new direction the deck could go for is the addition of Galvantula ex. Even though it needs 3 different energy to attack, you are already playing Grass, Lighting and Fighting energy, the same 3 Galvantula ex needs so it's the perfect addition. It's can also make use of Crispin with it's 3 different energies and Briar to take an extra prize. This version of the deck wouldn't make it the same turbo deck but does give it more options with the item lock from Galvantula ex.

4) Regidrago VSTAR/Teal Mask Ogerpon ex

List: 1st - Evan Pavelski - 2024 World Championships (Senior Divison)

Price: $151.94

Cards to add from Stellar Crown:

• Crispin
• Noctowl
• Briar
• Hydrapple ex

Probably the best deck in format despite not winning the world championships in Masters, it did win in Seniors! Regidrago just has answers to everything:

• Hit for big 200 and spread 6 damage around with Dragapult
• Possible one-hit KO thanks to Giratina
• 110 onto 3 thanks to Kyurem (+Cologne and Catcher/Boss onto their Manaphy)
• Tank attacks while doing 200 thanks to Goodra

The deck has so many options and thanks to Ogerpon, it fixes Regidrago's awkward attack cost. And don't forget, Ogerpon is a decent attacker itself too.

Regidrago VSTAR is another deck that will be more than happy to see the addition of Crispin. The deck already runs two different energies so having the ability to take both and attach one to go with your manual attachment for turn will help make the deck even better as it now doesn't need to rely on Energy Switch all that much.

Noctowl is one I can see being played in the deck also, as it can help you fetch said Energy Switch, Crispin, Vessel or whatever you need to get going. And people may forget this, but Teal Mask Ogerpon is a Tera pokemon, so it works with Noctowl! And with that, Briar could also see play to help you take those final KOs with Ogerpon. A niche addition could be Hydrapple ex, it heals when you attach a Grass energy to your Pokemon. Not just Hydrapple, which means you have another way to attach energies to Regidrago VSTAR.

3) Miraidon ex

List: 3rd - Jesse Parker - 2024 World Championships

Price: $106.63

Cards to add from Stellar Crown:

• Area Zero Underdepths
• Terapagos ex
• Glass Trumpet
• Zeraora
• Joltik

Miraidon is still good! The deck has always preferred a faster format and we are in one now and that's why it's thriving again. Fezandipit ex, much like many other decks on this list, is the biggest inclusion in the deck to keep the deck moving. Some lists have played the new Night Academy to help guarantee at least one Lighting energy from your Generators. This deck could have easily gone 16-0 at the World championships, which is unheard of, if not for some controversy and just bad prizing

There is one big new addition from the next set, and that is Area Zero Underdepths. Miraidon is a deck that doesn't mind having a bigger bench, it can find Pokémon with it's ability and it helps Raikou V's attack as well. The two main addition with the new stadium is either Terapagos ex or Mewtwo ex (it's a lighting type so it works with Miraidon ex).

There are a few cards that might see play here or there. Glass Trumpet could be a funny inclusion as a way to help boost Raichu V's attack by attaching energies to Squawkabilly ex and Terapagos ex. Zeraora attacks more for your opponent's bench and if they've got their own Area Zero going, it could do even more. Joltik just helps to attach two energies (Lighting and Grass), which can be handy to get an Iron Hands ex going!

2) Roaring Moon ex

List: 2nd - Seinosuke Shiokawa - 2024 World Championships

Price: $94.90

Cards to add from Stellar Crown:

• Crispin

Probably the most surprising deck to success at the World Championship, and one that has seen a surge of popularity since Worlds. Roaring Moon ex has been part of the meta before, it's most relevant days were with Moltres V just before rotation but now it's back! 

Fezandipit helps the deck to draw more cards, which is helpful considering you've got Sada and Rad Greninja! The big inclusion for me is Pecharunt ex. Now you can easily power up your Roaring Moon ex and get it into the active without worrying about retreat costs or switch carts. It's also a very good counter to stall as I've learnt from one of my top cut games in an online tournament.

As for the new set, Crispin is the only card I can think of that could see play in Roaring Moon, and it would be with Water Energy and Energy Switch. We've seen many people play Moon with this strategy before so with the addition of Crispin, it could be a lot easier to pull it off. Other than that, yeah nothing new for this deck from the next set as of yet.

1) Iron Thorns ex

List: 1st - Fernando Cifuentes - 2024 World Championships

Price: $62.28

Cards to add from Stellar Crown:

• Kofu
• Gravity Stone

I still can't believe THIS deck won the world championships. Just how? It counters a lot of the current decks, especially the vast amount of Turbo decks we've got right now that all depend heavily on a Turn 1 Squawkabilly ex, Lumineon V, Rotom V and Fezandipit ex and also decks running the Pidgeot ex or Gardevoir ex engines. And if that wasn't bad enough, we've got the useless coin flips of both Crushing Hammer and Pokémon Catcher. If that still isn't annyoing enough, how about Lost City getting rid of your Pokémon every time they get KOed. And don't forget about Judge. I's quite easy to see what this deck is all about and hey it won so it works I guess.

There's only really one definite addition and it's Kofu. It lets you draw 4 more additional cards at the cost of putting 2 onto the bottom of the deck, which a deck like Iron Thorns won't mind since you have a number of ways to find those cards again. Any additional draw power is good for a deck like this. Gravity Stone helps with the trapping strategy.

Here's a comparison of how much all these decks would cost to make:

1. Regidrago VSTAR - $151.94
2. Raging Bolt ex/Teal Mask Ogerpon ex - $131.08
3. Miraidon ex - $106.63
4. Chien-Pao ex/Baxcalibur - $101.22
5. Roaring Moon ex - $94.90
6. Dragapult ex/Pidgeot ex - $88.03
7. Charizard ex/Pidgeot ex/Dusknoir - $87.01
8. Charizard ex/Pidgeot ex/Bibarel - $85.66
9. Giratina VSTAR (Lost Zone) - $83.54
10. Lugia VSTAR/Archeops - $81.16
11. Bloodmoon Ursaluna/Iron Valiant ex - $78.68
12. Gholdengo ex/Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR - $70.72
13. Lost Zone Box - $69.26
14. Dragapult ex/Bibarel - $68.57
15. Iron Thorns ex - $62.28
16. Banette ex/Dusknoir - $61.14
17. Pidgeot ex Control - $59.07
18. Froslass/Munkidori - $55.16
19. Ancient Box - $54.96
20. Gardevoir ex - $52.49
21. Banette ex/Gardevoir ex - $51.39
22. Lost Zone Box (Radiant Charizard) - $49.75
23. Snorlax Control - $37.96
24. United Wings - $27.89

20 of these decks costs less than 100 USD$ to build from scratch, it just shows how affordable the game is right now. The expensive ones are quite obvious, Regidrao VSTAR is the BDIF so those pieces will be more costly. The other main reason is Teal Mask Ogerpon ex, the two decks running it as an engine ends up as the two most expensive decks in the game right now, I think there is a reason to it. Miraidon ex and Chien-Pao being the other two past the 100 USD mark could be down to stuff like Iron Hands ex, which is in both decks btw.

The cheapest? Well United Wings barely cost $30 to get something going. Sablezard is probably the cheapest really good deck on the list followed by the Gardevoir ex decks.

Thanks for reading! And just a little fun addition, I wanted to see what are the current "playable" cards you should have to play any of these decks, so I guess this is the ideal binder to keep for the time being?

Supporting/Engine - Pokemon:

Stadiums:

Tools:

Items:

Supporters: