We received an exclusive preview of the cards related to the new Sword and Shield Dark Flames expansion GCC Pokémon.
The third expansion of the Sword and Shield cycle of Pokémon Trading Card Game, Dark Flames, contains 201 cards. On the pages of Epic Videogames Guide we have always tried to create competitive-themed insights, going to explain what according to the editorial staff are the best cards of each standard format expansion, those to be taken into consideration for the creation of a deck. In this short preview of Dark Flames Sword and Shield we tell you, instead, the specifics Pokémon that the publisher sent us: Decidueye, Arctozolt and Scizor-VMAX.
Decidueye
From the depths of the woods, Decidueye, the Arrow Wing Pokémon, returns to battle the ranks of Pokémon V! Its Forest Camouflage Ability is the perfect counter to Pokémon V and GX's powerful attacks, rendering their moves unable to damage Decidueye. Smart!
PS 140
Skills: Forest Camouflage
Prevent all damage done to this Pokémon by attacks from your opponent's Pokémon-V and Pokémon-GX.
Split Arrow: 90 damage
This attack also does 20 damage to two of your opponent's Benched Pokémon.
Decidueye has one of the most interesting abilities of the Standard: being able to prevent attacks from Pokémon-GX and Pokémon-V. This characteristic makes him one of the best defenders of the metagame, especially in this phase where in addition to Blacephalon, decks using Pokémon-GX and Pokémon-V, such as Dragapult-VMAX and Pikachu & Zekrom-GX, are dominating the format. Decidueye is immune to the attacks of these Pokémon. However, it has a flaw: like any evolving Pokémon it needs more turns or the use of Rare Candy to take to the battlefield. How to make the most of Decidueye? We suggest to insert it in the deck with Rowlet & Exeggutor of Alola-GX, taking advantage of the Ability of this card that allows a Pokémon to evolve from the first turn, without the need for Tools.
Arctozolt
An ice and lightning storm arrives with Arctozolt, one of the four fossil Pokémon of Galar! The Chilling Whirl Ability Thunders your opponent's Pokémon with two damage counters if they have any Energy in their hand. This skill also works from the bench and therefore Arctozolt can be a real shock to unwary players!
PS 130
Skills: Chilling Whirlpool
Whenever your opponent attaches an Energy card from their hand to XNUMX of their Pokémon, put two damage counters on that Pokémon.
Energisphere: damage 70
We do not think Arctozolt manages to carve out his own space in the format, despite a fair amount of skill. Competitively speaking, this Pokémon doesn't have the right qualities to be used. Since it is a rare card, however, we believe it is of great interest to every collector.
Scizor-VMAX
Steel claw hits hard with Scizor VMAX! Scizor's pincers are strong enough to break rock but, in Dynamax form, this power becomes unstoppable with Dynametallo dealing 190 damage for only three energies! Alternatively, strengthen your defenses with Hard Scissors, which reduces damage taken by 30!
PS 320
Hard Scissors: 90 damage
During your opponent's next turn, this Pokémon takes 30 less damage from attacks (after applying Weakness and Resistance).
Dynametallo: damage 190
Scizor-VMAX, as mentioned for Decidueye, has an enemy named Blacephalon: a Fire-type Pokémon that is dominating the format. How to use this card? Using the Metal Pan Item, a card that removes weaknesses from a Metal Pokémon and reduces attacks taken by 30. This Item, combined with the attack of Scizor-VMAX, makes this Pokémon a true colossus and a discreet attacker. We recommend playing it within a Zacian-V deck.
In this short preview of Dark Flames Sword and Shield we have shown you the cards arrived in the editorial office.
► Pokémon Trading Card Game is a turn-based strategy game developed and published by The Pokémon Company International for Android, iOS, Mac and PC, the video game was released on 24/03/2011 The version for PC came out on 15/05/2012
