Primal EX and Barriers

[TheRolesWePlay]

It was recently revealed through a new product that we're getting Primal Groudon EX and Primal Kyogre EX as Jumbo cards in the near future. A picture of the Hoenn Collection Box revealed that Primal Groudon EX has a unique effect called "Omega Barrier" which blocks all effects of Trainer cards (excluding Tools and Stadiums) used by your opponent that affect it. It was also revealed that the card calls it Primal Reversion instead of Mega Evolution.

Omega Barrier reads: "Whenever your opponent plays a Trainer card (excluding Pokemon Tools and Stadium cards), prevent all effect of that card done to this Pokemon."

I'm rather excited to see what all this means. Will they have a different process to be played than other Mega Pokemon? (The card still says MEGA over the evolution bubble) And what are these new Barrier effects, and will we see more of them? Another interesting thing to not is that it doesn't have the usual Attack name on the picture that other Mega Pokemon do.

 

[vaporeon]

I'm all for seeing new mechanics in the game but what I am tired of is all of these cards they print that prevent players from playing. A ability or effects that blocks items is pretty broken, since it has no cost but making a card that blocks supporters and items without a huge cost is unneeded. Maybe they are doing it to slow the game down but if thats the case, they should just look at the overall balance and start from there.

 

[TheRolesWePlay]

I'm all for seeing new mechanics in the game but what I am tired of is all of these cards they print that prevent players from playing. A ability or effects that blocks items is pretty broken, since it has no cost but making a card that blocks supporters and items without a huge cost is unneeded. Maybe they are doing it to slow the game down but if thats the case, they should just look at the overall balance and start from there.

Actually that's my fault the text actually reads "Whenever your opponent plays a Trainer card (excluding Pokemon Tools and Stadium cards), prevent all effect of that card done to this Pokemon." So it's only stuff that directly affect it like Hypnotoxic laser, Team Flare Grunt, etc. It doesn't stop your opponent from playing suporters like Korrina or the like

 

[treyh37]

looking at other mega cards and what's revealed from that jumbo card image, it is still considered ex and mega, primal reversion is likely just another category added (like adding a team rocket/plasma/flare/etc) so it may have alternate mega evo ways like the new spirit link cards.

the omega barrier is the most interesting part as it would normally be an ability but it's not and thus can't be shut down by garbotoxin, but it's also not effected by tools and stadiums which means it can get the extra hp or free retreat of opponents stadiums but your opponent can also place things like the new team flare tools on it. course its also immune to poke catcher/lysandre cards which is a pain.

 

[TheRolesWePlay]

looking at other mega cards and what's revealed from that jumbo card image, it is still considered ex and mega, primal reversion is likely just another category added (like adding a team rocket/plasma/flare/etc) so it may have alternate mega evo ways like the new spirit link cards.

the omega barrier is the most interesting part as it would normally be an ability but it's not and thus can't be shut down by garbotoxin, but it's also not effected by tools and stadiums which means it can get the extra hp or free retreat of opponents stadiums but your opponent can also place things like the new team flare tools on it. course its also immune to poke catcher/lysandre cards which is a pain.

I don't know about the Lysandre/Catcher ruling tbh. Though, I personally think we should wait until the set is released to get an official ruling IMO (although I think whatever the ruling on Togekiss BCR would be similar to this one)

According to an old question (found here: http://pokegym.net/forums/showthread.php?175634-Togekiss-vs-Catcher&highlight=Togekiss)
Catcher would fail against Togekiss. However the bigger problem is that while Togekiss protected ALL of your Pokemon, P Groudon only protects itself, so not really certain

 

[Walrusaurus]

Looks like it can be a good card, especially as it can abuse all of our Fighting support. As long as it's attack doesn't end being terrible, and I mean ABSOLUTELY terrible.

I think Omega Barrier will be able to block Lysandre/Catcher because it's affecting Primal Groudon by forcing it to switch.

 

[vaporeon]

Actually that's my fault the text actually reads "Whenever your opponent plays a Trainer card (excluding Pokemon Tools and Stadium cards), prevent all effect of that card done to this Pokemon." So it's only stuff that directly affect it like Hypnotoxic laser, Team Flare Grunt, etc. It doesn't stop your opponent from playing suporters like Korrina or the like

Oh, good. Was about to have a heart attack. No need to go to the hospital now. I would like to see a effect like this become more common but used from the discards pile that affects all of your in play pokemon. Would be worth the deck space.

 

[rivershock]

It will block Lysandre/Catcher targeting Primal Groudon, but not one targeting anything else. It's pretty obvious. Catcher/Lysandre only affect the Pokemon they're bringing out, not the previous active or anything else. (Something like Escape Rope would be different, you could send up Primal Groudon if they play it while you have something else active since it's affecting the active Pokemon rather than the one being sent up.)

It's been a while since we've had rules unique to a single Pokemon (the Items from the Diamond/Pearl era were the most recent if I recall correctly), and I for one welcome their return. Primal Groudon is probably going to be an expensive attacker (though since it's immune to cards like Crushing Hammer and being picked off by Lysandre, this is slightly LESS of an issue), and will have an enormous retreat cost, but hopefully it'll be good. It doesn't need to do TOO much to be worth using. I wonder if Kyogre will get the same effect or something else.

 

[inmanjm]

I wonder if Kyogre will get the same effect or something else.

Good question. The rule or effect is called 'omega barrier', and with Groudon being the mascot of Omega Ruby I wouldn't be surprised if they came up with a 'Alpha something-or-other' for Kyogre.

 

[TRAINER HEZ]

There's going to be so many rules boxes on the Primals! X_X
Omega Barrier, Mega rule, EX rule...