Hi there. In this Pokemon TCG post, I present a theorycrafting post for upcoming Delta Reign prerelease events.
It is kind of helpful to have an idea what the upcoming cards look like. That way you don't go in totally blind at prereleases. Some may think I go hard with this. Maybe.
This post is written before the 4 prerelease decks are revealed. This post is long as well.
Images are from mainly from Pokemon Proxies website.
The 4 Promo Cards
The 4 promo cards for the prerelease are Masquerain, Kommo-o, Enamorus and Magmortar.
Masquerain has random elements in its Bug Out attack. It could do big damage.
Magmortar provides Fire & Lightning energy acceleration for itself and Electivire.
Enamorus is for Tornadus, Thundurus and Enamorus. In theory, this can deal big damage against Pokemon ex.
Kommo-o is a Stage 2 Dragon Pokemon. It does take a bit of setup time to deal damage and for energy acceleration for Dragon Pokemon.
Mega Pokemon ex
There are 4 Mega Pokemon ex in this small set.
In a prerelease format, if you have a Mega Pokemon ex in play you are massively favoured to win against an opponent without a Mega Pokemon. It gets tricky if the opponent has a Mega Pokemon as well or can hit you hard with regular Pokemon ex for weakness.
Mega Golisopod ex is the easiest Mega to use I think. Mega Malamar ex does well if the opponent has a large amount of Benched Pokemon.
Even though Mega Golurk ex's attack is strong, you do need at least 10 cards in hand from its Power Limiter ability.
Mega Rayquaza ex is a very good attacker for the standard competitive format. In a prerelease limited format, getting energy on board for the Rayquaza takes time.
Delta Reign's Pokemon ex
There are 4 Pokemon ex in the Delta Reign small set. Heat Rotom ex does not seem very good.
Wishiwashi ex can be used as a wall. Ocean Gain in the Active Spot lets you heal 50 damage from this Wishiwashi ex.
Talonflame ex is a highly playable card in the standard competitive format as it synergizes with Mega Kangaskhan ex and Mega Rayquaza ex. If a Mega Colourless Pokemon ex is in play then you can put this Pokemon from hand onto your Bench. (You skip the regular evolution process) It is like a Special Summon in Yu-Gi-Oh.
Claw Hunt for 2 Energy from Talonflame ex deals 150 damage. You also search your deck for 2 cards and put them into your hand. (No need to reveal the 2 cards)
Raikou ex seems really good in the prerelease format. Gather Lightning is one of those rare attacks that can be used on your first turn going first. You search your deck for 1 Energy card and attach it to the Raikou ex. (Shuffle deck after)
Power Rush for 2 Lightning Energy and 1 Colourless Energy deals 200 damage. If you Flip tails, then this Raikou ex cannot attack during your next turn. If the target has weakness to Lightning (Mega Rayquaza, Wishiwashi ex, Talonflame ex) then this 200 damage doubles to 400 damage.
Two Sided Stadium Cards
Two sided stadium cards make their debut in the Delta Reign set. You need the 2 parts together from your hand to play the stadium card. It counts as one Stadium card and it can be bumped/replaced by a different Stadium card from hand.
The 3 stadium cards are Legendary Summit, Legendary Trench and Legendary Lava Lake. English names may change upon release.
Legendary Trench doubles the amount of HP healed which is good for stall/defensive type of decks.
The Legendary Summit is good if you play Colourless Pokemon. You give up one less Prize card if the opponent's Pokemon Knocks out your Active Pokemon by damage from an attack.
Legendary Lava Lake is the most useful out of the 3 in the standard competitive format. Evolution Pokemon in play (both you and opponent) have zero abilities. This shuts off Drakloak and many other common Evolution abilities.
For a prerelease, these stadiums could be okay. It is not likely that the opponent will have their own Stadium to replace yours or have an attack effect that removes Stadiums.
Trainer Cards
Other than the Stadium cards, there are 8 Trainer cards.
Yummy Onigiri is a good healing Item card if you run more than 1 copy. The base healing is 30 damage. You heal 30 more damage for each Yummy Onigir card in your discard pile (not including the card you played).
Adventuring Lantern is a powerful Basic Energy search for Fire and Lightning decks. You search your deck for a Basic Fire Energy and a Basic Lightning Energy, reveal them and put them into your hand. (Shuffle deck after.)
Custom Vest is a defensive Tool card that takes 60 less damage from a Mega Pokemon ex. It is very niche in general and for prerelease. If the opponent does not have a Mega Pokemon ex attacker, then this card is not helpful.
Mega Rayquaza Cap is a Pokemon Tool card for energy acceleration. For each Pokemon with the Mega Rayquaza Cap, you search your deck for a Basic Energy card and attach it to that Pokemon (Shuffle deck after). Running multiple copies of this in prerelease allows for major energy acceleration. You power up different attackers and thin out cards from your deck.
Emcee's Hype is a reprint. It is a really bad card in standard play. For prerelease, this card is okay. You do draw 4 cards instead of 2 if the opponent has 3 Prize cards or less.
Aarune is a niche Supporter that lets you search for up to 3 Supporter or Stadium cards in any combination you like. You reveal them, put them into your hand and then shuffle your deck.
Zinnia's Trust combines Switch and an Energy Switch. You switch out your Active Pokemon with a different Pokemon from the Bench. Move 1 Energy from the old Active Pokemon to the new Active Pokemon.
Tate & Liza's Training is a draw 2 Supporter. It is not great but for prerelease events, it is better than nothing. If there is a Legendary Stadium in play, then this Supporter card goes into your hand instead of the discard pile.
Jellicent Draw Engine
Frillish as an attacker is not great.
Jellicent as an attacker is also not very good. The Deep-Sea Draw is okay. Draw 1 card and then put 1 card from hand into the bottom of your deck.
Thundurus, Landorus, Enamorus & Tornadus
If you somehow get all 4 of these in your booster packs and Build and Battle Kit, it may be okay to play all 4 of these. When all 4 are in play then you can ignore all Colourless Energy in the attack costs. The problem is getting these 4 in play.
Wattrel & Kilowattrel
The Kilowattrel seems okay. One Lightning Energy for 30 base damage. If Kilowattrel evolved from Wattrel during this turn then this attack does 90 more damage.
Magmortar & Electivire May Be Okay
Magmortar's Buddy Boost ability can be used once during your turn. You may attach up to 1 Basic Fire Energy and 1 Basic Lightning Energy from your hand to your Magmortar and Electivire in any way you like.
Sandshrew & Sandslash + Hypno
Sandshrew and Sandslash could be okay at a prerelease event. The Counterattack ability deals chip damage to the opponent's attacker on Sandslash. Hole-Digging Claws is a low cost attack that deals 60 damage and discards the top card of the opponent's deck. Milling cards from the deck is powerful as there is almost no recovery cards in a prerelease format.
Hypno is something to consider if the opponent has a hand size of 7 cards or more. Mind Ruler deals 20 damage times the number of cards in the opponent's hand.
Kommo-o Evolution Line
I have mixed thoughts about this evolution line. Only the Stage 2 Kommo-o is usable.
Scale Beat from Kommo-o can be used once during your turn. Look at the top 6 cards of your deck and attach any number of Basic Energy you find there and attach them to your Dragon Pokemon in any way you like. Shuffle the other cards back into your deck.
The Hammer In attack for one Lightning Energy, one Fighting Energy and 1 Colourless Energy is an okay attack. It does 170 damage which Knocks Out most things in prerelease other than Pokemon ex.
Closing Notes
Booster box prices are kind of out of control. It used be at 150 CAD but it is not at 250 to 350 CAD a box. With these new smaller sets in the Mega Evolution sets, it is more cost effective to get packs at prerelease events. You get a Build and Battle Kit and chances to win more packs through gameplay.
From a player perspective, this prerelease can be a easy skip. The playable cards in this set are:
- Talonflame ex
- Mega Rayquaza ex
- Aarune
- Azurill
- Cacturne
- Pincurchin
- Adventuring Lantern
- Legendary Lava Lake
- Mega Malamar ex
- Mega Golisopod ex
- Custom Vest
These playable cards can be purchased and obtained at a card store when the set releases. Getting them at prereleases could appeal to some players who want cards to playtest before the set release.
Thank you for reading.