Next on the Chopping Block – Standard Rotation for 2017-2018

As time inevitably marches on, so too does the Standard format. This year, we lose access to Primal Clash, Roaring Skies, and Ancient Origins, along with all XY promos before XY67.

Remembering the Lost

This rotation includes huge losses from the Trainer pool for almost every deck. Both Lysandre and VS Seeker, very common staples, will have to be replaced.

VS Seeker

 This is probably the most important card to rotate. VS Seeker allows decks to discard Supporters without risk, and makes running one-of Supporters much safer. Olympia is the best example for this. It was valued in many decks as a recyclable switch effect, and was played mainly because of this. While Tapu Lele can aid in getting Supporters, thicker Supporter lines will be necessary to draw into them more often. This will decrease bad opening hands, but require more caution over the course of the game because once the Supporter is gone, it isn’t coming back.

Lysandre

The rotation of Lysandre would be completely reform the game if Burning Shadows wasn’t our next set. With Guzma coming soon, the switch will be much easier than losing VS Seeker. However, it won’t be completely seamless. Lysandre just did what it was supposed to. When you play it, it brings a benched Pokémon to the active spot. Guzma does this, but forces you to switch as well. The second portion can act as a free switch card, or as a Lysandre for your opponent. There are definitely situations where having a mandated switch can be a downfall, but Pokémon with free retreat can navigate around this.

Shaymin EX

Shaymin was immediately latched onto for its massive draw power and ability to be played in any deck. It fueled decks like Rayquaza and Night March by allowing them to burn through the entire deck in one turn. Even though it will limit certain decks, will it really change the format? If results from Internationals hold steady, then it won’t. Out of the top 8 Masters, only three copies of the card were played. Despite the previous craze for Shaymin, Tapu Lele has taken its place.

M Rayquaza - EX

The heaviest hitter has fallen. Rayquaza’s ability to hit massive numbers for very little energy made it a problem for certain decks to deal with, and had its own corner of the meta. While Pokémon like Metagross can hit for a lot of damage, none go as far as Rayquaza can. With the Sky Guardian’s absence, decks that aim to take multiple hits are now more viable. Ignoring weakness, very few Pokémon can make it past 230 damage to take down a Pokemon like Metagross.

Vileplume

Vileplume was the last remaining option for Item lock, and while it will remove this mechanic, it still won’t change the number of Items that are played. Garbodor’s presence will ensure that Items are restricted. The more important card to talk about becomes Forest of Giant Plants. Always a partner to Vileplume, Forest enabled a number of slow decks that wouldn’t otherwise be possible. Decidueye will certainly miss this Stadium, and it rotates two months early to ever see play with the new Venusaur.

These are the most important cards that rotate, but out of the three sets that go there are many more. Below is a table highlighting some of the other cards that could’ve seen play.

 The Lucky Survivors

For whatever reason, TPCi decided not to rotate either of the BREAK sets. This leaves a few powerful cards that will leave an impact on the upcoming standard year.

Float Stone

Being a card from BREAKthrough, it was a natural assumption that Float Stone would not stay in Standard long enough to see its new partners. Float Stone turns any Pokémon into a free retreater, which is almost necessary when dealing with Guzma. Free retreat ensures that the potential drawback from the switch is always an upside. Float Stone is also going to boost Goliospod’s power. The constant switching is made a lot simpler when there is no cost attached to it.

Zoroark

Another card that cheated the rotation is Zoroark. If it wasn’t powerful enough on its own, Zoroark will be able to slide easily into the deck that plays the other Zoroark, and if nothing else will be used for Stand In with a Float Stone. It is a good attacker, and gets so much better with Zoroark GX.

Espeon EX

This card should not be playable in Standard, just from its power level. Espeon EX was perfectly fine when it was printed. No decks used Rare Candy, and very few used evolutions. It had no way to prevent the opponent from playing those evolutions right back down again. Now, this card is going to be a huge opposition to evolution decks. The colorless energy means it can be played in anything, and spreading damage is not hard in the current meta. Necrozma GX will be a great partner to this. It can spread 100 damage to all GXs, then Espeon EX will devolve them and KO all of them at once, pretty much winning the game.

Conclusion

While the rotation only really removes a few key trainers, it doesn’t remove enough of the Pokemon. There are still quite a few powerful ones from XY which will continue to control the format’s structure over the upcoming standard year.