Scarlet & Violet: Set Review & Best Cards

With the pace set for the Scarlet & Violet expansion, we'll cover the products that will come in the first shipment, as well as spoilers from the Card List of the expansion, picking up the fragmented versions of the Japanese expansions, called Scarlet ex and *Violet ex (every Western expansion is a combination of two Japanese expansions)

I'll also mention the deck cards and separate products, in addition to the spoiler about Triplet Beat, the first Sub Set of the block, with Paldea's starters in their ex form and some Trainer cards.

That said, I'll consider all the exes in the list, and some "baby" Pokémon that, I believe, will play or have some relevance.

Arbolive

Stage 2 – Evolves from Dolliv

- Ability Fill Oil: When this Pokémon is played from your hand to be evolved, you choose one of your Pokémon and heal all damage from it.

- Attack Solar Beam (G)(G)(C): Deals 150 damage.

It is an excellent healer, as it heals all damage from the Pokémon it chooses. This would be much more powerful if the Scoop Up Net RCL 165 wouldn't rotate in April.

Torkoal

Basic

- Attack Stampede (C)(C): deals 30 damage

- Concentrated Fire Attack (F)(C)(C): Flip a coin for each (F) Energy attached to this Pokémon. For each heads, 80 damage is dealt.

It's a matter of luck when tossing the coins, unfortunately. But if it results in three coins, it will guarantee 240 damage for a basic Pokemon, which is great! For a "baby" Pokémon, it is very strong.

Gyarados ex

Stage 1 - Evolves from Magikarp

- Terastral Ability: This Pokemon doesn't take any damage if it's benched.

- Attack Waterfall (W)(W)(W): deals 100 damage

- Tyrannical Tail Attack (W)(W)(W)(C)(C): This attack does 180 damage plus 180 damage if the opponent has any damage counters on him.

One of the most brutal water Pokémon in this expansion, but it lacks the amount of 5 energies to use its second attack. If combined with a Pokémon that can deal counter damage to multiple Pokémon, such as the infamous Greninja VUnion, it becomes a destruction machine.

Even though there's the Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR ASR 40 to use its VStar to speed up 3 energies from the discard to one of your Pokémon, it's a huge job and a bit slow.

Bruxish

Basic

- Attack Vivid Charge (W): You search for 3 basic energies, reveal them, then put them in your hand.

- Attack Wave Splash (W)(C): Deals 60 damage.

The first attack is what makes it the star of the game.

It is even more efficient than Articuno ROS 16 from X/Y: Roaring Skies, which only focuses on looking for 3 water energies, and Bruxish works for any deck to look for different energies, which is a great thing.

Wugtrio

Stage 1 - Evolves from Wiglett

- Attack Headbutt (C): Deals 30 damage.

- Attack Sea Tunneling (C)(C)(C): Flip 3 coins. For each heads, discard the top 3 cards of your opponent's deck.

Another reinforcement for the control deck to discard cards from the top of the opponent's deck.

Unfortunately, with the Glimwood Tangle DAA 162 stadium and the Cursed Shovel RCL 157 tool leaving, who knows, who knows, we might be able to expect some control cards in the future to be able to combine with this Pokémon? And still being able to discard 3 cards from the top of the deck for each head on the coin, if you hit all three coins, there will be nine cards going to the discard in the blink of an eye!

Dondozo

Basic

- Attack Vent Wrath (C)(C): Deals 50 damage for each Tatsurigi in your discard pile.

- Attack Heavy Splash (W)(W)(C)(C): Deals 120 damage.

You know that Vivid Voltage deck using Cramorant VIV 40 for each Arrokuda VIV 41 on the Bench, dealing 60 damage for each Arrokuda VIV 41 discarded that way?

It's like the effect. To be more precise, it's more reminiscent of the Magikarp PGO 21 attack with Raging Fin, which hits 10 + 30 for every Magikarp and Gyarados in the discard pile.

Tatsurigi

Basic

- Attack Preparations (W): You search your deck for up to two Energy (W) from your deck and attach it to one of your Pokémon. After that, shuffle your deck.

- Attack Flip Back (W): Deals 30 damage, and you return this Pokémon and all cards attached to it back to your deck.

It is the damage complement for the Dondozo mentioned above, although its first attack, Preparations, serves to power up a Dondozo and as this Pokémon can easily KO it, it creates a synergy with the combo.

Kirlia

Stage 1 - Evolved from Ralts

- Attack Magical Shot (P)(C): Deals 30 damage.

- Psychic Attack (P)(P)(C): Deals 60 damage plus 20 damage for each Energy attached to your opponent's Active Pokémon.

Nothing is more rewarding than hitting more for each Energy attached to your opponent's Active Pokémon. Being a stage 1, not as useless as the vast majority of Base Set cards, although the cost of energy taxation is high, it manages to deal excellent damage. It's very favorable to turn around in a montage of the game's set-up, before seeing a Gardevoir ex to be able to deal damage with Kirlia in the meantime.

Gardevoir ex

Stage 2 - Evolves from Kirlia

- Psychic Embrace Ability: During your turn, you may attach a basic Energy (P) from the discard pile to one of your Pokémon, and if you do, put 2 damage counters on that Pokémon that received the Energy (don't use this ability if those 2 counters can lead that Pokémon to a KO).

- Attack Miracle Force (P)(P)(C): Deals190 damage and remove all special conditions from this Pokémon.

Excellent energizer, but with bias that this Pokémon will receive energy with damage counters.

We lost with the rotation the combo of Gengar SSH 85 to move damage counters between Pokémon (P) and with Radiant Tsareena SIT 16 doing the healing loop with the use of Scoop Up Net RCL 165, and maybe in the future there might be a new combo. But it will certainly be a very present card in the psychic archetype.

Dachsbun

Stage 1 - Evolves from Fidough

- Ability Well-Baked Body: Prevent all damage done to this Pokémon by your opponent's (F)-type Pokémon, and this Pokémon cannot be Burned.

- Attack Headbutt Bounce (P)(C)(C): Deals 100 damage.

It's a fire-only counter, the same as Bronzong TEU 101 in Sun/Moon: Team Up and with Araquanid SUM 46 and Araquanid UPR 17 in it as well. Sun/Moon block on Base Set and Ultraprism.

Krookodile

Stage 2 - Evolves from Krokorok

- Attack Voracious Bite (F): Deals 50 damage and flip the coin until it lands tails. For each heads, you discard an Energy attached to your opponent's Active Pokémon.

- Attack Miracle Force (F)(F): Deals 180 damage, and this attack does 30 damage to all of your Benched Pokémon (does not apply Weakness or Resistance on the Bench).

Enters the control attempt that in addition to causing damage, it also discards a card from the top deck, that is, until the coin comes up tails. It may be interesting.

Hawlucha

Basic

- Ability Flying Entry: When you play this Pokémon from your hand to your Bench, you choose two of your opponent's Pokémon, and those Pokémon take 1 damage counter.

- Attack Wing Attack (F)(C)(C): Deals 70 damage.

It is similar to Crobat G PL 47. And with the rotation of Scoop Up Net RCL 165, it will lose this "Looping" power, as it would be superior to Galarian Zigzagoon SSH 117 in that sense, since its ability chooses two Pokémon to receive a damage counter instead of one.

Great Tusk ex

Basic

- Attack Bedrock Breaker (F): Deals 40 damage and discards a Stadium card in play.

- Attack Giant Tusk (F)(F)(F): Deals 250 damage and take 50 damage to itself.

For one energy, it discards stadiums, which is excellent. The second attack can have two energizations: with the use of the Koraidon ex ability or even the use of the item Gutsy Pickaxe ASR 145 that you look at the top card of your deck and if you find a basic energy (F), you can attach it to a Pokémon on your Bench, and if no Energy comes, this card can come into your hand.

To increase its damage from 250 to 280, we have the card Grant ASR 144, which will be useful in this deck.

Koraidon ex

Basic

- Ability Dino Cry: During your turn, you may attach two Basic (F) Energy to one of your Basic (F)-type Pokémon on your Bench. If you do, your turn ends.

- Attack Wild Impact (F)(F)(C): Deals 200 damage and next turn, you can't use this attack.

Like all (F)-type Pokémon, its energy costs are high. The attack also serves the same explanations cited above with the Great Tusk ex with Gutsy Pickaxe ASR 145.

And to increase its damage from 220 to 250, we have Grant ASR 144. And about the setback of not being able to attack next turn, you can bypass this effect with Switch CRZ 144 or Switch Cart ASR 154.

Muk

Stage 1 - Evolves from Grimmer

- Ability Poison Sacs: the special poisoning conditions that your active Pokémon suffers cannot be removed if it evolves.

- Attack Toxic Strike (D)(C)(C)(C): Deals 100 damage and your opponent's Active Pokémon is Poisoned.

One of the best Pokémon to inflict Poison statuses and will combine a lot with Toxicroak ex,Galarian Slowking VMAX CRE 100 and Radiant Hisuian Sneasler LOR 123, which will be great support to boost Poison with its ability that grants two more poison counters.

Then we have the Muk that with its ability, the opponent's Pokémon does not remove the poisoning condition if it evolves or regresses, along with the others, being able to have a total of 20 counters at once: 200 damage between turns!

Seviper

Basic

- Attack Spit Poison (D): the opposing Pokémon is poisoned.

- Attack Venoshock (D)(C)(C): Deals 60 damage plus 120 if the active opponent has the poisoned condition.

It's a "Single Prize" attacker for the Poison archetype, and along with the description of Muk above, it's a useful Pokémon, although the attack cost is lacking.

Toxicroak ex

Stage 1 - Evolved from Croagunk

- Attack Nasty Plot (D): Search your deck for 2 cards you want and put them in your hand. Then, shuffle your deck.

- Attack Toxic Rippert (D)(C)(C): Deals 120 damage and the opponent is poisoned with 6 damage counters per turn instead of 1 counter.

With Galarian Slowking VMAX CRE 100 and Radiant Hisuian Sneasler LOR 123 as support, he's an excellent attacker to boost Poison between turns, along with Muk.

Kingambit

Stage 2 - Evolved from Bisharp

- Ability Generalship: For the duration of this Pokémon's duration, all of your Basic Pokémon gain 30 more damage against your opponent's Active Pokémon.

- Attack Strike Cut (D)(C)(C): Deals 160 damage.

It's fantastic because it grants 30 more damage to all your basic Pokémon. It's not like the Incineroar UNB 29 that grants this same benefit whether it's evolution or not, but this increase in damage is very welcome.

Revavroom

Stage 1 - Evolves from Varoom

- Skill Rumbling Engine: You discard an energy from your hand to activate this skill. If you do, you can draw until you have 6 cards in your hand.

- Attack Knock Away (M)(C)(C)(C): Deals 90 damage and flip a coin. If heads, it deals an additional 90 damage.

With the Crobat V DAA 104's rotation, we won't have that 6-card draw power in hand, but thanks to the Revavroom ability, this will become our new format's draw engine.

Very strong, and with a measly discard tribute from an energy in hand, this card will run in many decks!

Oinkologne ex

Stage 1 - Evolved from Lechonk

- Attack Fragrance Fury (C): Does 10 damage plus 30 for each Pokémon in your opponent's Bench.

- Attack Heavy Stamp (C)(C)(C): Deals 210 damage, and you flip the coin. If tails, you can't use that attack on your next turn.

A bread and butter Pokémon ex, which isn't one of the best ex's, but can hold the wave of hitting up to 160 damage for any energy if the opponent fills the bench, which is useful.

Professor’s Research - Sada

Supporter: You discard your hand and draw 7 cards.

Jacq

Supporter: You search your deck for two evolution cards, reveal them, and put them into your hand. After that, shuffle your deck.

With the absence of Evolution Incense SSH 163, it will be a way to search for evolutions in the deck, although there is Capturing Aroma SIT 153, you need to hit the coin heads to do this.

Penny

Supporter: You return a Pokémon and all cards attached to it to your hand.

A new version of Acerola BUS 112 for the Standard format.

Team Star Grunt

Supporter: You put a Basic Energy attached to your opponent's Active Pokémon to the top of your deck.

It's similar to Team Flare Grunt GEN 73 in X/Y: Generations, but instead of sending the energy to the discard pile, you put it on top of the opponent's deck, messing up their turn to draw of cards.

Beach Court

Stadium: The Retreat Cost of each Basic Pokémon in play is one less Energy (C).

A "reprint" of the card Skyarrow Bridge NXD 91 from Black/White: Next Destinies.

Nest Ball

Item: You can search your deck for a basic Pokémon and put it straight onto your Bench.

A "reprint" of the card Nest Ball SUM 123 from the Sun/Moon: Base Set.

Pal Pad

Item: You can search the discard pile for 2 Supporter cards and put them back into your deck.

Basically, a "reprint" of the card Pal Pad FLF 92 from X/Y: Flashfire.

Exp. Share

Tool: If your Active Pokémon is Knocked Out, and it is equipped with this card, you may move a basic Energy to one of your Pokémon.

Basically, a "reprint" of the Exp. Share NXD 87 from Black/White: Next Destinies.

Rock Chestplate

If the (F)-type Pokémon has this card equipped to it, it takes 30 less damage from the opponent's attacks (after applying Weakness and Resistance).

Defiant Band

Tool: if your opponent is winning the game, and you have more prize cards than them, the Pokémon that has this tool will take 30 more damage against the active Pokémon of the opponent (before applying weakness and resistance).

Spidops ex

Stage 1 - Evolves from Terrantula

- Ability Trap Territory: the opponent's active Pokémon's retreat cost requires one more (C) energy.

- Attack Wire Hang (G)(C): Deals 90 damage plus 30 damage for each Energy in your opponent's Active Pokémon's Retreat Cost.

Remember the combo we had in the last block with Milotic V RCL 43, Leafeon VMAX EVS 8 and the stadium Galar Mine RCL 160 that made the opponent have a lot of energy as tribute recoil cost to be able to deal more damage with the combo of these three cards? It's basically the same principle as Terrantula's ability.

Arcanine ex

Stage 1 - Evolves from Growlithe

- Terastral Ability: This Pokémon does not take damage if it is benched.

- Attack Raging Claws (F)(F): Deals 30 damage plus 10 damage for each damage counter on this Pokémon.

- Bright Flame Attack (F)(F)(F): Deals 250 damage and discard 2 Energy from this Pokémon.

One of the best (F)-type Pokémon to date. The first attack is practically the same attack as the Reshiram & Charizard-GX PR-SM SM247, the Outrage, which hits with a specific base damage plus the damage it takes.

And about the second attack, there's the Magma Basin BRS 144 stadium to help energize.

Slowbro

Stage 1 - Evolves from Slowpoke

- Ability Strange Behavior: As you wish on your turn, you can move a damage counter from one of your Pokémon to this Pokémon.

- Attack Bubble Drain (W)(C): Deals 60 damage and heals 30 damage from itself.

A damage-distributing Support Pokémon from your Pokémon to itself, and would easily fit into a Control deck.

Magnezone ex

Stage 2 - Evolves from Magneton

- Attack Energy Crush (L): Deals 50 damage for all Energy attached to all of your opponent's Pokémon.

- Attack Pulse Launcher (L)(L): Deals 220 damage and deal 30 damage to itself.

The first attack is brilliant, highlighted by its mention here. If there are 7 energy trays in the opponent's game, it is already getting 350 damage for free for just one energy! And the type of Pokémon that keeps clogging up energy are decks of Shadow Rider Calyrex VMAX CRE 75 and Clefairy LOR 62 with Wyrdeer V ASR 134.

Rotom

Basic

- Attack Junk Hunt (C): You search the discard pile for an item card, reveal it, and put it into your hand.

- Attack Thundershock (L): Deals 20 damage and flip a coin. If heads, the opponent's Active Pokémon is now paralyzed.

The first attack is excellent as a resource hunter from the discard pile. It's basically a redesign of Sableye DEX 62.

Pawmot

Stage 2 - Evolves from Pawmo

- Ability Charge Up: During your turn, you may search the deck for a Basic Energy (L) and attach it to this Pokémon. Then, shuffle your deck.

- Attack Electro Paw (L)(L)(C): Deals 230 damage and discard all Energy attached to this Pokémon.

Even though it's an all-in attack in losing energy, what makes up for it is its ability to be able to recharge basic energy (L) from the deck + your energy from your hand's turn, with two energies to prompt the Pokémon, and to a “baby” Pokémon doing 230 damage is no small feat.

Mirayon ex

Basic

- Tandem Unit Ability: During your turn, you can search for two (L)-type Basic Pokémon and put them on your Bench, and after that, shuffle your deck.

- Attack Photon Blaster (L)(L)(C): Deals 220 damage and cannot use this attack next turn.

This season, Pokémon (L) will gain strength. Regieleki V SIT 57, Regieleki VMAX SIT 58, Zeraora V CRZ 53, Zeraora VSTAR PR-SW SWSH265, Zeraora VMAX PR-SW SWSH264 and Raikou V BRS 48 will gain energy acceleration power and will face weakness Pokémon of this archetype like Lugia-VStar and Origin Forme Palkia-VStar, and it will be very present in the format.

One of the best supports, for sure!

Banette ex

Stage 1 - Evolves from Shuppet

- Attack Eternal Darkness (P): Deals 30 damage and your opponent cannot play any Item-Type Trainer cards from your hand on your next turn.

- Poltergeist Attack (P)(C): This attack does 60 times damage for each Trainer card in your opponent's hand.

It's the same logic as the attack of Gengar & Mimikyu-GX TEU 53 with the attack of the same name, except that it's a stage 1 Pokémon and that only provides two prize cards (one of the best ex cards on the block!)

Florges

Stage 2 - Evolves from Floette

- Ability Bloom Garden: if this Pokémon is in play, your Pokémon have no weakness.

- Attack Moon Force (P)(C)(C): Deals 120 damage, and the next turn, the defending Pokémon takes 30 less damage than your opponent's attacking Pokémon.

All of your Pokémon not having weakness as an ability is a huge help, even more so for the Psychic archetype.

Klefki

Basic

- Ability Prank Lock: If this Pokémon is in Active Position, all Basic Pokémon in play have no Ability (except Prank Lock).

- Attack Knock Off (C): Deals 10 damage, and before you deal damage, you discard a Tool card attached to your opponent's Active Pokémon.

Klefki will be highly sought after and used in many control decks for its ability to cancel all the Pokémon's abilities in play except its own. Similar to the Garbodor DRX 54.

Greavard

Basic

- Attack Graveyard Frolic (P): Deals 10 times damage for each (P)-type Pokémon in your discard pile.

Its strategy is simple: the more Pokémon (P) in the discard, the more its attack increases, and this improves with its evolution (below).

Houndstone

Stage 1 - Evolves from Greavard

- Attack Grave Visit (P)(P): Deals 80 damage plus 10 times the damage for each (P)-type Pokémon in your discard pile.

With its strategy of the more Pokémon (P) in the discard, the more it increases its attack, we have the base of 80 damage plus 10 for each Pokémon (P) in the discard. Assuming you have 10 Pokémon in your discard of type (P), you're doing 180 damage for just two energy (P), which is both raw and efficient!

Annihilape

Stage 2 - Evolves from Primeape

- Attack Enraged Fist (F): Deals 70 damage for each Prize card your opponent took.

- Attack Dynamicpunch (F)(F): Deals 170 damage and deal 50 damage to yourself.

Only type (F) Pokémon from the Violet ex good expansion on the list. Your first attack defines everything: it does 70 damage for each Prize card the opponent took, so it can do up to 350 damage for just one (F)-type energy, and with the use of Defiant Band*, it deals plus 30 damage, up to an incredible 380 damage!

Spiritomb

Basic

- Attack Taunt (D): You choose a Pokémon from the opponent's pack and substitute it to be the new Active Pokémon.

- Attack Destruction Verdict (D)(D): Flip two coins. If both are heads, the opponent's Active Pokémon is Knocked Out.

A support Pokémon that if luck smiles on you on the second attack and both coins come up heads, you do an automatic knockout, similar to Radiant Jirachi SIT 120.

Mabosstiff

Stage 2 - Evolves from Maschiff

- Ability Enraged Howling: During your turn, you can make your opponent substitute their Active Pokémon for one from the Bench.

- Attack Wild Tackle (D)(C)(C): Deals 160 damage and deal 30 damage to itself.

Despite the ability giving the opponent a chance to make a choice to switch the active Pokémon with the bench, it is indirectly a Boss's Orders to choose the target, and still be able to make the bluff of also using the Boss's Orders BRS 132 to frustrate the opponent.

Bombirdier

Basic

- Junk Transport Attack (C): You search your deck for 3 Tool cards, reveal them, and put them into your hand. Then, shuffle your deck.

- Clutch Attack (D)(C): Deals 60 damage and the defending Pokémon can't retreat next turn.

It's a "resource search", and searches for 3 tools at the same time, similar to the effect of the old card Elesa LTR RC20, which is always welcome.

Iron Treads ex

Basic

- Triple Laser Attack (C)(C)(C): Does 30 damage to 3 opponent's Benched Pokémon (does not apply Weakness or Resistance).

- Attack Cybernetic Wheel (M)(M)(M)(C): This attack does 160 damage and switches this Pokémon into one of your Benched Pokémon.

The first attack is kind of sniper, and even for 3 Pokémon, something very welcome, and its second attack, in addition to making the basic attack, it can still retreat, not exposing itself and maybe putting a Pokémon that can serve as a “tanker” and hold turn spikes or even some control Pokémon to lock abilities.

It is very versatile and has many possibilities of use.

Blissey

Stage 1 - Evolves from Chansey

- Ability Nurse On Duty: During your turn, you can heal all of your Active Pokémon's Special Conditions.

- Attack Blissful Cyclone (C)(C)(C): Deals 150 damage and move all Energy attached to this Pokémon to another one on your Bench.

The word support defines this Pokémon. Its ability removes all special conditions from your active Pokémon and its attack can redistribute energy, which is very beneficial and welcome for setting up a set-up for a heavy Pokémon that requires a lot of energy in some type of attack tribute.

Professor’s Research - Turo

Supporter: Discard your hand and draw 7 cards.

Katy

Supporter: Using this card, your turn ends. Shuffle your hand and then draw 8 cards.

Improved version of the old card Cynthia UPR 119, but with the drawback of ending your turn. So, use it wisely to not suffer from the opponent using Judge SIT TG25.

Arven

Supporter: Search your deck for an item card and a tool, reveal them, and put them into your hand. Then, shuffle your deck.

With the new item card differentiation rule from tool cards, it is a useful Supporter.

Miriam

Backer: Search your discard pile for 5 Pokémon, reveal them, and return them to the deck. Then draw 3 cards.

Certainly, one of the strongest Supporters of this block, which in addition to recycling discarded Pokémon, also has the "Draw Power" of 3 additional cards, always welcome to speed up your game.

Undoubtedly, another card that will be expensive and sought after for fitting into several decks.

Mesagosa

Stadium: During both opponents' turns, each one tosses a coin. If heads, search for a Pokémon, reveal it, and put it into your hand. After that, shuffle your deck.

Electricity Generator

Item: Look at the top five cards of your deck. Choose up to two Basic (L) Energy from those top five cards and attach it to one of your (L)-type Pokémon in any way you like. The rest of the cards go back to the deck and shuffle them.

Ultra Ball

Item: You discard two cards from your hand to search for a Pokémon (either basic or evolution), reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then, shuffle your deck.

This is a "reprint" of the "reprint". We have its version in Sword/Shield: Brilliant Stars with this version Ultra Ball BRS 150, and its origin comes from the expansion Black/White: Dark Explorers, with the card Ultra Ball DEX 102.

Picnic Basket

Item: Heals 30 damage from all Pokémon in play (both yours and your opponent's).

Rare Candy

Item: You can evolve one of your Basic Pokémon that's in play with a Stage 2 Pokémon that's in your hand. With this, you can directly evolve that Pokémon.

Opinion: this is a “reprint” of the “reprint”. We have its version in Sword/Shield: Base Set with Rare Candy SSH 180, also in Sword/Shield: Pokémon GO with Rare Candy PGO 69, and recently with Sword/Shield : Crown Zenith (Rare Candy CRZ 141) with its new rank as F.

Its origin comes from the expansion Ruby/Sapphire: Sandstorm, Rare Candy SS 88, where it was “nerfed” over the years and had the text modified.

Rocky Helmet

Tool: If the Pokémon has this tool equipped, if the opponent does any damage from attacks, he (the opponent) takes 2 damage counters.

A great reprint.

Cyclize ex

Basic

- Attack Power Run (C): Deals 30 damage and search your deck for a basic Energy and attach it to this Pokémon. Then, shuffle your deck.

- Attack Full Throttle (C)(C)(C): Deals 180 damage and cannot use this attack next turn.

Since it's part of a Japanese Starter Deck, it's more of a tutorial, so it's a weak card for the format, which serves as a learning experience for the kids who will buy the product.

Lucario ex

Stage 1 - Evolves from Riolu

- Attack Low Sweep (F)(C): Deals 60 damage.

- Attack Aura Sphere (F)(C)(C): Deals 160 damage and choose an opponent's Benched Pokémon, and it takes 50 damage (don't apply Bench Weakness or Resistance).

An average striker. At 160 damage for the current format with Pokémon at 220 healths from some previous-gen V's still active, that's paltry damage.

But it manages to deal sniper damage, breaking some branch in some sniper strategies for the next turn, that Pokémon that suffered 50 damage, take a Boss's Orders from the opponent with another Pokemon and close the damage.

Ampharos ex

Stage 2 - Evolves from Flaaffy

- Attack Lighting Ball (L)(C): Deals 60 damage.

- Attack Lightning Tail (L)(C)(C): Deals 140 damage, plus 100 more if you discard two Energy attached to this Pokémon.

Since we have Miraidon ex as an energizer, even if you use the second attack to discard all linked energies, there is still a way around this. So, I would classify it as an "average" Pokémon, preferring Magnezone ex as the best Electric Attacker in this first expansion.

Mimikyu ex

Basic

- Attack Void Return (P): Deals 30 damage and replace this Pokémon with a Pokémon from your Bench.

- Attack Energy Burst (P)(C)(C): Deals 30 times damage for each Energy attached to both Active Pokémon.

Its second attack is the rescue of the famous Ball X attack from Mewtwo-EX NXD 54, but Mimikyu uses an energy (P) in the tribute, being a very "heavy" Pokémon to make a simple attack, different from Mewtwo that for two (C) already did more damage.

It is a Pokémon that has game, since there is the presence of the Shadow Rider Calyrex VMax that helps in the acceleration of energies (P).

Meowface ex

Stage 2 - Evolves from Floracat

- Skill Magic Bouquet: You can discard a type (G) Energy from your hand to perform this skill. You choose an opponent's Benched Pokémon and put 3 damage counters on it.

- Attack Nail Scratch (C)(C): Deals 100 damage plus 120 damage if the Opponent has any damage counters on it.

In addition to dealing damage with counters with its ability to discard grass energy, it has the attack that hits 100 + 120 if the opponent has any damage counters on it for just two energy (C). Undoubtedly, one of the best starters.

Skeledirge ex

Stage 2 - Evolves from Crocalor

- Attack Vitality Song (F): Deals 50 damage and heal 30 damage to all your Pokémon.

- Attack Burning Voice (F)(F): Deals 270 damage minus 10 for each damage counter on this Pokémon.

Of the three, it is the weakest. Despite dealing 270 for just two (F) energy, it has a two-point reduction for every damage taken.

In Standard format, it's mostly dead weight, however in Expanded it can be powerful because with the low cost of just two (F) energy, you can use any Max Potion GRI 128 to heal it, but those energies can be recovered by using Welder UNB 189 or Blacksmith FLF 88, powering up two right (F) energies to fulfill the cost of the attack and stay in this mighty combo.

Quaquaval ex

Stage 2 - Evolves from Quaxwell

- Attack Lively Sambal (W): Deals 60 damage. You switch that Pokémon to one of your Benched ones, and if you do, your opponent must do the same, switching your Active to one from your Bench.

- Attack Propeller Shot (W)(C): Deals 230 damage and return two Energy from this Pokémon to your hand.

Of the three, it is the most defensive, as its first attack has a "similar" effect to Guzma BUS 115, and its second attack returns the energies attached to this Pokémon to your hand, giving you more options for attacking. distribution to another Pokémon.

Clavel

Supporter: Search your deck for 3 Pokémon that have less than 120 HP, reveal them, and put them into your hand. Then, shuffle your deck.

An improved version of Professor Elm's Lecture LOT 188, which only looked for Pokémon with up to 60 HP.

Dendra

Supporter: You place a card on the bottom of your deck. If you do, draw until you have 5 cards in your hand.

It is an excellent “Draw Power”, since this expansion has a lot of focus on discarding hands.

Artazon Town

Stadium: During either player's turn, you may search for a basic Pokémon (that doesn't have a Rule Box) and put it on your Bench. Then, shuffle your deck.

Superior Energy Retrieval

Item: You discard two cards from your hand to perform this effect (if you cannot meet this requirement, you cannot play the card). By discarding two cards from your hand, you take 4 basic energies from the discard pile, reveal them, and put them into your hand.

A “reprint” of the card Superior Energy Retrieval PLF 103, from the Black/White: Plasma Freeze expansion.

Luminous Energy

It gives any type of Energy to the Pokémon it's attached to. However, if it has one more Special Energy attached to the Pokémon, that Luminous Energy will provide (C) instead.

This card is similar to Prism Energy NXD 93, but it has this drawback that if you accumulate too many special energies on this Pokémon, if it has Luminous Energy, it will only provide colorless energy, which is a bit bad.

But to improvise with a tribute type that has a Pokémon with a specific energy and a colorless one as a tribute and use it, Luminous Energy can be interesting.

What do you think of the spoilers? Do you have higher expectations about the new block? Comment here below.

See you next time.