East to West Vol. 1

Hello, SixPrizes readers! It’s been a moment since my last article since life has gotten in the way, but fear not! Today launches the first article in a series I’ve been dying to write for a long while now. For basically as long as the game has existed, Japan’s metagame has been relatively inaccessible to Western players outside of the occasional results from Champions League—their equivalent to a Regional. These small windows often give massive insight to our future metagames since Japan is usually a set ahead of what we currently are. My goal is to use my resources to break down that barrier and help to set a basis for our metagame soon before our sets release.

Japan’s Tournament Structure

pokemon-card.com

To understand some choices with Japanese decklists, we first have to understand Japanese tournaments. Their tournament levels roughly mirror ours: Trainer Challenges, City Leagues, Champions Leagues, and Japan Championship. Tournaments are Swiss + Top Cut, Best-of-1 with a 25-minute timer, except for Trainer Challenges. Much like our League Challenges, Trainer Challenges lack a Top Cut. Ties do not exist in Japanese tournament structure. This has an interesting effect on Stall decks. If a game would result in a tie by our standards, it results in a double loss in Japan. Because of this, Stall and Control decks don’t have nearly the presence, and when one is viable in Japan, it usually is incredibly viable elsewhere. Since Stall and Control decks hardly exist, players don’t have to tech for them. While this shifts the meta slightly, it still provides a mainly accurate picture of what our meta may look like once sets release internationally.

Most of my sources cover decks that are from events equivalent to League Challenges, but there’s still incredibly relevant data to be pulled from them! Much like we tend to ignore rogue decks that win a Challenge, we can look at archetypes with a large number as results and see those as the “top” decks in our new meta. ADP-GX/Zacian V is a perfect example of this from our last set. In a given week of results, ADPZ was putting up top finishes left and right over any other deck, which later mirrored itself in our meta.

Tier List

Looking at results since Rebel Clash (S2) and VMAX Rising (S1a) dropped, there are a few decks that stand above the rest: Dragapult VMAX, Toxtricity VMAX/Garbodor, PikaRom, and ADPZ. Some decks have risen to try to capitalize on Weaknesses, such as Malamar VMAX, Falinks V, and Lost March, but they are very much meta calls and are subject to mixed results as a consequence and have nowhere near the number of results as those top decks. This has resulted in a very clear division between Tier 1 and Tier 2 decks. I would break them down as such:

Tier 1

• Dragapult VMAX
• ADPZ

Tier 1.5

• Toxtricity VMAX/Garbodor

Tier 2

• Blacephalon UNB
• PikaRom

Tier 2.5

• Falinks V
• Malamar VMAX
• Lost March

I know the concept of half-tiers is a bit debated, and while I don’t usually agree with them, I do believe they are important in prospective metagames such as this. They can be helpful in identifying decks that stand the most to rise or fall slightly as we learn more about them. Additionally, due to COVID-19’s impact on gatherings and tournaments, larger events in Japan that give us more data have been canceled or postponed. This creates a massive lack of information that we would otherwise have, but thankfully it’s not so much that we have no information at all.

I’ll be splitting this into two articles really. This one will discuss Tiers 1–2, including new decks and what old decks have gained. The next article will be dedicated to Tier 2.5 since I’ll go a little more in-depth into those newer decks.

Tier 1

Dragapult VMAX

Starting things off, Jose Marrero recently touched on Takuya Yoneda’s Dragapult VMAX list from Special League Ginza, an 8-person invitational event featuring Yoneda, Shintaro Ito, and several media personalities. Dragapult VMAX essentially aims to reach a critical mass of damage counters on your opponent’s field and take multiple KOs at once.

For going into more detail on the deck, you should check out Jose’s article, as he provides wonderful coverage on the deck. Since he goes into Yoneda’s list, I’ll drop Ito’s list here as a bonus. His list differs in that he aims to build it similar to his 2016 World Championship-winning Mega Audino-EX deck.

Shintaro Ito’s Dragapult VMAX

Source: https://cardrush-media.com/pokemon-toshin-200303/

ADPZ

So what does ADPZ gain from the new set? We’d be a bit remiss if we didn’t discuss the new format staples, Eldegoss V and Boss’s Orders. The latter is a Lysandre reprint under a new name, à la Professor’s Research. Eldegoss V provides a sense of consistency that has been missing from Standard since the rotation of VS Seeker.

Eldegoss V—180 HP—G
Pokémon—Basic

Ability: Happy Match
When you play this Pokémon from your hand onto your Bench during your turn, you may put a Supporter card from your discard pile into your hand.

CC Fly Upwards: 50
You may shuffle this Pokémon and all cards attached to it into your deck.

weakness: R
resistance:
retreat: 1

https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Eldegoss_V_(Rebellion_Crash_10)

Additionally, ADPZ gains a tool that has been overlooked since its release, Zamazenta V. This foil to Zacian V provides an unbreakable formation against popular decks like Dragapult VMAX, Toxtricity VMAX, and Malamar VMAX. It’s gaining mass usage in 1–2 copies thanks to its useful Ability, Dauntless Shield, preventing all damage done to it from Pokémon VMAX. Additionally, its attack discards a Special Energy attached to the Defending Pokémon. This is relevant due to Horror P Energy, a new Special Energy from Rebel Clash which reads “If the P Pokémon this card is attached to is your Active Pokémon and is damaged by an opponent’s attack (even if that Pokémon is Knocked Out), put 2 damage counters on the Attacking Pokémon.” The interaction here requires intimate knowledge of the Attack step to resolve properly. Assault Tackle is announced, damage from the attack is figured, effects of Assault Tackle occur, damage is placed, then effects of damage happen. So by the time Horror P Energy would trigger, it’s already been discarded and therefore can’t trigger!

Tier 1.5

Toxtricity VMAX/Garbodor

In addition to all of these classic decks of our current Standard meta, there’s also an intriguing new dark horse: Toxtricity VMAX/Garbodor. The deck aims to Poison your opponent and do more damage because of it. When you have a Stadium in play, Garbodor lets you Poison your opponent, which synergizes extremely well with Toxtricity VMAX. For LLC, you can swing for 240 damage if your opponent’s Active Pokémon is Poisoned! This is perfect math to KO most TAG TEAMs and Pokémon Vs. Occasionally you’ll need to hit 270, and Electropower helps to do just that! Lightning has a lot of powerful support and only gets more with Rebel Clash.

2/2 Toxtricity V Split

We recently received a Toxtricity V in a promo box, and it’s quite different from the Toxtricity V coming in Rebel Clash. The former is a decent Energy accelerant in a pinch, attaching Energy from the discard, while the latter Poisons your opponent and sets things up for a decent follow-up from Toxtricity VMAX the next turn. As the meta evolves, we may see this split be altered to favor one Toxtricity V over the other.

3-3 Garbodor RCL

Garbodor is part of what makes this deck function as well as it does. A 3-3 line is just thick enough to consistently set up a Garbodor or two as the game progresses.

4 Pokémon Communication, 4 Quick Ball

These counts are meant to consistently find your Pokémon when you need them. There could be an argument made for running Evolution Incense, but with 19 Pokémon, the deck can count on having a spare Pokémon in hand quite often. Communication can also help by finding critical Basic Pokémon like Tapu Koko p or Dedenne-GX, which can’t be done by Evolution Incense.

1 Tool Scrapper

There’s been a slow rise in Tools in decks with no good way to discard them after the rotation of Field Blower. In Dragapult VMAX, Giant Bomb has taken off. In PikaRom and ADPZ, we’ve seen more players utilize Big Charm. Tool Scrapper helps to prevent the extra damage you’ll take and to aid in taking cheap KOs.

Toxtricity V—210 HP—L
Pokémon—Basic

L Poison Jab: 20
Your opponent’s Active Pokémon is now Poisoned.

LLC Electric Riot: 90+
If your opponent’s Active Pokémon is Poisoned, this attack does 90 more damage.

weakness: F
resistance:
retreat: 2

https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Toxtricity_V_(Rebellion_Crash_36)

Toxtricity VMAX—320 HP—L
Pokémon—VMAX—Evolves from Toxtricity V

LLC G-Max Riot: 160+
If your opponent’s Active Pokémon is Poisoned, this attack does 80 more damage.

weakness: F
resistance:
retreat: 2

https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Toxtricity_VMAX_(Rebellion_Crash_37)

Garbodor—D—120 HP
Pokémon—Stage 1—Evolves from Trubbish

Ability: Poison Pile
If there is any Stadium card in play, your opponent’s Active Pokémon is now Poisoned.

DCC Sludge Bomb: 80

weakness: F
resistance:
retreat: 2

https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Garbodor_(Rebellion_Crash_67)

The deck, as a whole, has fairly linear play patterns with few tricks. One possible addition I’ve considered is 1 Koga’s Trap, a repeatable way to Poison your opponent thanks to Eldegoss V. Some lists are opting to also run lower counts of Eldegoss V and Dedenne-GX in order to run Power Plant, which shuts down important Abilities on Pokémon-GX while also providing a Stadium to have in play for Garbodor.

Tier 2

Blacephalon UNB

Blacephalon UNB has seen a slow increase in usage here in Europe and the US thanks to trading well versus ADPZ, as well as hitting for Weakness against Zacian V. The deck doesn’t really gain any new attackers for its toolbox, but does gain Boss’s Orders and Eldegoss V, much like ADPZ. These cards add an incredible level of consistency and allows for Blacephalon to chase down KOs for easy Prizes.

PikaRom

PikaRom has a couple more newcomers than the standard Boss’s Orders and Eldegoss V thankfully. Boltund V acts as both an Energy accelerant and a versatile attacker. On top of that, Speed L Energy is a brand new draw engine that’s often missing from Lightning decks! When it’s attached from hand to your L Pokémon, you can draw 2 cards!

Boltund V—200 HP—L
Pokémon—Basic

L Electrify
Search your deck for up to 2 Lightning Energy cards and attach them to your Benched Pokémon in any way you like. Then, shuffle your deck.

LC Lightning Storm: 10+
This attack does 30 more damage times the amount of Lightning Energy attached to all of your Pokémon.

weakness: F
resistance:
retreat: 2

https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Boltund_V_(VMAX_Rising_31)

Speed L Energy
Energy—Special

This card provides L Energy only while this card is attached to a L Pokémon.

When you attach this card from your hand to a L Pokémon, draw 2 cards.

https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Speed_L_Energy_(Rebellion_Crash_94)

As a freebie, here’s a good updated starting list for PikaRom as well!

Conclusion

That’s it for today, but I’ll be back soon with Part 2. Rebel Clash will be an impactful set to say the least, revitalizing some old staple decks and birthing new favorites. I, for one, can’t wait to dive more into this exciting meta!