The Pokémon Company has unveiled a pair of exciting new expansions for the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG): Scarlet & Violet—Black Bolt and Scarlet & Violet—White Flare. These expansions breathe new life into beloved characters from the original Black & White series, which first launched in 2011. As the game continues to evolve, the question arises: can these cherished Unova region Pokémon compete in the current Standard format? This article explores the potential impact of key cards from these expansions, including Jellicent ex, Elgyem, and Genesect ex, as we look ahead to the 2025 World Championships and the competitive landscape that lies ahead.
Among the standout cards from the new expansions, Jellicent ex is poised to make a significant impact. The effectiveness of Item lock was demonstrated through Budew, and Jellicent ex takes this disruption further by also preventing opponents from using Pokémon Tool cards. This is particularly important as it counters Technical Machine: Evolution, which has been a popular method for overcoming Item lock strategies. Additionally, Jellicent ex boasts a powerful attack that can deal either 80 or 160 damage, depending on how much Energy you attach. This dual capability allows players to maintain pressure while simultaneously locking down Items and Tools—something that Budew couldn’t achieve on its own. It’s likely that Jellicent ex will become a key player in the Standard format.
One effective strategy for utilizing Jellicent ex is to pair it with Gardevoir ex. Both Pokémon share the Psychic type, making it easier for Gardevoir ex to meet the attack cost of Jellicent ex. Some players have opted for a two-copy setup of Jellicent ex, streamlining their decks by removing cards like Drifloon, Bravery Charm, or even Budew. A new approach involves using Jellicent ex, Scream Tail, and Munkidori to gradually chip away at the opponent’s board by distributing damage counters.
While Gardevoir ex can shine on its own, incorporating Jellicent ex can be advantageous, especially in mirror matchups. Typically, Gardevoir ex decks include only one copy of Boss’s Orders, the primary tool for removing obstructive Defending Pokémon. This means that opponents must contend with Jellicent ex, which can be challenging if they lack their own. Using Gardevoir ex can render it vulnerable to Technical Machine: Devolution, while relying on Scream Tail or Drifloon could expose you to Munkidori or a counterattack. Moreover, the Item lock prevents opponents from utilizing Night Stretcher to recover their attackers swiftly.
Alternatively, players can employ Jellicent ex without Gardevoir ex. By focusing on Jellicent ex as the primary attacker, you can allocate deck space for additional consistency or disruption cards that enhance your overall strategy. This approach allows for a more frequent execution of your Jellicent-centric tactics, although it sacrifices Gardevoir ex’s supportive benefits, such as damage augmentation from Scream Tail and Munkidori. The popularity of this alternative deck strategy remains to be seen, but the potential for success mirrors that of previous Item lock decks, which have thrived under the right conditions.
However, one of the challenges that Jellicent ex decks face is the need to adapt to competing archetypes. Decks that rely heavily on Items, such as Iron Bundle and Flutter Mane, can be effective if you have reliable means to locate them during gameplay. Yet, both cards have their vulnerabilities. For instance, if your opponent has two Jellicent ex in play, they can effectively counter Iron Bundle’s Hyper Blower while keeping the Item lock intact. Flutter Mane is a solid counter, but only when it serves as the Active Pokémon, requiring additional steps to activate. While decks like Gholdengo ex may include Iron Bundle to bypass Jellicent ex, the overall popularity of these decks may decline as they struggle against the strongest contenders in the format.
Elgyem may not initially stand out, but its first attack, Slight Shift, presents a unique opportunity to disrupt opponents reliant on their single Energy attachment per turn. For example, against a Dragapult ex deck that plays conservatively during the initial turns, Elgyem can move Energy from Drakloak to another Pokémon like Duskull or Budew. This strategic maneuver can hinder the opponent’s ability to use Phantom Dive, offering a more effective method to buy time than the traditional reliance on Boss’s Orders to target Drakloak—an approach fraught with challenges under Item lock conditions.
Elgyem also shows promise in slowing down decks centered around Munkidori. Both Marnie’s Grimmsnarl ex and Gardevoir ex typically dedicate their single attachment to Munkidori, leveraging its Energy acceleration Abilities to amplify their main attackers. With Elgyem, you can preemptively shift Energy before the opponent can respond, allowing you to gain an advantage over their setup.
While it’s a niche concept, Elgyem could enhance the viability of control decks, especially those utilizing Pidgeot ex. Previous iterations of these decks employed Turtonator or Paldean Tauros to slow down opponents, but these strategies were reactive rather than proactive. As we look ahead, it will be interesting to see if Elgyem can help revitalize Pidgeot ex control decks, which have seen decreased competitive representation since the rotation.
In today’s Standard format, the influence of Budew has led to an emphasis on strong consistency engines. Although increasing your Supporter count can enhance consistency, deck space is a limiting factor. The role of variance is also crucial; a hand devoid of Supporters can lead to dire situations. Furthermore, finding opportunities to play Boss’s Orders or non-draw Supporter cards is challenging when relying solely on Professor’s Research, Arven, or Iono.
Genesect ex emerges as a valuable addition, offering a straightforward method for locating Metal-type Evolution Pokémon through its Metallic Signal Ability. In Gholdengo ex decks, which rely on Technical Machine: Evolution, Genesect ex can be a game-changer. Utilizing a single Nest Ball can help you find multiple Gholdengo ex cards, improving your chances of launching an attack by the second turn and enhancing consistency overall. While these decks will likely still incorporate four copies of Arven and one Technical Machine: Evolution, Genesect ex serves as a reliable backup option.
Unfortunately, the current landscape lacks many powerful Metal-type Pokémon that can compete with the top contenders in the Standard format. While some players have experimented with Steven’s Metagross ex and Archaludon ex, finding a winning strategy has proven elusive. Steven’s Metagross ex is overshadowed by Gardevoir ex, as the scarcity of strong Metal-type Pokémon diminishes the appeal of dual typing. Meanwhile, Archaludon ex decks often incorporate a high count of Ultra Ball to rapidly discard Metal Energy, which fuels its Assemble Alloy attack.
With the new expansions, players are eager to see what Metal-type Pokémon will be introduced in the coming years.
Tools and effects that lower Retreat Cost have consistently been popular, and the Air Balloon is no exception. Although Rescue Board sees limited play, primarily in niche decks, Air Balloon can transform slower Pokémon into agile contenders.
N’s Zoroark ex stands out as a prime candidate for utilizing Air Balloon. Its Trade Ability allows decks to draw cards without relying solely on Supporter cards. While it can function as its own archetype, many players incorporate one or two copies purely for its Ability. The significant drawback is its Retreat Cost of 2, which can make it vulnerable to cards like Counter Catcher or Boss’s Orders, allowing opponents to target Benched Pokémon. With Air Balloon, however, players can retreat N’s Zoroark ex without expending additional Energy.
Marnie’s Grimmsnarl ex and Gholdengo ex also benefit greatly from Air Balloon. A common strategy in the Marnie’s Grimmsnarl ex versus Gardevoir ex matchup involves using Munkidori’s Mind Bend attack to inflict Confusion on Marnie’s Grimmsnarl ex, forcing the opponent to choose between discarding Energy or relying on chance during their next attack. Air Balloon facilitates the retreat of Marnie’s Grimmsnarl ex without incurring any costs, allowing players to maintain offensive pressure.
The rationale for Gholdengo ex is similar. Opponents using Dragapult ex may employ Counter Catcher and Itchy Pollen against a zero-Energy Gholdengo ex, compelling you to find another Metal Energy without Items. By using Air Balloon, you can easily retreat into your original Gholdengo ex with an attached Metal Energy, potentially drawing an extra card with Coin Bonus.
Hilda emerges as a compelling Supporter with effects that straddle the line between Arven and Colress’s Tenacity. On one hand, Arven is incredibly powerful, particularly with Technical Machine: Evolution, which can elevate an Evolution deck’s capabilities to aggressive levels. However, its flexibility in locating the right Item when needed is also noteworthy. If you find yourself short on Rare Candy, Hilda can help you obtain it right away! The only downside is its vulnerability to Item lock, which can render Arven ineffective without a suitable Tool.
Conversely, Colress’s Tenacity has seen limited play since its introduction. It’s challenging to justify using a Supporter to find Basic Energy when there are alternatives like Earthen Vessel and Crispin. Moreover, the prevalence of Stadium cards like Artazon, which benefit all decks, diminishes the strategic advantage of using Colress’s Tenacity. Certain niche Stadiums, such as Jamming Tower or Team Rocket’s Watchtower, exist but are often paired with Iono, making Colress’s Tenacity ineffective. Thus, the main advantage of finding Special Energy has also weakened since the F-block
