We’re a few days away from the release date of the Scarlet & Violet: Black Bolt and White Flare expansion sets. With their debut on the horizon, we’ve decided to look at the best cards from the pair.
As a general disclaimer, these cards are not ranked in any order, nor is this list definitive.
Brave Bangle (White Flare)
The attacks of the Pokémon this card is attached to (excluding Pokémon with a Rule Box) deal 30 more damage to your opponent's Active Pokémon ex.
The first on our list, Brave Bangle seems to be TPCi’s (The Pokemon Company International) attempt in balancing the scales between Single-prize Pokemon and the plethora of ex Pokemon that have been dominating the competitive scene.
One of the biggest issues facing Single-prize Pokemon is usually their lack of damage output to effectively knock out an ex Pokemon in one hit. They’re usually able to hit just below the mark.
Ethan’s Typhlosion from Destined Rivals is an example that, even with all the parameters met with its Buddy Blast attack, it’s only sitting at a 280 total damage output.
With the Brave Bangle added to the roster of cards, more unusual decks may find more ways to compete against the powerhouses you’d usually see in tournaments.
Air Balloon (Black Bolt)
The Retreat Cost of the Pokémon this card is attached to is [C][C] less.
Air Balloon will probably be one of the most generic tools coming in Black Blot, and it'll have players running Rescue Board needing to make a tough decision.
Rescue Board has a higher potential for retreat cost discount, but that comes with a parameter that needs to be fulfilled. Air Balloon holds no such restriction and can easily allow a player more leeway to manipulate their field.
It’s a simple tool with a simple effect, and that’s not a bad thing for a card game.
Tool Scrapper (White Flare)
Choose up to 2 Pokémon Tools attached to Pokémon (yours or your opponent’s) and discard them.
Another card to add to the pile of just generally good tech choices, Tool Scrapper will draw a lot of similarities to Jamming Tower from Destined Rivals. As always, there are pros and cons between the two.
Jamming Tower’s blanket floodgate effect forces some form of interaction first, while Tool Scrapper can get rid of a tool wholesale.
Players can technically get rid of Jamming Tower a lot more easily, but there is also a window of opportunity to use a tool before it gets scrapped by Tool Scrapper.
Tool Scrapper has one more aspect going for it. It can be used to get rid of your own tool once its purpose has been served, allowing for another tool to take its place.
This is one of those times where a player would have to take a look at the meta and consider the possibilities of what they’ll be facing before making a decision. That said, Tool Scrapper is still a good card to have in the arsenal, regardless, since the game has no form of side decking between matches.
Hilda (White Flare)
Search your deck for 1 Evolution Pokemon and 1 Energy card, reveal them, and put them into your hand. Then shuffle your deck.
As one of the most interesting Supporter cards coming in, Hilda offers a particularly powerful search that the Pokemon TCG has not seen in a while; the ability to search for a non-basic energy card.
Coupling the next pair of items on this list with Hilda’s ability to search for an evolution Pokemon, and we could have some creative decks coming out of the woodwork.
Ignition Energy (White Flare) & Prism Energy (Black Bolt)
Ignition Energy (Left)
If this card is attached to 1 of your Pokémon, discard it at the end of the turn. This card provides 1 [C] Energy while it is attached to a Pokémon. If this card is attached to an Evolution Pokémon, it provides [C][C][C] Energy instead.
Prism Energy (Right)
This card provides [C] Energy. If the Pokémon this card is attached to is a Basic Pokémon, this card provides every type of Energy but provides only 1 Energy at a time.
Both Ignition and Prism Energy sitting on this list are largely predicated on Hilda’s existence.
The former can allow unusually difficult attacks to activate for a single turn. Alternatively, if there’s an attack that scales off the number of energy the Pokemon has, like Espathra ex, then Ignition Energy is a good booster for a potential knockout when it’s not expected.
Prism Energy, meanwhile, is a very versatile card for any Basic-stage focused deck. Its ability to provide any type of energy can streamline the activation of any main damage dealer.
Once attached, any Pokemon that can move any type of energy, like Armarouge from Paldean Fates, can easily shift this card around for even more versatility.
Zekrom ex (Black Bolt) & Reshiram ex (White Flare)
Zekrom ex (Left)
Slash: 50 damage. Voltage Burst: 130+ damage. This attack does 50 more damage for each Prize card your opponent has taken. This Pokémon does 30 damage to itself.
Reshiram ex (Right)
Slash: 50 damage. Blaze Burst: 130+ damage. This attack does 50 more damage for each Prize card your opponent has taken. Discard an Energy from this Pokémon.
Another two-for-one special, we’re putting these two together as they largely function as good catch-up mechanics for any deck that’s lacking them.
Zekrom ex may help foster the return of Miraidon ex decks while Reshiram ex can help any Fire-type focused decks, like the ones using Ethan’s Typholosion, to have a game-closing Pokemon on the bench that can potentially one-shot even the toughest of rivals.
Meloetta ex (Black Bolt)
Ability: Live Debut If you go first, this Pokémon can attack on your first turn. Echoed Voice: 30 damage. During your next turn, this Pokémon's Echoed Voice attack does 80 more damage (before applying Weakness and Resistance).
Meloetta ex presents an opportunity for any decks running any of the Technical Machine search cards (e.g. Evolution) to set up their boards when forced into going first.
It’s pretty much a liability in any other situation, but it can be used as discard fodder for an Ultra Ball if needed.
We’ll admit the application of Meloetta ex is quite limited outside of that one situation of going first. In a tournament set-up where you can’t change cards between rounds, however, just having this option can make the difference.
Genesect ex (Black Bolt)
Ability: Metal Signal Once during your turn, you may search your deck for up to 2 [M] Evolution Pokemon, reveal them, and put them into your hand. Then, shuffle your deck. Protect Charge: 150 damage. During your opponent's next turn, this Pokemon takes 30 less damage from attacks.
This card makes the list because it was tailor-made for Gholdendgo ex.
Due to Genesect ex’s Basic-stage, you can easily grab a copy with a Nest Ball if you don’t start with it. Once one the field, it’s a smooth ride to your copies of Gholdengo ex or other Metal-type Pokemon evolution Pokemon if you happen to run any.
Gesensect ex also gives you the opportunity either to eschew the use of Technical Machine: Evolution altogether from the decklist or can leave it open for your second-string of damage dealers (e.g. Dragapult ex).
It’s a pretty good package for a Pokemon that will most likely sit on the bench for the entirety of the match.
Jellicent ex (White Flare)
Ability: Sea Curse As long as this Pokémon is in the Active Spot, your opponent can't play any Item cards or attach any Pokémon Tool cards from their hand. Power Press: 80+ damage. If this Pokémon has at least 2 extra Energy attached (in addition to this attack's cost), this attack does 80 more damage.
If Genesect ex easily slots into a Gholdengo ex deck, then Jellicent ex can do the same for Gardevoir ex decks.
This card can be viewed as a potential upgrade to Budew with its capability to block the use of both item and tool cards.
When paired with Gardevoir ex’s Psychic Embrace and a couple of Munkidori’s using their Adrena-Brain, you have a pretty good vanguard unit that slowly squeezes the opponent to submission if they get rid of it immediately.
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