Hi there. This is a short post featuring Hisuian Arcanine from the upcoming Pokemon trading card game set Twlight Masquerade. This card is not as hyped compared to Ogerpon, ACE SPEC cards and other rare cards in the set but I think this attacker has some nice niche potential against certain decks.
Hisuian Arcanine Card
Hisuian Arcanine from Twilight Masquerade is a single prize stage 1 Pokemon that has 130 HP and two retreat cost. Do not confuse this with Hisuian Arcanine V from the Sword & Shield: Silver Tempest expansion.
The second attack of Searing Flame for 90 damage plus burn is kind of costly for two Fighting Energy and one Colourless energy. What I do want to feature is the first attack that has a zero Energy cost. Proud Fangs attack has a base damage of 30 damage with an additional 90 damage if any of your Benched Pokemon having damage counters. You can do up to 120 damage with no energy attached to it. Add weakness advantage doing 240 damage would be enough to knockout popular two prize Pokemon like Iron Hands ex and Arceus V.
Getting the damage counters to your benched Pokemon is possible if you run Fire Pokemon with Magma Basin](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Magma_Basin_(Brilliant_Stars_144)). Magma Basin allows for Fire Energy acceleration for one Fire Pokemon once during your turn with the cost of 20 damage to that Fire Pokemon. Dodrio from Pokemon 151 has the ability of Zooming Draw where once during your turn you can draw 1 card but place 1 damage counter on that Dodrio.
Hisuian Growlithe Options
As Hisuian Arcanine evolves from Hisuian Growlithe I thought that it would be good to list the Hisuian Growlithe options available. Pictures from Bulbapedia.
Hisuian Growlithe 80 HP From Astral Radiance
This one has 80 HP which is not compatible with Buddy Buddy Poffin's 70HP requirement. The second attack of Bite is not great due to its Energy cost. The first attack can be okay for preventing damage if you get heads.
Hisuian Growlithe 70 HP From Lost Origin
The 70HP Hisuian Growlithe from the Lost Origin expansion would be preferred as you can use Buddy Poffin to retrieve this from the deck to the Bench. Its only attack of Singe does Burn the opponent's Active Pokemon. The Burn mechanic does 20 damage to the Burned Pokemon between player turns. There is also a coin flip between turns when a Pokemon is burned. If the coin flip is heads then the Burn goes away, if tails then the Burn condition stays.
Hisuian Growlithe 80 HP From Crimson Haze (Japan), Twilight Masquerade
The soon to be released Hisuian Growlithe has 80 HP so you cannot use Buddy Poffin with it. The second attack of Take Down does 40 damage plus 10 to itself at the cost of one Fighting energy and one Colourless energy. Its first attack of Blazing Destruction discards the Stadium in play which can be useful for removing a Stadium that negatively affects you.
Pros & Cons Of Hisuian Arcanine
Pros
- No cost attack
- Can do up to 130 damage
- Fighting type could be good against Iron Hands ex, Arceus V and the upcoming Munkidori ex, Ferzandipiti ex and Okidogi ex from Night Wanderer set
Cons
- Weak to Psychic
- May not have damaged Pokemon on Bench
- Not for every deck.
Thank you for reading.