Ultra Forest Kartenvoy – Sword & Shield Pokemon Review

Otaku

Note: An incomplete, earlier version of this review accidentally went live.  My apologies for the tardiness and sloppiness!

Ultra Forest Kartenvoy (SM – Unbroken Bonds 188/214) is based on the Trainer-Class of the same name from Pokémon Ultra Sun.  In the TCG, it is a Trainer-Supporter and – per its effect – during the turn you use it effects on your opponent’s Active Pokémon won’t affect the damage done by attacks from your Ultra Beasts.  That makes this a niche but vital bit of support for Ultra Beasts, letting them cut through most protective effects.

The “effects on your opponent’s Active Pokémon” are effects being applied to that Pokémon, but not necessarily those being sourced from that Pokémon.  You can use Ultra Forest Kartenvoy so that your Buzzwole-GX can damage your opponent’s Active Keldeo-GX, ignoring Keldeo-GX’s “Pure Heart” Ability.  If your Blacephalon-GX is attacking Zacian V, Ultra Forest Kartenvoy’s effect would let it ignore the damage reduction from Metal Frying Pan, but not the Weakness nullification.  Both of those effects are treated as being “on” Zacian V, but the Weakness (or its nullification) is not considered a damage altering effect, but game mechanic.

Ultra Forest Kartenvoy doesn’t care about cards that increase a Pokémon’s HP, such as Big Charm, as this isn’t altering the damage from an attack, just making it so that the equipped Pokémon can survive more of it.  Damage altering effects on your own Pokémon still apply, even if they’re sourced from your opponent’s Active.  For example, the Ability “Intimidating Fang” is found on various Pokémon, and it reduces damage done by your opponent’s Active’s attacks while the Pokémon with Intimidating Fang is Active.  Intimidating Fang’s effects are not canceled out by Ultra Forest Kartenvoy.

Ratings

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

Ultra Forest Kartenvoy is useless if your opponent isn’t trying to alter the damage your Ultra Beasts are doing, but it is amazing against some of the cards that can deny you Prizes through strategic damage reduction, or even wall entirely against your Ultra Beasts!  It is useless for non-Ultra Beasts.  Simply put, if you run an Ultra Beast as a significant attacker for the damage it does through attacking, you really should have one of these in your deck, regardless of the Format.  Probably only one, though.

Vince

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