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With the eighth generation of Pokémon among us, several things have changed with the Pokémon TCG, but this article will focus on Pokémon V. In many ways, these resemble Pokémon-EX, introduced during the Black & White series. It appears that any Pokémon can have a Pokémon V card designed after it. If that Pokémon is normally an Evolution, it will still be released as a Basic Pokémon V, worth two Prizes when KO’d. There are Evolved Pokémon V, though: they are called Pokémon VMAX. Their Stage of evolution is also “VMAX”, as opposed to being a Stage 1 or any other previous Stages of evolution. Pokémon VMAX are based on the Dynamax concept of the video games, with some being Gigantamax forms. It actually says whether a Pokémon VMAX is “Dynamax” or “Gigantamax” on the card underneath where it says “Evolves from…”, though currently no effects care about this difference. When KO’d, these VMAX Pokémon are worth three Prizes like TAG TEAM Pokémon-GX.
All Pokémon VMAX also count as Pokémon V, but not all Pokémon V are Pokémon VMAX; unfortunately, there is no term specific to Basic Pokémon V. If you see a card effect that refers to Pokémon VMAX, Basic Pokémon V are unaffected. An effect that says it works on Pokémon V will apply to both Basic Pokémon V and Pokémon VMAX. If it helps, this is similar to how Pokémon-EX could be Basic Pokémon-EX or Mega Evolutions. Unlike Mega Evolution, evolving a Pokémon V into a Pokémon VMAX doesn’t come with any Special Rules; the only “penalty” is that Pokémon VMAX are worth an additional two Prizes when KO’d (as stated above). This is quite preferable to the hassle of having to use a Spirit Link Pokémon Tool or have your turn end when manually Mega Evolving!
“V” is part of the name of all Basic Pokémon V, just as “VMAX” is part of the name of all Pokémon V Evolutions. This means you can run four copies of Celebi V alongside any copies of Celebi you wish. Indeed, you can have up to four copies of a card named “Celebi” in a deck alongside four each of Celebi-EX, Celebi V, and even Celebi {*} in Expanded, not that I’d recommend doing so if you want a tournament-winning deck. You can also have four copies of Snorlax V in your deck along with Snorlax VMAX; again, the names are different. For this same reason, though, you cannot Evolve Meowth V into something like Persian (SM – Team Up 126/181) or Persian-GX (SM – Unbroken Bonds 149/214, 207/214, 227/214), only into Meowth VMAX. Nor could Meowth (SM – Unbroken Bonds 147/214) evolve into Meowth VMAX. Card effects that work based on a card’s name will only affect a Pokémon V if it is worded along the lines of “All Pokémon with [insert Pokémon/] in its name.”
All Basic Pokémon V, based on Pokémon that are normally Basics, have HP scores higher than any past cards based on the underlying Pokémon, excluding TAG TEAM Pokémon. Exactly how much varies from card to card. Victini V has 190 HP, which is 120 higher than Victini (SM – Cosmic Eclipse 30/236), the most recent single-Prize Victini-based card. It is also 80 higher than Victini-EX. On the other hand, Snorlax V has 220 HP, 70 higher than set-mate Snorlax (Sword & Shield 140/202), 30 higher than Snorlax-GX, and only 50 lower than Eevee & Snorlax-GX! We have no fully revealed (let alone released) examples of Pokémon V based on Pokémon that are normally Stage 1 or Stage 2, let alone those that have Pokémon-EX or Pokémon-GX counterparts. With what we do know, they’ll have HP scores on par with other Pokémon V, such as Rillaboom V having 220 HP while Rillaboom (Sword & Shield 14/202; SS – Black Star Promos SWSH006) has 170 and Rillaboom (Sword & Shield 15/202) has 190. None of the currently seen Pokémon VMAX have a proper past equivalent with which to compare, but have at least 300 HP, with Snorlax VMAX currently holding the record at 340!
It looks like Pokémon V and Pokémon VMAX will have better effects than one would normally expect for a card, even after adjusting for costs such as Energy required. Exactly how much better, including whether or not the total package is any good, will vary from card to card. We already have Basic Pokémon V with two attacks or an Ability and an attack, but no Pokémon VMAX with an Ability (and only one with two attacks). There is no unique effect on Pokémon V, the way Pokémon-GX were the only Pokémon with GX-attacks printed on them. No Pokémon V have unprecedented Pokémon Types, Weaknesses, Resistances, and/or Retreat Costs. It is possible that being a Pokémon V does affect such things, but if it does, it is within the confines of what is normally available.
Currently, no support specific to Pokémon V has been revealed. Though only revealed in Japanese, we have our first example of a beneficial effect that excludes Pokémon V. Based on translations, Twin Energy can be attached to any Pokémon but provides [C] when attached to Pokémon-GX or Pokémon V, but [CC] for anything else. We also have our first counters that specify Pokémon V. Boltund (Sword & Shield 75/202) can use its second attack – priced at [LLC] – to do 90 damage but the attack’s effect states it does another 90 (so 180) to the Active if the Active is a Pokémon-GX or Pokémon V. The new Zamazenta V has the Ability “Dauntless Shield”, which prevents all damage done to it by your opponent’s Pokémon VMAX.
Because Pokémon V are their own distinct mechanic from Pokémon-EX and Pokémon-GX, despite the many similarities, they enjoy a net advantage within the cardpool. Yes, there are pieces of support specific to Pokémon-EX and Pokémon-GX that Pokémon V cannot make use of, but Pokémon can have nothing to fear – at least, not directly – from counters to Pokémon-EX/GX. Shrine of Punishment places no damage counters on Pokémon V, nor can Power Plant negate their Abilities. Pokémon V can also make use of beneficial effects that exclude Pokémon-EX/GX, like that of Counter Energy. It is also important to remember that Pokémon V are replacing Pokémon-GX, sooner or later. Even if Pokémon-GX remain competitive, they’ll all eventually rotate out of the Standard Format. New counters to Pokémon V, as well as beneficial effects that exclude them, at least currently also exclude Pokémon-GX. For example, the Boltund I mentioned earlier also hits Pokémon-GX for 180 damage!
At least for now, that is about as thorough an explanation of Pokémon V as we can get without delving into the specifics of each card. One last thing to remember: while some of the first-wave cards of a new mechanic can be among the most potent, it is more likely that continuing power creep will leave them behind as the mid- and late-generation Pokémon V set new records. Don’t be surprised if this article becomes outdated after the next set, let alone the next three!
Updated on March 14, 2020
