Shining Revelry Review: Pokémon ex, Trainers, and New Decks!

The new Pokémon Pocket set, Shining Revelry, is finally here!

In this article, we'll go through all the new Pokémon ex, Trainers, and other relevant cards that might be meta soon. We'll also rate them from 1 to 5 stars, and show you a few interesting lists you can build with them.

Let's go!

Trainers are always the most impactful cards in a new set. In fact, when all the other sets came out, they ended up defining the meta, and many became "staples" in their own archetypes.

Shining Revelry is no different. Actually, we believe these new Trainers could very well become the best cards in the game really soon!

Iono - ★★★★☆

Iono is a new way to draw cards, which is not a common mechanic in the game yet. However, she doesn't draw extra cards: instead, she only swaps the same number of cards you have in hand with new cards from your deck.

Depending on your opening hand (for instance, if you started out "bricked"), this effect can be quite strong. Yet, if you end up with just a few cards in hand, this one included, Iono is often a "dead" card herself.

She'll be very popular, as she is a great card, but only one copy of her will be enough for meta decks. She'll also fix your hand in some critical moments, particularly when you can't play anything else.

Pokémon Center Lady - ★★★☆☆

Currently, many strategies benefit from heals. In fact, any card that heals more than 20 HP, like Pokémon Center Lady, will be extremely strong in the meta.

That is because most cards only heal up to 20 HP, like Potion and Butterfree's effect.

Pokémon Center Lady could be better, though. Her effect also removes special conditions, which is a bit redundant because most decks nowadays play Arceus ex - and this Pokémon is immune to special conditions.

This means that these lists won't get a lot from Pokémon Center Lady. They might even prefer Potion, considering this is an Item that you can play more than once per turn, unlike Trainers.

Meanwhile, the other lists that could use Pokémon Center Lady will prefer Irida, who heals any Pokémon with Water energies attached by 40 HP.

This means that Pokémon Center Lady doesn't fit the meta decks all that well, and could struggle to find a home, at least in the first few days of the new set.

Red - ★★★★★

Red is already the best card in Pokémon Pocket (possibly), as well as a staple for nearly all meta decks.

Most meta strategies use Pokémon ex, so Red's effect, which lets you deal more damage to these Pokémon, will be incredible in practically all decks in the game.

All lists seeing play right now should start playing at least two copies of this card.

This effect has already been strong once before. It was very popular when the last set came along, more specifically in Fighting lists with Sudowoodo.

In fact, the meta might start orbiting NOEX decks because of how oppressive Red will be against Pokémon ex.

In addition, lists that don't start the game with Pokémon ex in the active spot, like Darkrai ex and Druddigon with Magneton, could return to the meta because of how popular Red will be competitively.

Team Rocket Grunt - ★★★★★

Team Rocket Grunt will also be one of the best cards in the meta.

This card lets you discard energies attached to the opponent's active Pokémon, so it can destroy any strategy in the game completely.

This card will most likely become problematic, like Misty. Both rely on "luck", as you need to hit heads to use their effects.

The most significant difference between Team Rocket Grunt and Misty, however, is that discarding one or more energies from the opponent's active Pokémon is a lot more impactful than attaching energies to your own Pokémon.

Depending on the matchup, discarding one or two energies attached to the opponent's active Pokémon will disrupt their game plan so much that they won't be able to answer in any way. On the other side, they would be able to answer Misty with a Sabrina, Cyrus, or any special condition. There's nothing in Pokémon Pocket that can answer Team Rocket Grunt.

This set - which includes only one booster - has more Pokémon ex than all other sets. In all, it brought us 9 new Pokémon ex.

Unfortunately, in terms of "power level", Shining Revelry's Pokémon ex aren't stronger than last set's Pokémon ex. In fact, most of them are weak, don't fit any deck, or can't compete with the current meta decks (Arceus ex & Dialga ex) on equal ground.

Still, a few of them are interesting and could start seeing play competitively next to the best decks in the meta.

Beedrill ex - ★★★☆☆

This Beedrill ex is slow and doesn't deal much damage, but it goes really well with the current meta. It also complements this set's entire theme, discarding energies attached to enemy Pokémon, rather well.

We were going to give it two stars, but its support kit - Weedle and Kakuna - have great effects that make this deck balanced, dynamic, and cohesive.

Weedle lets you get other Weedles from your deck, and Kakuna Paralyzes the opponent's active Pokémon.

If you play Leafeon ex in this list, it can perform rather well and might even become a competitive, "b-tier", meta deck.

Charizard ex A2b-010 - ★☆☆☆☆

Unfortunately, there is no reason to play this Charizard ex. Charizard ex A2b-010 is much worse than the original version, from the very first Pokémon Pocket set.

Its effect attaches energies to it, which seems strong, but, in practice, is extremely redundant because the current Charizard ex list already attaches Fire energies to Pokémon with Moltres ex.

Its main attack deals 150 damage for 5 energies, and, as such, is the most expensive attack of the game so far. Just to compare: the first Charizard ex ever released, from the first set, deals 200 damage for 4 energies.

It might not force you to discard its own energies after it attacks, but Charizard ex A2b-010 is actually much slower than the first version, and deals less damage too.

Below, check out a list with the new Charizard exA2b-010, but keep in mind that it is actually better without it.

Wugtrio ex - ★★☆☆☆

This Wugtrio ex is fun and deals damage to Benched enemy Pokémon, but it is less efficient than other Water Pokémon in the meta, and will hardly see play competitively.

Currently, Water lists are well-rounded, and all decks that use this type of energy are practically closed - so they aren't interested in any new card. Wugtrio ex simply doesn't complement or overshadows any current archetype.

As there is already a Water deck that deals damage to the enemy bench, with Greninja, everything conspires against Wugtrio ex. It's just not the proper time to play it.

Pikachu ex A2b-022 - ★☆☆☆☆

Just like Charizard ex A2b-010, Pikachu ex A2b-022 is an infinitely worse version of the first Pikachu ex, released in the first set. There is no reason to play it.

The first Pikachu ex is the best Electric card in the entire game, and all decks that use this type of energy play it. This new Pikachu ex can even see some play in the current Electric archetype just to fill the board, as this strategy relies on filling your board with Pokémon to deal more damage.

However, there are many basic Electric Pokémon much better than Pikachu ex A2b-022, with stronger effects that complement the entire archetype a lot better.

Giratina ex - ★★★★☆

One of the few strong Pokémon ex in this set is Giratina ex, which might just make Psychic decks powerful again. Because it is extremely flexible and has a powerful effect, it might even inspire new decks or complement well-established archetypes.

Still, it won't define the next meta, and won't be one of the strongest cards around. Giratina ex is simply a great support card for various Psychic decks that fit its game style.

In most of these decks, Giratina ex will be a last-case scenario win condition, that type of card that you only put in the active spot when everything else failed.

You can build a "18t" deck (an archetype that uses 18 Trainers and two copies of a certain Pokémon) with it. In fact, as it lets you attach energies faster than usual, it can be an excellent frontline Pokémon, which is great in a 18T strategy.

Here are some lists that could play Giratina ex:

Lucario ex - ★★★☆☆

Though it seems slow, Lucario ex is not that slow in practice, and can be an excellent carry or ACE Pokémon (the main Pokémon in a deck).

Its attack only deals 100 damage, which is not a lot for the current meta. However, as it is strong against Arceus ex (the best deck in the meta, and Fighting lists often buff their Pokémon attacks, you'll certainly deal more than 100 damage with Lucario ex).

Its greatest strength is that it deals damage to Benched enemy Pokémon, which goes really well with Cyrus effect - one of the best cards in the game right now. With Cyrus, you'll be able to pull damaged Pokémon into the active spot, Knock them Out, and make up for dealing less damage overall.

Paldean Clodsire ex - ★★☆☆☆

This might be one of the unluckiest cards in the entire set, along with Wugtrio ex.

Unfortunately, the entire meta is conspiring against Paldean Clodsire ex. The best deck in the meta, Arceus ex, is immune to special conditions, so it can't be Poisoned, and, as such, it won't take extra damage from Paldean Clodsire ex's main attack.

Furthermore, Darkness decks aren't well-positioned in the meta and struggle against Lucario lists (Fighting lists). Poison archetypes also struggle in the meta because of how easily we can retreat Pokémon right now.

Currently, the Arbok from the first set is essential in this archetype because it prevents your opponent from retreating their active Pokémon. A deck with Weezing + Arbok + Paldean Clodsire ex would be too heavy and inefficient, so you'll hardly be able to use Paldean Clodsire ex overall.

For now, this Pokémon won't be able to find space in the meta. At most, it will see play in a tier-4 deck that won't be competitive anywhere, including the future ranked queue.

Tinkaton ex - ★★★☆☆

Because of Dialga ex, any Metal deck is automatically a consistent list, and makes sense in competitive settings.

Tinkaton ex can deal a lot of damage if you hit heads, and, though it has three evolutions, it is a great ACE Pokémon.

The problem is that we already have much better, more efficient Pokémon to play, like Arceus ex. In fact, Tinkaton ex is a "worse" Arceus ex.

So, we can't find many good reasons to play Tinkaton ex if you have Arceus ex, but it is a great Pokémon.

Bibarel ex - ★☆☆☆☆

Bibarel ex or Charizard ex A2b-010, which is worse? We can't tell.

Bibarel ex might be one of the most inefficient cards in the entire game, as well as one of the slowest. It only deals 100 damage for 4 energies.

It does have a lot of HP and heals itself with its attack, but Bibarel ex is less efficient than all the other Pokémon ex in the game.

Any strategy in the game deals more damage or puts more pressure on the opponent than this Pokémon.

The main idea behind it is to use it as a frontline/tank Pokémon, and even in that role it is worse than Grass lists, which play many incredibly strong heals.

Bibarel ex is even worse than Tinkaton ex, and Tinkaton ex was already a worse Arceus ex. This means Bibarel ex is at the very bottom of the tier list right now.

Let's see a few Pokémon that might show up in the next meta and stand out from the others.

Meowscarada

Meowscarada can be a great alternative if you're trying to prey on the Pokémon ex that are dominating the meta.

Its attack deals 130 damage to Pokémon ex.

Its greatest strength is that its previous evolutions have great effects that make its entire archetype more balanced, just like Beedrill ex.

Sprigatito's attack, for instance, looks in your deck for any Grass Pokémon and adds it to your hand, so it makes the entire archetype a lot more consistent.

Pachirisu

Pachirisu can be a great addition to Pikachu ex lists.

So far, there wasn't a card in the game that attached Electric energies to your Pokémon. With Pachirisu, these lists can become even faster and more powerful.

In fact, Pachirisu might, on its own, put Electric decks back in the competitive meta. These lists, which were once the best lists in the game, might show up in tournaments again.

Revavroom

This Pokémon might not deal a lot of damage, but it is virtually immortal if you always hit heads.

Tank Pokémon are very common in Metal lists, and Revavroom's attack effect fits these lists rather well.

Revavroom might become one of the best Pokémon in the NOEX format, where slower strategies actually work and effects that protect your Pokémon are incredibly strong.

If you read this far, thank you! I hope you had fun, and enjoyed reading this article.

Don't forget to share.

See you next time!