Evolving Wilds — The Immediate Impact of Paldea Evolved

Hello PokeBeach readers! Isaiah here, and I am happy to be writing another article for you all. Last time, I talked about [card name=”Arceus VSTAR” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”123″ c=”name”][/card] and how it fit into the Scarlet and Violet metagame in the final weeks of the format before the release of Paldea Evolved. As expected, the deck did reasonably well at the Milwaukee Regional Championship, with Arceus VSTAR / [card name=”Giratina VSTAR” set=”Lost Origin” no=”131″ c=”name”][/card] placing third in the hands of Ben Cryer, and Fresno saw Sawyer Melban piloting Arceus / [card name=”Aerodactyl VSTAR” set=”Lost Origin” no=”93″ c=”name”][/card] to a respectable seventh-place finish.

Unbelievably, the Fresno Regional Championship also marks the end of Regional Championships for the season. After a long, long ride, the 2023 season is coming to a close, with just the North America International Championship and a handful of small Special Events remaining. For many players, the North America International Championship will be the most important event of the season: the make-or-break event for their World Championship invitation, or maybe just the capstone of their year. Regardless, the event is going to be biggest Pokemon tournament of all time outside of Japan, with over 2,000 players currently registered, and as a result, the meta diversity will be massive, as is typically the case at the North America International Championship.

However, this year will also be a bit different because, unlike previous years, the North America International Championship will be the first major event with Paldea Evolved legal. Typically, a new set will shake up a metagame a little bit, often adding a new archetype or two, maybe adding a new staple card to the format, but Paldea Evolved is different. This set completely changes the game and how we have to approach it. Between new archetypes, new Trainers, and even a new Special Energy, the meta is bound to look significantly different in this format, and the decks that do stick around are going to get an astounding makeover.

With that said, the focus of this article is going to be on several of the new cards that I deem the most impactful, as well as one of my favorite new archetypes, [card name=”Chien-Pao ex” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”61″ c=”name”][/card] / [card name=”Baxcalibur” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”60″ c=”name”][/card]. Without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the new cards first.

The New Cards

Iono

[cardimg name=”N” set=”Noble Victories” no=”92″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

This card is, without question, the card in the highest demand with the release of the new set. [card name=”Iono” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”185″ c=”name”][/card] is the long awaited “reprint” of the beloved [card name=”N” set=”Noble Victories” no=”92″ c=”name”][/card] from the Black and White and XY blocks (or [card name=”Rocket’s Admin.” set=”EX Team Rocket Returns” no=”86″ c=”name”][/card] from the original ex era, for those who prefer that time period). It is hard to put into perspective how big of a deal this card being printed is for the current state of the Pokemon TCG. Since [card name=”Reset Stamp” set=”Unified Minds” no=”206″ c=”name”][/card] rotated back in 2021, the game has almost completely lacked any cards that offer the potential of a true comeback.

While [card name=”Roxanne” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”150″ c=”name”][/card] is strong when used for this purpose, it’s only usable in the latter half of the game, which is enough to reduce its play down to just the occasional one-of. Additionally, in decks that play it at all, Roxanne is more used as a way to close out the game in an advantageous position than to try and make something out of being far behind. Iono, on the other hand, acts as both a form of strong draw support and a source of comeback potential. In a format that has let building up a large hand go largely unpunished, barring the occasional [card name=”Judge” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”176″ c=”name”][/card], Iono acts as a refreshing way to break up these gigantic hands without losing too much of your own hand in the process.

However, Iono and N have one seemingly minor difference that happens to actually be massive. In the case of N, the hands were shuffled directly into the deck, meaning that a player could redraw the same cards they shuffled in. On the other hand, Iono requires each player to put their hand, shuffled, on the bottom of their deck, similar to [card name=”Marnie” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”169″ c=”name”][/card] from last format. This difference, while small, plays a huge role in the cards’ relative strengths, and in the case of Iono, its particular effect is generally much better in the current format.

While Lost Zone decks failed to win a major event in the United States, they were public enemy number one by far when it came to decks to beat in the Scarlet and Violet format, largely thanks to [card name=”Sableye” set=”Lost Origin” no=”70″ c=”name”][/card]’s role as a gatekeeper of a lot of fringe strategies. Of the Lost Zone decks that were popular, though, none was as successful as [card name=”Kyogre” set=”Celebrations” no=”3″ c=”name”][/card]. Coincidentally, there is also no Lost Zone deck that struggles with Iono more than Kyogre due to the combos that the deck needs. When you play an Iono, the Kyogre player’s combo pieces are not just broken up out of their hand, but also randomized at the bottom of their deck, offering them a minimal chance to redraw them on a critical turn that you may need to win the game.

Iono is very clearly a card that will completely revolutionize the way we play the game. Considering things such as being able to shuffle the deck after an Iono, thinning the deck in the proper manner to draw what you need off the top, and remembering what cards will be at the bottom of the deck because they were in your hand will all be valuable skills that will mark the difference between the good players and the great players in the next format.

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Super Rod

If I had a nickel for every Trainer card that was printed in both Noble Victories and Paldea Evolved, I would have two nickels, which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice.

The return of [card name=”Super Rod” set=”Noble Victories” no=”95″ c=”name”][/card] is one of the most welcome parts of this set, largely due to how fair the card is. It’s the perfect mix of good and not too good. Super Rod brings back a much-needed form of Item-based Pokemon recovery, which was a void left empty by the recent rotation of [card name=”Ordinary Rod” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”171″ c=”name”][/card]. There’s not really a ton else to be said about this card — a similar card was so recently legal that the Scarlet and Violet format will just be remembered as “the format where we had to use [card name=”Klara” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”145″ c=”name”][/card].” However, one unique use that I do want to note is that the card removes the necessity of using [card name=”Energy Recycler” set=”Battle Styles” no=”124″ c=”name”][/card] in Lost Zone decks, as it can be used as a partial Energy Recycler itself should you find it necessary.

Artazon

One of my favorite completely new cards in this set is [card name=”Artazon” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”171″ c=”name”][/card]. It is really, really rare that we see a generic Stadium that is as good as this one, so any time that we do see one is a treat, and this one is no exception. Artazon’s ability to just go find a Basic you need each turn is so uniquely useful in that the card is, at worst, simply a [card name=”Nest Ball” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”123″ c=”name”][/card] which will ultimately leave play by the time it is your turn again. In the event that it does get to stick around, though, the benefits can really start to stack up.

In [card name=”Gardevoir ex” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”86″ c=”name”][/card] decks, the card is particularly strong, because the deck needs so many Basic Pokemon on the first turn. In the event you do not find it early or do not need it, the card can also be a way to bump a problematic Stadium from your opponent’s side of the field, especially [card name=”Path to the Peak” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”148″ c=”name”][/card], should the need arise. Historically, cards like [card name=”Brooklet Hill” set=”Guardians Rising” no=”120″ c=”name”][/card] have been seen as extremely strong Stadiums for most of their lifetime, and with Artazon just being a Brooklet Hill that is not type-specific, it’s sure to be a key part of the format for the next few years.

Luxray

[card name=”Luxray” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”71″ c=”name”][/card] takes the spot of being my absolute favorite card from this set. When I think of cool card design, this card will forever be at the top of the list. I love Stage 2s with Abilities that let them cheat themselves into play, such as the [card name=”Talonflame” set=”Steam Siege” no=”96″ c=”name”][/card] from Steam Siege. This Luxray is no exception, but unlike Talonflame, Luxray can put itself into play multiple times, simply on the condition that you have more Prize cards remaining than your opponent. Remember when I mentioned the idea of comeback cards? Well, Luxray is yet another one. Thanks to [card name=”Reversal Energy” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”192″ c=”name”][/card], a card I will get to later, Luxray can use its attack for a single attachment, too, meaning that the card can do 180 for one attachment as a “Basic” just as long as you are behind on Prize cards.

This card is especially valuable against [card name=”Lugia VSTAR” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”139″ c=”name”][/card] decks, as it is capable of dealing 360 damage to a Lugia VSTAR as a single-Prize Pokemon the second you fall behind on Prize cards. This puts most slower decks immediately on pace with one of the format’s most fast and aggressive archetypes. Despite its Lightning typing and the obvious use against Pokemon that have a Lightning-type Weakness, Luxray is also just a good all-around attacker, usually setting up a two-hit Knock Out alongside most other attackers in the format. In Japan, this card is most commonly seen in Gardevoir ex variants, but I would expect to see it in a plethora of decks by the time that the North America International Championship rolls around.

Reversal Energy

[cardimg name=”Gardevoir ex” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”86″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

The final card that I wanted to focus on is another one of my favorites, Reversal Energy. This card is meant to be the successor to the classic Special Energy card [card name=”Scramble Energy” set=”EX Dragon Frontiers” no=”89″ c=”name”][/card], and boy does it deliver. Reversal Energy has completely opened the door wide open for may unexpected strategies, and will allow some of the most unlikely attackers to finally shine.

One of the best examples of this is, of course, the aforementioned Luxray, which likely would have been much worse if Reversal Energy did not exist. Additionally, while I have not seen a ton of deck lists for it yet, [card name=”Zoroark” set=”Evolving Skies” no=”103″ c=”name”][/card] may have found itself some unique new footing as a result of, at worst, getting more Energy that can provide two Colorless for just one attachment. Reversal Energy also adds a new dimension to Gardevoir ex decks in particular. On the surface, having a Reversal Energy to attach to a [card name=”Gardevoir” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”61″ c=”name”][/card] before using Psychic Embrace six times allows you to reach up to 330 damage with relative ease, a task previously only possible through [card name=”Zacian V” set=”Celebrations” no=”16″ c=”name”][/card]. It has also started to open up the potential of many different attackers in Gardevoir ex decks, including multiple [card name=”Gallade” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”62″ c=”name”][/card]. No matter what, Gardevoir ex decks at the North America International Championship are bound to look very different from Henry Brand’s Milwaukee Regional Championship list.

A Chien-Pao ex / Baxcalibur List

One of the most prominent completely new archetypes in this set also happens to be one of the most tried-and-true styles of decks the game has ever seen. Whether it be [card name=”Blastoise ex” set=”EX FireRed and LeafGreen” no=”104″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Blastoise” set=”Boundaries Crossed” no=”31″ c=”name”][/card] from Boundaries Crossed, or the Blastoise from Base Set, pretty much every player has heard of the Rain Dance strategy before. Flood the board with Energy, take a huge Knock Out, get your attacker Knocked Out, recover the Energy, and repeat the process. In a break from tradition, though, the Pokemon with Rain Dance in this set is not Blastoise, but Baxcalibur, and instead of something like [card name=”Keldeo-EX” set=”Legendary Treasures” no=”45″ c=”name”][/card], we have Chien-Pao ex.

In the earliest stages of my testing, I have found that this deck is actually pretty good — something that myself and others had been skeptical of! This change in mentality was largely due to the size of all of the Pokemon involved, especially the 160-HP Baxcalibur, which is quite formidable against most of the format.

So far, I have seen many different takes on this deck. In my earliest drafts, I was focusing on a pure Chien-Pao ex deck with no other major attackers. While this version of the deck was certainly not bad, it struggled to keep pace against single-Prize decks so badly that I was constantly relying on finding a [card name=”Penny” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”183″ c=”name”][/card] to bail out my attackers. I felt that it was best to switch to a different deck, which is what brought me to the [card name=”Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card] version.

As of now, most of my testing is focused on making the deck as consistent as possible above all else. Then, I will slowly cut the stuff I feel is unnecessary in favor of more unique techs and other powerful cards. In particular, one high-commitment tech that I have been keeping an eye on is the inclusion of [card name=”Canceling Cologne” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”136″ c=”name”][/card] and maybe even [card name=”Cross Switcher” set=”Fusion Strike” no=”230″ c=”name”][/card] to better abuse [card name=”Radiant Greninja” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”46″ c=”name”][/card] against decks that play [card name=”Manaphy” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”41″ c=”name”][/card]. While I have not yet tried this idea myself yet, it is at the top of my to-do list once I fully iron out the deck’s consistency.

[decklist name=”asdf” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Chien-Pao ex” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”61″][pokemon amt=”19″]3x [card name=”Chien-Pao ex” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”61″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Baxcalibur” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”60″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]3x [card name=”Frigibax” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”57″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”40″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Origin Forme Palkia V” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”39″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Bibarel” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”121″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Bidoof” set=”Crown Zenith” no=”111″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Radiant Greninja” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”46″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Kyogre” set=”Crown Zenith” no=”36″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Lumineon V” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”40″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”30″]4x [card name=”Irida” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”147″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Professor’s Research” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”178″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Boss’s Orders (Ghetsis)” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”172″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]2x [card name=”Iono” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”185″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”2″][/card]4x [card name=”Battle VIP Pass” set=”Fusion Strike” no=”225″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”196″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Rare Candy” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”191″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Superior Energy Retrieval” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”189″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Super Rod” set=”BREAKthrough” no=”149″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Hisuian Heavy Ball” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”146″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]2x [card name=”Skaters’ Park” set=”Fusion Strike” no=”242″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”2″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”11″]11x [card name=”Water Energy” set=”EX Ruby and Sapphire” no=”106″ c=”deck2″ amt=”11″][/card][/energy][/decklist] 

In general, a lot of this list feels super standard, at least by comparison to the other deck lists I have hit on the Versus Ladder so far. The Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR package offers a solid secondary attacker as well as insurance against a possibly deadly Iono. The thin Baxcalibur line is simply because space is extremely tight and eventually you have to start cutting into it, even though it is not something that we prefer to do.

[card name=”Skaters’ Park” set=”Fusion Strike” no=”242″ c=”name”][/card] may not be optimal, but I needed a Stadium and I’ve heard good things about the card in Chien-pao ex / Baxcalibur lists. So far I have liked it a lot, but things may change in the future, and if they do, I think that [card name=”Lost City” set=”Lost Origin” no=”161″ c=”name”][/card] is definitely on the maybe list.

Conclusion

With the biggest event of the year coming up soon and a new set coming along with it, it is important to understand not just which cards are impactful, but also why they are impactful, so you can best prepare yourself to use them or at least to face them when the time comes. With a set as good as Paldea Evolved, where even the “bad” cards are decent, the format is going to be shaken up in ways unlike anything we have ever seen, and I personally am very excited to see everything unfold at the North America International Championship.

With that, this article draws to a close. I hope you enjoyed reading my thoughts on the new cards in this set, as I think the impact of the new cards is something which cannot be understated. As always, if you have any questions please reach out in the Subscriber’s Hideout, on Twitter (@ICheville), or on Facebook (Zaya Lee).

Until next time!

P.S. In Milwaukee I got my invitation to the World Championship! I hope to see some of our readers there!

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