The 2025 Pokémon TCG Rotation: Big Changes, Big Laughs, and Even Bigger Plays

Every April, Pokémon TCG hits the reset button, kicking out some of the oldest cards to make room for the new kids on the block. This year? It’s a doozy. The F block is packing its bags, waving goodbye to all Sword & Shield-era cards, and leaving us with nothing but Scarlet & Violet. That means two things: 1) Your deck can finally be 100% silver-border fancy, and 2) The meta is about to get completely turned on its head. Say farewell to Radiant Greninja, Lumineon V, Kirlia (Silver Tempest), Rotom V, and all those beloved VSTAR Pokémon—because we’re heading into uncharted territory. Buckle up!

Cards Leaving the Party (and Taking the Snacks With Them)

Radiant Greninja (Astral Radiance - Radiant Rare)

Oh, Radiant Greninja, you magnificent consistency-boosting machine. Between its Concealed Cards ability (free extra draws? Yes, please) and Moonlight Shuriken attack (just casually sniping two Pokémon at once), this card had an iron grip on the format. Without it, decks will feel a little less... slick, and Manaphy might finally get some time off.

Forest Seal Stone (Silver Tempest - Holo Rare)

A Tool that was somehow more powerful than most VSTAR Pokémon? Classic. Star Alchemy let you search for any card, which turned Arven into an absolute legend. Without this trusty crutch, decks relying on Lumineon V, Rotom V, and Arven might feel a little lost. Time to get creative!

Lumineon V (Brilliant Stars - Ultra Rare)

Speaking of Lumineon V, this slippery fish was a staple for grabbing the perfect Supporter when you needed it most. No more Ultra Ball into instant game-saving play. Decks relying on it for consistency will have to find another way to keep the wheels from falling off.

Kirlia (Silver Tempest) (Uncommon)

Gardevoir ex players, look away. Kirlia’s Refinement ability was the engine that made psychic decks tick, fueling massive hands and perfectly-timed knockouts. Now? Gardevoir ex will have to work a lot harder to stay relevant.

Lugia VSTAR & Archeops (Silver Tempest - Ultra Rare & Rare)

This deck has been steamrolling opponents since day one. Thanks to Archeops’ Special Energy acceleration, Lugia VSTAR could power up just about anything. But with rotation, this behemoth is finally getting benched, and Special Energy-based strategies will need a serious rethink.

Radiant Charizard (Pokémon GO - Radiant Rare)

The one-Prize tank that could hit like a truck. Radiant Charizard was an endgame beast, especially in Charizard ex decks. Its loss stings, but hey—nothing lasts forever (except, apparently, Pikachu cards).

Comfey & the Lost Zone Crew (Lost Origin - Rare)

Comfey, Cramorant, Sableye, and Colress’s Experiment created one of the most annoying—and powerful—engines in recent memory. But with their departure, Lost Zone strategies are officially lost (pun very much intended). If you’ve spent the past year dodging Lost Mine spam, congrats—your time has come.

Regidrago VSTAR (Silver Tempest - Ultra Rare)

Regidrago had its time to shine, but now it’s heading into retirement. With fewer viable Dragon attackers in the format, its best days are behind it.

Other Cards Heading to the Pokémon Retirement Home

Supporters like Irida, Roxanne, and Serena? Gone. Double Turbo Energy? See ya. Trekking Shoes? Time to walk barefoot. Basically, a lot of beloved staples are leaving, and it’s going to take some serious deckbuilding finesse to fill the gaps.

Who’s Laughing Now? The Big Winners of Post-Rotation

Raging Bolt ex (Temporal Forces - Double Rare)

Still angry, still electric, and still a menace. Raging Bolt ex doesn’t mind losing PokéStop and Radiant Greninja because it’s got Area Zero Underdepths to keep the energy flowing. Add in Teal Mask Ogerpon ex for extra bench space, and this deck is looking spicy. Japan’s already embracing it—don’t be surprised if it becomes the deck to beat.

Dragapult ex (Twilight Masquerade - Double Rare)

Despite losing a ton of setup power (RIP Lumineon V and Rotom V), Dragapult ex is still ready to wreak havoc. With Budew to slow things down and Technical Machine: Evolution keeping things smooth, this deck is shaping up to be a serious contender. Throw in some Iono and Counter Catcher for classic comeback potential, and it’s game on.

What’s Next?

We’ve got a few more major events left in the pre-rotation format, but the real fun starts once rotation hits. Journey Together brings a bunch of fresh new cards, and Atlanta Regionals will be the first big test of the post-rotation meta. Will new decks rise? Will old favorites adapt? Will someone still try to make a rogue Delphox V deck work? (Spoiler: probably.) One thing’s for sure—the future of Pokémon TCG is looking wilder than ever, and we’re here for it.