By Ellis Longhurst, Contributing Writer

Uncover exciting strategies with cards from the Pokémon Trading Card Game: Scarlet & Violet—Shrouded Fable expansion. This set brings over 95 powerful Pokémon and Trainer cards from Kitakami to the battlefield, including Pokémon ex versions of the three loyal Pokémon: Okidogi ex, Munkidori ex, and Fezandipiti ex. But don’t be deceived by the size of this set: Scarlet & Violet—Shrouded Fable has several Pokémon that will make an immediate impact on the metagame and others that are likely to feature in future chapters of the competitive Pokémon TCG narrative. Read on to find out which cards will create the best storylines.

A Study in Pecharunt ex

The journey begins for a new archetype and its hero, Pecharunt ex. This Pokémon unites the Darkness-type Pokémon of Scarlet & Violet—Shrouded Fable through its unconventional Ability. Subjugating Chains can switch a Benched Darkness-type Pokémon into the Active Spot, which makes it more difficult for control decks like Snorlax to dictate play. The effect even has synergy with Dark Patch too. But that’s not the whole story.

The Pokémon that Subjugating Chains moves to the Active Spot becomes Poisoned, which is just peachy for Okidogi ex! When Poisoned, its Chain-Crazed attack does 130 more damage to an opponent’s Active Pokémon. If you add a Binding Mochi to the mix, Okidogi ex can Knock Out almost every Pokémon in one hit. Charizard ex and Dragapult ex have a huge number of hit points, so unveil Brute Bonnet and Radiant Hisuian Sneasler to take Prize cards by dishing out your own poison. Their Abilities in combination with Pecharunt’s Toxic Subjugation can also facilitate a Knock Out on some Basic Pokémon without even using an attack.

The new Janine’s Secret Art Supporter card offers another way to poison Okidogi ex, while also accelerating Darkness Energy into play and enabling hand refreshment through Crobat’s Shadowy Envoy Ability. If you pick your poison wisely, you just might pick up a victory.

The Legend of Fezandipiti ex

Good fortune follows Fezandipiti ex onto the battlefield. If any of your Pokémon were Knocked Out during your opponent’s turn, its Flip the Script Ability enables you to draw three cards. This may not sound like equivalent value, but that draw power can be the difference between finding the combination pieces to continue your strategy or becoming a footnote in your opponent’s triumphant tale. Once upon a time, Oricorio-GX had an Ability with the same effect and was played to great success in top decks.

The popularity of Iono, Roxanne, and Unfair Stamp in the competitive metagame makes Fezandipiti ex even more valuable. The hand-disrupting effects of these Trainer cards is the reason that players often lose momentum in the late game or are reluctant to take Prize cards in the early game. Thus, the protection afforded by Flip the Script may encourage the pursuit of more aggressive lines of play.

Charizard ex benefits greatly from the inclusion of Fezandipiti ex. This deck requires loads of pieces to execute its strategy and gives up early Prize cards via the Knock Out of Pokémon like Charmander, Pidgey, and Bidoof. As a Basic Pokémon with high Hit Points, Fezandipiti ex requires no additional set-up to use its Ability and is less susceptible to being Knocked Out on the Bench than Bibarel. Fortunately, Pokémon like Iron Thorns ex and Klefki that can stop the script from being flipped are rarely in the Active Spot after a Knock Out, which means Fezandipiti ex is a low-risk option. Consider reducing the number of Bibarel and Bidoof in your Charizard ex deck to create space for Fezandipiti ex and additional supporting Pokémon. Remember, fortune favors the bold.

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dusknoir

The tales about Dusknoir are frightfully good. Prepare for this Pokémon to upset the top decks with Cursed Blast, which puts 13 damage counters on one of the opponent’s Pokémon. On the one hand, this Ability could be combined with an attack to take multiple Knock Outs in one turn. On the other more sinister hand, it could set up a one-hit Knock Out on a Pokémon with otherwise insurmountable Hit Points. Thirteen is unlucky for some, namely your opponent.

It would be a grave mistake to forget about Dusclops, as its Cursed Blast Ability places 5 damage counters on one of the opponent’s Pokémon. In combination with the Abilities of Pokémon like Hawlucha, Radiant Alakazam, or Munkidori, Dusclop’s Cursed Blast can Knock Out most of the Basic Pokémon without a rule box found in the top decks. Alternatively, it could enable the new Bloodmoon Ursaluna to do 250 damage with Mad Bite. Seeing a Duskull across the battlefield will surely send a chill down the spine of any player and force them to reconsider their gameplan.

The catch is that Dusknoir and Dusclops are Knocked Out after they use Cursed Blast…but this is not as scary as it seems. Enabling your opponent to take the lead on Prize cards improves the disruptive power of Iono and means that you can proactively control the game through Trainer cards like Unfair Stamp, Counter Catcher, and maybe Roxanne. This is particularly effective when combined with a Knock Out on a Pokémon like Radiant Greninja or Bibarel. Giving up a Prize card also increases the damage done by Charizard ex and Pecharunt ex and makes it cheaper for Radiant Charizard to attack.

The spiritual home for Dusknoir and Dusclops is in a deck that places and manipulates damage counters. However, these ghosts could easily complement any strategy.

In Search of Lost Box Kyurem

To cut a long story short, Kyurem is remarkable. Its Trifrost attack does 110 damage to three of the opponent’s Pokémon. That’s enough damage to Knock Out loads of popular Pokémon without rule boxes in one hit. When Kyurem is able to attack during the early game, it won’t be a fairytale ending for Evolution decks like Charizard ex, Gardevoir ex, or Dragapult ex. Players will try to protect their Pokémon by using Manaphy’s Wave Veil Ability, so make sure your Kyurem deck includes a Canceling Cologne and a way to switch Manaphy into the Active Spot.

If Lost Box decks are the talk of the town, Kyurem should be at the top of all of your deck lists. Kyurem’s Plasma Bane Ability reduces the attack cost of Trifrost to one Colorless Energy when the opponent has any cards in their discard pile with “Colress” in the name. That creates drama for Lost Box because it relies on Colress’s Experiment to quickly put cards into the Lost Zone. Let this also be a cautionary tale to any admirers of the new Colress’s Tenacity Supporter card.

Otherwise, the high and mixed Energy cost of Trifrost means that Kyurem will only be a roaring success in certain archetypes. Lost Box decks can accelerate all types of Energy onto Kyurem using Mirage Gate, while ambitious Chien-Pao ex players may explore Kyurem’s synergy with Baxcalibur. You could choose a different adventure by pairing Kyurem with Regidrago VSTAR, which can use Trifrost through its Apex Dragon attack. Either way, you will need to use Trainer cards like the new Night Stretcher or Powerglass to recover Energy cards and do damage with Trifrost repeatedly.

These are just some of the dramatic cards that you will find in the new Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet—Shrouded Fable expansion. With over 95 new cards to collect, including six brand-new Pokémon ex, and three ACE SPEC cards, there are plenty of other exciting combinations and strategies to explore. Will you be telling a tale of mastery?

For more Pokémon TCG strategy and analysis, visit Pokemon.co.uk/Strategy.