How to Plan for the 2024 Rotation and the Portland Regionals ReviewHow to Plan for the 2024 Rotation and the Portland Regionals Review
The Payoff with Pete
Cory and Jared review the Portland Regionals results and talk through how the 2024 rotation could reshape the Pokémon TCG meta. They weigh which decks and cards are finished, which might thrive, and how both new and experienced players can approach the coming changes.
55:38•12 Jan 2024
Planning for Pokémon Rotation: Portland Regionals, Meta Shifts and Fresh Starts
Episode Overview
- Portland Regionals was heavily shaped by Giratina and Charizard, with strong showings from Lost Zone variants and a still-present Mew VMAX.
- Upcoming rotation removes major cards like Battle VIP Pass, Path to the Peak and Escape Rope, forcing big changes to established decks.
- Decks such as Mew VMAX are effectively finished, while Gardevoir is badly weakened and Charizard and Miraidon remain strong candidates.
- Snorlax Stall may gain ground post-rotation as several of its most troublesome counters rotate out.
- Rotation can feel rough if you lose a favourite deck, but it also refreshes the game, opens space for new ideas and rewards creative deckbuilding.
“The lab is open, Corey. The lab is open.”
What remarkable journeys have people faced head-on against addiction? Here, the answer is less about substances and more about cardboard strategy, as Cory and Jared break down how competitive Pokémon TCG players are bracing for the 2024 rotation and reacting to the Portland Regionals. You’ll hear them banter about mispronouncing Pokémon names, roast themselves for it, then pivot straight into serious meta talk.
Portland gets a full review: why Giratina and Charizard dominated, how Path to the Peak shaped the event, and why some “spicy” rogue decks like Goldengo and an Iron Valiant/Greedent combo caught their eye. They walk through matchups, tech choices, and even one online Snorlax Stall run that went 7–0 and still has Cory kicking himself: “I threw it all away. Should have just run Snorlax.” The second half shifts into future-planning mode.
Rotation is coming, key cards are leaving, and the pair methodically ask: what’s dead, what’s limping, and what survives just fine? Cards like Battle VIP Pass, Path to the Peak, and Escape Rope get special attention, along with decks such as Mew VMAX (given a respectful farewell), Gardevoir ("very badly burned"), and Charizard and Miraidon, which may be sitting pretty.
They also chat about how rotation feels for newer versus experienced players, and why losing familiar cards can still be healthy for the game: “The lab is open, Cory. The lab is open.” If you like hearing two long-time players think out loud about risk, adaptation, and starting over with new tools, this one’s worth your time. What would you keep playing after rotation, and what would you finally lay to rest?
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