Hi there. In this Pokemon TCG Pocket post, I cover most of the cards from the full card reveal of the recent Space-Time Smackdown set. There is a lot to cover here. I don't think I cover it all so I showcase most of it.
Screenshots & images are from these sources above.
This post is very long. Take what you want from this post. You could even just look at the card photos.
I do plan for another post that cover the colourful art cards from this new set.
New Grass Pokemon
In the latest set there are a lot of new Grass Pokemon. Are they all good? Not really. Here are the ones I want to showcase.
Yanmega ex
Yanmega ex is kind of interesting. The Air Slash attack requires 3 Colourless Energy to do 120 damage. It is not required to use Grass Energy for Yanmega or Yanma. The drawback of the Air Slash attack is removing a random Energy from Yanmega ex.
Yanmega is an okay beatstick attacker with an okay amount of 140 HP. Hitting for 120 damage does one hit knockout Pikachu ex. I can see a few decks out there use Yanmega as an alternate attacker.
Torterra
Torterra is a bulky Stage 2 Grass Pokemon. It is the final evolution of Turtwig. The Frenzy Plant attack is costly but it does a whopping 150 damage. The drawback of the attack is that Torterra cannot use Frenzy Plant during your next turn.
Kricketune
I can Kricketune being used in some decks. For one Grass Energy and one Colourless Energy the attack does 50 damage plus confusion. Confusion is pretty annoying as you need to flip Heads before your attack to resume as normal. If you flip Tails while confused then the attack fails (no recoil damage to itself in TCGPocket).
Shaymin
Shaymin would not be used for attacking as the Flop attack is not great. The ability makes Shaymin a support Pokemon where you can heal 10 damage from each of your Pokemon once during your turn.
Fire Pokemon
There are only 8 new Fire Pokemon in this set. Not a lot of additional support.
Infernape ex
This Infernape ex gives me mixed thoughts. As a Stage 2 Pokemon ex it has 170 HP which makes it bulky. It does have a zero retreat cost which is nice. The Flare Blitz attack does 140 damage for 2 Fire Energy. Flare Blitz's major drawback is that all Fire Energy is discarded from Infernape ex after the attack is used. Getting back two Fire Energy is not that easy. There is no major Fire Energy acceleration. 140 damage does not on hit knockout a Mewtwo ex.
Magcargo
Magcargo here seems like an okay attacker. It is 30 damage from one Fire Energy and one Colourless Energy plus Burn. The burn effect deals 20 damage at the end of each turn (yours and opponents). In between turns a coin is flipped. If heads then the Burn effect goes away. Tails means that the Burn stays (Coin flip occurs after the 20 burn damage.).
More Water Pokemon That Goes With Misty
I don't think Water Pokemon needs even more Support. They already have Misty which is annoying to play against if the Misty player gets lucky.
I don't cover Palkia ex again. My thoughts on it are in a previous post. Here is the picture of Palkia ex.
Mamoswine
Mamoswine's Thick Fat ability reduces damage it takes from Fire and Water Pokemon by 30 damage. The Frosty Flattening attack costs quite a bit to do 120 damage. The four retreat cost is a liability too.
Regice
Regice is a tanky 110 HP Basic Water Pokemon. The Frost Smash attack is okay. It requires 2 Water Energy to do 50 damage. The Crystal Body ability prevents effects of attacks used by the opponent's Pokemon done to Regice.
In the regular TCG people get confused between damage to Benched Pokemon and placing damage counters from an attack. If an attack requires placing damage counters then that is an effect from an attack. Regice would be protected from attacks that places damage counters on it. I think the TCG Pocket game would operate the same way as the regular TCG when it comes effects of attacks and damage counters.
Empoleon
Empoleon is the final evolution of Piplup. Aqua Jet's Energy requirement is costly at 2 Water Energy and one Colourless. The damage output from Aqua Jet is good though. It does 80 to the opponent's Active Pokemon plus 30 damage to 1 of your opponent's Benched Pokemon. In theory you can get two Knockouts from this attack giving you 2 Points, 3 Points for the win or even 4 Points.
Glaceon
Glaceon is the evolved form of Eevee. The Ice Beam attack does 60 damage for 2 Water Energy. If you flip heads the opponent's Active Pokemon is Paralyzed. Note that Paralysis causes the Defending Pokemon to not being to retreat nor attack. Glaceon is a dangerous attacker in my opinion and I do foresee some Water decks using this.
Wash Rotom
Wash Rotom is a nice beatstick attacker for the early game to pressure on the opponent. One Water Energy to do 30 damage on a Basic Pokemon is too good to ignore. Water decks could consider putting at least of of this in their decks.
Lightning Pokemon
Electivire
Electivire is the evolved form of Electabuzz. It has 120 HP and one attack. For two Lightning energy you do 40 base damage. If there are four or more Lightning Energy then the Exciting Voltage attack does 120 damage.
Luxray
Luxray is the final evolution of Shinx. It has 130 HP and a zero retreat cost. The Volt Bolt is one of those all in attacks. It requires 3 Lightning Energy to do 120 damage to any 1 of your opponent's Pokemon (Active or Benched from the opponent). The drawback is that you discard all Lightning Energy.
I am not sure if this Luxray is good. As it is a Stage 2 Pokemon it is hard to get this in play and the 3 Energy cost attack is a bit much.
Rotom & Pachirisu ex
Rotom is kind of an interesting beatstick attack. For one Colourless Energy you do 20 base damage. If the opponent's Active Pokemon has a Tool on it then the Rotom Assault Laser attack does 50 damage instead. As Rotom's attack requires one Colourless Energy, you can put this Rotom is non-Lightning Decks. Rotom's Lightning typing is good against Water Pokemon (+20 damage).
Pachririsu ex is fully revealed here. It is similar to Pikachu ex with its 120 HP and single attack that requires to 2 Lightning Energy. Sparkling Gadget does 40 base damage and 40 more damage if Pachirisu ex has a Tool attacked to it.
Magnezone
This new Magnezone does not seem great on its own. Thunder Blast does 110 damage for one Lightning Energy and two Colourless Energy. What helps is using the first set Magneton that can accelerate Energy to itself. (See below.)
Psychic Pokemon
Togekiss
Togekiss is the final evolution of Togepi. The Overdrive Smash attack requires two Psychic Energy to do 60 damage. During the next turn the Togekiss Overdrive Smash attack does 120 damage. In theory, Togekiss would two hit a bulky Pokemon for 180 damage (60 + 120).
Togekiss is one Pokemon that goes with the Cynthia supporter.
As Togekiss is a Stage 2 Pokemon, it is hard to get this in play.
Mismagius ex
I can see Mismagius ex see some play. Two Psychic Energy to deal 70 damage plus confusion is kind of powerful. Confusion is pretty annoying. If you flip Heads then the Confused Pokemon can attack as usual. If Tails then the attack fails. (No recoil damage to itself in TCG Pocket versus the physical Pokemon TCG.)
Dusknoir
Dusknoir is kind of interesting. The attack is not great as it costs a bit. Its ability of Shadow Void allows you to transfer any amount of damage counters from your other Pokemon to Dusknoir itself. Is this worth the deck space? Dusknoir is a Stage 2 Pokemon.
Giratina
Giratina here does not seem great as an attacker. It can serve as a stall wall as it does have 120 HP. The Levitate ability allows Giratina to retreat for zero cost if it has at least 1 Energy on it.
Cresselia
Cresselia is an okay Basic Pokemon attacker. Two Psychic Energy to do 50 damage plus 20 heal is not too bad.
More Fighting Pokemon
Regirock
Regirock would not be used much for attacking. It would be used more as a stall wall. The Exoskeleton ability allows Regirock to take 20 less damage from attacks. Stall with this in the Active as you setup Stage 2 Pokemon or other high Energy cost Pokemon.
I do see some people using this as there is appeal to Stall and setup decks. (You don't lose if you run of cards to draw in TCG Pocket.)
Rampardos
Rampardos here looks like a very dangerous attacker. One Fighting Energy to do 130 damage is too good to ignore. If the attack results in a Knockout then Rampardos takes 50 recoil damage to itself.
This is
Riolu & Lucario
Riolu is good. A simple Basic Pokemon with one Fighting Energy to do 20 damage. It has one retreat cost too.
Lucario was featured in a previous post. Here is the non-art version. Lucario provides more damage for Fighting Pokemon. This is a very good support Pokemon with a decent attack too.
Gallade ex
Gallade ex seems okay. For two Fighting Energy the Energized Blade does 70 base damage. The Gallade does 20 more damage for each Energy attached to the opponent's Active Pokemon. Gallade ex can one hit knockout Pikachu ex, a three Energy Celebi ex or a four Energy Mewtwo ex.
This is a Stage 2 Pokemon so it can take a bit of time to get this setup.
Dark Types
Honchkrow
Honchkrow has an interesting attack. For 2 Dark Energy you do 50 damage to any 1 of your opponent's Pokemon. The target can be an Active opponent's Pokemon or a Benched Pokemon. Bench hitting attacks is good to bypass stall walls and target Pokemon that are not fully setup.
Spiritomb
Spiritomb deals 10 damage to every one of your opponent's Pokemon. This is a damage spread attack. Ten damage is not much but placing damage counters does meet requirements for certain cards.
Weavile ex
Weavile ex is a simple beatstick attacker. The Scracthing Nails attack requires one Dark Energy to do 30 base damage. If the opponent's Active Pokemon has damage on it then it does 70 damage. Dark Pokemon get even more support and provide dangerous attackers against Mewtwo ex & Psychic decks.
Darkrai ex
Darkrai ex is an interesting Basic Pokemon ex attacker. The attack of Dark Prism does 80 damage for a somewhat costly 2 Dark Energy and one Colourless Energy. The ability is what makes it interesting. The Nightmare Aura ability activates when a Dark Energy is attached to Darkrai ex. When a Dark Energy is attached you do 20 damage to the opponent's Active Pokemon.
Steel Types
Before this set Steel types were not used much as options were very limited. With new Steel Pokemon plus Dialga ex, Steel decks will see some play.
Bastiodon
Bastiodon is a bulky Stage 2 Pokemon. It evolves from Shieldon and Shieldon evolves from the Armor Fossil.
The headbang attack is not great. It requires 2 Metal Energy and one Colourless Energy to do 80 damage. the Guarded Grill ability is a defensive coin flip ability. If Bastiodon is attacked flip a coin. Heads would result in damage reduction by 100. (Tails is nothing and the attack goes through.)
Dialga ex
I covered Dialga ex in a previous post. No review of it again.
Gible, Gabite and Garchomp
Here is the Garchomp evolution line. These dragons have zero weakness and one retreat cost each. Garchomp has 140 HP, one attack and one ability. The attack of Dragon Claw is okay as it does 100 damage for one Water Energy and one Fighting Energy.
Garchomp's ability of Reckless Shearing is a trade type of an ability. Discard 1 card from your hand to draw 1 card. There are not many recovery options for Item cards, Pokemon and Supporter cards so you have to be careful with what you discard.
Normal Types
Lickilicky ex
Bidoof
Bidoof's Super Fang attack takes half of the opponent's Active Pokemon HP and rounds it down. There may be a few decks that run one copy of this as a surprise attacker. Super Fang would be best used on large HP Pokemon with 100 HP or more. Taking half of 140 HP for example is 70 damage.
Regigigas
Regigigas is a bulky Basic Pokemon. The Raging Hammer attack costs too much even though the damage potential is high. In theory Regigigas can do 180 damage maximum (conditional it has 10 HP).
New Trainer Cards
Skull Fossil
Armor Fossil is needed as a Basic Pokemon for the Cranidos and Rampardos evolutions.
Armor Fossil
Armor Fossil is needed as a Basic Pokemon for Shieldon and Bastiodon.
Pokemon Communication
This Pokemon Communication item card allows you to swap one Pokemon from your hand with one random Pokemon from your deck. The use case here would be to swap an unwanted Pokemon from the hand and hope you get the Pokemon you need from your deck. It is a gamble card. Deck space is limited so I am not sure if this will see a lot of play.
Giant Cape
Giant Cape is a good tool card. Adding 20 HP provides more bulk to certain Pokemon. Go from a 1 hit knockout to a 2 hit knockout. The plus 20 HP can nullify weakness disadvantages to your Pokemon.
Rocky Helmet
In the regular Pokemon TCG, no one really uses Rocky Helmet in the competitive scene. Twenty damage is not much when HPs are 200 and above. In addition there are many better tool cards. In TCG Pocket I can see Rocky Helmet being used. Dealing 20 damage when being attacked is significant. Pokemon HPs are mostly under 100 HP for Basic Pokemon and evolved Pokemon have usually 120 to 200 HP.
Rocky Helmet can turn something from a 3 hit knockout to a 2 hit knockout and a 2 hit knockout to a one hit knockout.
Lum Berry
Lum Berry is a useful tool card against Special conditions. The effect activates at the end of each turn. When it recovers all Special conditions this Lum Berry is discarded.
A noticable downside is that you cannot use this as an instant cure against something like Sleep or Paralysis. The recovery occurs at the end of each turn.
Cyrus
Cyrus is a very powerful Supporter similar to Boss's Orders in the regular Pokemon TCG. If one of your opponent's Benched Pokemon has damage on it then Cyrus can bring that damaged Pokemon to that Active Spot. The ideal use case if to bring the damaged Pokemon in for a Knockout. You can also stall a damaged non-attacking Pokemon to buy a few more turns for setup.
Cyrus will see play and will impact how the game is played. Watch out.
Team Galactic Grunt
Team Galctic Grunt is a supporter that is for Pokemon search. It is similar to the item card Poke Ball but for Glameow, Stunky or Croagunk.
If your deck runs only one of the three then this Supporter is non-random Basic Pokemon search card. In theory you can run this with Croagunk and other Basics then Team Galactic Grunt just searches Croagunk. For setup purposes this Supporter card is okay. I don't know if you run 2 in a deck. It depends on the deck build.
Cynthia
Cynthia provide +50 damage for Garchomp and Togekiss during the turn this is played. Both Garchomp and Togekiss are Stage 2 Pokemon. Generally Stage 2 Pokemon are hard to get into play. The likelihood of getting Cynthia is played is low. The payoff is nice if you can get this into play.
Volkner
Volkner is for those decks that have at least one of Electivire or Luxray. Attach 2 Lightning Energy from the discard pile to that Pokemon. This Supporter provides very powerful Energy acceleration. This is provided that there are Lightning Energy in the discard pile. Energy is discarded whenever you retreat, a Pokemon faints or an attack requires discarding Energy like Luxray.
Dawn
Dawn is one of the main protagonists from the Pokemon anime (Ash in Sinnoh era). The Dawn supporter card allows you to move 1 Energy from 1 of your Benched Pokemon to your Active Pokemon. I can see some niche use cases with Dawn. Combine Dawn with this Magneton or with the new Dialga ex (after attacking) or maybe the new Darkrai ex. At first I thought this card is bad but you have to the possible use cases with this type of card.
Mars
I think the game is changed forever with this Mars card. Mars is very similar to Iono from the regular TCG. Iono impacts both players while Mars is to the opponent.
When Mars is played the opponent shuffles their hand into their deck. Then the opponent draws cards for each of the remaining points needed to win. If the opponent has no points then the opponent redraws 3 cards, 1 point then draw 2, 2 points (1 point away from winning) would make the opponent draw 1 cad. Mars provides heavy hand disruption and punishes players for holding large size hands. With Mars in the format I think it is much tougher to setup Stage 2 Pokemon.
In theory an opponent could run a stall and setup Stage 2 deck. They would not take knockout fasts and maybe even take a 2 point deficit. Then they play Mars and then reverse all-kill you with a beefy strong attacker like Gyarados ex, Mewtwo ex, Charizard ex, etc.
One could ask if they should play this Supporter or the item card Red Card? I think it is preference. Red Card makes the opponent go to 3 cards no matter what while Mars is more impactful if the opponent is close to winning.
I play the regular Pokemon TCG so I am used to hand disruption. Those newer to card games and/or to Pokemon TCG are likely to find hand disruption super annoying.
Deckbuilding Becomes Tougher
With more cards available to use, you are still limited to 20 cards for a deck. It is now tougher to build decks. You have the introduction of Tools, more Supporter options, more Pokemon to attack with and more strategies.
This advice is easier said than done. You have to ask yourself what kind of playstyle do you like? Do you like fast and aggresive decks? Coin flip decks? Stall and setup Stage 2 decks? Poison decks? Dragon decks? Multi type decks? What Pokemon do you like from the available options? Use tools or no tools? Energy types?
I do think that every deck should still run two copies of Professor's Research and two copies of Poke Ball. These are staple must have cards. Drawing more cards is generally really good as more cards leads to more setup and more options for attacking.
Metagame Predictions
Water decks are even more powerful. There will be different versions of Water decks with Misty and Manaphy.
I can foresee Electric decks being popular as a strong counter to Water decks.
If Electric decks get super popular then there would be a counter to a counter. This would be Fighting decks with Lucario.
Mewtwo ex decks will still be around but will be kept in check by Dark decks. I can see Mewtwo ex use the new Giant Cape (for +20 HP) for mirror matches and to withstand other 150 damage attacks.
With more Basic stall wall options like Regirock and Giratina there may be more wall and setup Stage 2 decks out there.
Dialga ex with Metal Pokemon will see some play. I think it could be okay competitively.
There can be even more deck ideas not covered here. This new set provides a lot more gameplay and deck options. Experimentation will be ongoing.
Thank you for reading.