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Pojo's Pokémon Card of the Day

 

 Skarmory EX

- XY

Date Reviewed:
March 28, 2014

Ratings & Reviews Summary

Standard:
Limited:

Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale.
1 being the worst. 
3 ... average.  
5 is the highest rating.

Back to the main COTD Page

Baby Mario
2010 UK National
Seniors
Champion

Skarmory EX 

The EX Pokémon that we got in the XY set haven’t really generated that much interest (except for the ones named ‘YVeltal’). On the face of it, Skarmory seems to be a pretty mediocre card for an EX, but on reflection could prove to be a useful addition to the format. 

There are two reasons for this and the both revolve around Skarmory’s attacks. Joust may only do a poor 30 damage, but it’s easy to use (costing two Colourless Energy) and more importantly it has the effect of removing all Tools from the defending Pokémon before doing damage. This means that Plasma decks can use it to deal with the problem of Dragonite PLF’s Item lock plus Silver Mirror strategy, which would otherwise have a virtual autowin if it set up. Of course, it can also be a useful way of dealing with powerful Tools like Float Stone and Muscle Band if Tool Scrapper isn’t available. 

Skarmory’s second attack, Tailspin Piledriver, has one of the best names I’ve seen for ages. It doesn’t appear to be all that impressive (80 plus 40 if the defending Pokémon is already damaged), but because of Skarmory’s Metal Typing, it can OHKO any Fairy Type by abusing Weakness with just a Muscle Band attached. This gives decks using Metal or Rainbow/Prism Energy a potent Weapon against Fairies, should they ever become a major threat. It’s not totally useless against other decks either as it could one-shot a 170 HP EX with help from Muscle Band and Hypnotoxic Laser/Virbank City Gym.

Even so, Skarmory isn’t really good enough to function as a main attacker. Instead it can find a useful niche in decks that need an anti-Tool card and/or a Fairy counter. That makes it a lot more useful than it appeared to be on release.

Rating

Modified: 3 (useful tech in certain decks)

Limited: 4.5 (yes, you can do the 1 EX, 39 Energy thing if you want)


HEZ
Intro to
Unlimited 150

Skarmory EX.

Standard.
Alongside the expected Xerneas EX and Yveltal EX we got the unusual addition of Skarmory EX. Not a particularly popular Pokémon other than its use as a wall in the video game. Walling doesn’t seem to be its goal though with the lower of the 2 usual EX HP amounts and attacks that focus on offense. Other than the over the top cool attack name Tailspin Piledriver isn’t particularly good. At 1 Metal and 2 Colorless it would have been good (maybe too good?) but as it is there’s better Pokémon EX to use, even in the quite underused Metal type such as Cobalion EX.

Unlimited 150.
N/A (Banned)

Ratings.
Standard: 3 (It’s a 170 HP Basic, but outclassed by so many other EXs)
Unlimited 150: N/A


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