RE: Getting back in after a bit!
The current formad for Standard is Boundaries Crossed on. Extended is Black and White on. Larger tournaments use both formats: Standard for day one and Extended for day two. This is perhaps the most notable change in the metagame at this time.
As for popular decks, most of the big players are still viable. "Big Basics" type decks, with or without Garbodor are pretty much the norm. Fighting, VirGen, and Seismitoad varients seem to be the most popular decks right now. Yveltal-EX decks is still highly playable, but slower due to the loss of Dark Patch and Sableye; Fighting's popularity also makes Darkrai a liability, even as a bench sitter. Due to the loss of Prism Energy, Plasma and Aromatisse decks have seen reduced play in Standard, but still do exist. Pyroar, a deck you are most likely not familiar with also sees play and is worth thinking about. Pyroar's ability protects it from being damaged by basic Pokemon, though it can still become poisoned, or have any other effect put on it. In Extended play, Eels have made a return. Stage 2 decks like Flygon, Blastoise, etc are hardly played due to Seismitoad's early game item lock and the loss of Tropical Beach in Standard. That's the current metagame in a nutshell.
