Elesa’s Sparkle – Fusion Strike
Date Reviewed:
December 4, 2021
Ratings Summary:
Standard: 3.00
Expanded: 3.00
Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale. 1 is horrible. 3 is average. 5 is great.
Reviews Below:
Otaku
I’ve already mentioned Elesa’s Sparkle (SW – Fusion Strike 233/264, 260/264, 275/264) in a few of the previous reviews. She’s an example of Fusion Strike support, and is a Fusion Strike card herself. She’s a Supporter, so using her means you’re not using a copy of Boss’s Orders, Marnie, etc. this turn. Her actual effect has you choose up to two of your Fusion Strike Pokémon in play. After doing that, for each Pokémon selected, you search your deck for a Fusion Strike Energy and attach it to that Pokémon. To be clear, this means you can attach one copy of Fusion Strike Energy to up to two of your Fusion Strike Pokémon. All forms of Energy-acceleration have examples of champs and chumps among them: Elesa’s Sparkle seems to be one of the former.
Fusion Strike Energy itself is fantastic. While useless for anything that other than Fusion Strike Pokémon, for its intended (and admittedly small) pool of targets, it is not only an Aurora Energy without the drawbacks, but also with a wonderful effect that protects the Pokémon with it attached from the effects of your opponent’s Pokémon’s Abilities. While being a Supporter gives it a heavy search, you’re fetching up to two valuable cards from your deck (Fusion Strike Energy) and attaching them to your Fusion Strike Pokémon in play. The only real, but significant drawback to Elesa’s Sparkle is that there isn’t a way (in Standard) to recycle spent Fusion Strike Energy. Even if none of your Fusion Strike Energy are Prized or in your hand or in your discard pile, you’re out of targets after two Elesa’s Sparkle used for maximum effect.
Turns out, that is okay! I was a bit worried, as this is a Supporter you’ll probably want early, meaning you’re inclined to run a heavy count of it to increase its odds of showing up in your opening hand. However, you also have a great reason to not run Elesa’s Sparkle too heavily, because odds are good after two uses, you’re done with her. The main place I’m seeing her in well-performing decks should come as no surprise: Mew VMAX/Genesect V. Gensect V’s Ability gives the deck ample draw power, so not only are you more likely to be able to spare your Supporter on a non-draw effect, but you have a better chance of drawing into Elesa’s Sparkle. So long as you don’t draw too many Fusion Strike Energy before she shows up, she’s golden.
Mew VMAX can use its 1st attack to copy any attack from your Fusion Strike Pokémon, and its price is [CC]. Why would it need Fusion Strike Energy? Elesa’s Sparkle means you’re able to jump from one Energy to two in a single turn (one from her, and one from your manual Energy attachment). Fusion Strike Energy protects from Inteleon’s (SW – Chilling Reign 043/198; SW – Black Star Promos SWSH113; SW – Evolving Skies 227/203) “Quick Shooting”, among other things. If you have to attack with Genesect V, it means that is an option as well. Finally, some Mew VMAX/Gensect V decks run Meloetta (SW – Fusion Strike 124/264). Her attack, “Melodious Echo”, does 70 damage per Fusion Strike Energy attached to your Pokémon (all of your Pokémon). While underwhelming – even when copied by Mew VMAX – if you have only one or two copies of Fusion Strike Energy attached to your stuff, three mean 210 damage and four mean 280… all without any additional drawbacks!
Okay, now what about Expanded? I don’t know if Mew VMAX/Genesect V decks perform well here. Looking at early results, it seems to be a “no”. Should that change, however, Fusion Strike Energy can be recycled via Special Charge, and VS Seeker makes reusing just one or two copies of Elesa’s Sparkle much easier. So, with all that said, Elesa’s Sparkle scores a three-out-of-five in both Formats.
Ratings
- Standard: 3/5
- Expanded: 3/5
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