The 2019 Pokemon Championship season has come and gone and as we are on the heels of the World Championships that were hosted in Washington D.C. from 8/16 - 8/18, we learned quite a few things. Most importantly #006 is back! It's been awhile since we have had a playable and competitive Charizard in format, and now we do. Another big thing we learned, Malamar is actually not that good. A majority of the field this year at Worlds was playing Malamar & Malamar builds, however not one of them made Top 8 in any of the 3 divisions. Malamar isn't bad, there were just too much tech to work around it.

One huge factor is, this year, the Pokemon Company shook things up by announcing a few months ago that the format for the 2019 World Championships would be different. Instead of playing for a championship utilizing the cardpool for Standard that had been around for at least a year or more, this time rotation happened first. Typically Standard format card rotation would occur a few weeks after Worlds, and launch a new championship year. This year it rotated one day before the event started and introduced a new set, Unified Minds, Day 1 of Worlds. What this means is players were playing in a format all year and qualified for Worlds, then had to compete in fresh and untested post-rotation format. Pros were studying and testing non-stop as nothing had really been established. With format rotation many popular and useful cards were lost and players were forced to form new strategies and deck-builds entering the championship event.

Here is a breakdown of all the decks that survived the fierce competition and made it to Top 8 in each division :

Masters Top 8:

• 1st - Mew Mew Box
• 2nd - Blacephalon-GX / Naganadel
• 3rd - Reshizard / Greens
• 4th - Reshizard / Ninetales
• 5th - PikaRom / Chu-Chu
• 6th - Reshizard / Greens
• 7th - Mew Mew Box
• 8th - Oranguru Stall

Seniors Top 8:

• 1st - Reshizard Ability
• 2nd - Gardevoir Sylveon-GX
• 3rd - Mew Mew Box
• 4th - PikaRom
• 5th - Reshizard / Greens
• 6th - PikaRom / Chu-Chu
• 7th - Mew Mew Box
• 8th - Reshizard / Greens

Juniors Top 8:

• 1st - PikaRom / Chu-Chu
• 2nd - Reshizard / Greens
• 3rd - Reshizard / Greens
• 4th - Mew Mew Box
• 5th - PikaRom / Chu-Chu
• 6th - PkaRom / Chu-Chu
• 7th - Keldeo-GX / NagQuag
• 8th - Mew Mew Box

Out of all 18 decks that topped and made it to the grand stage, two decks tied for most in showing. Reshizard / Greens and Mew Mew Box both with 6. PikaRom / Chu-Chu had 5 and the remaining 7 decks were all one-of variants. The most interesting factor is that with 257 Malamar decks in Day 1 of competition, only 50 of them made it to Day 2. To top that off, not one Malamar deck made it into Top 8 an any division!

With the Worlds Party over, now the local scenes are all trying to put these decks together and see what works the best as we enter the new championship league year. The most popular decks being played are no surprise as any table you look at your almost guaranteed to see a ReshiZard or PikaRom deck. Occasionally you will come across a home brew or the recent surprise build of Slowpoke & Psyduck-GX. Whether you play competitively or casually one thing is for sure, the current format is a lot of fun and unique, considering all the options available to use for deck-builds.

Masters Division Top 8

Mewtwo & Mew-GX | Henry Brand | Masters Division Champion

• Pokémon (16)
• 4 Mewtwo & Mew-GX
• 3 Dedenne-GX
• 1 Cobalion-GX
• 1 Espeon & Deoxys-GX
• 1 Jirachi-GX
• 1 Latios-GX
• 1 Magcargo-GX
• 1 Marshadow
• 1 Naganadel-GX
• 1 Reshiram & Charizard-GX
• 1 Solgaleo-GX

• Trainer cards (33)
• 4 Welder
• 2 Bill's Analysis
• 3 Giant Hearth
• 1 Viridian Forest
• 4 Acro Bike
• 4 Cherish Ball
• 4 Custom Catcher
• 4 Pokegear 3.0
• 3 Mysterious Treasure
• 2 Switch
• 1 Electromagnetic Radar
• 1 Fire Crystal

• Energy (11)
• 8 Fire Energy
• 3 Psychic Energy

Blacephalon-GX/Naganadel-GX | Shintari Ito | Masters Division Runner Up

• Pokemon (16)
• 3 Blacephalon-GX
• 2 Naganadel-GX
• 3 Naganadel
• 3 Poipole
• 1 Poipole
• 2 Heatran-GX
• 1 Dedenne-GX
• 1 Mew

• Trainer cards (28)
• 4 Cynthia
• 4 Welder
• 1 Hapu
• 1 Lillie
• 2 Ultra Space
• 1 Heat Factory
• 4 Custom Catcher
• 4 Mysterious Treasure
• 3 Beast Ring
• 3 Cherish Ball
• 1 Reset Stamp

• Energy (16)
• 14 Fire Energy
• 1 Beast Energy
• 1 Psychic Energy

Reshiram & Charizard-GX/Green's Exploration | Blaine Hill | Masters Division Semifinalist

• Pokemon (7)
• 3 Reshiram & Charizard-GX
• 4 Volcanion

• Trainer cards (42)
• 4 Green's Exploration
• 4 Welder
• 1 Lusamine
• 1 Giant Hearth
• 1 Heat Factory
• 1 Lysandre Labs
• 1 Power Plant
• 1 Shrine of Punishment
• 4 Acro Bike
• 4 Custom Catcher
• 4 Great Potion
• 4 Mixed Herbs
• 4 Pokegear 3.0
• 3 Fire Crystal
• 2 Cherish Ball
• 1 Energy Spinner
• 1 Fiery Flint
• 1 Reset Stamp

• Energy (11)
• 11 Fire Energy

Reshiram & Charizard-GX/ Ninetails | Tord Reklev | Master Division Semifinalist

• Pokemon (16)
• 2 Reshiram & Charizard-GX
• 2 Ninetales
• 2 Vulpix
• 4 Jirachi
• 3 Dedenne-GX
• 1 Heatran-GX
• 1 Turtonator
• 1 Victini

• Trainer cards (26)
• 4 Welder
• 3 Giant Hearth
• 1 Heat Factory
• 4 Cherish Ball
• 3 Acro Bike
• 3 Pokemon Communication
• 3 Super Scoop Up
• 2 Escape Board
• 2 Switch
• 1 Pal Pad

• Energy (18)
• 18 Fire Energy

Pikachu & Zekrom-GX/Raichu & Alolan Raichu-GX | Kaiwen Cabbabe | Masters Division Quarterfinalist

• Pokemon (13)
• 2 Pikachu & Zekrom-GX
• 2 Raichu & Alolan Raichu-GX
• 3 Jirachi
• 2 Dedenne-GX
• 1 Sigilyph-GX
• 1 Tapu Koko
• 1 Zapdos
• 1 Zeraora-GX

• Trainer cards (36)
• 4 Lillie
• 3 Volkner
• 1 Cyrus
• 2 Lysandre Labs
• 1 Thunder Mountain
• 4 Custom Catcher
• 4 Electropower
• 4 Switch
• 3 Electromagnetic Radar
• 2 Energy Switch
• 2 Pokemon Communication
• 2 Reset Stamp
• 1 Cherish Ball
• 1 Escape Board
• 1 Stadium Nav
• 1 Tag Switch

• Energy (11)
• 11 Lightning Energy

Reshiram & Charizard-GX/Green's Exploration | Pacco Saurus | Masters Division Quarterfinalist

• Pokemon (8)
• 3 Reshiram & Charizard-GX
• 4 Volcanion
• 1 Hoopa

• Trainer cards (41)
• 4 Green's Exploration
• 4 Welder
• 2 Power Plan
• 1 Heat Factory
• 1 Shrine of Punishment
• 4 Acro Bike
• 4 Custom Catcher
• 4 Mixed Herbs
• 4 Pokegear 3.0
• 3 Fire Crystal
• 2 Cherish Ball
• 2 Fiery Flint
• 2 Reset Stamp
• 1 Choice Helmet
• 1 Pokemon Communication
• 1 Switch
• 1 Tag Switch

• Energy (11)
• 11 Fire Energy

Mewtwo & Mew-GX | Ryota Ishiyama | Masters Division Quarterfinalist

• Pokemon (15)
• 3 Mewtwo & Mew-GX
• 3 Dedenne-GX
• 2 Magcargo-GX
• 1 Espeon & Deoxys-GX
• 1 Flareon-GX
• 1 Heatran-GX
• 1 Jirachi-GX
• 1 Marshadow
• 1 Oranguru
• 1 Solgaleo-GX

• Trainer cards (27)
• 4 Hapu
• 4 Welder
• 2 Giant Hearth
• 2 Lysandre Labs
• 1 Heat Factory
• 4 Cherish Ball
• 4 Custom Catcher
• 2 Reset Stamp
• 2 Switch
• 1 Mysterious Treasure
• 1 Escape Board

• Energy (18)
• 16 Fire Energy
• 2 Psychic Energy

Articuno-GX/Pidgeotto/Girafarig | Isaiah Williams | Masters Division Quarterfinalist

• Pokemon (18)
• 2 Articuno-GX
• 4 Pidgeotto
• 4 Pidgey
• 2 Girafarig
• 4 Oranguru
• 1 Ditto
• 1 Mew

• Trainer cards (38)
• 4 Professor Elm's Lecture
• 2 Cynthia
• 2 Lt. Surge's Strategy
• 2 Mars
• 2 Tate & Liza
• 1 Brock's Grit
• 2 Power Plant
• 4 Acro Bike
• 4 Crushing Hammer
• 4 Pokegear 3.0
• 3 Custom Catcher
• 2 Chip-Chip Ice Axe
• 2 Pal Pad
• 2 Pokemon Communication
• 2 Reset Stamp

• Energy (4)
• 3 Water Energy
• 1 Recycle Energy

Senior Division Top 8

Reshiram & Charizard-GX/Jirachi | Kaya Lichtleitner | Senior Division Champion

• Pokemon (16)
• 2 Reshiram & Charizard-GX
• 4 Jirachi
• 3 Dedenne-GX
• 2 Ninetales
• 2 Vulpix
• 1 Heatran-GX
• 1 Turtonator
• 1 Victini

• Trainer cards (26)
• 4 Welder
• 3 Giant Hearth
• 1 Heat Factory
• 4 Acro Bike
• 4 Cherish Ball
• 3 Pokemon Communication
• 3 Switch
• 2 Escape Board
• 1 Fiery Flint
• 1 Pal Pad

• Energy (18)
• 18 Fire Energy

Gardevoir & Sylveon-GX | Grant Shen | Senior Division Runner Up

• Pokemon (4)
• 4 Gardevoir & Sylveon-GX

• Trainer cards (47)
• 4 Coach Trainer
• 4 Green's Exploration
• 1 Bill's Analysis
• 1 Cynthia
• 3 Power Plant
• 1 Wondrous Labyrinth
• 4 Custom Catcher
• 4 Great Potion
• 4 Pokegear 3.0
• 4 Super Scoop Up
• 3 Cherish Ball
• 3 Tag Switch
• 2 Fairy Charm L
• 2 Fairy Charm UB
• 2 Switch
• 1 Choice Helmet
• 1 Energy Spinner
• 1 Fairy Charm N
• 1 Giant Bomb
• 1 Reset Stamp

• Energy (9)
• 9 Fairy Energy

Mewtwo & Mew-GX | Rowan Stavenow | Senior Division Semifinalist

• Pokemon (17)
• 4 Mewtwo & Mew-GX
• 3 Dedenne-GX
• 2 Solgaleo-GX
• 1 Cobalion-GX
• 1 Dragonite-GX
• 1 Espeon & Deoxys-GX
• 1 Jirachi-GX
• 1 Latios-GX
• 1 Marshadow
• 1 Naganadel-GX
• 1 Reshiram & Charizard-GX

• Trainer cards (30)
• 4 Welder
• 2 Sightseer
• 1 Bill's Analysis
• 1 Faba
• 1 Judge
• 4 Giant Hearth
• 1 Heat Factory
• 4 Cherish Ball
• 4 Pokegear 3.0
• 4 Super Scoop Up
• 3 Mysterious Treasure
• 1 Pal Pad

• Energy (13)
• 9 Fire Energy
• 4 Unit Energy LPM

Pikachu & Zekrom-GX | Thomas Naylor | Senior Division Semifinalist

• Pokemon (11)
• 2 Pikachu & Zekrom-GX
• 2 Dedenne-GX
• 2 Zeraora-GX
• 1 Mewtwo & Mew-GX
• 1 Raichu & Alolan Raichu-GX
• 1 Tapu Fini
• 1 Tapu Koko
• 1 Zapdos

• Trainer cards (38)
• 4 Cynthia
• 4 Volkner
• 2 Lillie
• 2 Lysandre Labs
• 1 Thunder Mountain
• 4 Custom Catcher
• 4 Electropower
• 3 Electromagnetic Radar
• 3 Energy Switch
• 2 Pokemon Communication
• 2 Reset Stamp
• 2 Super Scoop Up
• 2 Tag Switch
• 1 Cherish Ball
• 1 Stadium Nav
• 1 Switch

• Energy (11)
• 11 Lightning Energy

Reshiram & Charizard-GX/Green's Exploration | Iain Harding | Senior Division Quarterfinalist

• Pokemon (7)
• 3 Reshiram & Charizard-GX
• 4 Volcanion

• Trainer cards (42)
• 4 Green's Exploration
• 4 Welder
• 1 Lysandre
• 1 Heat Factory
• 1 Lysandre Labs
• 1 Power Plant
• 1 Shrine of Punishment
• 4 Acro Bike
• 4 Custom Catcher
• 4 Mixed Herbs
• 4 Pokegear 3.0
• 3 Fire Crystal
• 3 Great Potion
• 2 Cherish Ball
• 2 Fiery Flint
• 1 Choice Helmet
• 1 Reset Stamp
• 1 Switch

• Energy (11)
• 11 Fire Energy

Pikachu & Zekrom-GX/Raichu & Alolan Raichu-GX | YouTae Woo | Senior Division Quarterfinalist

• Pokemon (13)
• 2 Pikachu & Zekrom-GX
• 2 Raichu & Alolan Raichu-GX
• 2 Dedenne-GX
• 2 Zeraora-GX
• 1 Dawn Wings Necrozma-GX
• 1 Hoopa
• 1 Mew
• 1 Tapu Koko
• 1 Zapdos

• Trainer cards (35)
• 4 Volkner
• 3 Lillie
• 2 Cynthia
• 2 Lysandre Labs
• 1 Thunder Mountain
• 4 Custom Catcher
• 4 Electropower
• 3 Electromagnetic Radar
• 3 Energy Switch
• 3 Pokemon Communication
• 2 Cherish Ball
• 2 Tag Switch
• 1 Reset Stamp
• 1 Stadium Nav

• Energy (12)
• 12 Lightning Energy

Mewtwo & Mew-GX | James Cox | Senior Division Quarterfinalist

• Pokemon (16)
• 3 Mewtwo & Mew-GX
• 2 Dedenne-GX
• 1 Dragonite-GX
• 1 Espeon & Deoxys-GX
• 1 Jirachi-GX
• 1 Latios-GX
• 1 Marshadow
• 1 Mew
• 1 Naganadel-GX
• 1 Reshiram & Charizard-GX
• 1 Solgaleo-GX
• 1 Tapu Fini
• 1 Wobbuffet

• Trainer cards (32)
• 4 Lillie
• 4 Welder
• 3 Viridian Forest
• 4 Cherish Ball
• 4 Custom Catcher
• 4 Mysterious Treasure
• 3 Acro Bike
• 2 Reset Stamp
• 2 Switch
• 1 Escape Board
• 1 Fire Crystal

• Energy (12)
• 8 Fire Energy
• 4 Psychic Energy

Reshiram & Charizard-GX/Green's Exploration | Noa Bell | Senior Division Quarterfinalist

• Pokemon (7)
• 3 Reshiram & Charizard-GX
• 4 Volcanion

• Trainer cards (42)
• 4 Green's Exploration
• 4 Welder
• 1 Heat Factory
• 1 Lysandre Labs
• 1 Power Plant
• 1 Shrine of Punishment
• 4 Acro Bike
• 4 Custom Catcher
• 4 Mixed Herbs
• 4 Pokegear 3.0
• 3 Fire Crystal
• 3 Great Potion
• 2 Cherish Ball
• 2 Fiery Flint
• 2 Reset Stamp
• 1 Choice Helmet
• 1 Switch

• Energy (11)
• 11 Fire Energy

Junior Division Top 8

Pikachu & Zekrom-GX/Raichu & Alolan Raichu-GX | Haruki Miyamoto | Junior Division Champion

• Pokemon (15)
• 2 Pikachu & Zekrom-GX
• 2 Raichu & Alolan Raichu-GX
• 4 Dedenne-GX
• 2 Zeraora-GX
• 1 Hoopa
• 1 Marshadow
• 1 Mew
• 1 Tapu Fini
• 1 Tapu Koko

• Trainer cards (34)
• 4 Judge
• 4 Volkner
• 1 Cynthia
• 2 Lysandre Labs
• 1 Power Plant
• 1 Thunder Mountain
• 4 Custom Catcher
• 4 Electromagnetic Radar
• 4 Electropower
• 2 Energy Switch
• 2 Pokemon Communication
• 1 Cherish Ball
• 1 Reset Stamp
• 1 Stadium Nav
• 1 Switch
• 1 Tag Switch

• Energy (11)
• 11 Lightning Energy

Reshiram & Charizard-GX/Green's Exploration | Isaac Terceira | Junior Division Runner-Up

• Pokemon (7)
• 3 Reshiram & Charizard-GX
• 4 Volcanion

• Trainer cards (42)
• 4 Green's Exploration
• 4 Welder
• 2 Power Plant
• 1 Heat Factory
• 1 Shrine of Punishment
• 4 Acro Bike
• 4 Custom Catcher
• 4 Great Potion
• 4 Mixed Herbs
• 4 Pokegear 3.0
• 3 Fire Crystal
• 2 Cherish Ball
• 2 Fiery Flint
• 1 Choice Helmet
• 1 Reset Stamp
• 1 Switch

• Energy (11)
• 11 Fire Energy

Reshiram & Charizard-GX/Green's Exploration | Logan Maracle | Junior Division Semifinalist

• Pokemon (7)
• 3 Reshiram & Charizard-GX
• 4 Volcanion

• Trainer cards (42)
• 4 Green's Exploration
• 4 Welder
• 2 Power Plant
• 1 Heat Factory
• 1 Shrine of Punishment
• 4 Acro Bike
• 4 Custom Catcher
• 4 Mixed Herbs
• 4 Pokegear 3.0
• 3 Fire Crystal
• 2 Cherish Ball
• 2 Great Potion
• 2 Reset Stamp
• 2 Switch
• 1 Choice Helmet
• 1 Energy Spinner
• 1 Fiery Flint

• Energy (11)
• 11 Fire Energy

Mewtwo & Mew-GX | Cassio Moraes | Junior Division Semifinalist

• Pokemon (18)
• 3 Mewtwo & Mew-GX
• 4 Jirachi
• 2 Dedenne-GX
• 1 Dragonite-GX
• 1 Espeon & Deoxys-GX
• 1 Jirachi-GX
• 1 Latios-GX
• 1 Mewtwo
• 1 Muk & Alolan Muk-GX
• 1 Naganadel-GX
• 1 Reshiram & Charizard-GX
• 1 Solgaleo-GX

• Trainer cards (30)
• 4 Welder
• 2 Judge
• 4 Giant Hearth
• 4 Acro Bike
• 4 Cherish Ball
• 3 Switch
• 2 Energy Recycler
• 2 Escape Board
• 2 Mysterious Treasure
• 2 Pokémon Communication
• 1 Reset Stamp

• Energy (12)
• 8 Fire Energy
• 4 Psychic Energy

Pikachu & Zekrom-GX/Raichu & Alolan Raichu-GX | Sechan Oh | Junior Division Quarterfinalist

• Pokemon (12)
• 2 Pikachu & Zekrom-GX
• 2 Raichu & Alolan Raichu-GX
• 2 Dedenne-GX
• 2 Zeraora-GX
• 1 Dawn Wings Necrozma-GX
• 1 Mewtwo & Mew-GX
• 1 Tapu Koko
• 1 Zapdos

• Trainer cards (37)
• 4 Volkner
• 3 Lillie
• 2 Cynthia
• 1 Erika's Hospitality
• 3 Lysandre Labs
• 1 Thunder Mountain
• 4 Custom Catcher
• 4 Electropower
• 3 Electromagnetic Radar
• 3 Energy Switch
• 2 Cherish Ball
• 2 Pokemon Communication
• 2 Reset Stamp
• 2 Tag Switch
• 1 Stadium Nav

• Energy (11)
• 11 Lightning Energy

Pikachu & Zekrom-GX/Raichu & Alolan Raichu-GX | Daniel Magda | Junior Division Quarterfinalist

• Pokemon (14)
• 2 Pikachu & Zekrom-GX
• 2 Raichu & Alolan Raichu-GX
• 3 Dedenne-GX
• 1 Hoopa
• 1 Marshadow
• 1 Mew
• 1 Tapu Fini
• 1 Tapu Koko
• 1 Zapdos
• 1 Zeraora-GX

• Trainer cards (46)
• 4 Volkner
• 2 Cynthia
• 2 Lillie
• 2 Lysandre Labs
• 1 Thunder Mountain
• 4 Custom Catcher
• 4 Electromagnetic Radar
• 4 Electropower
• 3 Energy Switch
• 3 Pokemon Communication
• 2 Reset Stamp
• 2 Switch
• 1 Stadium Nav
• 1 Tag Switch
• 11 Lightning Energy

Keldeo-GX/Naganadel/Quagsire | Mitchell Ransome | Junior Division Quarterfinalist

• Pokemon (18)
• 3 Keldeo-GX
• 3 Naganadel
• 1 Poipole
• 1 Poipole
• 1 Poipole
• 3 Quagsire
• 2 Wooper
• 1 Wooper
• 2 Kyurem
• 1 Volcanion

• Trainer cards (32)
• 4 Cynthia
• 3 Lillie
• 2 Blue's Tactics
• 1 Tate & Liza
• 2 Blizzard Town
• 1 Ultra Space
• 1 Viridian Forest
• 4 Crushing Hammer
• 4 Custom Catcher
• 3 Acro Bike
• 3 Pokemon Communication
• 3 Reset Stamp
• 1 PokeNav

• Energy (10)
• 10 Water Energy

Mewtwo & Mew-GX | Hotaru Yoshinari | Junior Division Quarterfinalist

• Pokemon (21)
• 3 Mewtwo & Mew-GX
• 3 Dedenne-GX
• 2 Jirachi
• 1 Altaria-GX
• 1 Blaziken-GX
• 1 Cobalion-GX
• 1 Dragonite-GX
• 1 Heatran-GX
• 1 Hoopa
• 1 Jirachi-GX
• 1 Latios-GX
• 1 Mew
• 1 Naganadel-GX
• 1 Reshiram & Charizard-GX
• 1 Solgaleo-GX
• 1 Tapu Fini

• Trainer cards (27)
• 4 Welder
• 2 Hapu
• 1 Red's Challenge
• 2 Giant Hearth
• 1 Heat Factory
• 1 Lysandre Labs
• 4 Cherish Ball
• 4 Custom Catcher
• 2 Escape Board
• 2 Pokemon Communication
• 2 Switch
• 1 Fire Crystal
• 1 Reset Stamp

• Energy (12)
• 8 Fire Energy
• 4 Rainbow Energy