Magic_Umbreon
Researching Tower Scientist, Retired
To be honest, I don't understand what all the hype about Phione is all about at all.
Phione's attack is an enviable one, to "ascend" anything on your bench to a higher evolution stage from your deck. The idea being to put down basics and save on resources so you can draw into energy and stadiums or something instead of wasting celio's or bebe's early on.
However, I think this is just the surface. Phione has its flaws, flaws I believe prevent it from being an unrivalled staple or in other words "broken".
First, Phione can only evolve one pokémon at a time and this is at the cost of an attack. Much better than doing 10 or something small indeed but nonetheless spending more than two turns without damage is not ideal. It also requires you to pull other resources using other means. Which brings me to my next main point: starting hand.
Using phione mid or late game is just giving up a prize as your opponent will no doubt have the pokémon out to do 60 damage. So, Phione's usefulness lies in the opening of the game where your army is developped. However, there is a flaw in this, too. In order for Phione to successfully open your game, your starting hand must contain:
While each factor in the list is no major consideration, getting all of them (and all are necessary) doesn't look hugely consistent - at least not by turn 1 or 2. Which brings me to my next point:
Turn 2 or 3 attackers. Along with Phione come a slew of new pokémon. The included Mewtwo and Eeveelutions are a given in Majestic Dawn and I think look a promising counter to Phione.
Both Glaceon and Jolteon threaten a 2HKO on Phione for a single energy. Jolteon can paralyse on a flip, and on a flip Glaceon isn't bothered by Phione retreating for an attacker or using its second attack (paralysis covers this too). Not that one would play these two just to counter Phione, the Eeveelutions are strong and versatile enough for many variational uses.
Then there is Mewtwo. Its free attack can fuel it quickly if you use the right supporters or retreat/charge as a tech from the deck for a Turn 2 or 3 60 and possibly energies elsewhere. 60 is nice, and unless they are hasty even a leusirely setup of drawing and attaching energies for T3 60 can put early pressure. Because they had to attack to Phione, Mewtwo should be able to damage the pokémon they bring up too. Gardy or other psychics at this point may well not have enough energy to take advantage of the weakness.
Disableye is good against Phione from the start too. In context of 60HP, 10 from Disable is very helpful while all the time excavate is helping.
So those are my reasons for the impact Phione will have, what are yours?
Phione's attack is an enviable one, to "ascend" anything on your bench to a higher evolution stage from your deck. The idea being to put down basics and save on resources so you can draw into energy and stadiums or something instead of wasting celio's or bebe's early on.
However, I think this is just the surface. Phione has its flaws, flaws I believe prevent it from being an unrivalled staple or in other words "broken".
First, Phione can only evolve one pokémon at a time and this is at the cost of an attack. Much better than doing 10 or something small indeed but nonetheless spending more than two turns without damage is not ideal. It also requires you to pull other resources using other means. Which brings me to my next main point: starting hand.
Using phione mid or late game is just giving up a prize as your opponent will no doubt have the pokémon out to do 60 damage. So, Phione's usefulness lies in the opening of the game where your army is developped. However, there is a flaw in this, too. In order for Phione to successfully open your game, your starting hand must contain:
- Phione itself. If not, the Phiones in your deck are wasted space and searching/retreating is slow and ugly.Phione itself. If not, the Phiones in your deck are wasted space and searching/retreating is slow and ugly.
- An energy. Simple, but it's still another card you can't pull off the T1/2 Phione without.
- An evolvable basic pokémon for Phione's attack to be used on.
- Enough resources drawn into or in opening to "push the setup". Evolving isn't enough if for example you have an energy or supporter drought. You need to push the setup with the right energy and more basic to evolve. Now, something like Claydol or Gardevoir anything that Phione can setup to setup is a major consideration. However, this extends the turns until you actually have a good attacker ready.
While each factor in the list is no major consideration, getting all of them (and all are necessary) doesn't look hugely consistent - at least not by turn 1 or 2. Which brings me to my next point:
Turn 2 or 3 attackers. Along with Phione come a slew of new pokémon. The included Mewtwo and Eeveelutions are a given in Majestic Dawn and I think look a promising counter to Phione.
Both Glaceon and Jolteon threaten a 2HKO on Phione for a single energy. Jolteon can paralyse on a flip, and on a flip Glaceon isn't bothered by Phione retreating for an attacker or using its second attack (paralysis covers this too). Not that one would play these two just to counter Phione, the Eeveelutions are strong and versatile enough for many variational uses.
Then there is Mewtwo. Its free attack can fuel it quickly if you use the right supporters or retreat/charge as a tech from the deck for a Turn 2 or 3 60 and possibly energies elsewhere. 60 is nice, and unless they are hasty even a leusirely setup of drawing and attaching energies for T3 60 can put early pressure. Because they had to attack to Phione, Mewtwo should be able to damage the pokémon they bring up too. Gardy or other psychics at this point may well not have enough energy to take advantage of the weakness.
Disableye is good against Phione from the start too. In context of 60HP, 10 from Disable is very helpful while all the time excavate is helping.
So those are my reasons for the impact Phione will have, what are yours?