Snorlax – Rebel Clash Pokemon Review

Vince

So after we’ve got a Snorlax in Sword & Shield, there’s another Snorlax on Rebel Clash. Same stats such as 150 HP, Colorless type, Fighting Weakness, retreat cost of four, but different attacks. Collect costs a single energy and lets you draw 2 cards. Collapse costs three energy for 120 damage and puts itself to sleep. Arguably, this Snorlax is better than the previous Snorlax card due to cheaper attacks, but it can only be as useful if you start the game with Snorlax and you choose to go second. Other than that, I can’t see this card getting played elsewhere.

Ratings:

• Standard: 1.5/5
• Expanded: 1.5/5
• Limited: 3/5

Otaku

Snorlax (SSH – Rebel Clash 141/192) is a regular Pokémon, lacking any special TCG mechanics or classification and worth a single Prize when KO’d.  As a Colorless Pokémon, Snorlax won’t be exploiting Weakness or Resistance.  Currently, there’s no type-specific support or counters for [C] Pokémon in Standard, though there are a few in Expanded; none worth singling out, however.  As a Basic Pokémon, Snorlax is easy to run, and enjoys many natural benefits over evolutions.

Snorlax’s 150 HP is good, though most decks can OHKO it with their main attackers, sometimes even supporting.  [F] Weakness, lack of Resistance, and a Retreat Cost of [CCCC] should be bad, but Fighting is a sliver of the competitive metagame, no Resistance is typical, and its easy enough to deal with high retreat costs.  None of these should really be an issue; a Retreat Cost of [CCCC] means Snorlax can use stuff like Buff Padding!  Snorlax knows two attacks, “Collect” for [C] and “Collaspe” for [CCC].  The former lets you draw two cards, the latter does 120 damage and leaves Snorlax Asleep.  They’re not good, but neither are they really bad.

I am aware that Snorlax evolves from Munchlax in the video games, but in the TCG, Munchlax is just a non-evolving Basic Pokémon itself.  There are many other Snorlax cards, but we haven’t seen any do well in quite a while.  Snorlax seems designed to be a big, Basic Pokémon you’d toss up front and maybe drop an Energy onto it just to attack and draw some cards.  You could also just let it soak attacks, but then you’d be better off with Snorlax (SM – Unbroken Bonds 158/214), or maybe Snorlax (XY – BREAKthrough 118/162), or even Snorlax (BW – Plasma Storm 101/135).  The same or similar HP scores, comparable (maybe even better) attacks, and all three also have useful Abilities… and I believe the first and last have appeared in successful decks before!

If you want to keep it simple and can afford to sacrifice something up front to draw a little, Snorlax is alright.  Recycle Energy means you’re out even less when it falls… and if your opponent tries to ignore it, then you’re a follow up Twin Energy or Double Colorless Energy away from just attacking.  This probably isn’t enough to bother using Snorlax in Standard or Expanded unless you’re really new, with small card pool and/or still learning the game.  In the Limited Format, unless you pulled something else worth running in a Mulligan deck, you should run this Snorlax.  The Retreat Cost will hurt you worse here, but but the Stage, HP, and attacks are so much better.  Just not good enough to run in its own Mulligan deck, however.

Ratings

Standard: 2/5

Expanded: 2/5

Limited: 4/5

In case anyone reading this wasn’t already aware, Snorlax is my favorite Pokémon.  This probably helped with the scores, though they’re mostly earned.  They haven’t structured our game to need this kind of opener or vanilla meatshield, but for a filler card, this is alright.  New players and Snorlax fans can probably find a use for it, everyone else, not so much.