Pokemon TCG Live 'Expanded' and China's Expanded Format
I love playing the Expanded format on Live as it lets me play cards from my favourite Sun/Moon era. However, calling it 'Expanded' is a technicality as the cardpool and how the format plays is very different from the TCPi paper expanded.
In China, both their Standard and Expanded are different to the rest of the world. Their Expanded is of interest as the cardpool for their Expanded format is exactly the same as the cardpool used for 'Expanded' on TCG Live (with the only differences being Bellelba & Brycen Man not being printed in China and that they are a few sets behind in the S/V era, otherwise it is also Sun/Moon era cards onwards).
Having China has played this format competitively and their ban list consists of only: Marshadow (SL/ Let Loose), Max Potion and Acerola.
The TCG Live ban-list consists of cards banned in the context of having the B/W and X/Y eras cardpool and also of specific era metagames and doesnt reflect this format and how it is different from paper expanded.
Would it be an option to mirror/adopt how China have been able to manage the format seeing as they have used it within a competitive setting?
I have a bias as i do miss Oranguru, but i also feel that maybe embracing that this format as separate and unique from what paper Expanded is a good thing, and adjusting a ban list to reflect that helps!
Food for thought from an Expanded enthusiast, Thanks! :)