Posted by Ried on 2/3/2020 to
Articles
Hey PoTown readers, Reid back here for another article. As I prepare to go to Collinsville for another expanded regional, I take a look at some of the best and must get cards from the new Sword and Shield set and go over one major rule change for TCG. As the TCG game has upgraded over the years, we now get a look at Pokémon V and VMax for the first time. Similar to old EX days VMax Pokémon evolve from V Pokémon. Like the Gignatamax in the Sword and Shield video game VMax Pokémon gain a massive amount of HP, they are also similar to Tag Team Gx’s as the prize return for knocking out a VMax is 3. The set also comes with a lot of Pokémon that compliment the VMax’s like Frosmoth is the sidekick to Lapras VMax and Cinccino is the accomplice to Snorlax VMax. If you liked to play Zoroark GX in standard or maybe you still enjoy it in expanded, the new Snorlax VMax with Cinccino can be built similar or even different. Stick around for the entire article and get a sneak peak at a Snorlax VMax list in the end (Buy some Sword and Shield TCG codes right here to start getting some awesome new cards). With Sword and Shield going to be legal on February 21st, lets go ahead and look at some of the best cards from the set.
Major Rule Change
While there’s not a lot to say about this the TCG game has taken a turn as no player who goes first is allowed to use a supporter. This one simple rule could change the way the game is played now as the decision to go either first or second gets a lot tougher.
Pokémon Analysis
V and VMax Pokémon have an isufficient amount of HP, for example, Lapras VMax which has 320 HP. They also take a step up as they hit harder than GX Pokémon, for example, Zoroark GX only hit for 120 while Snorlax VMax can hit for 210 with a similar attack. While killing a VMax gives you the same satisfaction of killing a tag team because you get 3 prize cards in return.
1. Lapras VMax (Evolves from Lapras V)


G-Max Pump: 90+ - This attack does 30 Damage for each water energy attached to this Pokémon.
2. Stonjourner VMax (Evolves from Stonjourner V)


Stone Gift - Attach a fighting energy from your hand to one of your Pokémon. Then heal 120 damage from that Pokémon.
Max Rockfall: 200.
3. Snorlax VMax (Evolves from Snorlax V)


G-Max Fall: 60+ - This attack does 30 more damage for each of your benched Pokémon.
4. Sableye V
Ore Search: Put a trainer card from your discard pile into your hand.
Wicked Claws: 10+ This attack does 60 more damage for each damage counter on your opponent's Active Pokémon.
5. Zacian V

(Ability) Intrepid Sword - Once during your turn, you may look at the top 3 cards of your deck and attach any number of metal Energy cards you find there to this Pokémon. Put the other cards into your hand. If you use this Ability, your turn ends.
Brave Blade: 230 During your next turn, this Pokémon can’t attack.
6. Zamazenta V

(Ability) Dauntless Shield - Prevent all damage done to this Pokémon by attacks from your opponents Pokémon VMax.
Assault Tackle: 130 - Discard a special energy from your opponent’s active Pokémon.
7. Frosmoth (Evolves from Snom)

(Ability) Ice Dance - As often as you like during your turn, you may attach a water Energy card from your hand to 1 of your Benched water Pokémon.
8. Oranguru

(Ability) Ape` Wisdom - Once during your turn (before your attack), you may switch a card from your hand with the top card of your deck.
What down: 70
9. Cinccino (Evolves from Minccino)ž

(Ability) Make Do: Once during your turn (before your attack), you may discard a card from your hand. If you do, draw 2 cards.
Energy Assist: 40 damage. Attach a basic Energy card from your discard pile to 1 of your Benched Pokémon.
(Try to pull some of these cards on your PTCGO account as you buy some packs from our website)
Trainer’s Analysis
The Sword and Shield set features some new but very useful trainers. From items to supporters I’ve never seen a set like this before where every trainer card can be used in any deck. Cards like Air Balloon (an even better escape board) help in retreating. The combination of quick ball (find basic Pokémon) and Evolution Incense (find evolution Pokémon). The game gets a lot more consistent since the rotation of Ultra Ball. We also see a familiar supporter as it gets its 3rd different reprint, yet comes with a different name each time around.
1. Evolution Incense:
Search your deck for an Evolution Pokemon, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then, shuffle your deck.
Search your deck for an Evolution Pokemon, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then, shuffle your deck.
2. Fishing Rod:
Shuffle up to 2 Pokemon and up to 2 Basic Energy cards from your discard pile into your deck.
Shuffle up to 2 Pokemon and up to 2 Basic Energy cards from your discard pile into your deck.
3. Rotom Bike:
Draw cards until you have 6 cards in your hand. Your turn ends.
Draw cards until you have 6 cards in your hand. Your turn ends.
4. Air Balloon:
Pokemon Tool: Attach a Pokemon Tool to 1 of your Pokemon that doesn’t already have a Pokemon Tool attached to it. The Retreat Cost of the Pokemon this card is attached to is [C][C] less.
Pokemon Tool: Attach a Pokemon Tool to 1 of your Pokemon that doesn’t already have a Pokemon Tool attached to it. The Retreat Cost of the Pokemon this card is attached to is [C][C] less.
5. Quick Ball:
You must discard 1 card from your hand in order to play this card. Search your deck for a Basic Pokemon, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then, shuffle your deck.
You must discard 1 card from your hand in order to play this card. Search your deck for a Basic Pokemon, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then, shuffle your deck.
6. Fine Band:
The attacks of the Pokemon this card is attached to do 10 more damage to your opponent’s Active Pokemon (before applying Weakness and Resistance).
The attacks of the Pokemon this card is attached to do 10 more damage to your opponent’s Active Pokemon (before applying Weakness and Resistance).
7. Rare Candy:
Choose 1 of your Basic Pokemon in play. If you have a Stage 2 card in your hand that evolves from that Pokemon, put that card onto the Basic Pokemon to evolve it. You can’t use this card during your first turn or on a Basic Pokemon that was put into play this turn.
Choose 1 of your Basic Pokemon in play. If you have a Stage 2 card in your hand that evolves from that Pokemon, put that card onto the Basic Pokemon to evolve it. You can’t use this card during your first turn or on a Basic Pokemon that was put into play this turn.
8. Professor’s Research:
Discard your hand. Then, draw 7.
Discard your hand. Then, draw 7.
(Try to pull some of these cards on your PTCGO account as you buy some packs from our website)
A New Special Energy
Similar to a Prism Energy, Aurora Energies can provide every type of energy. While Aurora Energies can be attached to any Pokémon in exchange for discarding 1 card from your hand.
Aurora Energy:
When you attach this card from your hand to a Pokémon, discard a card from your hand, While in play, this card provides every type of Energy but provides only 1 Energy at a time
When you attach this card from your hand to a Pokémon, discard a card from your hand, While in play, this card provides every type of Energy but provides only 1 Energy at a time
(Try to pull some of these cards on your PTCGO account as you buy some packs from our website)
Snorlax VMax Deck List
Here is an early standard format list including Sword & Shield cards that I believe will be one of the best from the set. It contains the combination of Snorlax VMax and Cinccino while also dealing damage with cards like Roxie and Weezing.
(the * symbol next to the cards in the list mean they are a part of the Sword & Shield set)
Pokemon - 25
2 - Jirachi
3 - Snorlax V *
3 - Snorlax VMax *
4 - Weezing
2 - Galarian Zigzagoon *
4 - Minccino *
4 - Cinccino *
1 - Ditto Prism Star
1 - Yveltal GX
1 - Mimikyu
Trainers - 29
4 - Quick Ball *
4 - Roxie
4 - Cynthia
3 - Evolution Incense *
2 - Marnie *
2 - Mallow & Lana
2 - Great Catcher
2 - Switch
2 - Lure Ball
2 - Air Balloon *
2 - Fine Band *
Energy - 6
4 - triple acceleration
2 - Dark
*If you like the list and want to give it a try make sure you visit our website and purchase some PTCGO codes for your PTCG online account
Conclusion
The Pokémon Sword and Shield set is looking like one of the greatest sets to ever be released. The set helps the TCG game take a turn as it becomes more consistent and talent based rather than just a game of luck at times. This takes the game in a direction that I’ve heard a lot of people chatter about wanting it to head in. As I grow more and more excited for the legal date (February 21st) of the set its time to hop on your PTCGO accounts, buy some sword and shield codes from our store, and let’s go have some fun with these new and amazing cards.
(I hope everyone explores our great prices for PTCGO codes and have fun with the new Sword and Shield set. Thank you for reading another article here on PoTown Store!)