Bellibolt ex – Paldea Evolved
Date Reviewed: June 26, 2023
Ratings Summary:
Standard: 3
Expanded: 3
Limited: 3
Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale. 1 is horrible. 3 is average. 5 is great.
Reviews Below:
Vince
Bellibolt ex (SV Paldea Evolved 79/193) swallows through the competitive scene! A Lightning-type with 280 HP, Fighting weakness, and a retreat cost of CCC, it has two attacks. Jumping Press costs CC and does 50 damage to 1 of your opponent’s Pokemon. Paralyzing Ball costs LLC for 160 damage with the optional effect of discarding two Lightning energies to leave the opponent’s Active Pokemon Paralyzed.
Paralyzing Ball would be what Bellibolt will be frequently using. Auto-paralysis seems insane, as it leaves your opponent’s Active Pokemon unable to attack or retreat, meaning they’ll have to use Switch-based cards to get a Paralyzed Pokemon away from the Active Spot. Otherwise, they’ll have to wait until a Paralyzed Pokemon eventually gets knocked out so that you can bring another attacker that isn’t paralyzed to strike back. I don’t recall an attack or an ability that automatically Paralyzes your opponent’s Active Pokemon without drawbacks or restrictions, hence why it is one of the hardest Special Conditions to inflict. I remember Zekrom (SWSH Vivid Voltage 60/185) also auto paralyzing their opponent’s Active Pokemon, but it has to take 60 damage in the process, making it wide open to a counterattack.
Getting those discarded Lightning energies won’t be an issue, at least for a while. Flaaffy’s (SWSH Evolving Skies 55/203) Dynamotor ability can help replenish those energies. Electric Generator occasionally accelerates energies depending on how many Lightning energies you’ve put in a deck. Miraidon ex brings reinforcement by benching up to two Tadbulb from your deck! Seems like there’s enough for Bellibolt ex to work with in Standard, with even more support in Expanded to take advantage of such as Zeraora-GX’s Thunderclap Zone zeroing retreat costs and Electropower upping damage output to reach certain thresholds.
Ratings:
Standard: 3/5
Expanded: 3/5
Limited: 3/5
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