"Pokémon TCG" players didn't expect the most unusual ban of 2026 so far. Medicham V is being banned in Japan's Expanded format starting February 20, 2026.
The announcement, posted on January 16 on the official Japanese TCG website, did not include an explanation, leaving fans and players to speculate on the reasoning.
Yoga Loop Sparks Controversy
According to WarGamer, Medicham V's signature Yoga Loop attack allows an extra turn if two damage counters trigger a knockout. While it cannot chain multiple turns consecutively, its low energy cost of two colorless enables rapid deployment.
As a basic Rapid Strike Pokémon, it can appear quickly on the board, catching opponents off guard and potentially enabling unexpected combos.
Competitive Scene Insights
Interestingly, Medicham V was not dominating Japan's meta. The Expanded tournament on May 4, 2025, was largely controlled by Regidrago VSTAR decks, leaving little space for Medicham to shine.
Analysts now suggest the ban could be preemptive, targeting potential synergies with upcoming sets, such as Ninja Spinner in March, which might allow unintended infinite combos.
"I feel like (if the leaks are accurate) it is potentially the Mega Geninja with the ability that lets you put 6 damage counters on anything because 80 damage is basically killing any baby basics on the bench and if I remember correctly that greninja ability is not locked to a single use if you had more than one on your bench 🤔 could absolutely be off base and see something even crazier come out in that set 🤷♂️," a fan commented on a Pokebeach forum.
While others agree this could be a pre-emptive move, other fans do not agree with the decision.
"Because the card hasn't been released yet in Japan and hasn't even been confirmed yet. Why would anyone test a card that is not confirmed to be a legitimate card yet? You're basing everything on an assumption. And I'm asking the same question because you haven't actually done what was asked yet," another commenter wrote.
Emerging Deck Strategies
Recent deck experimentation may have also influenced the ban. In the 132nd PKC trainer's league, players paired Medicham V with Koffings and Dusknoir to secure a victory, revealing a synergy that could disrupt the competitive balance if widely adopted.
Global Implications
While the ban currently applies only to Japan, The Pokémon Company International (TPCi) often aligns global tournament rules with Japan's decisions.
International players should monitor updates closely, as the official rationale for the ban is expected to be clarified soon.
