The Very Best? – What 151 Adds to Standard
Hello PokeBeach readers! Isaiah here, and I am happy to be writing another article for you all! Last time, I talked a lot about one of my favorite decks in the current Standard format, [card name=”Mew VMAX” set=”Fusion Strike” no=”114″ c=”name”][/card]. In that article, I talked a lot about not just the deck’s position in the current format and how it was able to see success at the 2023 World Championships, but also about possible changes to the deck going forward.
[cardimg name=”Charizard ex” set=”Obsidian Flames” no=”223″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]
Around the time of the release of that article, the Pittsburgh Regional Championship took place, which included a peak placement of Top 4 for Mew VMAX. In addition, I personally was able to get 41st with the deck in Pittsburgh, and I later used a nearly identical deck list to win a League Cup. For a long time, I had sort of written off Mew VMAX as a mediocre deck, but after its recent success in the hands of both myself and others, I am confident that the deck is certainly going to continue to be a top contender in the Standard format.
One of the biggest threats to Mew VMAX, though, is [card name=”Charizard ex” set=”Obsidian Flames” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card], the face card of the Obsidian Flames expansion. In Pittsburgh, this deck did not see much success, putting up a few okay results, but nothing outstanding, however, at the recent Special Event in Barcelona, the story would prove to be extremely different… Charizard ex ended up being not just one of the most popular decks on Day 1, but also one of the most popular decks on Day 2 of the event, including an astounding Top 4 finish from a Lost Zone variant of Charizard ex. This spike in success certainly begs the question; if Charizard ex might actually be a true meta threat or if this may have been a fluke. Additionally, it asks the question of whether Mew VMAX will be able to continue being a viable archetype in Standard if Charizard ex is going to be so popular. This question becomes especially important as we approach the Peoria Regional Championship in a few weeks, as it is going to be the first major event with the newly released 151 expansion legal. This set does a surprising amount for not only Charizard ex, but the format as a whole, so let’s take a look at some of the most impactful cards.
The Highlights of 151
Mew ex
When you mention the release of 151, the first card that comes to most peoples’ minds is certainly Mew ex, and for a good reason. It has been quite some time since we got a support Pokemon that also was able to double as an attacking option, but Mew ex is excellent in both roles. At first glance, the card’s base stats are appealing enough. 180 HP, while not a lot, is better than some of the more frail options we have had in the past (even as recently as [card name=”Squawkabilly ex” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”169″ c=”name”][/card] and its 160 HP). As a Psychic-type, it does benefit from cards like [card name=”Fog Crystal” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”140″ c=”name”][/card], which is a nice perk, as well as making it a possible target for [card name=”Gardevoir ex” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”86″ c=”name”][/card]’s Psychic Embrace (which is something that I will talk about more shortly). The beginning of this card’s true strength, however, is its Retreat Cost, or rather, its lack thereof. In the current format, there is a severe shortage of Pokemon with no Retreat Cost, with most of the most notable options either being too frail (like [card name=”Cleffa” set=”Obsidian Flames” no=”80″ c=”name”][/card]), too resource intensive (like [card name=”Pidgeot ex” set=”Obsidian Flames” no=”164″ c=”name”][/card]), or otherwise completely useless (like [card name=”Flying Pikachu V” set=”Celebrations” no=”6″ c=”name”][/card] outside of [card name=”Miraidon ex” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”81″ c=”name”][/card] decks). In the case of Mew ex, though, the card has free retreat on top of an incredible Ability and attack, which are sure to make it one of the best cards in the Standard format, at least until something replaces it… if something ever does.
Speaking of Mew ex’s Ability and attack, it is important that we address both of them. First, Mew ex’s Ability, called Restart, allows you to simply draw cards until you have three cards in your hand once per turn. With an identical ability to the iconic [card name=”Oranguru” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”113″ c=”name”][/card], Mew ex is already set up for success. The ability to refill the hand in a way similar to what [card name=”Bibarel” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”121″ c=”name”][/card] can provide, but on a Basic Pokemon is incredibly powerful, opening up an extra card or two to use following an [card name=”Iono” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”185″ c=”name”][/card] to an extremely low count, putting you a little closer to a game-winning [card name=”Boss’s Orders (Ghetsis)” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”172″ c=”name”][/card]. Important to note – three is a perfect number – as it is the exact amount that allows you to play an [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”196″ c=”name”][/card] for a [card name=”Lumineon V” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”40″ c=”name”][/card] to search for exactly the Supporter that you need to close out a game strong.
It is already apparent that Mew ex is a strong card, but, in my opinion, the strongest case for Mew ex is made by its attack, Genome Hacking. For three Colorless Energy, Genome Hacking allows you to copy one of your opponent’s Active Pokemon’s attacks. In the past, Foul Play attacks like [card name=”Zoroark” set=”Black and White” no=”71″ c=”name”][/card] have seen their fair share of success, but they have typically been on single-Prize Pokemon that are meant to now be able to trade favorably with massive two Prize Pokemon (maintaining the Zoroark example, it often copied [card name=”Zoroark-GX” set=”Shining Legends” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card] in mirror matches to take a huge one-hit Knock Out). Unfortunately, Mew ex is worth two Prize cards, so it will never be quite that good, but it is at least able to pull off a few interesting plays. Notably, Mew ex will be able to take one-hit Knock Outs on [card name=”Genesect V” set=”Fusion Strike” no=”185″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Miraidon ex” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”81″ c=”name”][/card], and [card name=”Tyranitar V” set=”Battle Styles” no=”97″ c=”name”][/card] with ease, at least offering a free two-Prize Knock Out if anything.
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I think that the biggest strength for Mew ex that many players are overlooking is that the card can copy [card name=”Radiant Greninja” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”46″ c=”name”][/card]’s Moonlight Shuriken! You know, the attack that is probably the single most overpowered and fun-ruining attack in Standard? Yeah, every deck can do it now. Now decks like Gardevoir ex will be forced to bench [card name=”Manaphy” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”41″ c=”name”][/card] in many matchups if they want to use Concealed Cards, or else they may be forced to give up on Concealed Cards completely. Regardless of which choice they make, their setup will likely be greatly hindered. This specific situation is especially important for a deck like [card name=”Lugia VSTAR” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”139″ c=”name”][/card], which is a matchup where Gardevoir ex decks typically need to use Concealed Cards multiple times in addition to their Refinements to try and reach for big one-hit Knock Outs in the early game. Because of the new threat of Genome Hacking copying Moonlight Shuriken, Gardevoir ex decks may be forced to either lose two [card name=”Kirlia” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”68″ c=”name”][/card] while the opponent takes two Prize cards for little resource investment, bench a Manaphy which clogs up the bench and inhibits their ability to stream attackers, or they may be forced to miss the one-hit Knock Out entirely.
Regardless of which of these situations arises, there is a guarantee of a good outcome for the Lugia VSTAR player, likely leading to a swift victory in an otherwise troubling matchup. While the specifics of how good this card is going to be are a bit up in the air until we have been able to see the card in action at some major events, it is certainly easy to say that this card is going to be the strongest card in this set by far.
Charmander
In a unique complete flip from the Mew ex which was a complicated card with a variety of incredible attributes, Charmander finds itself on this list of powerful cards from 151 because it is the only Charmander in the entire Standard format with 70 HP. That’s it. No incredible new attacks, no free Retreat, just 10 more HP. This 10 HP difference, however, is absolutely massive! Previously, one of the biggest issues for [card name=”Charizard ex” set=”Obsidian Flames” no=”125″ c=”name”][/card] was that [card name=”Sableye” set=”Lost Origin” no=”70″ c=”name”][/card] could easily Knock Out two Charmander at once if you had not been able to evolve them yet, but now Lost Zone decks are no longer capable of taking an easy Knock Out on both Charmander that you put into play, meaning that you have a much higher chance of getting to evolve into a Charizard ex, which generally means that you are able to be a bulky enough attacker that you are no longer threatened by most of the threats that a Lost Zone deck is able to throw at you. This is especially important for any Charizard ex / Pidgeot ex decks, as [card name=”Pidgey” set=”Obsidian Flames” no=”162″ c=”name”][/card] also only has 60 HP, so now Sableye has to choose one Pokemon to Knock Out rather than being able to ever Knock Out two at once (unless they play [card name=”Hawlucha” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”118″ c=”name”][/card]).
Cycling Road
One interesting card that I do not think I see enough people talking about is Cycling Road. While this card certainly is not an end-all broken Stadium card that should be the set’s main focus card, the card has a lot of valuable utility in this current format. Most notably, [card name=”Gardevoir ex” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”86″ c=”name”][/card] decks can use the card to get one more Energy closer to taking a critical Knock Out in the early stages of the game. Unfortunately, the card does require that you discard Basic Energy, meaning that you cannot discard [card name=”Reversal Energy” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”192″ c=”name”][/card] in games where it has become useless, but it also means that the card has one-sided benefits against decks like Lugia VSTAR which are completely unable to use the Stadium’s effect.
Antique Helix Fossil
One somewhat obscure card that I think is being overlooked is Antique Helix Fossil. All of the the fossils in 151 were given unique Abilities, an aspect that has not been included on fossils since the Diamond and Pearl era, which ended in 2010. While Antique Dome Fossil and Antique Old Amber each only have Abilities that protect themselves, Antique Helix Fossil has the extremely unique and powerful effect of denying the opponent from playing Stadium cards from their hand. While this may seem mediocre at first, it is important to note that it can lock [card name=”Path to the Peak” set=”Chilling Reign” no=”148″ c=”name”][/card] in play, which is sure to have its uses.
Personally, I am somewhat interested in trying this card in [card name=”Mew VMAX” set=”Fusion Strike” no=”114″ c=”name”][/card] decks with Path to the Peak because you can put down a Path to the Peak on the first turn, pair it with a [card name=”Judge” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”176″ c=”name”][/card], and lock the Path to the Peak in play with Antique Helix Fossil, dramatically stunting the ability for decks like [card name=”Lugia VSTAR” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”139″ c=”name”][/card] to play the game. It also is interesting in the later stages of the game against [card name=”Gardevoir ex” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”86″ c=”name”][/card] decks because you can Psychic Leap into it with a Path to the Peak in play, forcing the opponent to find [card name=”Boss’s Orders (Ghetsis)” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”172″ c=”name”][/card], a way to bump the Stadium, and the attacker to take a Knock Out on that turn. Not only that, but in the matchups that you do not need to use its Ability, the card is a pseudo [card name=”Switch” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”194″ c=”name”][/card], as you can bench it, retreat into it, discard it from play, and bring Mew VMAX back active for the use of Techno Blast. In addition, if you do not need to use it, it is considered an Item card, so you are allowed to discard it with the effect of [card name=”Cram-o-matic” set=”Fusion Strike” no=”229″ c=”name”][/card]. While I am not super sure if this card is going to be great, I think the card is an interesting option to have in the format that fills a unique role in one of the best decks in the game right now.
Alakazam ex
One of the big highlight cards of the 151 expansion was the return of Kadabra to the Pokemon TCG, a Pokemon that had not been seen since Skyridge in 2003. While Kadabra itself is just another filler Stage 1, the return of a Stage 2 Alakazam card, which we had not seen since the Diamond and Pearl era, did not disappoint. Alakazam ex‘s Dimensional Hand attack is one of the most unique attacks that has ever been printed on a Pokemon card. For two Psychic Energy, it does 120 damage, which certainly feels quite mediocre, but the effect that allows it to attack from the Bench is what makes it interesting. Yes, you read that right, Alakazam ex can attack while on the Bench. I am extremely excited to see what this card is able to do once it finally comes out, but I, unfortunately, do not expect it to be particularly good.
When it was first announced, there was a lot of hype surrounding the card as an answer to Lost Zone decks, since you can hide behind a [card name=”Klefki” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”96″ c=”name”][/card] while you Knock Out every Pokemon in their deck. In the time since then, however, Lost Zone decks have become a much smaller part of the format than they were initially anticipated to be, so the value of doing this has gone down dramatically. That is not to say that the card is going to be completely unplayable or anything. The existence of [card name=”Mimikyu” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”97″ c=”name”][/card] as a wall will likely prove to be a decent option. Additionally, there could be some use cases for locking Path to the Peak in play with Antique Helix Fossil while repeatedly swinging for 120 damage every turn. Regardless of this, none of these options seem to be incredibly broken, but they could lead to Alakzam ex seeing some success.
Weaker Cards
While 151 has several strong cards like I just talked about, there are also some cards that I do not expect to see as huge mainstays in the meta, but they could see some random success.
Arbok ex
Shortly before the Covid-19 pandemic, [card name=”Trevenant and Dusknoir-GX” set=”Sun and Moon Black Star Promos” no=”SM217″ c=”name”][/card] emerged as a powerful hand lock option in the Expanded format, completely dominating the last Regional Championship held in the format before events were shut down. Arbok ex is the modern-day reincarnation of this powerful card, allowing you to rip two cards out of your opponent’s hand while doing 150 damage, but unlike Trevenant and Dusknoir-GX, Arbok ex does not have [card name=”Gengar and Mimikyu-GX” set=”Team Up” no=”53″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Ace Trainer” set=”Ancient Origins” no=”69″ c=”name”][/card], and [card name=”Garbodor” set=”BREAKpoint” no=”57″ c=”name”][/card] to help boost its hand locking power. While this card will likely see some success at some point, I do not expect it to see much.
Wigglytuff ex
A remarkable number of players have been talking about this card as some sort of incredible powerhouse in the 151 format, but I honestly do not get the hype. The Pokemon is able to be incredibly bulky, boasting an astounding 350 HP while it has a Special Energy on it, and thanks to [card name=”Wigglytuff” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”84″ c=”name”][/card] it can easily be powered up at a moment’s notice, but the card’s damage output is extremely lackluster, struggling to hit any meaningful numbers whatsoever. A part of me hopes that I am wrong, as I do think that the idea of the deck is somewhat cool, but I am not optimistic that Wigglytuff ex will be much more than a bulk ex in a few months.
Giovanni’s Charisma
This card is one of the most fascinating cards in the new set, and I am unsure of how to feel about it. In general, I do not think that control decks are that good in Pokemon currently. Players like Sander Wojcik somehow are able to make them consistently work, but they are few and far between. With that said, I do think that Giovanni’s Charisma is one of the most interesting control tools in a while.
One of the biggest use cases for it is powering up a [card name=”Bouffalant” set=”Lost Origin” no=”148″ c=”name”][/card] in one turn, often completely crippling attackers that the opponent may be able to pull together while trying to survive your other control tools. Realistically, this card will probably see little to no play, but there is certainly a chance that it will find its footing and put up some strong results down the road.
Conclusion
With the release of 151 finally upon us, we finally are able to catch up to the format that Japan has been playing with for a few months now, opening up a wealth of new possibilities both with improvements to old strategies and the emergence of a few new ones. It is somewhat difficult to properly evaluate the impact that this set is going to have on the format, but if there is one thing that is certain, it is that Mew ex is about to completely change the game, and hopefully, it is for the better.
With that, this article draws to a close. I personally am so excited to finally be able to try out some of the new cards in 151 and I hope that this article made you feel the same way about the expansion as I do. As always, if you have questions, please reach out in the Subscriber’s Hideout, on Twitter/X (@ICheville), or on Facebook (Zaya Lee).
Until next time!
– Isaiah
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