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Competitive Pokémon TCG is heading for a shake up. On 11th April, rotation will take place for the Standard format, meaning we will see many of the meta’s most used cards, favourites that prop up leading deck archetypes, removed from official play.
Specifically, it is the ‘F Regulation’ cards that we will be saying goodbye to this time around. And that includes cards from the sets: Brilliant Stars; Astral Radiance; Pokémon GO; Lost Origin; Silver Tempest; and Crown Zenith. Make no mistake, this is massive.
The staples of the Sword and Shield era, V, VSTAR, VMAX and Radiant Pokémon, will no longer be usable. With that, ex’s will be the only multi-Prize card Pokémon left in the Standard format. It’s the end of an era, for sure, but it also heralds exciting news times.
So, let’s take a look at what deck defining cards are rotating out, and how this will affect the meta moving forward:
1. Radiant Greninja
There’ll be many, many decks losing out when Radiant Greninja rotates in April. It’s been a cornerstone of archetypes, such as Gardevoir ex, Lost Box, Raging Bolt-Ogerpon ex, and others. And its influence has just been huge. Why? It’s because the Water-type from the started line has an immense ability paired with a potentially deadly attack – all while remaining a single-Prize card Pokémon.
Radiant Greninja’s ability, Concealed Cards, has been one of the most consistent draw engines in the game. It allows the player to discard a single card from their hand, and in exchange they may draw two from their deck. Over time, this has synergised seamlessly with decks that don’t mind stacking the discard pile.
Though, of course, the game will move on as it ever does, with many other draw engines ready to step into Radiant Greninja’s place. Among them, the likes of Fezandipiti ex, which came from Scarlet and Violet’s Shrouded Fable, and Noctowl, released as part of Stellar Crown.
Though none of these options have a sniping attack quite like Radiant Greninja’s. For two Water Energy and one Colourless Energy, you could use its Moonlight Shuriken attack, which does 90 damage to two of your opponent’s Pokémon. While it comes with the caveat that you have to discard two Energy cards from Radiant Greninja, this fine example of ninja stealth has allowed many players to take out smaller bench Pokémon from a distance. Many players will miss this option, for sure.
2. Manaphy
An ever-present in so many decks in the meta, Manaphy is the ultimate way to protect your bench Pokémon – and interestingly it is one of the most useful counters against Radiant Greninja.
Manaphy’s aura-like Water Veil ability allows it to prevent any damage done to your benched Pokémon by your opponent’s attacks. And the 70HP support Pokémon doesn’t even need to be in your active spot to have this ability work.
For decks such as Charizard ex, Manaphy is an indispensable tool that allows you to evolve your Charmander into your stage two Charizard ex, or your Pidgey into your Pidgeot ex, without fear of having your Pokémon picked off in those early, vulnerable stages. Though it’s not just the Charizard ex build that has benefitted from Manaphy. Everything from Lugia V Star to Lost Box variants has integrated this legendary Pokémon.
So, what will replace Manaphy? Rabsca is perhaps the closest thanks to its ability, Spherical Shield, which prevents all damage from and effects from your opponent’s Pokémon done to your bench. Though equally, there may be nothing that steps in to replace Manaphy. After all, Terastal Pokémon, which now flood the meta, are blessed with the unique ability that prevents them from being damaged while on the bench.
3. Regidrago VSTAR
When Regidrago VSTAR launched in Silver Tempest, no one truly knew what it would turn into. At the time, it had untapped potential. But in the cut-and-thrust of competitive TCG play it faltered, failing to keep up with the meta for a number of reasons.
Firstly, Regidrago VSTAR is premised around its attack, Apex Dragon. This lets the attacker choose an attack from a Dragon-type Pokémon in your discard pile and use it as its attack. Obviously, for this to be any sort of threat you need to have solid attacks to copy. Though upon Regidrago VSTAR’s release, nothing stood out.
The second is the slightly awkward Energy requirements needed to launch this novel attack, with Apex Dragon costing two Grass Energy and one Fire Energy. All this made Regidrago VSTAR a bit meh.
That was until the release of cards in the subsequent release of Twilight Masquerade when we were given Teal Mask Ogerpon ex and Dragapult ex – the two of which lit the touchpaper for Regidrago VSTAR. The former provided elite Energy acceleration with the ability, Teal Dance, and the latter offered an offensive middle of an attack with Phantom Drive. Then onwards, Regidrago V Star shone.
So, while Regidrago VSTAR has taken a while to shine at its brightest, it has finally reached a point where its omission will be missed by many.
4. Bibarel
The unassuming Normal-type Pokémon has been an absolute unsung hero since its release in 2022, beavering away in the background and ensuring archetypes can thrive to their maximum.
Bibarel does this using its ability, Industrious Incisors, which allows the player to draw until they have five cards in their hand, once per turn. This makes Bibarel a beastly draw engine, as the ability doesn’t really come with any downsides. You won’t have to end your turn after using it. You don’t have to discard any cards. And you can play it after already using multiple cards that turn to ensure you replenish.
Couple this supportive might with the fact that Bibarel is stage one Pokémon, making it easy to evolve into, and you quickly realise why it has slotted seamlessly into decks such as Charizard ex and Arceus V Star.
Bibarel comes with a meme-like following that stems from the love for Bidoof, so nothing will really replace the Sinnoh favourite. But we’ve now got a Pokémon with a similar ability in Revavroom. The stage one, Steel-type’s ability, Rumbling Engine, lets you draw until you have six cards in your hand, once per turn. Although to use it, you have to discard a card from your hand. Can Revavroom fill the void?
5. Giratina VSTAR
Giratina VSTAR is inextricably bound up with a few other members of the Lost Box cast, so this listing is more of a homage to a few departing personnel.
Though we must begin with Giratina VSTAR, the Pokémon of twisted dimensions that has managed to contort games at its will since its release in Crown Zenith. Its first move, Lost Impact, costs one Grass, one Psychic and one Colourless Energy and does a hefty 280 damage. In exchange, you must move two Energy cards attached to Giratina VSTAR. Don’t fret. Its second move then makes use of this shift, with Star Requiem, its VSTAR Power, allowing you to instantly KO your opponent’s Pokémon if you have 10 or more cards in the Lost Zone. You can only use this move once per game, but when you do it is seismic.
The broader landscape around the Giratina VSTAR has fed into its power too, with Comfey and its Flower Selecting ability, Cramorant and its Lost Provisions ability, and Sableye with its Lost Mine attack all fitting together neatly. And that’s without mention of Item cards like Mirage Gate too.
But come April, Lost Zone will be lost to rotation, Giratina VSTAR build will move on, and new mechanics will take up the mantle. That said, the legendary Dragon has its place in competitive TCG lore.
6. Pokéstop
Pokéstop is the first non-Pokémon on the list – and with good reason. As a Stadium card, Pokéstop has been integrated into many archetypes in the meta since its release as part of the Pokémon Go set in 2022.
When in play, Pokéstop can be used by either player. It says, ‘once during each player's turn, that player may discard three cards from the top of their deck. If a player discarded any Item cards in this way, they put those Item cards into their hand.’ So what decks benefit from the trade-off?
Gholdengo ex is one example. This is because the Steel-type attacker benefits from consistently drawing into Item cards. Gholdengo ex, Make it Rain, allows you to discard any number of basic Energy cards from your hand, multiplying the attack damage by 50x for each one you rid. This can obviously result in huge hits, but you’ll be at a loss after attacking.
Using Pokéstop’s effect, you can draw through your deck to try to find recovery cards, such as Energy Retrieval and Super Energy Retrieval, to recycle those Energy cards back into play. That said, the deck has other beneficial cards you can draw this way, including Boss’s Orders and Ultra Ball.
It’s just one of many ways Pokéstop has been played since its release, but no doubt some decks will now be looking to find alternatives.
7. Double Turbo Energy
The first and only Energy card on this list is Double Turbo Energy – and the fact that it makes this list among so many other Pokémon speaks to its importance.
Double Turbo Energy has been a defining Special Energy card in the Standard format since its release in Brilliant Stars. It provides two Colourless Energy, instantly charging up attacks that require heavy Energy commitments. While the card comes with the caveat of reducing damage output by 20, this drawback has often been negligible in the face of its game-changing utility.
Key decks have relied on Double Turbo Energy for consistency, including Arceus VSTAR, which uses it to power up its Trinity Nova attack with ease. This synergy has made Double Turbo Energy a staple in Arceus-centred builds. Additionally, the card has been a must-have in decks like Lugia VSTAR, enabling rapid setups and helping multi-Prize attackers gain momentum quickly.
The rotation of Double Turbo Energy will leave players seeking alternatives to fuel decks that depend on Colourless Energy acceleration. While cards like Reversal Energy provide niche utility, there is no true replacement for the efficiency and versatility of Double Turbo Energy. Its absence will undoubtedly reshape deck-building strategies moving forward.
8. Lumineon V
Lumineon V has been one of the most effective consistency tools in the game. Since its release in Brilliant Stars, its Luminous Sign ability has provided decks with invaluable access to Supporter cards at crucial moments.
Upon playing Lumineon V from your hand to your bench, you can search your deck for any Supporter card, such as Professor’s Research or Boss’s Orders, and put it into your hand. We know these are cards that can massively swing the momentum of matches.
The Water-type Pokémon has slotted seamlessly into almost any deck that needs consistent access to key Supporter cards, from control strategies to aggressive archetypes. Lumineon V’s versatility isn’t limited to its ability; its Aqua Return attack, costing one Water Energy and one Colourless Energy, shuffles it and all attached cards back into the deck while dealing 120 damage. This attack has often been a way to remove Lumineon V from play, denying opponents an easy two-Prize KO.
Without Lumineon V, decks will have to turn to alternatives like Noctowl-based draw engines to ensure consistency. However, none offer quite the same instant utility as Lumineon V. Its departure will force players to rethink how they build consistency into their decks.
9. Canceling Cologne
Canceling Cologne has been an invaluable tech card in the Standard format since its debut in Astral Radiance. This Item card allows players to neutralise the effects of all abilities on their opponent’s Pokémon during their turn, giving it tremendous utility in countering decks reliant on passive abilities.
You needn’t look further than Mimikyu and its safeguard ability to see how this card can help you to hit through walls. Another example of its utility has been shutting down Manaphy’s Water Veil, enabling spread-damage attackers like Radiant Greninja or Kyogre to deal bench damage unimpeded.
While Canceling Cologne hasn’t always been a mainstay in every deck, its presence in sideboards and main decks has made it a reliable answer to many ability-dependent strategies. Its rotation leaves a gap that may make certain ability-based decks stronger in the absence of an immediate counter. Players may need to lean on newer tools or strategies to deal with troublesome abilities post-rotation.
10. Snorlax
Snorlax from the Pokémon GO set has been a formidable stall tactic in several strategies, combining its ability to mill your opponent’s deck with impressive staying power. Its Block ability prevents your opponent’s Active Pokémon from retreating while Snorlax is in the Active Spot, making it a nightmare for decks that lack sufficient switching options.
With this, you could trap a Pokémon in the active spot that doesn’t have any intention of attacking and then wait for the opponent to run down their cards. And you wouldn't necessarily have to wait for that Pokémon to be positioned in your opponent’s active spot either, as the Item card Counter Catcher could be used to pull them into play.
These sorts of plays were only amplified with the release of Latias ex in Surging Sparks, which could use its ability Skyliner to give Snorlax a free retreat coat. That way, the Pokémon that’s gained so much notoriety for being lazy could love in and out of the active spot at will, giving the opponent a large headache to deal with.
Additionally, Snorlax’s attack, Thumping Snore, deals a solid 180 damage for three Colourless Energy. While the attack puts Snorlax to sleep, its bulk (150 HP for a single-Prize Basic Pokémon) often allows it to withstand multiple hits. The combination of Block and Thumping Snore has made Snorlax a cornerstone of stall decks, often paired with disruption tools like Crushing Hammer and Yell Horn to lock opponents in a frustrating cycle.
With Snorlax’s rotation, decks relying on this stall-and-mill strategy will have to look elsewhere. While cards like Ting-Lu ex may offer some disruption, there is currently no direct replacement for Snorlax’s unique ability to trap opponents’ Pokémon in play. Its absence will undoubtedly shift the dynamics of control and mill archetypes in the meta.
What other cards will we be losing?
Rotations are always bittersweet, and 2025 is no exception. There’s more influential cards that we are set to lose, further shaping the future of many decks.
Among them, the absolute draw machine, Rotom V. It has integrated into so many meta-relevant decks, and provided them with a support Pokémon that lets you siphon through your deck. Sparking your draw power into life, the Electric-type Pokémon can use its ability, Instant Charge, to let you draw three cards once per turn. Choose to do this and your turn ends. But it can be oh so worth it.
There’s also Lost Vacuum – the Item card which has been a crucial tech option for managing Stadium cards or Tool cards like Forest Seal Stone, providing decks with flexibility for situational plays. Its absence will reduce the toolbox options for certain archetypes.
And while we could go on, we’ll end with Kirlia. We know which decks are set to lose out here, obviously. A key component of the Gardevoir ex engine, Kirlia’s Refinement ability allowed players to discard a card and draw two, providing unparalleled consistency for Psychic decks. Its rotation will shift Gardevoir ex decks toward alternative support engines or newer options in the Scarlet and Violet era.
From Irida to Hisuian Heavy Ball, there’s plenty more that’ll be missed. But what are you going to be sorry to wave goodbye to?
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