Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield—Brilliant Stars

2010-2-4 Salamence AR 8/99

Rate Salamence on its Overall Playability

  • Very Playable

    Votes: 6 7.4%
  • Somewhat Playable

    Votes: 45 55.6%
  • Great Tech

    Votes: 4 4.9%
  • Not Very Playable

    Votes: 21 25.9%
  • Binder Bait

    Votes: 7 8.6%

  • Total voters
    81
  • Poll closed .
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MrMeches

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"Before posting, please review the FAQ and follow the Guidelines provided for Card of they Day. Whereas we enjoy opinions of the cards, it is necessary to include a Brief Description for all players to understand your point of view and an optional Rating (ex. x/10). In the future, posts not using the FAQ information may be deleted and reported. Thanks, Mgmt"


[gal=49236]
2010-2-4 Salamence AR 8/99
[/gal]​
 
Energy costs are too high for my liking. Top acceleration thing isn't too good either. it's just a gamble because you could discard a vital card.

2/10

1st!
 
Fantastic combo with Salamence Lv.X, that being said, it is too slow to be highly competitive.
3/5 because it has a great power and great HP AND has level up options.
 
Interesting, a poll feature is now included...I like.

Anyways, today's CotD is Salamence from AR, a pretty much needed card for Salamence decks to work. Statwise, 140 HP is great for a Stage 2 (10 more than usual), +30 Weakness to :colorless: is meh, -20 Resistance to :fighting: is nice, and :colorless::colorless: to Retreat is modest. Top Accelerator is what gives it use, as this Poke-Power lets you look at the top card of your deck, and if it's a basic Energy, attach it to one of your Pokemon; this gives it quite the synergy with Delcatty, which most Sally decks run. Plus, you can use one for each Salamence you have out, which is nice. Shoot Through is ok, 50 for :fire::water::colorless: is normally bad, but the bonus of hitting something on the opponent's bench for 20 makes it ok. Dragon Claw is just overpriced at 70 for :colorless::colorless::colorless::colorless:, even DCE doesn't make this that much better. Still, at least this guy has a neat Lv X form to look forward to...

Modified - 6/10 (Need more in its own deck for the Power than its otherwise forgettable attacks)
Limited - 3/10 (Hard to get out, but it has survivability and a good chance to use Top Accelerator without it failing)
Unlimited - 1/10 (No use here)
 
It's playable...somewhat...just ridiculously difficult.

You don't play it much for the second attack, moreso, I'd use it for shoot through in combo with Sally X. The only sad thing is that it's hard to set up for duble knock outs (I tried with Crobats w/ Metagross Pl). One thing I will say is when it works, it works ._.

7.5/10
 
It's somewhat playable, just... High attack, risky Poke-Power, and bad weakness. This card deserves a 6.5.
 
Hahah, all I have to say about the PL-On format (well, if and when it occurs) is that this Salamence will actually be a grand deal more playable. At the moment, it takes the back seat to the other Sally...

... But in an environment where SP and Stage 2 decks have a more-balanced switch in terms of speed and DCE is present, well... This might become a great deck.

7/10 for now. It's good to run at least one, for the time being, if you're running Salamence.
 
Wow you all obviously you did not hear about the Salmance X deck based around this card that took a citys in CA and top cutted a few times. With the right combos like Skitty for the energy and spreading damage till you can take 2 prizes in one turn or 4 with shoot through. I think the card can be great if you play it right. Its not as good with DCE being out making one shooting with most Colorless pokemon an easy task.

7/10 modified
2/10 limited (impossible to get out or power up)
3/10 unlimited (killing exs for 3 prizes sounds nice)
 
Well then, here's yet another interesting card. 140 HP is great for a stage 2, no joke on that. Top Accelorator is a pretty nice power, where you reveal the top card of your deck. If it is a basic energy, then attach it to one of your Pokemon. If not, then discard it. Obviously, this power is great with Delcatty PL, where it helps ot guarantee an energy on the top of the deck. Shoot Through for 50 (for a :fire::water::colorless: energy) is a little too expensive energy wise. At least it hits 20 to the bench. The one thing, however, I see with this attack is that it can potentially pull out 5 prizes (KO the active with an expert belt using mence lv.X power, then a bench for 20 with a belt on it or with the help of its power from mence). This means Shoot Through is a fairly decent attack. Dragon Claw for 70 (for 4 energies) really isn't the best sadly, though the attack can at least KO Flygon and Garchomp C.

Weakness is somewhat-bad because of Flygon and Garchomp C (partially not since this Salamence can hit back on them), resistance to fighting is OK because of Machamp and Donphan Prime, and the retreat cost is a little to heavy for it.

Overall 5/10 in modified

Yep, this Salamence is another decent card. The problem with him is that his attack's are a little too expensive, and he is a target by Gengar, so that explains why you may want to consider the other two mence's (from SW and SF). Still, this Salamence can already combo with some cards and take down Flygon and Garchomp C, which is why he is decent.
 
The good thing about this card is its Poke-Power. It definitely has a good use when you combine it with Delcatty, or just use it out of desperation. The attacks aren't too good. 3 for 50 and 20 to the bench is a little underpowered, and 4 for 70 is just overpriced and underpowered. Colorless Weakness is bad, a Retreat Cost of 2 is ok, Fighting Resistance is decent, and 140 HP is good. 5/10
 
Any one who rates this card below a 5/10 has never seen someone draw four prizes in one turn using Salamence X's poke'mon power and Shoot Through. If you can pull it off and use this card perfectly, it makes for an unforgettable turn.
 
I agree with espeon1. Those attacks are very costly and the Poke-Power is just a gamble. PT Blastiose's Poke-Power is a better gamble because get to look at the top 3 cards. You could wind up discarding Salamence LV. X or any other LV. X or a rare candy etc. The 20 snipe with Shoot Through is good. But Dragon Claw is a poor attack. 4 for 70 is too much. 4 for 100+ makes more sense. +30 weakness is bad with Flygon around but -20 Fighting is good and 2 retreat isn't too costly. SF Salamence owns this one. The Battle Rush Poke-Body allowing SF Salamence to attack for only 1 or 2 energies when your opponent's Pokemon has 120+ HP owns. You can own Flygon with SF Salamence cuz it's faster.
 
There are two HGSS cards that help with the gamble of Top Accelerator - Slowking and Unown FLASH. I wouldn't use this Salamence as the main attacker of the deck, but it certainly helps power up that bulky attack cost on Salamence SW.

7/10
 
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