Hi. There has been a reveal of a new Japanese Pokemon TCG set featuring Mega Zygarde ex called Nihil Zero.
This Japanese set will release in Japan on January 23, 2026. It is unknown when the English version of this set will release. Maybe in April 2026? And then a new rotation in standard format?
This post is long.
Bincale & Barbaracle
Binacle as an attacker is not great but you need it for Barbaracle. The Double Draw first attack can be helpful in the early game though.
Barbaracle is likely to see play as it provides Fighting Energy acceleration. Once during your turn, you may attach a Fighting Energy from your hand to 1 of your Fighting Pokemon.
Meowth ex
Here is Meowth ex. This is very similar to Lumineon V from the F regulation mark block.
The Trump Card Catch ability activates when Meowth ex is Benched from your hand. Once during your turn, you may search your deck for a Supporter card, reveal it and put into your hand. (Then shuffle deck afterwards.) You cannot use another Ability with the phrase Trump Card in its name this turn.
The attack on Meowth ex is not great. Three of any Energy to deal 60 damage but you return this card and attached cards to your hand.
In the past year, the counter to Lumineon V was this Spiritomb.
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Meowth ex's counter would be Team Rocket's Watchtower. That is kind of odd. We have Jessie, James and Meowth but their own Team Rocket's Watchtower negates the ability of Meowth ex.
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Some people are not happy with this type of Supporter search card coming back to the game. You can end games with Benching this and then finding Boss's Orders to get your final Prize cards. A Supporter search card like Meowth ex is very powerful and has big impact on the game.
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Pokepad Again
Here is Pokepad once again. You can search for a non Rule box Pokemon that is a Basic or Evolution from your deck and put it into your hand.
Tarragon
Tarragon is a strong retrieval supporter card that lets you put up to any 4 of Fighting Pokemon and Basic Fighting Energy cards from your discard pile into your hand.
This is similar to Tulip for Psychic Pokemon and Psychic Energy. Tulip is not played much but I think Tarragon will see some use as there is a push to make Fighting types good (while Psychic types go down after Gardevoir ex deck dominance).
Tarragon could also be a Boss's Orders if you use Hariyama. Retrieve a Hariyama, evolve one Makuhita into Hariyama. Then Hariyama's Heave Ho Catcher ability activates where you can bring out any 1 of the opponent's Benched Pokemon into the Active Spot.
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Naveen
This card's effect is simple. Discard any number of cards from your hand. Then draw cards until you have 5 in hand.
We do have Iris's Fighting Spirit where you discard 1 card and then draw until you have 6. There is also Morty's Conviction where you discard 1 card to draw the number of cards equal to your opponent's Benched Pokemon.
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With Naveen, you could discard your large hand of something like 7 cards or more and get a new 5 cards. Some decks will like Naveen's discard cards effect like Ceruledge ex.
Lumiose City
Lumiose City is kind of interesting. Once during each player's turn, they may search their deck for any Basic Pokemon (rule box or Pokemon ex) and put it onto their Bench. The deck is then shuffled and the player's turn ends with no attack.
This card is comparable to Artazon. Artazon does not end your turn but you are restricted to non-Rule Box Basic Pokemon.
I don't know which decks will find Lumiose City useful though. This stadium could be okay if you have setup turns where you don't end up attacking.
Rock Fighting Energy
Rock Fighting Energy is a Special Energy card that gives Fighting Energy when it is attached to a Pokemon.
If this attached to a Fighting Pokemon then that Fighting Pokemon prevents all effects of attacks used by the opponent's Pokemon. Effects do not include damage but do include placement of damage counters, Confusion, Asleep, Paralysis and Poison.
Searching for Special Energy is not the easiest thing but you have Hilda and Colress's Tenacity in the format.
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Mega Zygarde ex
Mega Zygarde ex is a Big Basic Fighting Pokemon. This has 310 HP, a retreat cost of 2 and two big attacks. Like with any Mega Pokemon, the opponent takes 3 Prize Cards out of 6 if they knock this out. (Be careful.)
Gaia Wave requires 3 Fighting Energy to deal 200 damage and have Mega Zygarde take 30 less damage from attacks during your opponent's next turn.
Nihil Zero is a big attack. Five Energy attacks are not common. For 5 Fighting Energy, you flip a coin for each of your opponent's Pokemon. If heads, deal 150 damage to that Pokemon. In theory, you can get a board wipe if you hit all of the opponent's Pokemon and knock them all out. As it is coin flipping, there is no guarantee.
The energy requirements are high but Barbaracle can help with Fighting Energy acceleration. I think Mega Zygard ex as an attacker is somewhat underwhelming. It having Grass weakness is really bad.
Core Memory Tool Card
Core Memory is a Tool card dedicated for Mega Zygarde ex. Mega Zygarde ex with this tool has access to the Geobuster attack. Geobuster does 350 damage from 4 Fighting Energy then you discard all Energy from this Pokemon.
Dealing 350 damage is pretty powerful. Mega Zygarde ex does go well with the Barbaracle for Fighting Energy acceleration.
Closing Thoughts
I am not sure if Mega Zygarde ex decks will be good. Having Barbaracle in the format helps Fighting decks a lot while they were not popular the last two years.
Tarragon looks like a very good Supporter card for Fighting decks with Fighting Pokemon and Basic Fighting Energy.
Meowth ex as a Lumineon V replacement is kind of interesting. You can search for a Supporter like Boss's Orders if you Bench it from hand. Then it becomes an easy target for the opponent to get 2 Prize Cards.