New Pokemon TCG Set “Sword & Shield” Set List Analysis

Welcome back PoTown Store readers to another article! Here today, we are going to be talking about all the newest Pokemon TCG cards to come out of the recently leaked, Sword & Shield Base Set. The newest form of powerful Pokemon is Pokemon V. Pokemon V are similar to Pokemon EX from the XY series as they don’t have a GX attack, but they have higher HP and can once again, evolve. Except like Pokemon GX, they don’t evolve from regular Basic Pokemon, they are the Basic Pokemon. The Pokemon V can sometimes evolve into Pokemon VMAX, which is like the Gignatamax evolution in the Sword & Shield video games. Pokemon VMAX are still somewhat a mystery in how they work, but for what we know right now they evolve from Pokemon V, gain massive HP, and are worth three prizes just like Pokemon TAG TEAM GX. The Pokemon VMAX in the set so far include Lapras VMAX, Stonjouner VMAX, Snorlax VMAX, and Morpeko VMAX. All of the VMAX Pokemon get over 300 HP which has only been seen on the Magikarp & Wailord GX TAG TEAM that came out around last year. The set also has quite a lot of good Trainer Cards, and non Pokemon V cards that I think will have a huge impact on the standard format. Be sure to check back here on the Po Town Store after Sword & Shield releases sometime in 2020 to get some Sword & Shield Pokemon TCG codes to get started with the new series! With that being said, I compiled a list of the top 15 new cards from the set that I expect to be great going into next format. 

 

This new supporter card is similar to the effect of Judge, but it gives you a better advantage in cards. It will be played in decks that played Judge as a replacement, and possibly some other decks depending on its specific usage against popular matchups. 

This legendary Pokemon V is a great card that is being introduced into the Standard and Expanded card pool because of its fantastic ability. It allows you to not only potentially accelerate energy, but also draw some extra cards before your turn ends. The new Metal acceleration item card also makes this card great because of its ability to attack faster.

This new tool card when paired with VMAX Pokemon can make it really hard for your opponent to ever get a one hit knockout. This card will be played in VMAX decks, and any other decks that could use the extra 30 HP. 

Similar to the infamous “Junk Hunt” Sableye, Sableye V’s first attack can bring back any trainer from your discard pile, making it not as strong, but still pretty good. This card will find someway to become relevant in the standard format because of its strong potential to constantly abuse powerful trainer cards. 

This card in combination with “Frosmoth” can not only hit big numbers, but also survive huge hits with its massive 320 HP. This card with other cards like Frosmoth and all the new powerful search options will be one of the best decks coming into the standard format. 

 

This card is the only way to add damage in the standard format, and 10 damage can be relevant in a lot of ways. I expect this card to see some play, but we’ll have to wait and see how relevant 10 extra damage can be.

This card is very similar to Rainbow Energy, but this is just strictly better as you don’t have to take 10 damage, and you also get the opportunity to discard a card from your hand. In decks like Mewtwo & Mew GX and other decks that already abuse Rainbow Energy, this card will replace it. I really like this new Special Energy card and will definitely be picking up a playset. 

 

This fighting type VMAX Pokemon is going to be very effective in the Pokemon TCG as it has 330 HP, and it’s “Stone Gift” attack is great. Being able to not only heal 120 damage, but also accelerate energy is very good. And because Stonjouner VMAX has such high HP, it can be very hard to knockout with consistent healing. 

The newest variation of specific energy acceleration went into the favor of metal Pokemon in this new Pokemon TCG series. This item card gives all Metal Pokemon a big advantage coming into both formats, and all metal Pokemon are lucky to have this card.

Recovery cards are finally back in the standard format, and this is looking like the best one yet. Similar to the popular Super Rod item card, Fishing Rod allows you to put back 2 of each, instead of a mixture between the 2. This will make deck building change as people can rely on reusing Pokemon and Basic energies again. 

This Pokemon has an ability similar to Blastoise’s infamous Deluge ability that allows you to attach as many water energies as you’d like per turn. This is exactly what Water Pokemon needed in the TCG as it makes a lot of unforeseen Water Type Pokemon good. I expect to see this card be very very good going into the new standard format. 

 

Cinccino has an amazing ability that has been seen before on a Pokemon that is one of the best Pokemon cards ever printed in Zoroark GX. Cinccino has brought back “Trade” in the form of “Thrifty” to give the format a new way of fantastic draw power. This card will most likely replace Pidgeotto in standard, as well as create a lot of new archetypes viable. I am very excited for this card as Zoroark GX is one of my favorite cards ever printed.

 

Another amazing search card in the new set allows you to search for an evolution Pokemon, similar to the popular Evosoda card from previous formats. This card will be played a lot in standard in evolution decks as it is the best way to search for them.

The newest way to search Pokemon in Quick Ball replaces Ultra Ball in a different fashion as you can only search basics, but it is still very effective. Having other search options besides Pokemon Communication and Mysterious Treasure that can search for non GX Pokemon is a great move in the right direction for the TCG. I will expect this to be played as a 4 of in every deck that can play it.  

This is reminiscent of the Professor Sycamore and Professor Juniper supporter cards which have dominated as the top supporters in all formats. Being able to discard and draw 7 fresh cards is one of the best ways in the game to go through your deck at a fast pace. This card coming back into standard is gonna make a lot of decks more consistent, therefore making it the best card to come out of Sword & Shield base. 

 

Here is an early standard format list including Sword & Shield that I believe will have a lot of potential. It includes the new Frosmoth and Lapras VMAX Pokemon as the main ways to dish out knockouts, while also abusing the powerful new search cards and the Professor’s Research 

draw supporter. (the “* “symbol next to the cards in the list mean they are a part of the Sword & Shield set)

4 Jirachi TEU

4 Snom*

3 Frosmoth*

3 Lapras V*

2 Lapras VMAX*

1 Keldeo V*

1 Volcanion Prism FLI

4 Professor’s Research*

4 Cynthia

2 Mallow & Lana

4 Evolution Incense*

4 Quick Ball*

3 Energy Retrieval*

2 Switch

2 Escape Board

1 Fishing Rod*

4 Viridian Forest 

12 Basic Water Energy

The Sword & Shield base set is looking like one of the healthiest Pokemon TCG sets to date with its very consistent trainer cards in Professor’s Research, Quick Ball, and Evolution Incense. These will make decks set up a lot more often and eliminate some early inconsistencies the first two formats we’ve played this year. Also, the inclusion of VMAX Pokemon may seem like another step into power creep, but they aren’t too overly powerful like TAG TEAM GX Pokemon were. I think this is a good step in the direction most of us have wanted Pokemon to take for a long time. I for one am very excited for this new set and I cannot wait to play the new cards. I am also very excited to play these cards on the Pokemon TCG Online as the new set looks like a lot of fun. 

Thank you all for reading another article right here on the Po Town Store! If you ever need any great Pokemon TCG Online products, we have many great and reliable prices right here on the website. Feel free to explore the website for anything you may need to improve your experience with the Pokemon TCG Online. I’ll catch you all next time and have a great holiday season.