5. Crobat VMax
(hills cards)
Crobat VMAX might not look like much on the surface but I think offers a lot in terms of utility for decks playing darkness energy. For starters, any VMAX that has an evolving basic V with “ Draw up to 6” in its ability is already off to a good start. It’s first attack is really solid, as it not only poisons the active after inflicting damage, but also allows you to retreat this card to the bench. You could pair this attack with something like Lillie’s Poke-Doll and force your opponent into playing a gust card to hit the Crobat VMAX.
4. Reshiram Amazing Rare
This might be the strongest amazing rare that we’ve seen. Three energies for 270 on any card is very efficient, and especially on a card that only gives up a single prize. This makes for a powerful trade-off of setting up an attack with three different energy costs. With cards like Tapu Koko Prism and Welder, you can cheat two of the energy attachments before attaching the darkness energy that you would need, so theoretically you can get all energies attached in one turn.
3. Ditto V
In this case, Ditto V can only switch with Basic V pokemon, which might sound redundant, but VMAXes are also considered V pokemon. Nevertheless, what this card offers is a way to essentially run a fifth evolving V card in your deck, which in turn could be useful for many decks who need to get their main attacker ready by turn 2. This card could also offer a lot of utility in decks that want to synergize multiple VMAX Pokemon as one could bench this card early on and switch it with a Pokemon they want to evolve in. The attack as well is not bad since you can use this to help set up a bigger attack on the following turn if necessary. All in all this card is very good and I look forward to seeing how players utilize this card in the future.
2. Manaphy
I really appreciate cards like this being printed, especially after TEU Jirachi being less useful after Escape Board rotating. Manaphy acts as a free Great Ball anytime it is in the active, which can make setting up evolutions significantly easier. This will be a great starter for any set up deck, especially ones that might be cripled on turn 1 without playing a supporter. I think this card will add a lot of much needed consistency to decks who are not trying to be hyper aggressive with Dedenne GX and Crobat V. Something I’ve noticed in decks since the Jirachi engine lost a lot of its luster is that decks that need to evolve generally appreciate having something other than their main attacker active in the early turns. This is a great card to leave in the active to get knocked out while you set up as well as a great candidate to throw a U-Turn Board or Air Balloon on to retreat for free since it does not put itself asleep like Jirachi does after you use the ability.
1. Rusted Sword
Despite the general mixed feelings about Zacian getting buffed, this card is nevertheless going to be a very powerful addition to Zacian decks. ADP Zacain will be able to utilize this card to fix Zacians numbers in order to take huge knockouts. With the additional 30 from Alter Creation, you can attach this tool card to boost Zacian V’s damage to 290, which will put any tag team in range of getting OHKO, as well as giving up four prizes due to Alter Creation GX’s bonus effect. In addition to this, if you were to combo Leon, a supporter that boosts damage by 30, then you can actually use Zacian’s Brave Blade attack for 320 which is the exact math you need to KO VMAX Pokemon like Centiskorch and Dragapult. This can also be threatening for decks like LucMetal Zacain because 290 is exactly enough damage to KO a Zacian with both metal goggles attached and under the effect of Lucario-Melmetal’s Full Metal Wall GX that reduces 30 damage taken to all metal pokemon.