Sun & Moon—Forbidden Light

Status: Released (May 2018)

Necrozma's Light Blinds in Forbidden Light

The power of Necrozma reached its peak on May 4, 2018, with the release of Sun & Moon—Forbidden Light. This expansion focused on Ultra Necrozma-GX, a Dragon-type powerhouse that could deal unlimited damage by discarding Psychic energy. The set also introduced "Buzzwole" (the non-GX version) and "Malamar," two non-GX cards that would define the competitive landscape for the rest of the Sun & Moon era.

Malamar and Puzzle of Time

The standout card of this set was undeniably "Malamar." Its "Psychic Recharge" ability allowed players to attach a psychic energy from their discard pile to a benched Pokémon every turn. This ability was the engine that powered "Ultra Necrozma-GX" and "Necrozma-GX," creating the dominant "Malamar" archetype that consistently topped tournaments. Combined with the continued dominance of "Lycanroc-GX" and "Zoroark-GX," Sun & Moon—Forbidden Light solidified a fast, ability-reliant meta where setup speed was everything.