Probopass ex – Triumphant Light
Date Reviewed: March 20, 2025
Ratings Summary:
Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale. 1 is horrible. 3 is average. 5 is great.
Reviews Below:
Otaku
Probopass ex (A2a 057, 085, 094) is a (M) Type Stage 1 Pokémon ex, that evolves from Nosepass. Probopass has 160 HP, (R) Weakness, Retreat Cost (C)(C)(C), and the attack “Defensive Unit”. Priced at (M)(M)(C), Defensive Unit allows Probopass ex to do 90 damage to the opposing Active, while placing an effect on itself that reduces the damage it takes from attacks by 20 until the end of the next turn. There’s a ♦♦♦♦ rare and two ★★ rare versions of Probopass ex.
(M) Typing is not great at exploiting Weakness in general, and due to its damage output, it helps out Probopass ex even less. However, being a Metal Type does allow Probopass ex access to Adaman (A2 075, 090). He won’t bolster Probopass ex’s offensive, but he’ll soak 20 damage from attacks for all your (M) Type Pokémon in play, until the end of the next turn.
As a Pokémon ex, Probopass ex is worth an extra point when KO’d, and takes extra damage from attacks made by Sudowoodo (A2a 036, 079) and Tauros (A1a 060). As a Stage 1, you’ll need to select and run a version of Nosepass, which we’ll cover a little later in the review. You’ll need to make room for this in your deck, and remember to factor the extra time and required to evolve. There’s a chance that an opponent’s Aerodactyl ex (A1a 046, 078, 084) can prevent you evolving your Active Pokémon.
160 HP is very good, even for a Stage 1 Pokémon ex. As a reminder, the max printed HP score is 1901, and the max on a Stage 1 Pokémon ex is 1802. Even a full-power heavy attack is not scoring an unassisted OHKO against Probopass ex. (R) Weakness mostly matters for enabling and or improving 2HKOs against Probopass ex, but it does enable a OHKO by Infernape ex (A2 209, 181, 197). Probopass ex’s Retreat Cost of (C)(C)(C) is chunky; it hurts but not as bad as (C)(C)(C)(C) does.
Defensive Unit is aptly named. You get a so-so 90 damage for three Energy, enough to 2HKO anything in the game, before other effects. It also places an effect on whatever used it3, reducing the damage it’ll take until the end of your opponent’s next turn by 20. Though, this only works against attack damage; it won’t block damage from things like the “Nightmare Aura” Ability of Darkrai ex (A2 110, 187, 202; P-A 042). I haven’t noticed yet if the effect remains should Probopass ex be forced to the Bench.4
Let’s talk Nosepass, as you have three from which to pick, all of which are (F) Type, Basic Pokémon, with (G) Weakness and one attack fueled by Colorless Energy requirements. Nosepass (P-A 045) has 60 HP, (C) Retreat Cost, and for (C)(C) can use “Iron Defense”. This attack requires a coin flip; “tails” does nothing, while “heads” prevents this Pokémon from taking any damage by attacks from your opponent’s Pokémon, during your opponent’s next turn.
Nosepass (A2 086) has 70 HP, a Retreat Cost of (C)(C), and also for (C)(C), it can use “Ram” to do 30 damage to the opponent’s Active. Nosepass (A2a 042) has 80 HP, a Retreat Cost of (C)(C)(C), and for (C) can use “Tackle” to do 10 damage. There’s no clear-cut winner here. The best HP has the worst Retreat Cost, and vice versa. Iron Defense is the best attack but it requires two Energy and fails half the time. There’s a reason to pick any of them, even Nosepass (A2 086) for being okay” at all things.
There’s also Probopass (A2 118). Also a Metal-Type, Stage 1 Pokémon, just not a Pokémon ex. Which means its 130 HP is decent. (R) Weakness is the same, the (C)(C)(C)(C) is blatantly worse, and the attack is mediocre. “Triple Nose” requires (M)(M)(M)(C) – yes, four Energy! – and three coin flips. The good news is, “tails” still does 30 damage; each “heads” adds 50 to the base 30. The bad news is you’re averaging 105 damage for four Energy, with 80 damage being the most common result.
If you’ll reflect back to yesterday’s review of Snorlax (A2a 063; P-A 049), I thought it’s 100-for-four-Energy attack was decent. That attack even left Snorlax Asleep after using it! So Triple Nose should be at least decent as well, right? Maybe. Snorlax had all (C) Energy requirements, and has access to Barry (A2a 074, 089). Probopass has access to Dialga ex (A2 119, 188, 205, 207), which has proven to be a very good card, probably better than I ranked it.
Snorlax is a Basic, though, and that’s why I think you don’t need to worry about running Probopass (A2 118), but let’s get back to Probopass ex. It also has access to Dialga ex, and one attack by Dialga ex, plus your manual Energy attachment the next turn, readies Defensive Unit. Besides Defensive Unit’s own effect, and that of Adaman, we could also add in Blue (A1a 067, 081). Then there’s Giant Cape (A2 147), Rocky Helmet (A2 148), Potion (P-A 001), Shaymin (A2 022, 159), and…
…there’s no way to fit this all into a coherent, reliable deck. Which is probably why the entry for Dialga ex/Probopass ex doesn’t contain most of what I just said, and is often running only a single copy of what it does sneak in. If you want to see what’s actually being used, you can also check the results for the deck over at LimitlessTCG. Why’d I indulge in all of that, if it wasn’t relevant?
It is relevant; Probopass ex is one of the many Pokémon that make me wonder if Pocket should have 30 card decks, instead of 20. Of course, that’d would change the metagame, especially if we don’t have stronger draw or search than at present. It’s just that there are Pokémon like Probopass ex that are borderline competitive. It’s Win Rate is just over 40%, while making up 0.45% of the metagame. Yeah, not even a 50/50 chance or a full percent point.
There are many cards to help something like Probopass ex out, but they’re more effective with other Pokémon. Being a tanky Stage 1 Pokémon ex can be a sweet spot – see Exeggutor ex (A1 023, 252) – but Probopass ex isn’t up to snuff. There’s also the issue of protecting your Bench. Things get awkward if you’ve got an injured Dialga ex, an unevolved Nosepass, or even a Shaymin and your opponent has heavy sniping attack, runs Sabrina (A1 225, 272), etc. Even a spare Probopass ex can backfire because how often will you be able to prep two with Dialga ex?
Rating: 2/5
Tanking ain’t easy. Probopass ex does a lot right, but not in the areas where it probably needs it most. It’s kind of like if yesterday’s Snorlax ex was a Stage 1 Pokémon ex with some improvement, but not enough. Probopass ex has a decent defensive niche, but at the cost of its offense. It has tricks, but not the right tricks, it seems. There’s absolutely hope for it in the future, however.
1Venusaur ex (A1 004, 251)
2Gyarados ex (A1a 018, 076)
3Typically Probopass ex, but attack copiers receive the benefit when they use the attack.
4In the full Pokémon TCG, moving to the Bench would erase this kind of attack effect.
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