Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield—Brilliant Stars

2011-1-11 UD Gliscor 004

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MrMeches

MrMeches

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[gal=50594] 2011-1-11 UD Gliscor 004[/gal]

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FIRST!

Ninja fang is okay, it would've been a little better last format.
Not really too much use right now.
5/10.
1000/10 for being a ninja.
 
Seen it used as an umbreon counter in vilegar...but who the heck plays umbreon now anyway..

6/10 cuz the first attack is actually really good.
 
Today's CotD is Gliscor from UD, a decent guy to use in those rare Gliscor Lv X decks. Statwise 90 HP is average for a Stage 1 (and 10 more than most other Gliscor), x2 Weakness to :water: hurts, -20 Resistance to :lightning: is nice, and :colorless: to Retreat is cheap. Ninja Fang is a very nice attack for :fighting:, dealing a solid 30 and if the Defending has no damage counters on it prior/is damaged by this attack, you get auto-Paralysis, which is very powerful. In fact, I think someone made a whole deck that basically shut them down with this attack for a BR somewhere back...Poison Jab is overpriced at :fighting::colorless::colorless: for 50 and Poison, but ideally you won't be using this attack.

Modified - 6/10 (A nice Gliscor to have around in a deck with the LA and Lv X versions, shame those decks have died down, they were fun)
Limited - 8/10 (Solid stats, potential for auto-paralysis, what's there not to like?)
Unlimited - 1/10 (Not that great here)
 
It's not bad, Ninja fang can be helpful in certain cituations, I do think that Poison Jab is a tad over
Priced. Perhaps if it was only 2 energy to do poison stab it'd be really good.

6/10
 
Let's take a stab at Gliscor from HS - Undaunted. It is a Fighting-Type, which isn't bad since we have some great Fighting Pokémon available right now that might be potential tag partners for it. It is a Stage 1, which is usually a bad thing for this format: Pokémon need to be fast Basics or Stage 2 Pokémon that can bring the pain. Fortunately one of the best exceptions to that is the Fighting Pokémon Donphan Prime, so with the right attacks or Poké-Body/Power it could thrive. The first real warning sign is that this has just 90 HP. For a Stage 1 that can't Evolve further, that is about 10 points too low. The :water: x2 Weakness isn't horrible, but it will make it easier for Gyarados and Feraligatr decks to score a OHKO. With the 90 HP, that will mostly amount to no relief from sub-par starts by competitive Water decks. The :lightning: -20 Resistance is welcome, though given that so many Lightning-Type Pokémon :fighting: weak, it just strengthens an already strong match-up. The single Energy Retreat Cost is good, but Gliscor is half-Flying (in the video games) and probably should have just been given a free Retreat Cost.
Ninja Fang (along with the art) are a nice nod to the item Gliscor needs to Evolve in the video games, and it is actually a solid attack. For a single Fighting Energy, you score a solid 30 damage and automatic Paralysis as long as the Defending Pokémon was undamaged (before doing the damage for Ninja Fang). Sadly, Special Conditions are far too easy to shake for most decks, but if you're fortunate and facing something you know can't Evolve, its a nice way to draw out a Switch or the like early game, or set up for a KO the next turn if they have no answers. The second attack is just shy of being a solid attack; not good enough to justify running the card at random, but if you already had a reason to consider Gliscor, it would have been welcome. Poison Jab needs :)fighting::colorless::colorless:) and does 50 points of damage, plus guaranteed Poison. The Poison is useful for an extra damage counter between turns (at least once, more if you are fortunate) and maybe shutting off a Poké-Power. The 50 damage would be okay if the rest of the was stellar, especially since you can use a Double Colorless Energy to bust it out a turn earlier than expected.

Unfortunately for Gliscor, combining one good attack with one average attack, and overall average stats just aren't good enough to get a Pokémon played. As I said, I am comparing it to averages, or at least perceived averages (I haven't calculated the mathematical mean or anything). Most cards excel at in specific areas and the rest of the card is tolerated. You just can't shoot for the average. A good Poké-Power or Poké-Body is all this card really needed, or to hit the damage levels of Donphan Prime (which does have a Poké-Body but is played for the first, crazy good attack on the card).

Do the other Gliscor create an opening for this card? Well, Gliscor Lv.X does automatically inflict Poison and Paralysis via its coming-into-play Poké-Power. Unfortunately it looks like all the other Gligar combo better. There are two Gligar in Legends Awakened. One version has just 80 HP, both have :water: +20 Weakness and the same Resistance and Retreat as today's CotD. The attacks are what make them more useful. The smaller version has a no Energy attack that lets you automatically Burn or Poison the Defending Pokémon plus you have the option of returning Gliscor and all cards attached to it to your hand. With Broken Time Space in play and perhaps a Vileplume with Allergy Flower on the Bench, and you have the makings of an interesting deck indeed. The slightly larger Gliscor just gives you a great OHKO option: with a Double Colorless Energy you're looking at a 30/70 damage split. On its own that would be poor but combined with its kin, it is a decent option... and better for straight up damage than today's CotD.

The Diamond & Pearl Promos give us access to a Gliscor that completes the combo: Bind Eye requires Gliscor be Active, but while it is your opponent can't Evolve or Level-Up to shake Special Conditions. It also has 90 HP, the same Weakness/Resistance as the Legends Awakened versions, but a free Retreat Cost! The combo is pretty much complete there: use the smaller Legends Awakened Gliscor with Gliscor Lv.X, use its no Energy attack and Burn the Defending Pokémon. Burn, Poison, and Paralysis when you have Vileplume shutting down Trainers and this Gliscor sitting Active (after the self bounce), and your opponent needs an Energy, Poké-Body/Power, or Supporter to break the lock outside of the Defending Pokémon being KO'd. Broken Time Space makes it easier but isn't 100% necessary.

The smaller Gliscor from Legends Awakened, the promo, and the Lv. X all provide great attack options as well, that ultimately trump today's CotD. Looks like the only place to use this Gliscor is if you're playing in Limited. Here you'll enjoy a lot of Pokémon that can't Evolve and an opponent who can't use any other cards to ditch Special Conditions. While there is no Double Colorless Energy, proper play will still let you pull of a Ninja Fang into a Poison Jab combo for multiple Prizes, with your opponent only getting to attack every other turn. The set has a decent amount of Fighting Weakness, a few other Fighting Pokémon to partner with and quite a few Pokémon that can use Fighting Energy to fuel the Colorless costs to their attacks. Gliscor itself only needs a single Energy attached to it to actually be Fighting, and single Energy Retreat is even better. Even the 90 HP is average to a little above average in a format where many Basics and intermediary Stages are played without their final Evolutions available.

Ratings

Modified: 4/10

Limited: 8/10
 
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