Abomasnow – Triumphant Light
Date Reviewed: March 22, 2025
Ratings Summary:
Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale. 1 is horrible. 3 is average. 5 is great.
Reviews Below:
Otaku
Abomasnow (2a 021) is a Stage 1, Water-Type Pokémon, evolving from Snover. It has 120 HP, (M) Weakness, a Retreat Cost of (C)(C)(C), the Ability “Vigor Link”, and the attack “Mega Punch”. Vigor Link states that, as long as you have at least one card named “Arceus” and/or “Arceus ex” in play, attacks used by this Abomasnow cost (C) less. Mega Punch allows Abomasnow to do 80 damage to the opposing Active. This card is currently only available at the ♦♦♦ rarity.
In terms of Stages, I believe Stage 1 Pokémon are the second best. They’re not as user friendly as Basics, but they’re also not as challenging as Stage 2 Pokémon. They have no support, but like all Evolutions, Aerodactyl ex (A1a 046, 078, 084) can keep you from evolving into it if you need to evolve while Active.
The Water Type is well supported. Manaphy (A2 050, 162), Misty (A1 220, 267), and Vaporeon (A1a 019, 072) all provide forms of complimentary Energy acceleration, while Irida (A2a 072, 087) provides healing for (W) Energy users. There are some anti-(W) effects, but they see little play.1 Exploiting (W) Weakness does help Abomasnow out, but only a little; easier OHKOs of evolving Basics, or 2HKOs of something like Charizard ex (A1 036, 253, 280, 284).
Abomasnow’s own 120 HP is in the decent-to-good range for Stage 1 Pokémon. It’s Metal Weakness helps diversify a (W) deck, but otherwise makes it a OHKO for Dialga ex (A2 119, 188, 205, 207), and a 2HKO for Skarmory (A2 111, P-A 039). The (C)(C)(C) Retreat Cost is on the chunky side; unless you use both X Speed (P-A 002) and Leaf (A1a 068, 082) in the same turn, you’ll have to spend some actual Energy. It might be better to leave Abomasnow up front, if only as a meatshield.
Vigor Link is a good, solid Ability. Arceus ex (A2a 071, 086, 095, 096) has proven itself to be very competitive, even if Arceus (A2a 070) hasn’t. So getting a discount of (C) from it is nice and simple. Not that Abomasnow would need it, but the wording is such that its either a (C) reduction or no reduction in cost. The wording is such, however, that if we get a means of adding an attack to an existing card, the discount would still apply if you trigger Vigor Link.2
Mega Punch is a straightforward attack. 80-for-three is a decent return, maybe a tad price since two of the three Energy requirements are (W) and we’re looking at a Stage 1. Except it’s a Stage 1 with not only a good Ability, but one that’s directly relevant. 80-for-(W)(W) is a good deal, though not a great one. Slap that on onto a single-point, 120 Stage 1, and you might have something.
Abomasnow evolves from Snover, and there’s also another Abomasnow card as well. All three are (W) Pokémon with (M) Weakness, no Abilities, and only one attack per card. Both Snover are Basic Pokémon with 70 HP and a (C)(C) Retreat Cost. Snover (A2 044) can use “Ice Shard” for (W) to do 10 damage but it actually does 40 damage when used against a (F) Type. Snover (A2a 020) can use “Corkscrew Punch” for (W)(C) to do 30 damage. Go with Snover (A2 044)!
Abomasnow (A2 045) has 140 HP, (C)(C)(C)(C) Retreat Cost, and for (W)(W)(W)(C) can use “Frost Breath” to do 120 damage. Other than the Retreat Cost, this isn’t bad. The HP 20 higher than today’s Abomasnow, and while you’re paying an extra (W) Energy, you’re doing 40 more damage. Of course, when Vigor Link is in effect, you’re paying (W)(C) more to do 40 more damage, and that’s why we’re not going to worry about running it alongside today’s Abomasnow.
Arceus ex/Abomasnow (2a 021) decks are a thing. Manaphy is there to open and accelerate Energy to both (W) and non-(W) Pokémon in the deck. Snover (A2 044) can be a good opener due to the significant (F) presence in the metagame. Abomasnow is our solid Stage 1 attacker, better if Arceus ex is in play, but still somewhat decent even if it isn’t. Palkia ex (A2 049, 182, 204, 206) is included so you have a second “boss monster”. Misty’s there for Abomasnow and Palkia ex, but Dawn (A2 154, 194) is there for everyone.
You can look through the lists here, on LimitlessTCG. There is some variation; for example, not every list runs Dawn. However, the deck currently at 0.38% of the metagame, meaning we’re almost to the next expansion but there are still less than 150 instances of it, and with just under a 46% Win Rate. Not great, but there’s absolutely a chance, and if you expect heavy (F), perhaps it is the play? Or maybe Snover just traumatized me and I repressed it?
Rating: 3/5
Abomasnow is not mind-blowing, but it also doesn’t blow. Seems like a good, solid card for better and worse. If you’ve got them, try them out while you still can. I don’t know exactly what to expect when Shining Revelry officially drops on March 27th, as set A2b, so it might be your last chance! Yes, Shining Revelry is our first “b” expansion!
1Piloswine (A2 032) and Mamoswine (A2 033, 160)
2While not currently available in Pocket, there are ways to gain attacks in the full TCG.
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