Switching Cards: Optimal or Optional?

Hey guys! I decided that I should start working on another series in the months between new Theme Decks, so I'm going to try some stuff and see how it goes. Let me know if this content was helpful or fun, and give me suggestions on what I can tackle next!

Retreating is one of the most unique aspects of the PTCG, allowing you to refresh your Pokemon's status or switch attackers. Of course, it comes at a cost -- the Retreat Cost -- that can be difficult to pay. Thankfully, there are many cards that help alleviate this problem. But which of these should you include in your deck? 

Today, I'll be walking you through the different switching cards in the Standard format and rating them as "Optimal" or "Optional". Optimal cards have a place in any deck, whereas Optional cards are more situational or niche. Let's get started!

• Solgaleo-GX has the Ultra Road Ability, which allows you to switch any Benched Pokemon with your Active Pokemon at any time. Although it's probably the most effective switching card once it's in play, it can be pretty difficult to evolve it quickly. In addition, all of its attacks need Metal Energy, so it won't have any utility beyond its Ability. Rating: Optional
• Zoroark BKT has the Stand In Ability, which allows you to put it from the Bench into the Active position during your turn. Combined with Float Stone, it provides almost the same effect as Solgaleo-GX's Ability. It also works with any deck, as it has a strong attack for a single DCE and can be played together with the popular Zoroark-GX. Rating: Optimal
• Dawn Wings Necrozma-GX has the Invasion ability, which functions the same as Zoroark. While it lacks the splashability that Zoroark has, it's a Basic Pokemon, which is much easier to work with when deck-building. Rating: Optimal
• Dodrio BKT has the Retreat Aid ability, which it shares with older iterations of the Pokemon. When Dodrio is on the Bench, it reduces the Retreat Cost of your Active Pokemon by 2. Dodrio's stiffest competition comes from Zoroark, which has higher HP, a better attack, better typing, and an Ability that bypasses Special Conditions. Unfortunately, Dodrio pretty much gets outclassed. Rating: Optional

* **Switch** allows you to swap your Active Pokemon with one of your Benched Pokemon. It bypasses both Retreat Cost and Special Conditions, and allows you to retreat again afterwards. Ultimately, though, it hasn't seen much play because it's simply less powerful than Float Stone, especially given the relative obscurity of Special Conditions. **Rating: Optional**
* **Escape Rope** functions as a Switch for both you and your opponent, which can come in handy for forcing your opponent to sacrifice a Pokemon. Unfortunately, its utility is somewhat limited, since your opponent gets to choose which Pokemon is made Active. **Rating: Optional**
* **Guzma** combines the Switch card with the Expanded-only Lysandre, which allows you to choose one of your opponent's Benched Pokemon and drag it into the Active position. Both effects of this card are incredible, and its popularity may have led to the decline of cards such as Switch and Escape Rope. Its only real downside is that it is a Supporter, so you can't follow up with another Supporter card. **Rating: Optimal**
* **Olympia** combines Switch with a significantly more underwhelming card, Potion. The 30 damage is often irrelevant, so Olympia's greatest utility comes in its synergy with Tapu Lele-GX and its ability to search out Supporters. But with Guzma, even that isn't so special anymore. **Rating: Optional**
* **Float Stone** completely nullifies the Retreat Cost of the Pokemon it's attached to. It has the benefit of being useful more than once, but it's vulnerable to Field Blower. It also can't be used to retreat more than once per turn, although playing it with Zoroark or Dawn Wings Necrozma-GX solves that issue. Overall, though, it's absolutely necessary for support Pokemon with high Retreat Costs, such as Octillery or Regirock-GX. **Rating: Optimal**
* **Escape Board** reduces the Retreat Cost of the Pokemon it's attached to by 1, and allows it to bypass Special Conditions when retreating. It's incredible in decks that only use Pokemon with low Retreat Costs, such as Garchomp/Lucario, but doesn't work as well in other decks. Like Float Stone, it also doesn't allow you to retreat again afterwards, and it's vulnerable to Field Blower. **Rating: Optional**

• Warp Energy is a Special Energy card that acts as a Switch when you attach it to your Active Pokemon. It only provides one Colorless Energy, and the fact that you can't use it on Benched Pokemon makes it really clunky to use sometimes. It's also vulnerable to Enhanced Hammer. Rating: Optional

OK, I think that's it! Let me know if I missed anything or if you think differently about one of these cards. This is definitely a little different from what I'm used to doing, so feedback is much appreciated!

Edit: good lord, the formatting got so messed up on mobile! Sorry, but I’ll have to leave it until I figure out a way to make it work on both versions :/