On March 27, 2025, the Pokémon TCG will undergo its annual Standard format rotation, marking a major shake-up in the meta. This year, we’re saying goodbye to a number of staple cards that have defined competitive play, forcing players to rethink their deck strategies. As older sets rotate out, new strategies will emerge, making way for fresh archetypes to rise.
At the same time, Japan’s meta is already adapting to the post-rotation landscape, giving us an early glimpse of what’s to come in the West. In this article, we’ll break down the best decks in the new Standard format, and what insights we can gather from Japan’s evolving meta.
Dragapult Dusknoir
Pokémon: 21
4 Dreepy TWM 128
4 Drakloak TWM 129
3 Dragapult ex TWM 130
2 Duskull BRS 60
1 Dusclops PRE 36
2 Dusknoir PRE 37
2 Budew PRE 4
1 Fezandipiti ex SFA 38
1 Hawlucha SVI 118
1 Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex TWM 141
Trainer: 33
4 Arven OBF 186
3 Iono PAL 185
2 Brock's Scouting SV9 96
1 Boss's Orders PAL 172
1 Crispin SCR 133
4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144
3 Ultra Ball SVI 196
2 Rare Candy SVI 191
2 Counter Catcher PAR 160
1 Super Rod PAL 188
1 Switch SVI 194
1 Night Stretcher SFA 61
1 Earthen Vessel PAR 163
1 Unfair Stamp TWM 165
1 Bravery Charm PAL 173
1 Technical Machine: Evolution PAR 178
1 Rescue Board TEF 159
1 Defiance Band SVI 169
1 Exp. Share SVI 174
1 Artazon PAF 76
Energy: 6
3 Fire Energy SVE 10
3 Psychic Energy SVE 13The Dragapult Dusknoir deck plays aggressively, using Dragapult’s low-cost attack Phantom Dive to deal 200 damage to the opponent’s Active Pokemon and putting 6 damage counters on the opponent’s Benched Pokemon however you like. This can get you a knock out on low HP Pokemon or at least drop a Pokemon low enough for you to knock out later in the game.
Dusknoir offers additional damage with Cursed Blast, securing a knock out on key Pokemon and giving you Prize cards. Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex joins in the late game, dealing 240 damage with its Blood Moon attack to knock out a Pokemon and win you the game.
Ogerpon Box
Pokémon: 22
4 Hoothoot SCR 114
4 Noctowl PRE 78
3 Teal Mask Ogerpon ex TWM 25
2 Wellspring Mask Ogerpon ex PRE 27
2 Lillie's Clefairy ex SV9 33
1 Mew ex MEW 151
1 Fezandipiti ex SFA 38
1 Latias ex SSP 76
1 Pikachu ex SSP 57
1 Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex TWM 141
1 Ditto MEW 132
1 Fan Rotom PRE 85
Trainer: 28
4 Crispin PRE 105
2 Boss's Orders PAL 172
1 Iono PAL 185
1 Professor Turo's Scenario PRE 121
1 Professor's Research PAF 87
4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
4 Nest Ball SVI 181
2 Energy Switch SVI 173
2 Night Stretcher SFA 61
1 Earthen Vessel PAR 163
1 Sparkling Crystal PRE 129
1 Rescue Board PRE 126
1 Lillie's Pearl SV9 93
3 Area Zero Underdepths PRE 94
Energy: 10
5 Grass Energy SVE 9
2 Psychic Energy SVE 5
1 Water Energy SVE 3
1 Lightning Energy SVE 4
1 Metal Energy SVE 8This has been one of the strongest decks in the meta, and it can be teched differently depending on which deck you’re targeting. It makes it difficult for your opponent to set up their strategy, sniping out the opponent’s Benched Pokemon with Wellspring Mask Ogerpon ex. Lillie’s Clefairy ex’s ability weakens opponent’s Dragons, adding more damage to your Psychic attacks.
Teal Mask Ogerpon ex’s Teal Dance is a draw engine, drawing you a card when attaching Grass Energy. Eventually, Teal Mask Ogerpon ex’s Myriad Leaf Shower becomes a deadly attack, dealing 30 extra damage for each Energy attached to both Active Pokemon.
Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex and Pikachu ex are alternative damage dealers, whom you’ll rely on to one-shot an opponent’s Pokemon and secure Prize cards to win the game.
Flareon ex Noctowl Box
Pokémon: 21
3 Hoothoot SCR 114
3 Noctowl SCR 115
1 Eevee SSP 143
1 Eevee OBF 166
2 Flareon ex PRE 14
1 Sylveon ex PRE 41
2 Fan Rotom SCR 118
1 Eevee ex PRE 75
1 Mew ex MEW 151
1 Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex TWM 141
1 Victini SSP 21
1 Latias ex SSP 76
1 Fezandipiti ex SFA 38
1 Lillie's Clefairy ex SV9 115
1 Wellspring Mask Ogerpon ex PRE 27
Trainer: 30
3 Crispin SCR 133
2 Boss's Orders PAL 172
1 Professor's Research SVI 189
1 Iono PAL 185
1 Black Belt's Training PRE 99
1 Professor Turo's Scenario PRE 121
1 Professor's Research PAF 87
4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144
4 Nest Ball SVI 181
4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
1 Tera Orb SSP 189
1 Glass Trumpet SCR 135
1 Earthen Vessel PAR 163
1 Switch SVI 194
1 Night Stretcher SFA 61
1 Unfair Stamp TWM 165
2 Area Zero Underdepths SCR 131
Energy: 9
3 Fire Energy SVE 10
2 Water Energy SVE 11
2 Lightning Energy SVE 12
2 Psychic Energy SVE 5Flareon ex is the main damage dealer, which we’ll evolve from an Eevee. Flareon ex’s Burning Charge deals 130 damage to the opponent’s Active Pokemon and searches your deck for 2 Basic energy cards and attaches them to one of your Pokemon, a great attack to get another one of your Pokemon ready to take over.
Carnelian is the real damage dealer, pushing 280 damage to the opponent’s Active Pokemon, but it means Flareon ex won’t be able to attack on your upcoming turn. If you have Victini on the bench, your Flareon ex attacks will deal an extra 10 damage, which can one-shot higher HP Pokemon.
Sylveon ex and Lillie’s Clefairy ex synergize together to one-shot Dragon type Pokemon like Dragapult with Sylveon ex’s Magical Charm attack.
Archaludon ex
Pokémon: 16
4 Duraludon SCR 106
4 Archaludon ex SSP 130
2 Dunsparce PAL 156
2 Dudunsparce PRE 80
1 Squawkabilly ex PAL 169
1 Fezandipiti ex SFA 38
1 Relicanth TEF 84
1 Hop's Zacian ex SV9 69
Trainer: 35
4 Professor's Research SVI 189
3 Boss's Orders PAL 172
3 Iono PAL 185
2 Professor Turo's Scenario PAR 171
4 Night Stretcher SFA 61
4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
3 Nest Ball SVI 181
3 Earthen Vessel PAR 163
2 Pokégear 3.0 SVI 186
1 Pal Pad SVI 182
1 Scoop Up Cyclone TWM 162
3 Vengeful Punch OBF 197
2 Artazon PAF 76
Energy: 9
9 Metal Energy SVE 16Archaludon ex is a Stage 1 Pokemon that evolves from Duraludon. This Pokemon relies on your discard pile to get the most out of its Assemble Alloy ability, attaching 2 Metal Energy from your discard pile to your Metal Pokemon in any way you like. This makes Archaludon ex a solo carry Pokemon, capable of setting itself to attack with Metal Defender, and dealing 220 damage to the opponent’s Pokemon.
Metal Defender also removes the weakness from Archaludon ex, which is useful against Fire type Pokemon. Relicanth’s Memory Dive allows Archaludon ex to copy Duraludon Raging Hammer, so if it has a lot of damage, it can go for an attack stronger than Metal Defender.
Hop’s Zacian ex is another attack that can deal 30 damage to one of the opponent’s Benched Pokemon, or go for a 240 damage attack with Brave Slash.
Raging Bolt Ogerpon
Pokémon: 17
2 Hoothoot SCR 114
1 Hoothoot PRE 77
3 Noctowl PRE 78
3 Raging Bolt ex TEF 123
3 Teal Mask Ogerpon ex TWM 25
1 Squawkabilly ex PAL 169
1 Fezandipiti ex SFA 38
1 Slither Wing PAR 107
1 Fan Rotom PRE 85
1 Latias ex SSP 76
Trainer: 31
4 Professor Sada's Vitality PAR 170
2 Boss's Orders PAL 172
1 Iono PAL 185
1 Briar PRE 100
4 Nest Ball SVI 181
3 Earthen Vessel PAR 163
3 Ultra Ball PAF 91
2 Night Stretcher SFA 61
2 Energy Retrieval SVI 171
1 Pal Pad SVI 182
1 Prime Catcher TEF 157
1 Superior Energy Retrieval PAL 189
3 Bravery Charm PAL 173
2 Area Zero Underdepths PRE 94
1 Jamming Tower TWM 153
Energy: 12
6 Grass Energy SVE 9
3 Fighting Energy SVE 14
3 Lightning Energy SVE 12Raging Bolt plays aggressively, only needs 2 Energy to attack with Bellowing Thunder. This attack deals 70 damage for each Energy you attach from any of your Pokemon, which means you can discard Energy from Benched Pokemon to add more damage to your attacks. This is where Teal Mask Ogerpon ex’s Teal Mask comes into play, allowing you to attach Grass Energy on Teal Mask Ogerpon ex and give you extra Energy cards to discard to pump Raging Bolts attacks and one-shot higher HP Pokemon.
Charizard ex Pidgeot ex
Pokémon: 18
4 Charmander MEW 4
1 Charmeleon PAF 8
1 Charmeleon MEW 5
2 Charizard ex OBF 125
2 Pidgey OBF 162
1 Pidgeotto MEW 17
2 Pidgeot ex OBF 164
2 Duskull PRE 35
1 Dusclops PRE 36
1 Dusknoir PRE 37
1 Fezandipiti ex SFA 38
Trainer: 36
4 Arven OBF 186
3 Iono PAL 185
2 Boss's Orders PAL 172
2 Giovanni's Exile HIF 57
1 Briar SCR 132
1 Professor Turo's Scenario PAR 171
4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144
3 Rare Candy SVI 191
2 Super Rod PAL 188
2 Counter Catcher PAR 160
2 Nest Ball SVI 181
1 Energy Search SVI 172
2 Technical Machine: Evolution PAR 178
1 Defiance Band SVI 169
1 Hero's Cape TEF 152
1 Artazon PAF 76
Energy: 6
6 Fire Energy SVE 10Pidgeot ex sits in the back and starts searching for the cards you need to set up your win condition. Charmander + Charizard ex + Rare Candy is usually the go-to play to have a Charizard ex as soon as possible. From there, Charizard ex carries the game, capable of attaching Energy to himself through his Infernal Reign ability. Infernal Reign will look into your deck for three Basic Fire Energy and attach them.
Charizard ex‘s Burning Darkness deals 180 damage. However, that attack gains more damage the more Prize cards your opponent takes. With each card they take, Burning Darkness gains 30 extra damage, so you can push up to 330 damage if your opponent took 5 Prize cards.
Gholdengo
Pokémon: 18
4 Gimmighoul SSP 97
4 Gholdengo ex PAR 139
4 Dunsparce TEF 128
3 Dudunsparce PRE 80
1 Dudunsparce ex SV9 79
1 Munkidori TWM 95
1 Fezandipiti ex SFA 38
Trainer: 31
4 Arven OBF 186
3 Ciphermaniac's Codebreaking TEF 145
2 Boss's Orders PAL 172
1 Iono PAF 80
4 Superior Energy Retrieval PAL 189
4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144
3 Ultra Ball SVI 196
2 Nest Ball SVI 181
1 Night Stretcher SFA 61
1 Earthen Vessel PAR 163
1 Energy Search Pro SSP 176
1 Energy Retrieval SVI 171
1 Counter Catcher PAR 160
2 Technical Machine: Evolution PAR 178
1 Jamming Tower TWM 153
Energy: 11
3 Metal Energy SVE 16
2 Darkness Energy SVE 15
1 Water Energy SVE 11
1 Fire Energy SVE 10
1 Psychic Energy SVE 13
1 Grass Energy SVE 9
1 Fighting Energy SVE 14
1 Lightning Energy SVE 12Gholdengo ex decks focus on its “Make It Rain” attack, which deals 50 damage per Basic Energy discarded from your hand, making Energy retrieval and draw power essential. Its “Coin Bonus” ability helps sustain resources, while cards like Superior Energy Retrieval and Earthen Vessel ensure Energy flow.
Dudunsparce ex is the second damage dealer to help Gholdengo ex out. Dudunsparce ex’s Adversarial Tail requires 1 Colorless Energy to activate, dealing 60 damage for each of the opponent’s Pokemon ex in play.
