The Pokémon Trading Card Game's Crown Zenith set looks to end the Sword and Shield series with powerful Secret Rares. Crown Zenith will be the final Generation 8 installment before the TCG shifts its focus to Scarlet and Violet in 2023. As such, the set includes new Alt Arts and VSTAR forms that potentially have enough strength to balance the tabletop game before it makes the jump to Generation 9.
The Pokémon TCG is in need of meta adjustments after the release of Silver Tempest in November has led to the rise of the Lugia VSTAR/Archeops/Stoutland V deck, which has been nearly unstoppable for the last two months. Stoutland V's offensive presence helps guard a developing Lugia, who can then summon Archeops from the discard pile with Summoning Star. Without an adequate counter in Silver Tempest or elsewhere in the Pokémon TCG, the only way to counteract Lugia VSTAR is by relying on other overpowered gimmick decks like Mew VMAX/Genesect V. But luckily Crown Zenith is just around the corner to fix that issue.
Strongest Secret Rares From Pokémon TCG's Crown Zenith
The most powerful Secret Rares from Crowd Zenith all have one thing in common: they counter the best decks of the Pokémon TCG's Sword and Shield era. However, they all do so in their own way. One card may form a cohesive deck with another, a different card may be extremely strong on its own, and yet another could serve as a direct counter to V and VMAX cards. Following are a few of Crowd Zenith's strongest Secret Rares, each of which finds its own way at counteracting the Pokémon TCG's current meta.
Arceus VSTAR & Bibarel Are A Strong Pairing In The Pokémon TCG
The Arceus VSTAR and Bibarel pairing has been one of the best answers to Mew VMAX decks in the Pokémon TCG. It only makes sense, then, to list their new Secret Rare forms as two of the strongest cards in Crown Zenith. Bibarel's Industrial Incisors ability allows players to continually draw cards, which helps with developing Arceus V into Arceus VSTAR. Once Arceus has access to its Starbirth ability, the whole team becomes a momentous force that even Mew VMAX struggles to slow down.
Arceus VSTAR (Alt Art) and Bibarel (Alt Art) are strong cards on their own too. Arceus VSTAR's Trinity Nova attack deals a whopping 200 damage, and with Akira Egawa's new design for Alt Art Secret Rare, the card now looks like it can deal such a blow. Bibarel is similarly a threat because of its ability to developing pieces leading up to the late game. And even before players evolve Bidoof into Bibarel, they can utilize Crown Zenith's Secret Rare Pokémon card with Bidoof for its Unconcern ability that grants it immunity to damage on the bench.
Regigigas VSTAR Has A Devastating Ability In Crown Zenith
Introduced in Crown Zenith, Regigigas VSTAR (Alt Art) is one of the scariest Secret Rares in the Pokémon TCG. Unlike other VSTAR cards, Regigigas VSTAR's 300 HP rivals those of VMAX cards. Mounting an offensive against Regigigas VSTAR can thus feel helpless, especially because it only awards two prize cards. But it's important to stop it as soon as possible, as its Giga Impact does 230 damage for just three colorless energies. This combination of bulk and power makes Regigigas VSTAR an immovable wall that hits as hard as it can take.
Though these attributes alone make Regigigas one of the stronger VSTAR cards in the Pokémon TCG, the card's most valuable asset is its ability, Star Guardian. When an opponent only has one prize card left, Star Guardian allows players to force their opponent to discard a benched Pokémon of their choice as well as the cards attached to it. This completely snubs an opponent's ability to mount comebacks or activate back-up plans in late-game situations. Regigigas VSTAR thus works like its Late Start ability in the video games: its bulk and power is like an ominous warning at first, but then the Pokémon develops into one of the strongest monsters in the TCG.
Melony Makes Lumineon V's Ability One Of The Best In The Pokémon TCG
Crown Zenith's Secret Rare Alt Art of Lumineon V has one of the best abilities for any Pokémon TCG Sword and Shield card. Called "Luminous Sign," this ability enables players to pull any single er card from their deck when moving Lumineon from their hand to the bench. What makes this ability so strong is that it allows player to prepare a development with any er card of their choosing for zero energy cost. Additionally, activating the ability comes with very little risk, as players only need to place Lumineon on the bench.
Crown Zenith also features several Secret Rare er cards that bring the most out of the Luminous Sign ability. One of the best pairings with Lumineon V is the Secret Rare Melony (Alt Art). As a Pokémon TCG Trainer Card, Melony not only grants Lumineon V a Water energy upon being summoned but also allows players to draw three additional cards from their decks. Lumineon can then use Aqua Return to deal 120 damage before immediately returning to the deck to be reused again. The speed and efficiency between Melony (Alt Art) and Lumineon V make them a great pairing in battles against more energy-dependent monsters like Mew VMAX and Lugia VSTAR.
Miltank's Ability Makes It The Perfect Counter In The Pokémon TCG
Crown Zenith's new Secret Rare for Miltank has the perfect ability for countering the current meta's strongest Pokémon. Miracle Body prevents all damage from enemy V Pokémon on active monsters, which is a godsend for Pokémon TCG players after Silver Tempest's release. Lugia VSTAR and Stoutland V decks have become a near unstoppable force in the Pokémon TCG because of Stoutland V's attacks. However, with Miltank (Alt Art)'s ability, players can maneuver around the Lugia-Stoutland strategy and try to deal with the two Pokémon as quickly as possible.
Miltank is powerful beyond the Lugia VSTAR matchup, though. In particular, Miltank is very useful in decks centered around cards like Mew VSTAR because Miracle Body protects such Pokémon from vulnerable matchups like Drapion V. This level of proficiency with Miltank (Alt Art) is exciting to see in Crown Zenith. It shows that card designers for the Pokémon Trading Card Game consider more than just raw power and look at how even low-leveled Secret Rares can become viable options in battle.
