The Pokemon TCG World Championship will be held from the 16th to the 18th of August 2024. This is the biggest stage for competitive Pokemon TCG players to show off their skills! Interestingly, Shrouded Fable cards will be legal during Worlds, bringing a whole new meta for players to adapt to and learn.
Although Shrouded Fable is still new in the West, Japan has been playing in that format for a while, so we have the data to understand what the upcoming meta will look like. Remember that Japanese tournaments are usually best of 1, whereas the Worlds format will be best of 3. This can play a role in the upcoming meta changes.
First Place: Iron Thorns
Pokémon: 4
4 Iron Thorns ex TWM 77
Trainer: 45
4 Arven OBF 186
3 Professor's Research SVI 189
3 Judge SVI 176
3 Boss's Orders PAL 172
2 Colress's Tenacity SFA 57
1 Iono PAL 185
1 Penny SVI 183
1 Giovanni's Charisma MEW 161
4 Pokégear 3.0 SVI 186
4 Crushing Hammer SVI 168
4 Pokémon Catcher SVI 187
2 Techno Radar PAR 180
2 Canceling Cologne ASR 136
1 Prime Catcher TEF 157
1 Earthen Vessel PAR 163
1 Energy Loto ASR 140
1 Lost Vacuum LOR 162
3 Future Booster Energy Capsule TEF 149
1 Technical Machine: Turbo Energize PAR 179
3 Lost City LOR 161
Energy: 11
7 Lightning Energy SVE 4
4 Double Turbo Energy BRS 151Fernando Cifuentes managed to win worlds with Iron Thorns! This is a meta call, which uses Iron Thorn’s Initialization to take advantage of decks that rely on their Pokemon’s abilities. By shutting opponents from activating their Pokemon’s Ability, you’re slowing them down immensely, giving you enough time to start Knocking Out their Pokemon with Iron Thorn’s Volt Cyclone.
Only one Iron Thorns deck made it into the top 16 and it kept on winning until it won it all!
Second Place Roaring Moon
Pokémon: 11
4 Roaring Moon ex PAR 124
2 Pecharunt ex SFA 39
2 Squawkabilly ex PAL 169
1 Roaring Moon TEF 109
1 Fezandipiti ex SFA 38
1 Radiant Greninja ASR 46
Trainer: 40
4 Professor Sada's Vitality PAR 170
2 Judge SVI 176
1 Boss's Orders PAL 172
4 Dark Patch ASR 139
4 Earthen Vessel PAR 163
4 Nest Ball SVI 181
4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
4 Trekking Shoes ASR 156
4 Pokémon Catcher SVI 187
2 Pokégear 3.0 SVI 186
1 Prime Catcher TEF 157
1 Night Stretcher SFA 61
1 Pal Pad SVI 182
4 PokéStop PGO 68
Energy: 9
9 Darkness Energy SVE 7Roaring Moon came in second place, just close to winning it all, but ended up losing to Iron Thorns. Seinosuke Shiokawa did a fantastic job piloting this deck and has definitely left his mark in Worlds 2024.
Roaring Moon ex relies on Calamity Storm as a damage dealer, but it has to discard a Stadium in play for the Power boost. However, Frenzied Gouging can knock out Pokemon with more than 220 HP, but the drawback is that Roaring Moon will deal 200 damage to itself, putting you at risk of a knockout on the upcoming turn.
Third Place: Miraidon
Pokémon: 14
2 Miraidon ex SVI 81
2 Iron Hands ex PAR 70
2 Squawkabilly ex PAL 169
1 Raikou V BRS 48
1 Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex TWM 141
1 Mew ex MEW 151
1 Lumineon V BRS 40
1 Fezandipiti ex SFA 38
1 Zapdos PGO 29
1 Radiant Greninja ASR 46
1 Iron Bundle PAR 56
Trainer: 28
4 Arven OBF 186
3 Boss's Orders PAL 172
1 Professor's Research SVI 189
4 Electric Generator SVI 170
4 Nest Ball SVI 181
4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
2 Switch Cart ASR 154
1 Prime Catcher TEF 157
2 Forest Seal Stone SIT 156
1 Bravery Charm PAL 173
1 Rescue Board TEF 159
1 Town Store OBF 196
Energy: 18
16 Lightning Energy SVE 4
2 Double Turbo Energy BRS 151Jesse Parker brought Miraidon, another meta call, mostly because it has a great matchup against Lugia and Gardevoir, two decks that are expected to have a high representation in Worlds.
Miraidon ex is the main damage dealer, threatening 220 damage with its Phantom Blaster. However, once activated, you can’t attack on the upcoming turn with Miraidon ex.
Fourth Place: Regidrago
Pokémon: 18
4 Teal Mask Ogerpon ex TWM 25
3 Regidrago V SIT 135
3 Regidrago VSTAR SIT 136
2 Dragapult ex TWM 130
1 Giratina VSTAR LOR 131
1 Hisuian Goodra VSTAR LOR 136
1 Kyurem SFA 47
1 Mew ex MEW 151
1 Squawkabilly ex PAL 169
1 Cleffa OBF 80
Trainer: 32
4 Professor's Research SVI 189
3 Iono PAL 185
2 Boss's Orders PAL 172
4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
4 Nest Ball SVI 181
4 Earthen Vessel PAR 163
4 Energy Switch SVI 173
2 Superior Energy Retrieval PAL 189
1 Prime Catcher TEF 157
1 Switch SVI 194
1 Night Stretcher SFA 61
1 Canceling Cologne ASR 136
1 Temple of Sinnoh ASR 155
Energy: 10
8 Grass Energy SVE 1
2 Fire Energy SVE 2Raz Wolpe finished 4th place with Regidrago, a deck we expected the most from in this year’s Worlds and it didn’t disappoint. Many players performed with Regidrago, 6 of which made it into the top 16!
Regidrago VSTAR lets you copy any Dragon Pokemon’s attacks from your discard pile. You’ll mainly copy Dragapult ex’s Phantom Dive attack to spread damage counters, however, this list also includes Giratina VSTAR’s Lost Impact to deal 280 damage. With the addition of Kyurem, you can copy Trifrost attack to hit three Pokemon.
6th Place Raging Bolt Ogerpon
Pokémon: 12
4 Raging Bolt ex TEF 123
4 Teal Mask Ogerpon ex TWM 25
1 Squawkabilly ex PAL 169
1 Fezandipiti ex SFA 38
1 Radiant Greninja ASR 46
1 Sandy Shocks TEF 98
Trainer: 36
4 Professor Sada's Vitality PAR 170
1 Boss's Orders PAL 172
1 Iono PAL 185
4 Nest Ball SVI 181
4 Earthen Vessel PAR 163
4 Trekking Shoes ASR 156
3 Energy Retrieval SVI 171
3 Pokégear 3.0 SVI 186
3 Pokémon Catcher SVI 187
2 Switch Cart ASR 154
1 Prime Catcher TEF 157
1 Pal Pad SVI 182
1 Super Rod PAL 188
2 Bravery Charm PAL 173
2 PokéStop PGO 68
Energy: 12
6 Grass Energy SVE 1
3 Lightning Energy SVE 4
3 Fighting Energy SVE 6Player: James Goreing
One Raging Bolt Ogerpon deck ended its run in the top 8. Raging Bolt ex works alongside Teal Mask Ogerpon ex to activate Bellowing Thunder and deal tons of damage to the opponent’s Pokemon.
Teal Mask Ogerpon ex can attach a Basic Grass Energy through Teal Dance ability and at the same time, it draws a card. So you’re not losing card value, and you’re attaching Basic Energy for Ranging Bolt ex to discard and power up Bellowing Thunder’s damage.
9th Place Lugia Archeops
Pokémon: 21
4 Archeops SIT 147
3 Lugia V SIT 138
3 Lugia VSTAR SIT 139
2 Lumineon V BRS 40
1 Minccino TEF 136
1 Cinccino TEF 137
1 Iron Hands ex PAR 70
1 Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex TWM 141
1 Wyrdeer V ASR 134
1 Raikou V BRS 48
1 Fezandipiti ex SFA 38
1 Squawkabilly ex PAL 169
1 Iron Bundle PAR 56
Trainer: 23
4 Boss's Orders PAL 172
3 Professor's Research SVI 189
2 Iono PAL 185
1 Jacq SVI 175
4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
4 Capturing Aroma SIT 153
2 Nest Ball SVI 181
1 Earthen Vessel PAR 163
2 Mesagoza SVI 178
Energy: 16
4 Double Turbo Energy BRS 151
4 Gift Energy LOR 171
4 Jet Energy PAL 190
1 Legacy Energy TWM 167
1 Mist Energy TEF 161
1 V Guard Energy SIT 169
1 Lightning Energy SVE 4Player: Rahul Reddy
Lugia VSTAR can cheat out Archeops from the discard with its ability, letting you attach two Energies from your deck every turn. Lugia VSTAR is your main damage dealer, but we also rely on Cinccino to push damage depending on the number of Don attached to him.
10th Place Charizard Pidgeot
Pokémon: 19
2 Charmander MEW 4
1 Charmeleon PAF 8
2 Charizard ex OBF 125
2 Pidgey OBF 162
1 Pidgeotto MEW 17
2 Pidgeot ex OBF 164
1 Bidoof BRS 120
1 Bibarel BRS 121
1 Rellor TEF 23
1 Rabsca TEF 24
1 Radiant Charizard CRZ 20
1 Lumineon V BRS 40
1 Fezandipiti ex SFA 38
1 Skwovet SVI 151
1 Cleffa OBF 80
Trainer: 35
4 Arven OBF 186
2 Iono PAL 185
2 Boss's Orders PAL 172
1 Professor Turo's Scenario PAR 171
1 Thorton LOR 167
4 Rare Candy SVI 191
4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144
2 Super Rod PAL 188
2 Counter Catcher PAR 160
1 Unfair Stamp TWM 165
1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
1 Canceling Cologne ASR 136
1 Pal Pad SVI 182
1 Technical Machine: Evolution PAR 178
1 Defiance Band SVI 169
1 Forest Seal Stone SIT 156
1 Collapsed Stadium BRS 137
1 Temple of Sinnoh ASR 155
Energy: 6
5 Fire Energy SVE 2
1 Double Turbo Energy BRS 151Player: Tord Reklev
Charizard Pidgeot came in 10th place. This deck once dominated the meta and although it fell off from the top tier, it continues to perform in tournaments thanks to Charizard ex’s early-on damage. Burning Damage also deals more damage in the late-game, depending on the number of Prize Cards the opponent has taken.
12th Place Gardevoir
Pokémon: 19
4 Ralts ASR 60
4 Kirlia SIT 68
2 Gardevoir ex SVI 86
2 Munkidori TWM 95
1 Cresselia LOR 74
1 Drifloon SVI 89
1 Manaphy BRS 41
1 Radiant Greninja ASR 46
1 Scream Tail PAR 86
1 Klefki SVI 96
1 Flutter Mane TEF 78
Trainer: 32
4 Arven OBF 186
4 Iono PAL 185
1 Professor Turo's Scenario PAR 171
1 Boss's Orders PAL 172
4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144
2 Earthen Vessel PAR 163
2 Counter Catcher PAR 160
2 Ultra Ball SVI 196
1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
1 Nest Ball SVI 181
1 Night Stretcher SFA 61
1 Super Rod PAL 188
1 Unfair Stamp TWM 165
1 Enhanced Hammer TWM 148
2 Technical Machine: Evolution PAR 178
1 Technical Machine: Devolution PAR 177
1 Bravery Charm PAL 173
2 Artazon PAL 171
Energy: 9
7 Psychic Energy SVE 5
2 Darkness Energy SVE 7Player: Luo Tian Qing
16th Place Chien-Pao Baxcalibur
Pokémon: 17
2 Frigibax PAL 57
1 Frigibax PAF 17
2 Baxcalibur PAL 60
2 Bidoof CRZ 111
2 Bibarel BRS 121
2 Chien-Pao ex PAL 61
1 Origin Forme Palkia V ASR 39
1 Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR ASR 40
1 Radiant Greninja ASR 46
1 Iron Hands ex PAR 70
1 Fezandipiti ex SFA 38
1 Iron Bundle PAR 56
Trainer: 34
4 Irida ASR 147
1 Ciphermaniac's Codebreaking TEF 145
1 Iono PAL 185
1 Cyllene ASR 138
4 Superior Energy Retrieval PAL 189
4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144
4 Nest Ball SVI 181
4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
3 Rare Candy SVI 191
2 Super Rod PAL 188
1 Night Stretcher SFA 61
1 Earthen Vessel PAR 163
1 Hisuian Heavy Ball ASR 146
1 Prime Catcher TEF 157
2 PokéStop PGO 68
Energy: 9
8 Water Energy SVE 3
1 Lightning Energy SVE 4Player: Lucas Xing