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
- •Mid-season rotation removed ALL Diamond & Pearl era cards (SP Pokémon gone)
- •Abilities replace Poké-Powers and Poké-Bodies (Black & White)
- •Trainer cards split into Items, Supporters, and Stadiums
- •2011 World Championship held in San Diego — David Cohen wins Masters
- •Shortest competitive format — only used for the last weeks of the season + Worlds
Format Overview
HGSS-BLW was one of the shortest competitive formats in TCG history — it existed only from the mid-season rotation in July 2011 through the 2011 World Championship in August. The rotation removed every Diamond & Pearl-era card, killing SP Pokémon, Claydol, Uxie, and the entire Team Galactic engine overnight. What remained was a fresh metagame built around HGSS Prime Pokémon and Black & White's new Ability mechanic.
Reshiram and Emboar from Black & White immediately became the format's central engine. Emboar's Inferno Fandango Ability (attach as many Fire Energy from hand as you like each turn) powered Reshiram's 120-damage Blue Flare repeatedly. Two variants emerged: Reshiphlosion (with Typhlosion Prime recovering discarded Fire Energy) was the most popular deck at Worlds with 8 of 16 Top Cut Masters players running it, while MagneBoar (with Magnezone Prime for draw and Lost Burn damage) was the more explosive but less consistent option.
David Cohen won the 2011 World Championship with MagneBoar — nicknamed 'Twinboar' — in a format where most expected Reshiphlosion to dominate. But the story of the tournament was Ross Cawthon's 2nd-place finish with 'The Truth' — a completely unknown rogue deck that used Vileplume's Item lock, Reuniclus's damage movement, and Blissey's healing to create a nearly invincible defensive engine. It remains one of the most famous rogue decks in TCG history.
Key Cards
Top Decks (10)
MagneBoar / "Twinboar"
1st Place — 2011 World Championship (Masters)
The winning deck of 2011 Worlds. Emboar's Inferno Fandango accelerates Fire Energy onto Reshiram for Blue Flare (120 damage). Magnezone Prime provides Magnetic Draw for cards and Lost Burn for massive damage. Rayquaza & Deoxys LEGEND adds spread damage options.
The Truth
2nd Place — 2011 World Championship (Masters)
One of the most famous rogue decks in TCG history. Vileplume locks all Items. Reuniclus moves damage counters between your Pokémon. Blissey heals them. Donphan and Zekrom attack while Suicune & Entei LEGEND covers specific matchups. The defensive engine makes your Pokémon nearly unkillable.
Reshiphlosion (Seniors Build)
1st Place — 2011 World Championship (Seniors)
The most popular deck at 2011 Worlds (50% of Top 16 Masters). Typhlosion Prime's Afterburner recovers Fire Energy from discard onto Reshiram, fueling repeated 120-damage Blue Flare attacks. Professor Juniper and Sage's Training aggressively discard energy to be recovered.
Reshiphlosion / Ninetales (Masters Build)
3rd Place — 2011 World Championship (Masters)
A Reshiphlosion variant with Ninetales HGSS for its Roast Reveal Poké-Power — discard a Fire Energy to draw 3 cards. Synergizes perfectly with Typhlosion Prime recovering those discarded energies. More consistent draw engine than the lean Seniors build.
MegaZone (Yanmega/Magnezone)
5th Place — 2011 World Championship (Masters)
The pre-tournament favorite. Yanmega Prime attacks for free when hand sizes match (via Insight). Magnezone Prime provides massive draw with Magnetic Draw and Lost Burn for KOs. Kingdra Prime's Spray Splash adds 10 damage per turn. Jirachi de-evolves opponents.
MegaZone (Juniors Build)
1st Place — 2011 World Championship (Juniors)
The Junior Champion's MegaZone with a heavier Kingdra Prime line for more Spray Splash damage spreading. Pachirisu provides emergency energy acceleration. Skips Jirachi for more consistency.
Stage 1 Rush
Speed deck using only Stage 1 Pokémon — no Rare Candy vulnerability. Yanmega Prime attacks free with hand matching. Donphan Prime hits 60 for one Energy. Zoroark copies opponent's attacks with Foul Play. Bouffalant provides revenge KOs. Kyle Sucevich popularized it at US Nationals.
LostGar
The format's alternate win condition. Gengar Prime's Hurl into Darkness sends opponent Pokémon from hand to the Lost Zone. Lost World wins when 6+ are Lost Zoned. Mew Prime uses See Off to toolbox Lost Zone attacks. Magnezone provides draw. Spiritomb accelerates evolution.
MewBox (Mew Prime Toolbox)
Mew Prime's See Off places tech Pokémon in the Lost Zone, then Lost Link copies their attacks. Yanmega attacks free. Vileplume locks Items. Jumpluff's Mass Attack, Muk's Sludge Drag, and Zoroark's Foul Play cover every matchup. Creative and flexible — rewards metagame knowledge.
Tyranitar / Serperior
Top 8 — 2011 US National Championship (Masters)
Spread damage with Tyranitar Prime's Darkness Howl (2 damage counters on each opponent's Pokémon when evolved). Serperior's Royal Heal heals your own Pokémon between turns. Jirachi's Time Hollow de-evolves damaged targets for surprise KOs. A grindier archetype that punishes bench-heavy setups.
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