Rainbow Energy confusion?! Help!

[EeveelutionGirl]

So if Rainbow E only provides one unit of energy for every type of energy but only one at a time. Can someone please explain why it can be used for both types for Roserade UL's power? I'll copy and paste from Pokemon.com

From Pokemon.com: Roserade (HS—Unleashed, 23/95) can use its Energy Signal Poké-Power to Confuse or Poison the Defending Pokémon—depending on whether you attach a Grass Energy or a Psychic Energy to Roserade. Better yet, a Rainbow Energy card will cause both effects: the Defending Pokémon will be both Confused and Poisoned!

Some would say, I'd need two energy to provide both effects but is it true that Rainbow can work like the example above if it's not used as an attack?.

So maybe the reason Rainbow Energy activates both of Roserades effects is because it is every type of energy until I attack. So when you play it down it is considered both Grass and Psychic but when I attack it can only take place of one of the energys. Therfore if I attack with Rayqyaza C level X, 4 energy would be needed?.

So this means I would only need 1 to privode both effects right??? Help!

 

[EeveeLover]

Per the Rules Compendium

Energy Signal

Q. What happens if I attach a Rainbow Energy to Roserade with the "Energy Signal" Poke-POWER? Do I get to use both effects?

A. If the Energy card you attached provides all types (for example, Rainbow Energy), then both effects would trigger. Energy Signal would both Confuse and Poison the Defending Pokemon. (Sep 30, 2010 PUI Rules Team)
​

The Rainbow Energy provides all types of energy at the same time. Any attack or Poke Power / Body that runs off different types of energy would benefit from the different types.

Here is another example of the Rainbow Energy providing multiple effects:

Black Fire (Houndoom - Great Encounters)

Q. When using Houndoom's "Black Fire" attack, what happens if I discard an Energy card that provides multiple types of Energy at the same time?

A. If the Energy card you discarded provides all types (for example, Rainbow Energy), then both effects would trigger - the "Black Fire" attack would to 70 damage AND apply the Burned Special Condition to the Defending Pokemon. (DP:Great Encounters FAQ; Feb 21, 2008 PUI Rules Team)
​

Rainbow only provides one energy at a time, even though it provides all types at the same time.

So, for attacks needing multiple energies, you would have to have multiple energies attached.

 

[NoPoke]

don't think of it as rainbow energy triggering or activating effects.

Think of it the other way around: when an effect asks if a particular colour of energy is attached then Rainbow will always answer YES!

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For attack energy costs. rainbow can fill any single energy requirement but having filled one it cannot then fill another.

So
attack cost :fire::water:

a single rainbow will meet either the :fire: or the :water: cost and either will use up rainbows 1 unit of energy. A rainbow and colorless energy will not satisfy :fire::water: as though there are two units of energy attached once rainbow has been used for either :fire: or :water: the other coloured energy requirement cannot be satisfied by the remaining :colorless: energy card.

 

[PokePop]

You said "Rainbow E only provides one unit of energy for every type of energy but only one at a time", but that is backwards and the cause of your confusion.

What it should be is this:

Rainbow E always provides all colors of energy for every type of energy but only one unit of energy at a time

Think of it like scoops of Rainbow sherbet.
If you have one scoop and of that, and someone says "do you have cherry sherbet?" You can answer Yes.
If they ask "do you have orange sherbet?", you can answer yes.
If they ask "do you have two scoops of sherbet?", you have to say, sorry, just one.

So you can only fill one energy cost with it, but if something is checking for colors, it will see them.

 

[EeveeLover]

'pop, your answer is the simplest and makes me hungry for sherbet now.

 

[readmyusername]

If an attack would require different energy CARDS, and not just energy, would that change things?

 

[Kayle]

If an attack would require different energy CARDS, and not just energy, would that change things?

I think so. Rainbow Energy is every type of energy, but it is no type of energy card. You can't attach Rainbow with Gatr's Rain Dance, for example.

 

[bullados]

If an attack would require different energy CARDS, and not just energy, would that change things?

It sorta depends on the specific effect, but in general no. Rainbow Energy is an Energy Card of all types while it's in play.

An attack would have to specify "Basic Energy" or "Basic Energy Card" for Rainbow to be excluded, as it's a Special Energy.

 

[PokePop]

If an attack would require different energy CARDS, and not just energy, would that change things?

You need to specify what, if any, attack you are asking about.

Asking about general wording that doesn't exist on any card can't really be answered.

 

[Chairman Kaga]

I think so. Rainbow Energy is every type of energy, but it is no type of energy card.

This statement makes no sense.

It's a card. It says "Energy" at the top. By rule, it's an Energy card.

You can't attach Rainbow with Gatr's Rain Dance, for example.

Because Rainbow only provides all types while in play (as printed on the card). Your hand is not in play. In any other zone, Rainbow is still an Energy card, but it has no other properties (like type).

Rain Dance targets a :water: Energy card in your hand. Rainbow Energy is an Energy card, but not a :water: Energy card (until it enters play), so it cannot be selected by Rain Dance.

 

[Kayle]

This statement makes no sense.

It's a card. It says "Energy" at the top. By rule, it's an Energy card.

I didn't say it wasn't an Energy Card, but I didn't phrase it well, so I can see where you get that.

It's an Energy card, but not for any specific type of energy, so if an effect is looking for a specific type of energy card, Rainbow won't count.

 

[PokePop]

I didn't say it wasn't an Energy Card, but I didn't phrase it well, so I can see where you get that.

It's an Energy card, but not for any specific type of energy, so if an effect is looking for a specific type of energy card, Rainbow won't count.

Best to quit while you're behind.
Making ruling statements is harder than it looks.
You not only have to be thinking of the situation at hand, you must also thing of other situations that exist and could result in different answers.

For example, if an effect is looking for a specific type of energy card that is in play, it very well will see and count Rainbow Energy!

 

[Kayle]

For example, if an effect is looking for a specific type of energy card that is in play, it very well will see and count Rainbow Energy!

Oh, simple enough, I didn't know that. ^^"

Well, then, that does pretty much screw up my whole explanation. Good to have that cleared up...

 

[Carvanha]

Yeah, I was confused about the same thing but I thought;
Wait. Rainbow provides ANY energy But Only ONE unit. AHHH!