Roaring Moon Turbo — Still Good Like the Old Times

Hello, PokeBeach readers! Gabriel Semedo here with another Pokemon TCG article. This time, I’m going to discuss Turbo [card name=”Roaring Moon” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”109″ c=”name”][/card], explaining in detail why it’s a good choice right now and why it might outperform Roaring Moon baby-focused decks like Roaring [card name=”Dudunsparce” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”129″ c=”name”][/card] and Ancient Box.

The deck that dominated EUIC was [card name=”Charizard ex” set=”Paldean Fates” no=”234″ c=”name”][/card], then it proved to be unbeatable in the following Regional Championships. But now the deck seems to have taken a step down, with [card name=”Chien-Pao ex” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”261″ c=”name”][/card]  / [card name=”Baxcalibur” set=”Paldean Fates” no=”130″ c=”name”][/card] being the highlight of the Indianapolis Regionals, making four appearances in the Top 8. I believe this is mainly because players have learned to play against Charizard ex and have also thoroughly analyzed the metagame.

For example, why did Chien-Pao perform poorly at EUIC and so well at Indianapolis? Simple metagame changes can make all the difference, like most Charizard players exchanging [card name=”Maximum Belt” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”154″ c=”name”][/card] for [card name=”Prime Catcher” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”157″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Hero’s Cape” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”152″ c=”name”][/card], indirectly improving the matchup a little. They shifted the focus away from Chien-Pao ex and concentrated everything on Charizard ex, paving the way for Chien-Pao to perform even better to its potential. This alone could be one of several factors contributing to the flow of the metagame.

The idea of today’s article is to present a deck that lies somewhat outside the universe of the already known metagame and can go head-to-head against the best decks. Among all the decks I tested in the new format, this one caught my attention from the start because it already existed and performed well before the Standard format rotation. Now it has lost important cards in the rotation but gained others in Temporal Forces, which keeps the deck similar to its previous iteration, so why not give it a shot?

Turbo Roaring Moon Remains Tier 1, Everybody Is Sleeping On It

One of the aspects that particularly caught my attention in this new Standard format is the notable rise of Roaring Moon. It unquestionably ascended to Tier 1 status, becoming one of the most frequently utilized decks in recent major tournaments and taking center stage at the Goiania Regional Championships, where I competed months ago.

Certainly, maintaining the same aggressive characteristics of the deck will prove impossible. However, it is feasible to adapt the deck list effectively, embracing a slower and more rhythmic style of play. This involves transitioning between single-Prize and double-Prize Pokemon, thereby complicating the opponent’s efforts to pick up their Prize cards. By doing so, you have more game time to power up your attackers, and the revised deck list enables you to endure longer in matches with quality.

[premium]

[decklist name=”Roaring Moon ex” amt=”60″ caption=”” cname=”Mew ex” set=”151″ no=”151″][pokemon amt=”12″]4x [card name=”Roaring Moon” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”109″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Roaring Moon ex” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”124″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]1x [card name=”Brute Bonnet” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”123″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Radiant Greninja” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”46″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Squawkabilly ex” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”169″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]2x [card name=”Mew ex” set=”151″ no=”151″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card][/pokemon][trainers amt=”39″]4x [card name=”Professor Sada’s Vitality” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”170″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]2x [card name=”Professor’s Research” set=”Sword and Shield” no=”201″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Iono” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”185″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Boss’s Orders” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”154″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]4x [card name=”Nest Ball” set=”Sun and Moon” no=”123″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Earthen Vessel” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”163″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]4x [card name=”Dark Patch” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”139″ c=”deck2″ amt=”4″][/card]3x [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Dark Explorers” no=”102″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Energy Switch” set=”Black and White” no=”94″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”Pokémon Catcher” set=”Emerging Powers” no=”95″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card]2x [card name=”Switch Cart” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”154″ c=”deck2″ amt=”2″][/card]1x [card name=”Pal Pad” set=”Ultra Prism” no=”132″ c=”deck2″ amt=”1″][/card]1x [card name=”Prime Catcher” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”157″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”1″][/card]3x [card name=”Ancient Booster Energy Capsule” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”159″ c=”deck2″ divide=”yes” amt=”3″][/card]3x [card name=”PokéStop” set=”Pokemon GO” no=”68″ c=”deck2″ amt=”3″][/card][/trainers][energy amt=”9″]9x [card name=”Darkness Energy” set=”Black and White” no=”111″ c=”deck2″ amt=”9″][/card][/energy][/decklist] 

Card Explanation

Baby Roaring Moon Will Do the Hard Work

[cardimg name=”Roaring Moon” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”109″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

This Pokemon positively surprised me in so many ways, I had no option but to play four copies of [card name=”Roaring Moon” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”109″ c=”name”][/card]. Starting the game with baby Roaring Moon is always very good as 140 HP for a single-Prize Pokemon brings a series of benefits. For instance, it can withstand attacks from [card name=”Cramorant” set=”Lost Origin” no=”50″ c=”name”][/card] or [card name=”Sableye” set=”Lost Origin” no=”70″ c=”name”][/card] in matchups against Lost Box, or endure an Amp You Very Much from [card name=”Iron Hands ex” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”223″ c=”name”][/card] in the matchup against [card name=”Chien-Pao ex” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”261″ c=”name”][/card]. Another crucial point is that its attack costs only two Darkness Energy and deals a base of 70 damage, with the potential to escalate to 220 damage by the game’s end.

An important consideration is that the Roaring Moon deck, as we know it, lost [card name=”Galarian Moltres V” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”TG20″ c=”name”][/card], resulting in the loss of a significant Energy accelerator, a formidable attacker, and a Pokemon that you could attach [card name=”Forest Seal Stone” set=”Silver Tempest” no=”156″ c=”name”][/card] to. All these factors previously contributed to the explosiveness and speed of the old deck list. With baby Roaring Moon, the objective is to fill these spaces with potent single-Prize attackers that can be easily powered up, providing ample time to establish a stronger setup. The strategy revolves around starting the game with baby Roaring Moon and prolonging their presence as much as possible. However, if it becomes apparent that a more aggressive approach is necessary, then adapting the playing style to utilize [card name=”Roaring Moon ex” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”251″ c=”name”][/card] for more frequent attacks is advisable.

I always considered the matchups against Lost Box with strong Basic Pokemon to be bad for the old Roaring Moon decks, but now with four copies of baby Roaring Moon I believe the matchup has become favorable, as Lost Box has big problems Knocking Out several Roaring Moon. To make matters even worse will only receive one Prize for each Knock Out.

In other matchups like [card name=”Charizard ex” set=”Paldean Fates” no=”234″ c=”name”][/card], Roaring Moon does the job of Knocking Out all of their Basic Pokemon like [card name=”Charmander” set=”Obsidian Flames” no=”26″ c=”name”][/card], [card name=”Pidgey” set=”151″ no=”16″ c=”name”][/card] (or [card name=”Bidoof” set=”Crown Zenith” no=”111″ c=”name”][/card] depending on the variant), but it also helps with the taking a Knocking Out against Charizard ex with two attacks. If Roaring Moon’s Vengeance Fletching attack does at least 110 damage, then it will be possible to immediately KO Charizard ex using Roaring Moon ex’s Calamity Storm attack for 220 damage.

The synergy between baby Roaring Moon and Roaring Moon ex is generally excellent, providing flexibility to adapt to various matchups and game situations. Now, you can diversify the attackers and hinder your opponent’s progress in picking up Prizes, forcing them to Knock Out Pokemon they’d prefer not to target. Previously, it was common for the opponent to win the game with just three good attacks, as the entire deck consisted of Pokemon ex or Pokemon V with up to 230 HP.

Roaring Moon ex Is Still the King

What sets my personal success with this deck apart from an Ancient Box deck focused solely on single-Prize Pokemon is precisely the option of playing with multiple copies of Roaring Moon whenever I deem it necessary. Of course, in an ideal world, using only single-Prize Pokemon is preferable and even enjoyable, yet I believe it is unsustainable to rely solely on them and still achieve the same consistency and explosiveness typically attained by Pokemon ex. The dynamic between baby Roaring Moon and Roaring Moon ex reminded me somewhat of the synergy between baby [card name=”Yveltal” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY06″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Yveltal-EX” set=”XY Black Star Promos” no=”XY08″ c=”name”][/card], 10 years ago. Essentially, you progress through the game with Roaring Moon Baby, and when necessary, Roaring Moon ex emerges to secure the more challenging Knock Outs.

While the focus in matchups against decks centered on single-Prize Pokemon such as Ancient Box and Lost Box revolves around baby Roaring Moon, in matchups against Future Box and Chien-Pao ex, the emphasis shifts to playing Roaring Moon ex and exchanging Knock Outs with your opponent whenever they have a Pokemon ex on the field.

Brute Bonnet Fixes the Math for Roaring Moon ex

There’s an annoying issue with Roaring Moon ex, namely, its “only” dealing 220 damage with its Calamity Storm attack, which means that Pokemon with 230 HP in the format hold a significant advantage over it. For instance, Iron Hands ex, a 230 HP Pokemon, is present in several decks in the format, including now in Temporal Forces, where it has its own deck utilizing three to four copies of this Pokemon. [card name=”Gouging Fire ex” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”204″ c=”name”][/card] is another example gaining popularity. Essentially, if you aim to Knock Out these Pokemon, you’ll need to utilize the Frenzied Gouging attack and deal 200 damage to yourself, which is terrible and will likely result in your defeat.

To address this significant issue, I opted to include a copy of [card name=”Brute Bonnet” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”207″ c=”name”][/card]. With more and more Basic Pokemon with 230 HP present in the metagame, Roaring Moon needs to Knock Out these Pokemon using its Calamity Storm attack. It’s worth noting that if Iron Hands ex is Knocked Out by Poison, The Pokemon Tool [card name=”Heavy Baton” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”151″ c=”name”][/card] won’t activate, potentially shifting the matchup completely in your favor.

In addition to adjusting Roaring Moon ex’s damage output, Brute Bonnet’s Ability, Toxic Powder, is always welcome, mainly because you can utilize it every turn (including the first turn if you start the game), and extra damage always proves beneficial, even if it’s occasionally not very relevant. While baby Roaring Moon serves as a superior attacker, Brute Bonnet can also be useful as another single-Prize attacker, as its 120 damage attack for three Energy is very easy to execute with [card name=”Professor Sada’s Vitality” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”256″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Dark Patch” set=”Lost Origin” no=”216″ c=”name”][/card].

Radiant Greninja Is Too Important for the Deck

The departure of Galarian Moltres V from the format was greatly felt by [card name=”Roaring Moon” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”109″ c=”name”][/card], but that alone wasn’t enough to retire the deck. However, if [card name=”Radiant Greninja” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”46″ c=”name”][/card] were to be rotated, I wouldn’t be able to say the same. The value that Radiant Greninja brings to the deck is immense, as it is a Pokemon that offers significant draw power and discards Darkness Energy to enable the use of Professor Sada’s Vitality and Dark Patch.

I really liked using two copies of Water Energy to power up attacks with Radiant Greninja, and I always believed that two Water Energy were sufficient to execute attacks without disrupting the consistency of Roaring Moon ex. However, now these two Water Energy have a significant impact, primarily because baby Roaring Moon exclusively attacks with Darkness Energy, failing an attack because of Energy is a problem that can be completely avoided.

The only exception where using Water Energy in the deck list would be justified is if we were to include [card name=”Walking Wake ex” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”205″ c=”name”][/card]. However, this addition would necessitate other changes to the list to consistently include this Pokemon, and I currently see no need to incorporate it. Perhaps in the future.

Squawkabilly Gets Riskier Every New Set, Still Worth It

[cardimg name=”Squawkabilly ex” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”264″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

This Pokemon is the fourth generation of [card name=”Shaymin-EX” set=”Roaring Skies” no=”106″ c=”name”][/card], but over time, this Pokémon’s Ability has undergone a series of nerfs. Shaymin EX could draw until you had six cards in your hand, and you could use it as many times as you wanted, whenever you wanted. Then [card name=”Dedenne-GX” set=”Unbroken Bonds” no=”195″ c=”name”][/card] appeared, which can provide almost the same effect, but now you discard your entire hand, and the difference is that you can only use it once per turn. Then [card name=”Crobat V” set=”Lost Origin” no=”TG20″ c=”name”][/card] arrived, with the same Ability as Shaymin EX, but it can only be used once per turn. And finally, we now have [card name=”Squawkabilly ex” set=”Paldean Fates” no=”223″ c=”name”][/card], which has the same Ability as Dedenne-GX, but you can only use it once per game, and it must be on the first turn. Even after so many adjustments, Squawkabilly ex’s Ability is good and works for decks that can be aggressive.

I’ve been using Squawkabilly ex much less than I did in Roaring Moon pre-rotation, mainly because now it’s possible to play with single-Prize Pokemon without needing to rely on hitting a Dark Patch and [card name=”Energy Switch” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”173″ c=”name”][/card] combo to attack. Just finding Professor Sada’s Vitality or Dark Patch, and baby Roaring Moon is ready to attack.

Despite everything, Squawkabilly ex is necessary because with it, you have a much higher probability of being able to attack on the first turn, especially with [card name=”Roaring Moon ex” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”251″ c=”name”][/card]. If the opponent starts the game and passes the turn with Chien-Pao ex or [card name=”Rotom V” set=”Lost Origin” no=”177″ c=”name”][/card] in the Active Spot, there is a possibility of taking a Knock Out with Roaring Moon ex, opening up a good advantage in the match.

Mew ex Is a Draw Engine and a Giratina VSTAR Counter

This Pokemon can draw a lot of cards in this Roaring Moon deck because it is easy to discard cards from your hand, especially with the help of [card name=”Ultra Ball” set=”Brilliant Stars” no=”186″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Earthen Vessel” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”163″ c=”name”][/card]. Starting with [card name=”Mew ex” set=”Paldean Fates” no=”232″ c=”name”][/card] isn’t all bad either, as its free Retreat Cost provides an easy option to switch into Roaring Moon to attack. The reason I wanted a second copy of Mew ex is that it’s common to end up losing a Mew ex while using [card name=”Professor’s Research” set=”Celebrations” no=”23″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”PokéStop” set=”Pokemon GO” no=”68″ c=”name”][/card]. Another issue is that if I have to put Mew ex onto the Bench and the opponent Knocks it Out, there’s no [card name=”Super Rod” set=”Paldea Evolved” no=”276″ c=”name”][/card] to retrieve it, and this Pokemon will be sorely missed later in the game. Mew ex is so valuable in the end that sometimes you want to put both onto the Bench because you can use its Ability twice in the same turn. If my opponent Knocks Out one of them and plays [card name=”Roxanne” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”188″ c=”name”][/card], I’ll still have a Mew ex on the field to get rid of a bad hand and set up a winning play.

Galarian Moltres V Is Gone, so Professor Sada’s Vitality Is Mandatory

The main reason why it is not possible to play as aggressively with Roaring Moon ex as before is because of Galarian Moltres V, which, in addition to Dark Patch, offers Energy acceleration along with Energy Switch without needing to use a Supporter. Deck lists previously only included two copies of Professor Sada’s Vitality, as theoretically, you only needed to use one of these Supporter cards per game, which was more than enough. Now, without this important resource, it will be necessary to use two or three Professor Sada’s Vitality per game to maintain the same amount of Energy on the board.

Using Professor Sada’s Vitality already requires a more rhythmic pace, which is perfect with baby Roaring Moon, promoting a slower game focused on claiming one Prize at a time, while also offering one Prize at a time to the opponent. Remember to play the best draw Supporter when you can. Even with a focus on Professor Sada’s Vitality, there will be turns when you just want to draw cards and adjust your strategy for the next turn.

Iono Can Save Lost Games

I see many Roaring Moon lists that prefer not to use [card name=”Iono” set=”Paldean Fates” no=”237″ c=”name”][/card] to focus even more on the deck’s aggressive strategy, but I believe it’s not worth it. Because of a simple Iono, I managed to win several games in which, if I didn’t disrupt my opponent’s hand, it would have been another defeat. Even more so in this deck list, which uses [card name=”Pal Pad” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”182″ c=”name”][/card] to return to Iono back into the deck if it ends up being discarded.

Roaring Moon Works Better With Catchers

It’s hard to find a free Supporter turn to use [card name=”Boss’s Orders” set=”Rebel Clash” no=”189″ c=”name”][/card] since the priority is to use [card name=”Professor Sada’s Vitality” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”256″ c=”name”][/card] or Professor’s Research to set up your Pokemon. Because of this, [card name=”Pokémon Catcher” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”187″ c=”name”][/card] was a huge success in the past Standard format, and I see no reason not to continue using this card in the new format. This is especially true with the arrival of [card name=”Prime Catcher” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”157″ c=”name”][/card], which perfectly fulfills the deck’s need to pull the opponent’s Pokemon using Item cards.

I decided to include only three copies of Pokemon Catcher because now I rely on the strength of Prime Catcher to guarantee at least one of the opponent’s Pokemon to their Active Spot. Previously, it was possible to use all four Pokemon Catchers and miss all four if you were unlucky.

Boss’s Orders is still necessary because it is also another guaranteed way to pull an opponent’s Pokemon to their Active Spot, especially with Pal Pad to use the Supporter again if necessary. The list currently has less of a need to pull opponent’s Pokemon because now much of the game is driven by baby [card name=”Roaring Moon” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”109″ c=”name”][/card], which is in the Active Spot exchanging attacks and offering your opponent just one Prize.

Pal Pad Fixes the Pokestop Problem a Little Bit

Pokestop is an incredible Stadium, but it can also hurt you a lot if your list is not equipped to mitigate the possible damage that this Stadium can cause. Pal Pad is a way to recover Supporters that are discarded in the process and helps you have more stability in a competitive match. Cards like Iono and Boss’s Orders are mandatory in a competitive Pokemon TCG game, as many of your best plays consist of Knocking Out Pokemon on the opponent’s Bench or disrupting an opponent’s huge hand with the cards needed to win the game.

Battle VIP Pass Is Gone, but It’s Okay

This Item card is another major loss for Roaring Moon, mainly because it is an entirely Basic Pokemon deck, so [card name=”Battle VIP Pass” set=”Fusion Strike” no=”225″ c=”name”][/card] had access to 100% of its Pokémon, and the deck’s strategy consisted of executing many actions on the same turn. Without Battle VIP Pass and Galarian Moltres V, the deck cannot focus as much on the first turn, and therefore the deck’s strength needs to be spread out over other turns.

The most obvious way to replace the absence of the Battle VIP Pass is to use the maximum amount of [card name=”Nest Ball” set=”Scarlet and Violet” no=”255″ c=”name”][/card] and Ultra Ball, but that alone would not be enough. To truly reduce dependency on the Battle VIP Pass, the list not only has the old five attackers, but now includes up to eight attackers. Using four baby Roaring Moon and three [card name=”Roaring Moon ex” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”251″ c=”name”][/card] is a way to rely less on searching for Pokemon since they already come naturally to your hand due to their high quantity. It’s worth remembering that the more Ancient cards in the discard pile (and this includes Ancient Pokemon too), the greater the damage from Roaring Moon, so there’s no problem with adding more copies of Ancient Pokemon, because if they go to the discard pile, it’s more damage.

Earthen Vessel Is Perfect for the Deck

It may seem excessive, but using four copies of Earthen Vessel is an advantage. In addition to being an Ancient card and increasing Roaring Moon’s damage, it helps you discard another Ancient card if necessary to increase Roaring Moon’s potential damage even more. In the first few turns of the game, it is important that baby Roaring Moon manages to hit an average of 140 damage, as this is the average of the single-Prize Pokemon with the most HP in the format.

Dark Patch Lets Everything Go Smoother

If [card name=”Dark Patch” set=”Lost Origin” no=”216″ c=”name”][/card] didn’t exist, this deck could still manage, but then it would be even slower. Thanks to Dark Patch, your turns don’t always need to be perfect, and your Professor Sada’s Vitality doesn’t always need to be for two Energy cards. With Dark Patch, you can even choose between [card name=”Professor’s Research” set=”Celebrations” no=”23″ c=”name”][/card] or Professor Sada’s Vitality and still be able to attack with a Roaring Moon ex out of nowhere.

Switch Cart Solves a Lot of Minor Problems

Nobody talks much about the importance of [card name=”Switch Cart” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”154″ c=”name”][/card], but you often fail to attack in the first turn due to a lack of switching cards. I must confess that I considered putting a third copy of Switch Cart, as there are circumstances where just two copies are not enough, and there are times where two copies are more than enough.

In matchups where I know I really need the Switch Cart, like against Control, I start to see Prime Catcher as a switching option too. In matchups where it’s just necessary to be aggressive, just two copies of Switch Cart are fine.

Energy Switch lets Mew ex attack

[cardimg name=”Mew ex” set=”Paldean Fates” no=”232″ align=”right” c=”none”][/cardimg]

One consequence of the departure of Galarian Moltres V is that Energy Switch would lose much of its usefulness, but when I removed Energy Switch, I realized that it is still necessary. [card name=”Professor Sada’s Vitality” set=”Paradox Rift” no=”256″ c=”name”][/card] puts Energy into different Pokemon, and you need Energy Switch so that both Energy cards get attached to the same Pokemon. Another important point is to move the Energy from a Pokemon with damage to another Pokemon without damage. But the main reason is to be able to attack with Mew ex, as Mew ex’s attack is perfect for Knocking Out [card name=”Giratina VSTAR” set=”Lost Origin” no=”212″ c=”name”][/card] and is also useful for copying the opponent’s [card name=”Radiant Greninja” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”46″ c=”name”][/card]’s attack.

Make Things Harder for Your Opponent With Ancient Booster Energy Capsule

This Pokemon Tool ended up being removed from previous Roaring Moon deck lists, but I believe that in the current list, the Ancient Booster Energy Capsule has been more effective. With this Tool attached, Roaring Moon ex goes to 290 HP and baby Roaring Moon goes to 200 HP. In general, the opponent has greater difficulty achieving Knock Outs, and in some matchups, these Tools can be more impactful than usual.

It is worth remembering that the Ancient Booster Energy Capsule is necessary to activate Brute Bonnet’s Ability and the Tool card, being Ancient, also serves to increase Roaring Moon’s damage when discarded.

Pokestop Is One of the Few Really Good Stadiums of the Format

After [card name=”Path to the Peak” set=”Astral Radiance” no=”213″ c=”name”][/card] was rotated, several other decks started to remove Stadium cards from their lists, as many of them only used Stadiums to be able to remove Path to the Peak. Charizard ex and Lugia VSTAR are decks that you can play without a Stadium card easily nowadays.

Some stadium cards like [card name=”Artazon” set=”Obsidian Flames” no=”229″ c=”name”][/card], which was present in several decks, ended up not being used, as those Stadium cards can also help your opponent. Between using Artazon and helping the opponent or using a Nest Ball and helping only yourself, it’s better to use Nest Ball. However, [card name=”PokéStop” set=”Pokemon GO” no=”68″ c=”name”][/card] is a different case because even if the opponent can use it, they will only have a real benefit if their deck is mostly made up of Item cards; otherwise, they will only throw important resources into the discard pile.

The Roaring Moon list is already made up of a lot of Items, and Roaring Moon ex’s attack requires Stadium cards to deal 220 damage, so it is still mandatory to use stadiums in Roaring Moon.

Be Careful With Your Energy and You Will Be Fine

Nine Darkness Energy was already the number that the pre-rotation lists were using in Roaring Moon ex, so I decided to keep the same amount, and this has worked very well. It is possible to have two to three attackers prepared on the field with this Energy count, which is more than sufficient, as ideally, you have an attacker who will be promoted to the Active Spot and another attacker has to be on the Bench waiting for their turn.

Final Thoughts

I felt compelled to write about [card name=”Roaring Moon” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”109″ c=”name”][/card] because it’s the deck that’s yielding the most victories in my tests, and whenever I achieve considerable success with the same deck, I sense there’s something special about it.

I believe that Roaring Moon can ascend to Tier 1 status in the format as it fulfills all the criteria for strength, consistency, and adaptability to the metagame. As more tournaments are played, it becomes evident that top decks are not producing outstanding results, and I attribute this to opponents’ ability to anticipate and counter their strategies. It’s always possible for opponents to opt to Knock Out [card name=”Dunsparce” set=”Temporal Forces” no=”128″ c=”name”][/card] to prevent the accumulation of Ancient Pokemon in the discard pile, thus disrupting the deck’s consistency. Cards like [card name=”Judge” set=”Paldean Fates” no=”228″ c=”name”][/card] and [card name=”Iono” set=”Paldean Fates” no=”237″ c=”name”][/card] can also pose threats, potentially leaving you without viable attacks if you need to power up a new attacker practically every turn in Ancient Box.