Legal Sets
Official Rules
- •60-card decks exactly
- •Maximum 4 copies of any card with the same name (Basic Energy exempt)
- •Must include at least 1 Basic Pokémon
- •First player does not draw a card and cannot play a Supporter on Turn 1
- •Pokémon-ex give up 2 Prize cards when knocked out
- •Delta Species Pokémon have different types than their normal counterparts
- •Holon's Pokémon (Castform, Magneton, Electrode) can be attached as Special Energy
- •EX Ruby & Sapphire through EX Sandstorm rotated out — Dunsparce is gone
- •2006 World Championship held in Anaheim, CA — Klaczynski wins his first title
Format Overview
The 2005-06 season was the "Holon Season" — defined by Delta Species Pokémon and the revolutionary Holon Engine. Delta Species cards had different types than their normal counterparts (a Fire-type Metagross, a Lightning-type Dragonite), and Holon's Pokémon (Castform, Magneton, Electrode) could attach themselves as Special Energy cards, creating entirely new deckbuilding possibilities.
The format's defining card was Pidgeot from EX FireRed & LeafGreen. Its Quick Search Poké-Power let you search your deck for any card once per turn, providing unmatched consistency to any Stage 2 deck that could fit it in. The format's other pillar was the Holon Transceiver engine — a Trainer card that searched for any Holon Supporter, creating a toolbox of draw, search, and disruption options.
At the 2006 World Championship, Jason Klaczynski won his first of three titles with "Mewtrick" — a Trainer-lock deck that used Manectric ex's Disconnect attack to prevent opponents from playing Trainer cards. It was a bold meta call against Metanite (the consensus best deck) and the various Pidgeot-based Stage 2 strategies. Martin Moreno had dominated US Nationals with Rai-Eggs (going 14-0), and the defending champion Jeremy Maron finished 3rd with an updated Queendom build.
Key Cards
Top Decks (10)
Mewtrick
1st Place — 2006 World Championship (Masters)
Klaczynski's first World Championship title. Manectric ex's Disconnect attack prevents the opponent from playing Trainer cards, while Mew ex copies Disconnect via its Versatile Poké-Body. Battle Frontier shuts down non-Delta Poké-Powers and Bodies. A brilliant meta call that locked out the Pidgeot-heavy field.
Suns & Moons (Lunarock)
1st Place — 2006 World Championship (11-14)
A disruption/control deck using Lunatone and Solrock with an enormous 38-card Trainer engine. Cursed Stone and Desert Ruins chip opposing Pokémon-ex between turns, Energy Removal 2 strips energy, and Pokémon Reversal drags up targets. Wins by grinding opponents down over many turns.
B-L-S (Blastoise/Lugia/Steelix)
1st Place — 2006 World Championship (10 & Under)
Blastoise ex's Energy Rain accelerates Water Energy, then Holon's Magneton and Electrode attach as special Energy to power Lugia ex's 200-damage Elemental Blast. Steelix ex provides a Metal tank option. Pidgeot's Quick Search keeps the engine consistent.
Eeveelutions
2nd Place — 2006 World Championship (Masters)
A rogue deck using all five Eeveelution ex cards to exploit type weaknesses. Pidgeot searches for the right evolution each turn, and Surprise! Time Machine devolves Eeveelutions back into Eevee to re-evolve into a different form. Incredibly adaptable to any matchup.
Metanite
4th Place — 2006 World Championship (Masters)
The 'deck to beat' of the Holon season. Metagross δ's Crush and Burn discards Energy for massive damage, while Dragonite δ's Delta Charge reattaches Energy from the discard each turn — an endless damage engine. Jirachi provides early search via Wishing Star.
Rai-Eggs
1st Place — 2006 US National Championship (14-0 record)
Raichu δ hits Pokémon with Poké-Powers for extra damage, while Exeggutor δ's Split Bomb spreads damage across the bench. Holon's Castform starts the game drawing cards and later attaches as Energy. Cursed Stone adds passive damage to ex-heavy opponents. Moreno went 14-0 at Nationals.
Queendom (Nidoqueen / Houndoom)
3rd Place — 2006 World Championship (Masters)
The defending 2005 World Champion returned with an updated Queendom. Nidoqueen's Invitation Poké-Power searches for any Pokémon each turn, while Pidgeot's Quick Search handles Trainers/Supporters. Houndoom provides Fire-type coverage and disruption. Double Rainbow Energy powers Stage 2 attackers quickly.
DragTrode
Top 8 — 2006 World Championship (Masters)
Dark Electrode's Darkness Navigation self-KOs to attach Dark Energy from the deck. Dark Dragonite's Dark Trance moves Dark Energy freely between Pokémon. Rocket's Sneasel ex deals damage based on Dark Energy in play. Desert Ruins punishes opposing Pokémon-ex.
Flariados
2nd Place — 2006 World Championship (Seniors)
Flareon ex's Flash Fire inflicts Burn and Confusion when you attach Fire Energy. Ariados's Reactive Poison deals 10 + 60 for each Special Condition on the Defending Pokémon. Super Scoop Up resets Flareon for repeated Poké-Power use. A creative status-condition combo deck.
Rock Lock
Passive damage via Dark Tyranitar's Sand Damage (1 counter on each opposing Basic between turns) and Dark Ampharos's Darkest Impulse (2 counters when opponent evolves). ATM Rock devolves opposing Pokémon, forcing re-evolution damage. Pidgeot searches for combo pieces.
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