Set announcement
Sigilyph ex would wall 36 of Standard's 45 Mega Evolution ex, but Mega Starmie ex still KOs it in one hit
Aura Seeker's Sigilyph ex takes no damage from attacks by the opponent's Mega Evolution Pokémon ex. We checked every Mega ex in Standard for a way around it: nine have one, and one attack knocks it out outright.
The Pokémon Company’s Japanese page for Aura Seeker, out Nov 27, shows the full card for Sigilyph ex. Its Ability, メガプロテクター, reads, in our translation: “This Pokémon doesn’t take damage from attacks from your opponent’s Mega Evolution Pokémon ex.” The English card, shown at the 2026 World Championships as still in development, names it Mega Protection, per Bill’s Archive.
It’s a Basic Psychic Pokémon ex with 210 HP, Darkness Weakness, Fighting Resistance, and a Retreat Cost of one. Power Cyclone does 140 for three Colorless Energy and moves one of its Energy to a Benched Pokémon. It gives up two Prize cards; a Mega Evolution Pokémon ex gives up three.
What still gets through#
The Ability stops attack damage and nothing else. Damage counters aren’t damage, so Poison, Burn, and Abilities that place counters still work, as do attacks that Knock Out a Pokémon without doing damage. Attacks whose damage “isn’t affected by any effects on your opponent’s Active Pokémon” should go through too: the rules team has ruled that this wording beats damage-preventing Abilities, as when Aegislash’s Hard Bashing went through Espathra’s Stance. There’s no ruling on Sigilyph ex itself yet.
We checked all 45 Mega Evolution Pokémon ex legal in Standard (regulation marks H, I, and J), from Mega Evolution through Delta Reign and the promos. 36 have no attack or Ability that can damage or Knock Out Sigilyph ex. The other nine:
| Mega ex | Way through | Catch |
|---|---|---|
| Mega Starmie ex | Nebula Beam: 210 damage that ignores effects on the Active Pokémon | 210 is Sigilyph ex’s HP: a one-hit KO |
| Mega Lopunny ex | Spiky Hopper: 160, same wording | Leaves it at 50 HP |
| Mega Dragalge ex | Pernicious Poison: 16 damage counters each Pokémon Checkup | Retreating cures Poison |
| Mega Greninja ex | Mortal Shuriken (Ability): 6 damage counters | Once a turn, from the Active Spot, for a Basic Water Energy from hand |
| Mega Absol ex | Terminal Period: KOs a Pokémon with exactly 6 damage counters | Needs the counters first; Mortal Shuriken places exactly 6 |
| Mega Darkrai ex | Abyss Eye: KOs a Pokémon with a Special Condition | Needs the Special Condition from another card |
| Mega Delphox ex | Eerie Glow: Burned and Confused | Burn adds 2 damage counters between turns |
| Mega Slowbro ex | Shellnado Spin: 12 damage counters on whatever damages it next turn | Only if Sigilyph ex attacks it |
| Mega Scrafty ex | Counterattacking Crest (Ability): 5 damage counters on an attacker | Only if Sigilyph ex attacks it |
On the Bench, Sigilyph ex is safer still. Nebula Beam and Spiky Hopper hit only the Active Pokémon, and Mega ex Bench attacks like Mega Starmie ex’s Jetting Blow, the one the new Blastoise boosts, do nothing to it. Mortal Shuriken can still reach it.
Its own set has an answer#
Aura Seeker’s three new Megas, Mega Lucario Z ex, Mega Garchomp Z ex, and Mega Absol Z ex, each carry the Mega Evolution ex rule, so Mega Protection blocks them. Mega Garchomp Z ex’s Sonic Edge is the exception: 240 damage that, per the Japanese card, isn’t affected by effects on the opponent’s Active Pokémon. That’s enough to KO Sigilyph ex.
Japan’s page pitches Sigilyph ex as a partner as much as a wall. It lists it, with Meloetta, in a Mega Absol Z ex deck: Meloetta’s Welcome Song puts up to three Basic Pokémon from the deck onto the Bench for one Energy, and Power Cyclone moves Energy to them.
Hitting back#
Counting printed HP, Psychic Weakness, and Mega Diancie ex’s 30-damage reduction, Power Cyclone Knocks Out 13 of the 45 in two hits or fewer. Mega Hawlucha ex goes down in one, unless its Tenacious Body coin flip saves it. The other 32 take three. These are matchups on paper, not tested decks.
Sigilyph ex is one of two Flowing Fists cards The Pokémon Company has shown in English. The set itself isn’t announced; PokeBeach reports it for Feb 5, 2027, and our earlier story covers what to expect.