New cards have hit the ban list just in time for the cards from Cosmic Eclipse to come!
A few weeks ago, Japan banned several cards in the Expanded format. All of this was done in an effort to keep hand control from overrunning the format. Overall, this will help create a balance metagame.
The following cards have been banned in the Expanded format.
Chip-Chip Ice Axe (Sun & Moon—Unbroken Bonds, 165/214)
Flabébé (Sun & Moon—Forbidden Light, 83/131)
Island Challenge Amulet (Sun & Moon—Cosmic Eclipse, 194/236 and 265/236)
Lt. Surge’s Strategy (Sun & Moon—Unbroken Bonds, 178/214; Hidden Fates, 60/68)
Marshadow (Shining Legends, 45/73; Black Star Promo, SM85)
Mismagius (Sun & Moon—Unbroken Bonds, 78/214)
Red Card (XY, 124/146; Generations, 71/83)
Reset Stamp (Sun & Moon—Unified Minds, 206/236 and 253/236)
Unown (HAND) (Sun & Moon—Lost Thunder, 91/214)
These bans were put into play due to how disruptive they were for players. Overall, if used correctly then it will have the opponent going into their next turn with a small hand or no cards in their hand. Full details for some of the cards can be found here.
Below are some details regarding some of the bans that were not mention in the previous article.
Chip-Chip Ice Axe
The reason why Chip-Chip Ice Axe was banned involved the usage of the other cards that created the hand destruction strategy. If the player can get their opponent’s hand to few to no cards then they can use Chip-Chip Ice Axe to control their opponent’s draws. They can use Chip-Chip Ice Axe to force their opponent to draw into bad cards that will keep their hand size down.
Flabebe (Forbidden Light)
This Flabebe has the ability to evolve if a player goes second. That means that decks that can create this hand disruption strategy have a viable option to go second. This is due to Flabebe ability to evolve into a Florges and Floette from Cosmic Eclipse that can force your opponent to discard cards from their hand. Combine this with other cards such as Red Card and Marshadow (Shiny Legends) and soon your opponent will have no cards in their hand.
Lt. Surge’s Strategy
There are several cards in the format that will allow the opponent to knockout one of their own Pokemon on the first turn. By doing this, players can use Lt. Surge’s Strategy on the first turn to use several Supporters. Potentially Supporters that will make the user have a huge hand size and force their opponent to have a smaller hand size.
Marshadow (Shiny Legends)
The main reason why Marshadow got banned is due to the fact that this card and easily be used to limit your opponent’s hand size. Thus, it would be easier to disrupt the hand size in order to get your opponent to have zero cards in hand.
Mismagius
Mismagius is one of the cards used to force your opponent to have a small hand size. You can use cards such as Dusk Stone to evolve into a Mismagius and then knock it by using Mismagius’s ability. This will allow you to gain a new hand and then later on use N or other cards to force your opponent to discard the rest of their hand. Thus, they will have no hand coming into their turn.
Red Card
Similar to Marshadow, Red Card can be used to force your opponent to have a small hand size. Ultimately, it will be easier to make your opponent have no hand when it comes to their upcoming turn.
Island Challenge Amulet
The use of Island Challenge Amulet can be used to ultimately force your opponent to have a low hand size with the use of N and Reset Stamp. You can attach Island Challenge Amulet to Jirachi EX. This Pokemon only has 90 HP. When you attach Island Challenge Amulet then it will force Jirachi EX to have 0 HP and force a knockout. You can do this again later in the same turn. Eventually you can use N or Reset Stamp to force your opponent to have two cards. That way it will be easier to force your opponent to have zero cards in hand thanks to other cards.
Below is what Pokemon had to say about these bans.
- These card bans were applied in Japan recently. In an effort to maintain a more global experience for the Expanded format, TPCi has also banned these cards.
- Most of these card bans are an attempt to weaken strategies that involve disrupting or destroying an opponent’s hand. These cards contribute to several combos that result in a player having to discard their entire hand before they get to take a turn.
- The Expanded format currently has a reputation for being dominated by hand-disruption decks, which many players dislike. Hopefully these card bans will promote a more enjoyable environment and change that reputation.
These bans will be in effect on November 15, 2019. Though, these cards that were out prior to Cosmic Eclipse will still be legal for Knoxville and Richmond Regionals.
Make sure to update your decks with these recent bans. Best of luck!
