Key Takeaways From Worlds 2024
Hello! Gabriel Semedo here with another Pokemon TCG article. This time, I want to talk about everything that happened at the Pokemon TCG World Championships 2024, focusing on the latest news and potential changes to the metagame.
The most important Pokemon TCG tournament in the world has concluded, and I don’t think anyone expected Quad Iron Thorns ex to be the World Champion, with Turbo Roaring Moon as the finalist. Interestingly, both decks shared a common strategy: packing four copies of Pokémon Catcher and using Prime Catcher as their ACE SPEC of choice. In a tournament filled with surprises, certain patterns emerged, explaining the success of aggro decks — Basic Pokemon decks focused on attacking from turn 1 — and the downfall of Stage 2 decks, particularly Charizard ex and Gardevoir ex.
The Worlds metagame played out differently from what was expected, and the reason is simpler than it appears. Understanding this key factor will make it easier to grasp how the metagame might change moving forward.
The Regidrago VSTAR Factor
Shrouded Fable certainly impacted the metagame, and Worlds always pushes players to innovate or take risks for glory. However, the real game-changer wasn’t the new expansion but rather Regidrago VSTAR. Its entry into the metagame caused a ripple effect, particularly against Stage 2 decks. Aggro decks, which usually struggle against Charizard ex and Gardevoir ex, found new life due to Regidrago’s ability to deal with these threats effectively.
At the World Championships, Regidrago VSTAR effectively neutralized Charizard ex and Gardevoir ex, paving the way for Raging Bolt ex , Miraidon ex, and Roaring Moon decks to rise in the competition. While these aggro decks still struggle against Charizard ex, Regidrago VSTAR’s dominance has made them more viable in the Worlds format.
In this article, I’ll delve deeper into how the metagame has shifted after Worlds and highlight some of the best strategies I observed by analyzing and testing the decks that made it to Day 2. With another new set on the horizon, we have limited time to explore this format fully, so I spent the week post-Worlds studying the biggest Pokemon TCG competition closely. There are many valuable lessons to learn before we welcome the introduction of Stellar Crown into the Standard format.
Regidrago VSTAR Disrupts the Meta
From a surprise contender at the North America International Championships (NAIC) to a top deck at Worlds, Regidrago VSTAR’s rise wasn’t driven by Shrouded Fable. Pokemon like Kyurem and Haxorus were decent options, but Regidrago was the real discovery, honed through extensive testing worldwide until a strong, consistent list emerged.
Strategically, Regidrago VSTAR sits between an aggro deck and a Stage 2 deck, almost like a Stage 1 deck in both structure and strategy. Its success lies in its strong matchups against Stage 2 decks, while maintaining balanced matchups against aggro decks, thanks largely to Radiant Charizard. A skilled Regidrago player can create a difficult scenario for opponents, who must avoid Radiant Charizard to stay ahead in the Prize race.
By effectively countering the format’s top decks — Charizard and Gardevoir — while holding its own against other decks, including control decks, Regidrago VSTAR emerged at Worlds as the best choice in this format. No other deck currently matches its versatility.
Learning From Worlds
The Worlds Championship is a spectacle because surprising ideas always emerge, some of which end up being incorporated into the metagame. Last year, Miraidon ex became a competitive deck at Worlds, used by Sejun Park, a South Korean legend in Pokemon games. This year, Roaring Moon and Iron Thorns ex reached the finals in a matchup that no one expected, and these decks might remain part of the metagame throughout the season. The lessons we can learn from Worlds are invaluable, so I’ve highlighted some key takeaways for you to add to your repertoire.
This concludes the public portion of this article.
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