Gardevoir – Genetic Apex
Date Reviewed: February 28, 2025
Ratings Summary:
Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale. 1 is horrible. 3 is average. 5 is great.
Reviews Below:
Otaku
This article was written before Triumphant Light (A2a) released! Which means are are not beginning another countdown, though it should be coming soon. Until then, I’m reviewing a card I’d planned on reviewing sooner.
Today’s Card of the Day is Gardevoir (A1 132). It’s a Stage 2, (P) Type Pokémon that Evolves from Kirlia, which evolves from Ralts. Gardevoir has 110 HP, (D) Weakness, a (C)(C) Retreat Cost, the Ability “Psy Shadow”, and the attack “Psyshot”. Psy Shadow can be used once, during your turn, prior to attacking; it lets you attach a (P) Energy from the Energy Zone to your Active (P) Type Pokémon. Psyshot costs (P)(P)(C) and does 60 damage. Gardevoir is only available at the ♦♦♦ rarity.
We’ll begin with Psy Shadow, because it is the most important part of this card… and I should probably clarify how it functions. While you cannot interrupt other card effects, card interactions, actions, etc. you can otherwise use it anytime after you’ve drawn for the turn, but before you attack for the turn (or opt to end your turn). Psy Shadow does not about whether there’s an Energy or not already in your Energy Zone, or the Type(s) of Energy displayed there. Nor does it use up your normal once-per-turn Energy attachment from the Energy Zone.
If you have a second Gardevoir (A1 132), it also can use it’s Psy Shadow once per turn. Psy Shadow is far from perfect or broken Energy acceleration. Not only does Psy Shadow only attaching (P) Energy, not only is the attachment restricted to your (P) Pokémon, but it also can only attach to your Active (P) Pokémon. Even with all these drawbacks, the Energy acceleration Psy Shadow provides used to be a massive advantage.
Psyshot, on the other hand, is filler. Not even good or mediocre filler; you have to pay three Energy to do 60 damage! Specifically, it costs (P)(P)(C). You’re not only overpaying, but the attack costs so much an Active Gardevoir with zero Energy already attached will need your manual Energy attachment and a second Gardevoir on the Bench to use Psy Shadow so it that Gardevoir can attack. Only attack with Gardevoir when you have few other choices.
Gardevoir’s Retreat Cost of (C)(C) is decent. Lower would of course be better, but at least a Gardevoir devoid of Energy could use its Psy Shadow and your manual Energy attachment to cover the full Retreat Cost. The (D) Weakness is a problem, but not directly. Yes, it does enable some relevant OHKOs, and makes 2HKOs more reliable. Even when we just look at currently competitive (D) Type attackers. The reason I’m not as bothered by it as one might expect is Gardevoir is intended as a “Bench-sitter”. If Gardevoir is Active, something has already gone terribly wrong.
Gardevoir only has 110 HP, the lowest printed on a Stage 2 Pokémon. Gardevoir can just barely survive a medium attack before combos or Weakness are applied. Mythical Slab (A1a 065) can aid a (P) deck in setting up, though perhaps Perhaps Pokémon Communication (A2) has replaced it. The other piece of Psychic support is Gardevoir itself. If you must attack with Gardevoir, exploiting (P) Weakness will let Psyshot OHKO Hitmonlee (A1 154), Hitmonchan (A1 155), or Marshadow (A1a 047/, 074).
As a Stage 2 Pokémon, Gardevoir takes extra time and resources to hit the field, versus a Basic or Stage 1. Specifically, you’ll need to run both a Kirlia and a Ralts. I’ll save the detailed comparison, as I already did that when we looked at Gallade ex (A2 095, 185, 200). Use Ralts (A2 068) and Kirlia (A2 069); the former can use its “Teleport” to move to the Bench, while the latter can attack for one Energy… and if you’re attacking with it, you’re probably in bad enough shape you won’t want to (or maybe cannot afford to) invest more.
Gardevoir helps most (P) Pokémon to some extent, but the main focus was Mewtwo ex (A1 129, 262, 282, 286). Not only was it a 150 HP Basic Pokémon ex, but its heavy attack requires (P)(P)(C)(C) and discarding two (P) Energy from itself. Before the time of Darkrai ex (A2 110, 187, 202), Gardevoir/Mewtwo ex decks were either top or high tier decks. Now? The combination of a slow setup and (D) Weakness has just has nearly driven them to extinction.
Rating: 3/5
Checking the results over at LimitlessTCG, people are still running Gardevoir/Mewtwo ex decks, they’re just not seen (nor do they win) as often as they did before. It still might be on its way out, but I’m holding out hope that we’ll one day have another good attacker for Gardevoir, or just something else within the metagame will shift and Gardevoir/Mewtwo ex decks will get a second chance.
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