Paldean Fates is a set full of shiny Pokémon, glorious artwork cards, and trainer cards that are staples of many decks. But which cards from this new release set will be the most important for TCG players?
There are currently several cards that could see play, integrate into outstanding strategies, and have an impact, both now and in the future. It may not be Paradox Rift-level revolutions, but this release blends style and substance.
So, let’s see what these cards are…
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Moonlit Hill - Stadium
Up first is the stadium card Moonlit Hill, which allows you to discard a basic psychic energy card from your hand once per turn. In exchange, it heals 30 damage from each of your Pokémon.
This makes it an exceptionally beneficial card for the already-strong Gardevoir ex sets – currently still shaping the meta ahead of rotations. This is especially the case for those who run Gardevoir with the Shining Acana ability, which allows you to look at the top two cards of your deck once per turn and attach them to your Pokémon in any way you like; if they aren’t used you add them to your hand.
Instantly, you can see how you can fuel regenerative healing of your Gardevoir and psychic supporting cast. Alongside Gardevoir ex’s Miracle Force move, which hits for 190 damage while alleviating any status conditions, you can keep your signature card out of trouble.
Technical Machine: Crisis Punch - Trainer - Tool
Lacking the glitz and glamour artwork of other trainer cards from Paldean Fates, Technical Machine: Crisis Punch is a card that may be overlooked… yet it could alter how we see late games play out.
The card can be attached to one of your Pokémon, giving them a new move, powered by three colourless energy, which does 280 damage if your opponent has one prize card remaining – a swing-from-the-hip slam that says, ’this game ain’t done quite yet.’
One of the cards that is set to reap the rewards of this opportunity to load up a new move is Cramorant from Lost Origins. Due to its ability, Lost Provisions, which says if you have four or more cards in the Lost Zone you need no energy cards to attack, this aquatic bird gets a free power up.
And with Arven flooding many decks too, Technical Machine: Crisis Shot is a card that could be sought and found fairly easily when needed.
Charmeleon
While two competitively playable Charmeleon’s are already available in the TCG, and are indeed used in the high-ranking Charizard ex decks, we have got a new version with 90HP in Paldean Fates.
So far, it may not seem like a card that is going to see much use in the meta, however it is its ability, Flare Veil, that makes it one to pick up. Flare Veil prevents all effects of attacks used by your opponent’s Pokémon done to this Pokémon.
It is this ability, and its decent 90HP, that arguably give it the edge over its predecessors and should see it gain play in the TCG. For example, Obsidian Flames Charmeleon has 90HP, but lacks such a safeguarding ability and features an attack with recoil. And while the Hidden Fates print is pretty bulky and solid, it again lacks an ability.
Could it be time for the well-used Charmeleon prints to move over?
Espathra ex
The lesser seen Espathra deck has proved to be an alternative way of facing up to the meta-dominating Roaring Moon ex build, with its ability essentially allowing it to get a free attack turn up on its opponent.
Now, this psychic build can look to shuffle options around with the inclusion of Espathra ex. While the card design is truly ethereal, this 260HP stage 1 also adds a new dimension to taking down some of the meta-dominating decks.
Espathra ex’s ability, Dazzling Gaze, makes your opponents attacks cost an extra colourless energy, and its attack Psy Ball does +30 damage, with additional power coming from every energy attached to both active Pokémon.
When thinking about how this card could play out against other established strategies in the meta, it could be possible to see a tera Charizard ex with three energy cards attached OHKO’d by an Espathra ex with just two energy cards. In short, Psy Ball is the brawn to match the beauty of this shiny card.
The inclusion of Espathra ex in a psychic deck could be coupled with the trainer card Klara, which allows you to put up to 2 basic energy cards from your discard pile into your hand, to continue loading up those Psy Ball attacks over time. An additional option to fish for those psychic energy cards could be the ever-reliant Super Rod.
Once set up, you may want to make use of Rigid Band to give your star bird bulk. This allows any stage 1 Pokémon to take 30 less damage from attacks from your opponent’s Pokémon – keep them ball’s balling.
Frigibax
Perhaps an unexpected package given there are Frigibax cards already being played competitively in decks such as the shivering chiller that is Chien-Pao ex.
That said, this Frigibax print leans slightly more into that deck's strategy by allowing you to draw a card from your deck with the move “Collect”, something previous prints did not have.
Why this matters is because that is the crux of the Chien-Pao ex strategy – load up your water type Pokémon with energy cards from your deck so that Chien-Pao’s “Hail Blade” attack can slice through your opponent’s big hitters.
Ultimately, this Paldean Fates Frigibax isn’t going to tear up the script in the TCG (something the coy artwork seems to agree with), however it could see some players make some small tweaks to what versions are used within their water decks prior to rotation.
What is returning?
Alongside the above releases, we will also see further prints of Squawkabilly ex, which is solid in strategies that want to rack up their discard pile, such as the ‘United Wings’ deck.
Beyond this, we are also seeing Pidgeot ex return – a key card in the TCG, which recently won the San Antonio Regional Championships alongside Charizard ex. It’s always a useful pick up.
What else may be useful?
And then as we look to the future (and the past) with the release of Temporal Forces in March, we’ll have a handful of new decks coming into their own. This means that builds around the likes of Gouging Fire ex could make the release of Entei from Paldean Fates useful.
There’s plenty to pack in Paldean Fates if you want to make tweaks to existing decks, trial out fun competitive plays, or even plan for future changes to the TCG – from the tried and trusted to the new directions for this region.
Check out the full collection of Paldean Fates Pokémon Trading Cards. or explore more of our Pokemon booster boxes.
