Light in the Dark — the Darkness Ablaze Guide

With the English set list live here on PokeBeach, I now have the means to do my usual set review! This article will be a primer of all the best cards—contrasting their value in both formats. As did the last time, I will be dedicating a paragraph or so to my thoughts on the card itself, then asking “Will it be in meta decks?“, then concluding the section for each card.  I hope you enjoy, this set looks good!

Grass

Like with nearly every format in the Pokemon TCG, Decidueye is set to inherit the role of [card name=”Hoopa” set=”Shining Legends” no=”55″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Suicune” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card], and the like of the past. Currently in Standard there isn’t a good way to get around damage blocking from both Pokemon V and Pokemon-GX. Split Arrow is just the kind of attack that a card like this can abuse to keep potential threats from coming up as well, spread damage to the Bench can stop a Basic Pokemon from evolving into a non-GX/V Pokemon that can one-shot Decidueye and its 140 HP. For anyone wondering, I had to check myself, Pokemon VMAX are still Pokemon V, so Decidueye works against them too!

Will Decidueye be in meta decks?

In Standard there is a very good chance that a new stall deck could arise with Decidueye at the forefront, or it could see play as an attacking deck just on its own. Stuff like Baby Blacephalon will be a huge problem at first, but you could play something janky like Alolan Persian-GX alongside it to prevent that. Expanded won’t be welcoming, there are also still Pokemon-EX to deal with, which the Ability doesn’t do.

Golisopod always seems to get high-value cards, this one is no different with an attack that punishes decks that play down a lot of Pokemon V and Pokemon-GX. For a [card name=”Twin Energy” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”174″ c=”name”][/card], you can deal up to 370 damage as a single Prize Pokemon, that’s insane (but also unlikely.) In any case, this is just a powerful card in the current Standard with most decks playing multiple Pokemon that add to its damage output.

Will Golisopod be in meta decks?

In Standard, almost certainly, this card strikes me as very playable and potentially powerful. It’s difficult to play around because most decks are compiled of all Pokemon V and Pokemon-GX, there are few non-GX/V Pokemon in the metagame right now, aside from [card name=”Spiritomb” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”112″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Blacephalon” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”32″ c=”name”][/card]. Expanded probably won’t work amazingly well for Golisopod, the format favors Basic Pokemon, and Pokemon-EX don’t add to its output.

Fire

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Charizard V and Charizard VMAX might look cool, but they’re not very promising as attackers. The problem is the discarding factor with both Fire Spin and G-Max Wildfire. They deal considerable damage, but have the drawback of discarding Energy. You could run Turbo Patch (skip to Trainers for more) and Welder for maximum Energy acceleration onto the Charizard V—with little to no Water decks in the format these could be an upgrade on the Welder Toolbox decks, packing the necessary punch to one-shot anything again.

Will they be in meta decks?

In Standard, the idea I’ve suggested could be okay. When I think it out, it looks like you might just get two-shot and not get as much bang for your buck with each Charizard VMAX as you like, so I’m skeptical. Alongside a supporting cast or [card name=”Victini Prism Star” set=”Dragon Majesty” no=”7″ c=”name”][/card] as a finisher, maybe there’s some potential there. Expanded has no hope for Charizard V or Charizard VMAX, unfortunately.

Speaking of cards that don’t fizzle out, Centiskorch V and Centiskorch VMAX look strong. G-Max Centiferno is one of those no-limit attacks that can one-shot anything. Since Dragapult VMAX is the Standard format’s gatekeeper right now, let’s start there: 320 HP, you’re going to need seven Fire Energy attached to your Centiskorch VMAX to get there for a one-hit Knock Out. Can you do it? [card name=”Welder” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”189″ c=”name”][/card] and Turbo Patch seem to think so. Attaching another Fire Energy from the discard pile after attacking only makes this card better, although that interaction is odd once you’ve already reached the point where you’re one-shotting everything; it’s like there’s no need anymore. Remember, Turbo Patch is wonky with a Pokemon VMAX, you have to use it before you put the Pokemon VMAX down. This is doable, but maybe you don’t even need it.

Will they be in meta decks?

Standard probably will see a Centiskorch VMAX deck in the meta, but like most times, Expanded won’t be a friendly home to such a card, needing seven Energy for some stuff is way too much to ask in that realm.

Lightning

Vikavolt V is my favorite card in this set. Quaking Punch is back, this time under the name Paralyzing Bolt. Doing 50 damage is already more powerful than its predecessor in [card name=”Seismitoad-EX” set=”Furious Fists” no=”20″ c=”name”][/card] and it can only grow more powerful with [card name=”Electropower” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”172″ c=”name”][/card]. [card name=”Thunder Mountain Prism Star” set=”Lost Thunder” no=”191″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Tapu Koko Prism Star” set=”Team Up” no=”51″ c=”name”][/card] are two outs to getting a first turn attack and from there it’s rinsing and repeating. [card name=”Electrocharger” set=”Team Up” no=”139″ c=”name”][/card] could find a home in this deck since, without Items, your opponent’s game is going too slow so you’ll have extra time to redraw your Electropower copies. Turbo Patch might go in this deck as well, yet another way to get the first turn attack.

Will Vikavolt V be in meta decks?

In Standard, it will be. I expect Vikavolt V to make a popular archetype in the coming months. Super Zap Cannon gives you a way to finish a game off after an extended period of Item lock. Expanded should have a home for Vikavolt V as well, it’s a more powerful Seismitoad-EX that can attack on the first turn, just with a different combination of cards. [card name=”Max Elixir” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”102″ c=”name”][/card] could serve it in Expanded as a high-probability chance of getting the first turn attack in addition.

Darkness

Crobat V is fantastic, it’s like [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”77″ c=”name”][/card] and Set Up, just more balanced. That’s all there is to it, it’s going to be at least a one-of in every deck moving forward. Two copies as merit as well, one for now and one for later. I still see it being played alongside [card name=”Dedenne-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card], you’ll not have two ways to plow through your deck.

Will Crobat V be in meta decks?

Yes and in both formats. You will always want to play one Crobat V before playing a Shaymin-EX, both because of the extra HP and because of [card name=”Power Plant” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”183″ c=”name”][/card]. When you’re looking to play more copies, then I think you play Shaymin-EX, so the curve is one Crobat V for every four Shaymin-EX (unless you’re more of a moderate speed deck.) All-out turbo decks got another tool in Expanded!

Dark Squall follows the lineage of “Rain Dance” Pokemon, this time printed on a Hydreigon. This wouldn’t normally be significant, but with the coming rise of Eternatus VMAX, Darkness Pokemon might want to make use of this Ability yet. The most recent of these, [card name=”Magnezone” set=”Forbidden Light” no=”36″ c=”name”][/card], proved to be a failure, as usual. These types of Abilities haven’t seen success since the glory days of [card name=”Blastoise” set=”Plasma Blast” no=”16″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Emboar” set=”Legendary Treasures” no=”27″ c=”name”][/card], both paired with [card name=”Tropical Beach” set=”Black and White Black Star Promos” no=”BW28″ c=”name”][/card]. However today’s game as much more built-in draw and with the right cast, Hydreigon has a shot.

Will Hydreigon be in meta decks?

In Standard it’s worth trying, it remains to be seen what it should go with just yet. Maybe a toolbox with some of the more clunky Darkness Pokemon? They aren’t good enough on their own, but here is a list of possibilities, all from Darkness Ablaze: Galarian Slowbro V, Darkrai, Grimmsnarl V, and Grimmsnarl VMAX. From previous sets there are a few that come to mind as well: [card name=”Umbreon and Darkrai-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Mega Sableye and Tyranitar-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”126″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Guzzlord” set=”Cosmic Eclipse” no=”136″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Greninja and Zoroark-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”107″ c=”name”][/card], and [card name=”Hoopa-GX” set=”Team Up” no=”96″ c=”name”][/card]. [card name=”Weavile-GX” set=”Unified Minds” no=”132″ c=”name”][/card] could move things around as well! In Expanded there is zero chance this card sees the light of day.

Hoopa is an efficient smack for 90 damage. Assault Gate isn’t good for anything else and it also requires you to go to the Bench and back to the Active each turn. This is feasible, but the damage might not be enough to make it worth your while. I wanted to mention this mainly because it could work to set up better math for a deck like [card name=”Spiritomb” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”112″ c=”name”][/card], or as an opening attacker in a new Darkness type deck.

Will Hoopa be in meta decks?

In Standard and Expanded both, probably not. More likely Standard uses it in some capacity, though.

Eternatus V and Eternatus VMAX both are very strong. Power Accelerator is a good attack for your opening turns and Dynamax Cannon (if you ever power it up) is a nice way to deal with an opposing Pokemon VMAX. Right now there’s no Fighting Pokemon that stand to rival Eternatus VMAX, so Dread End is beastly. Eternal Zone is literally [card name=”Sky Field” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”89″ c=”name”][/card] all over again (hooray.) This time, though, there’s no [card name=”Sudowoodo” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”66″ c=”name”][/card] to slow it down. Dread End clocks in at 270 if you have all Darkness Pokemon in play and this deck will only play Darkness Pokemon. This will be a tier 1 deck immediately, one-shotting just about anything, save Pokemon VMAX.

Will Eternatus VMAX be in meta decks?

In Standard it will be for sure and maybe in Expanded, I think since there are already so many efficient ways to play Darkness-type decks maybe not, but Eternatus VMAX itself could work like a built-in Sky Field instead of playing the Stadium itself, you also have to cut Shaymin-EX. Sudowoodo still remains a problem, though.

Others

Galarian Stunfisk V

I like Galarian Stunfisk V as a tank that also wears an opponent down at the same time. It already boasts 200 HP and you’ll be up to 240 HP by just achieving your attack cost. Trapping Bite still curves out to 180 damage overall if you’re damaged, and you can reduce the impact of that damage with Metal Frying Pan or Metal Goggles. [card name=”Galarian Perrserker” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”128″ c=”name”][/card] could be used to boost your damage and healing cards could be played to keep yourself around longer. [card name=”Metal Saucer” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”170″ c=”name”][/card] accelerates your Energy and gets you attacking faster!

Standard has a shot for making this playable, but there are so many things that can deal even more than 240 HP, and it seems foolish to put more than just the attack cost on Galarian Stunfisk V. Another idea is to pair it with [card name=”Lucario and Melmetal-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”120″ c=”name”][/card] and disruption, punishing opponent’s even harder for doing anything and reducing damage as well. Expanded has absolutely no shot for this card.

Mad Party

Bunnelby, Galarian Mr. Rime, Dedenne, and Polteageist combine to make a new Night March-style deck with Bunnelby leading the charge. Mad Party does even more damage off the bat, since there are more Mad Party Pokemon than there were Night March Pokemon. With all of them in your discard, minus your attacker, you’ll be dealing 300 damage. It’s unrealistic as well as foolish to have them all in there unless you’re winning the game, so think of this deck like a more consistent Lost March, at least for now. Currently there’s nothing like [card name=”Battle Compressor” set=”Phantom Forces” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card], so you’re going to have to do much of the heavy lifting in getting all of these in the bin through stuff like [card name=”Quick Ball” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”179″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Professor’s Research” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”178″ c=”name”][/card]. This is completely doable, it’s just going to be a little slow to start off.

Will they be in meta decks?

In Expanded, actually, these will be broken. It’s simply a better Night March, nothing to it. You deal more damage and you also have Battle Compressor! You’ll literally be able to one-shot almost anything with [card name=”Muscle Band” set=”XY” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card] in the deck as well. I think this will make for a lower tiered deck at the least in Standard, just a better Lost March.

Trainers

Bird Keeper draw three and a switch is a nice combo. It’s just a better [card name=”Tate and Liza” set=”Celestial Storm” no=”148″ c=”name”][/card] for almost every deck and it should see a little play. It’s not going to be this overwhelming fourth coming of [card name=”Professor Juniper” set=”Black and White” no=”101″ c=”name”][/card] or anything, just a solid tech Supporter for a few things.

Will Bird Keeper be in meta decks?

In Standard for sure, it will definitely go into any control/mill deck as a dual purpose card that also saves space; as for Expanded, probably not since you already have [card name=”Guzma” set=”Burning Shadows” no=”115″ c=”name”][/card].

The additional 50 HP from Cape of Toughness is a ton, it could go on Galarian Stunfisk V or in a revamped [card name=”Welder” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”189″ c=”name”][/card] Toolbox deck with a bunch of Basic attackers. Perhaps this could assist a stall comeback in the traditional sense, the ones that didn’t cycle with [card name=”Oranguru” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”114″ c=”name”][/card] and such.

Will Cape of Toughness be in meta decks?

In Standard, to be determined. For Expanded, no way.

Consistency cards are my favorite and Familiar Bell looks to fit the bill. This will definitely go in a Mad Party deck, as well as softer decks like basically anything that’s non-GX/V in Standard. Pokemon VMAX-based decks won’t get much value out of this because they’re more difficult to Knock Out, so until something actually goes down, you’ll be sitting with a useless card in your deck.

Will Familiar Bell be in meta decks?

Standard has some fringe use for this, Expanded is a whole different ball game with Battle Compressor, maybe some cool stuff could happen with that? Either way, it’s probably just for single-Prizer decks in either format.

As I’m writing this, I still did a double take when I read Rose, the card seems so good at first, then you read the “discard your hand” clause. However, I’m pleased to report that the card is still strong. Rose Tower, appropriately named, is the perfect card to pair with it. Sometimes playing Rose itself is going to be too costly, but when it’s not you can still draw back up to three cards with Rose Tower. A modest number to be sure, but better than zero. The combo will do nicely in big Pokemon VMAX decks, although I’m unsure which ones are best at this time. Perhaps Charizard VMAX or Grimmsnarl VMAX?

Will they be in meta decks? In Standard I think it will be in at least one successful Pokemon VMAX deck that normally couldn’t hang because of a larger attack cost. It could even be used in a Dragapult VMAX deck to power a new one up in a pinch, the options are endless! Expanded doesn’t seem to need this, there are already so many ways to accelerate Energy for almost any type now and the flavor text will be too costly in that format.

Turbo Patch is literally “gain tempo for a heads flip”. I don’t like the design of the card, but it’s incredibly broken. Now you might be hesitant to throw your hat in the ring, but let me put it this way: don’t build your deck to need Turbo Patch, just play it to make your deck better. It feels odd that Pokemon-GX can’t use Turbo Patch, but Pokemon V can? Some Pokemon VMAX decks will still play Turbo Patch, just opt not to put the Pokemon VMAX down until they’ve made use of it. There’s got to be some good pairings with non-GX/V as well, maybe [card name=”Blacephalon” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”32″ c=”name”][/card]? This could be the moment when Pokemon with a colored Basic Energy cost plus two Colorless Energy finally get to shine (if you get heads!)

Will Turbo Patch be in meta decks?

Yes, definitely. Probably in both formats as well, broken card!

Special Energy

Heat Fire Energy and Powerful Colorless Energy are getting lumped together because they aren’t amazing, but have their uses. They both go in decks only when they don’t hurt them, so if you have a Colorless type main attacker that has a single Colorless Energy in the cost, you could afford to play this card. Honestly I don’t see that happening very often, maybe with Counter Gain on something? Heat Fire Energy doesn’t go in Welder decks I don’t think which narrows the field considerably. In fact, I can’t even think of anything that isn’t playing Welder that is still Fire; maybe someday…

Will they be in meta decks?

Probably not immediately, but likely at some point for either format.

The power creep is real, [card name=”Darkrai-EX” set=”Legendary Treasures” no=”88″ c=”name”][/card] is now an Energy card with Hiding Darkness Energy! This will go in all Darkness-type decks because the effect is that powerful. The different between this and Heat Fire Energy is that the effect isn’t powerful enough (unless there’s some super specific math that I haven’t stumbled across) to warrant parting with basic Energy themselves. For a free Retreat Cost, you bet, you want to do whatever you can to fit four of these!

Will Hiding Darkness Energy be in meta decks?

In Standard for sure, definitely in the Eternatus VMAX archetype. In Expanded a Turbo Darkness deck might play some, but probably not because of Max Elixir odds. Granted, those decks might completely change with Turbo Patch on the horizon.

Conclusion

Note: Water, Psychic, Fighting, and most Metal Pokemon were excluded here because I found none of them to be overly compelling/strong. Darkness Ablaze has me really excited about Pokemon. I must admit the last few weeks have felt extremely stale, especially since I am now out of the Players Cup (second loss coming in losers bracket round eight for a Top Thirty-Two finish.) I have mostly exhausted what seemed like an endless supply of fun/meme decks in this Standard format, although I guess I could shift over to Expanded. That’s what I’m leaning towards writing about for the next few, until I have some more knowledge of decks in the Darkness Ablaze Standard format! I hope you enjoyed reading this, I love doing the main set review for the site with each new expansion. If you have any questions or have a card you think I missed, hit me up in the Subscribers Hideout! I’d love to talk Pokemon with you. Take care and please wear a mask to protect others.

Peace,

–Caleb

Follow me on Twitter @shredemerptcg.

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