Surging Sparks and Sacramento

Will something new SURGE to the top?

While my fellow writers are over in Brazil competing in LAIC, I, presumably along with many of you, are preparing for Sacramento. LAIC historically has been timed with the release of a new major set which sometimes brings major shifts to the meta with brand new overpowered archetypes. Take a look at LAIC ‘22-’23 for example, this was the first major tournament where Lugia VSTAR was legal and it completely dominated the field with 6/8 out of the top 8 spots and over 50% of the meta in Day 2. So does that trend hold up this season?

Well, no. In multiple ways.

LAIC is the LAST tournament of a format this time around which might lead you to be excited for the potential meta shifts that could come in Sacramento with Surging Strikes becoming legal especially because although the current meta is quite varied - it has felt a bit stale and unfun/hostile due to the toxic power of some of the strongest decks right now. If you’re trying to make a rogue deck work, for example, you have to be able to withstand some of the most powerful combos in Pokemon TCG Standard history such as Regidrago’s Trifrost (combined with a potential Cologne and Prime Catcher)  or Palkia’s Dusknoir (potentially KOing Manaphy) + Moonlight Shuriken not to mention the raw power of something like Lugia’s Iron Hands.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like Surging Sparks will bring the major meta shift that some of us have been hoping for as the set doesn’t have any obviously meta warping cards in it. But there are a couple cards that WILL make a small splash which could have ripple effects on what is potentially strong.

Overall, my prediction for Sacramento: the meta won’t be too different from what we saw at LAIC but Day 2 might feature some breakout performances from some existing but lesser played archetypes.

Let’s talk a little about the cards that could cause that.