Eevee VMAX – SWSH
Date Reviewed: March 14, 2021
Ratings Summary:
Standard: 2.00
Expanded: 2.00
Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale. 1 is horrible. 3 is average. 5 is great.
Reviews Below:
Otaku
Just… so… fluffy!
*ahem*
I mean, we kick of this week with Eevee VMAX (SW – Black Star Promos SWSH087). Pokémon VMAX are both a game mechanic and a Stage of evolution. Pokémon VMAX give up three Prizes when KO’d and are targeted by some detrimental effects, but also gain access to a few pieces of support exclusive to them. Don’t think it is that simple, however, because they still count as Pokémon V! So support that state they won’t work with Pokémon V, as well as deleterious effects that only work against Pokémon V. Well, it isn’t uncommon for such effects to be worded so they also apply to Pokémon-GX, or to Rule Box cards in general.
We’re not done with what it means to be a Pokémon VMAX, though. It typically comes with a few more benefits, but we’ll address them if or when they show up. No, what I’m getting at is that Pokémon VMAX are a Stage of evolution. They’re like Stage 1 Pokémon except they don’t count as Stage 1 Pokémon. General evolution support and counters apply, VMAX specific support and counters apply, but not Stage 1 support and counters. You’ll need to wait a turn to evolve and have the correct Basic Pokémon V, but while that is more demanding than just being a Basic, it isn’t overly demanding. Eevee VMAX is specifically a Gigantamax form, which the card clearly states but which currently does not matter for any card effects or game rules.
Eevee VMAX is a Colorless Pokémon and that is probably the worst Type option. Yes, you don’t have to worry about Resistance, but you can’t exploit any Weakness and the available type support isn’t compensating for that, either. 300 HP is an example of the benefits from being a Pokémon VMAX. The bad news? This is the minimum for Pokémon VMAX. The good news? It is still a lot of HP, enough that OHKOs are tricky outside of Weakness or a handful of “raw power” decks. Speaking of Weakness, currently [F] is relatively safe, but a new set is just days from dropping, and features a decent chunk of impressive [F] types. So, be wary. No Resistance is the worst, but that is normal. Similarly, a Retreat Cost of [CC] is neither good nor bad.
Eevee VMAX knows a single attack, “G-Max Cuddle”. For [CCC], this attack lets Eevee VMAX attack and do 150 damage, and if the Defending Pokémon tries to attack you during the next turn, it has to flip a coin. “Heads” means the attack goes through as normal, but “tails” means the attack doesn’t work (and your opponent’s turn ends). Some of this is interpretation on my part. I’m used to wording like “the attack does nothing.” but I don’t recall seeing something like this in quite some time. What I can tell you is that the “Defending Pokémon” part means this effect only applies to the Pokémon Eevee VMAX attacked with G-Max Cuddle. Your opponent cannot get rid of the effect by forcing you to change out your opponent’s active, but they can ditch it by switching out their own Active.
G-Max Cuddle helps with being about 20 to 40 HP smaller than most other Pokémon VMAX, while the HP helps with how your opponent will flip heads at least some of the time, and might flip heads at all the critical times. Such is the issue with relying on coin flips. Your opponent having to flip means no comboing with cards such as Will or Glimwood Tangle. As an Evolution Pokémon, Eevee VMAX can use Triple Acceleration Energy to cover the entire cost of G-Max Cuddle. However, you can’t rely solely on this because that would only give you four attacks with G-Max Cuddle; you’re not winning with just four attacks. Eevee VMAX not needing a specific Energy type means it can work with a variety of Energy acceleration, but it also leaves plenty of room for that Energy acceleration to work better with less general cards. Some healing and disruption should also help with the focus on a stall/beatdown win.
Even though I expressed concerns for Eevee VMAX after SW – Battle Styles hits, it does contain some cards that could help Eevee VMAX perform well. Once again, they work as well or better for other cards, but with Bronzong (SW – Battle Styles 102/163; SW – Black Star Promos SWSH091) and Cheryl. The former lets you move [M] Energy cards around on your Pokémon; use copies of Metal Saucer to attach to Bronzong, the move them onto Eevee VMAX. Why would you do it that well? Bronzong can move all the [M] Energy off of Eevee VMAX after it is injured, and then you can use Cheryl to heal it (and any other damaged Evolutions you have in play). Expanded adds more options for Energy acceleration, for healing, and for disruption. Unfortunately, it also adds more competition, so I can’t justify scoring Eevee VMAX higher here.
Ratings
- Standard: 2/5
- Expanded: 2/5
Eevee VMAX is adorable, and it does have some potential, but there are better options if you want to attack while also defending. If you love Eevee, though, you should be able to build a functional deck. That is almost enough to make me bump it up to a three-out-of-five. Almost.
Vince
Following up from Eevee-V on yesterday, we have Eevee VMAX to look at.
So, Eevee VMAX picks up where Eevee-V left off, having the same attributes but with higher HP. It only has one attack called G-Max Cuddle, doing 150 damage for 3 energy with the effect placed on the Defending Pokémon stating that whenever it tries to attack, your opponent flips a coin, and if tails, that attack doesn’t happen.
There was a deck I saw on a Twitter post, as well as PTCGradio’s video showcasing that via commentary. That deck is only usable in Expanded, as Mareep is from Sun & Moon Lost Thunder and is inside this deck. The post contained was:
“Eevee VMax deck
Can you flip three heads in a roll ?
If you can’t you aren’t doing any damage to eevee Vmax”
This might sound clickbait, but there’s a pretty good chance (87.5%) that the player won’t be able to damage Eevee at all, assuming they don’t run any switching cards at all. So, I guess the purpose of this deck is to induce coin flip annoyances of your opponent, having to flip at least 2 coins between turns just to wake that Pokémon up. And the third coin flip is from G Max Cuddle. That looks like one of the ways to use Eevee VMAX. While skilled players can eliminate the need to flip coins via Keldeo-EX/Float Stone or any switching cards, on the other hand, it can totally wreck an unprepared opponent. I suppose Eevee would be in trouble if it eventually KOs the Defending Pokémon, and the opponent doesn’t have to deal with coin flips.
Failed coin flips aside, but Fighting types might see a resurgence such as Rapid Strike Urshifu VMAX, whose Gale Thrust OHKOs Eevee with ease.
Ratings:
Standard: 2/5
Expanded: 2/5
I am a fan of Eevee and it’s Evolutions, but even then, I gotta give my perspectives of certain cards to determine whether it’d be competitive or not. Eevee VMAX seems like a fun deck to build and play with, but what Eevee VMAX does probably won’t be enough to be considered competitive when the strategy requires some amount of luck.
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