With Mega Brave out of the way, it’s time to check out what the other half of this expansion has in store for its players by looking at the new Trainer cards on offer.
Suspicious Clock
Devolve 1 of your evolved Psychic-type Pokemon by returning any number of Evolution cards on it to your hand. (That Pokémon can't evolve this turn.)
At first glance, Suspicious Clock may feel more like pack filler than anything viable. Players would have to ask themselves why they’d undo all the effort in evolving their Psychic-type Pokemon in the first place.
Thinking about the card more, however, it does offer prize card protection if you’re active ex Pokemon is in danger of knockout. Devolving an already bloodied Pokemon would more than likely still knock them out, but at least the opponent won’t get the full complement of prize cards.
Toolbox decks using the Terra version of Sylveon ex could use Suspicious Clock to free up the Eevee underneath to use another Eeveelution the following turn.
There’s some utility with this card, and creative pilots and deck builders can make use of it, but it does suffer from not being able to further the win condition of the deck on its own.
Lush Forest
Each player's Grass-type Pokemon can evolve into another Grass-type Pokemon during the turn they play those Pokémon. (Players can't evolve a Pokémon during their first turn.)
This Stadium card has players excited as it can single-handedly carry any Grass-type focused deck that makes use of non-Basic evolutionary Pokemon; even more than Rare Candy ever could.
Mega Venusaur ex and Meganium releasing in this paired expansion could theoretically go online as early as the second turn if you’re able to gather the pieces together.
Even Yanmega ex from Destined Rivals could be nitro-boosted into the frontlines if the controlling player was unfortunate to start without a Yanma in the opening hand.
As a Stadium, Grass-type decks could use it as a tool to override Stadiums like Spikemuth Gym, while furthering their own win condition.
Surfing Beach
Once during each player’s turn, that player may switch their Active Water Pokemon with 1 of their Benched Water Pokemon.
Players of Pokemon Pocket may find some familiarity with Surfing Beach with the Ultra Beast, Celesteela.
A once-per-turn switch between the active zone and bench is a considerably powerful tool. It allows players to bypass high retreat costs without sacrificing any of the other hard-earned attached energy, like the upcoming Mega Abomasnow ex and its whopping 4-energy retreat cost.
Surfing Beach also gives a bit more context into the recently revealed Clawitizer and its ability to accelerate Water-type energy when moving back to the bench.
This card may not put Water-type focused decks into the high leagues of competitive tournaments, but it does shore up some much-needed support that more rogue strategies are always on the lookout for.
Mystery Garden
Once during each player's turn, that player may discard 1 Energy card from their hand. If they do, that player draws cards until they have as many cards in hand as they have Psychic Pokemon in play.
If Lush Forest had Grass-type enthusiasts brimming with excitement, Mystery Garden might have the opposite effect for those fatigued from Gardevoir ex plaguing the tournament scene.
Not only does this Stadium card work resoundingly well with the said Psychic-type, but it also functions as a very powerful draw engine.
Gardevoir ex decks are able to field almost an entire roster of Psychic-type Pokemon. A controlling player can easily recoup the discarded energy with Gardevoir ex and still reap the benefits of a fresh batch of up to 6 new cards into the hand.
This kind of draw power for a deck archetype that is essentially leading the competitive scene with its consistency, speed, and comparable power is pretty ludicrous.
With Jellicent ex already in the picture thanks to White Flare, it feels like the reign of Gardevoir ex as one of the best decks will last until it’s finally rotated out of the format.