Hi there. I cover the full set reveal from Pokemon Japan's Black Bolt set. Black Bolt set is to be released in Japan on June 6, 2025.
Every Unova Pokemon in the Black Bolt & White Flare sets have an illustration rare card. These two special sets are very big. Much bigger than a main set. Many people's discipline and wallets are tested.
Topics
- Larvesta & Volcarona
- Alomomola
- Drillbur & Excadrill ex
- Axew, Fraxure & Haxorus
- Energy Coin
- Pokegear Reprint
- N's Plot
- Fennel Supporter
- Meloetta ex
Larvesta & Volcarona
Larvesta is a Basic 60 HP Fire Pokemon with 1 retreat cost and Water weakness.
The Peck Off attack requires 1 Colourless Energy to deal a measly 10 damage. This attack's effect does discard all Pokemon Tools from your opponent's Active Pokemon.
Volcarona is not a great attacker but its ability is somewhat interesting. The Heat Wave Scales ability can be used once during your turn. You may discard one Basic Fire Energy car from your hand in order to leave your opponent's Active Pokemon Burned.
Alomomola
I think this Alomomola card is interesting. It is a 110 HP Basic Water Pokemon with an expensive attack but it has a useful ability.
The Gentle Fins ability only works while Alomomola is in the Active Spot. You may put a Basic Pokemon with 70HP or less from your discard pile onto your Bench. The is a unique Pokemon recovery ability.
The popular Pokemon recovery cards in the Destined Rivals format are Night Stretcher and Super Rod.
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Two other Pokemon recovery cards are Lana's Aid and Sacred Ash. These two are not used as much.
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Having another Pokemon recovery option makes things interesting. Use Alomomola with Beach Court Stadium or the Rescue Board Tool to have Alomomola in the Active Spot after one of your Pokemon are Knocked Out. That way you can recover a 70 HP or less Basic Pokemon at the start of your turn.
Drillbur & Excadrill ex
Drillbur is a 70 HP Basic Fighting Pokemon with 1 retreat cost and Grass weakness. The attacks on this are nothing too crazy. You do need it for...
Excadrill ex
Excadrill ex is a Stage 1 Fighting Pokemon with 270 HP, 3 retreat cost and Grass weakness. The Penetrating Drill attack for 2 Fighting Energy does 60 damage plus 60 damage to 1 of your opponent's Benched Pokemon that has any damage counter on it.
Rock Tumble for 3 Fighting Energy deals 200 damage and is not affected by resistance.
Both of these attacks are a bit underwhelming. There is not much Fighting Energy acceleration in the Destined Rivals Format. For now Excadrill ex is not great until there is good support for Fighting Pokemon.
Axew, Fraxure and Haxorus
Axew and Fraxure are not great attackers on their own but you need them for Haxorus.
Haxorus
Haxrous is a Stage 2 Dragon evolution Pokemon with zero weakness, 3 retreat cost and 170 HP.
The first attack of Cross-Cut costs 2 Colourless Energy to deal 80 base damage. If the opponent's Active Pokemon is an Evolution Pokemon then this attack does 80 more damage.
Axe Bomber is the second attack. For one Fighting Energy, one Metal Energy and one Colourless Energy you automatically knock out the opponent's Pokemon if it is a Basic Pokemon.
Getting to Haxorus is not easy as it is a Stage 2 Pokemon. You can indirectly use the Axe Bomber attack through the use of this Slowking.
Audino
Audino is a 100 HP Basic Colourless Pokemon with 1 retreat cost and Fighting weakness. The Return attack for 1 Colourless Energy deals 30 damage and lets you draw cards until 6 cards in hand.
This Audino is somewhat similar to Blissey ex and Cleffa. Cleffa is a weak 30 HP Pokemon that has a free attack that lets you draw until 7 cards. Blissey ex is a tanky Stage 1 Pokemon that can transfer energy and draw up to 6 cards with its Return attack.
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I think Audino could find a way in a few decks that want to draw cards.
Energy Coin
If you get 2 Heads from 2 flips then you can search your deck for 1 Basic Energy card and attach it to one of your Pokemon. Then shuffle your deck. This Item card is a all or nothing type of card.
On its own this card is not very good. I can see some turbo decks use this card and hope to get lucky. Reduce hand size with 4 copies of this card and the use Mew ex to refresh hand?? I dunno.
Pokegear Reprint
Pokegear gets a reprint. Notice the I regulation mark on the bottom left. In the Destined Rivals format the cards that are legal for standard play have the letters G, H and I. Cards with the letter G have around 10 months left for legal standard play until early 2026.
Seeing Pokegear have the letter I means that Pokegear will be around for 2 more years. It is a balanced card. Look at the top 7 cards of your deck. If you find a Supporter card there then you can put it into your hand. It is a gamble Item card but there are times when it really saves you to find a Supporter card.
N's Plot
N's Plot is similar to Poppy and the Item card Energy Switch. Move up to 2 Energy (including Special Energy) from your Benched Pokemon to your Active Pokemon.
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This card also has a special illustration rare version (SIR).
Fennel Supporter
Fennel is a healing Supporter card that heals 40 damage from each of your Pokemon. With Dragapult ex and Grimmsnarl ex decks being popular, being to heal multiple Pokemon is important. Mass healing helps in preventing the opponent from getting multiple knockouts from damage spread and Munkidori.
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Right now I would rather play the Item card Picnic Basket. Heal 30 damage for each Pokemon on both sides.
Meloetta ex
I saved the best for last. Here is Meloetta ex. The HP and damage it not very high but its ability is very unique and interesting.
Meloetta ex is a Basic Psychic Pokemon with 200HP, one retreat cost and Dark weakness. The Echoed Voice attack requires one Psychic Energy. It deals 30 damage. During your next turn the Meloetta ex's Echoed Voice attack does 80 more damage.
The Live Debut ability is a very unique and maybe broken ability. If you go first on your first, Meloetta ex can attack on your first turn. When you go first on your first turn you cannot attack or use a Supporter card. This ability allows for a first turn attack going first.
You don't have to use Echoed Voice as an attack. Other attacking options include Technical Machine: Evolution for evolving Pokemon on your first turn or Technical Machine: Turbo Energize for accelerating Basic Energy.
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Getting Meloetta ex In Play
Even if you don't start with Meloetta ex in your starting hand going first on turn 1, there are many ways to get it into play. You have cards like Nest Ball, Ultra Ball and maybe tech cards like Ditto, Carmine and Squawkabilly ex.
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Counters To Meloetta ex
If Meloetta ex becomes super popular for whatever reason, there are counters available to it. Two that come to mind are Klefki and Flutter Mane.
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Klefki in the Active Spot shuts down all abilities of Basic Pokemon in play on both sides.
Flutter Mane in the Active Spot shuts down the ability of the opponent's Active Pokemon. This include Basic and evolution Pokemon in the Active Spot from your opponent.
Meloetta ex has a special illustration rare version card. Here it is.
For me I think this art is okay. I don't think it is awful but I don't think it is amazing. Because this card has nice colours and it is cute, I can see some people go crazy for this art card.