Hello. In this Pokemon trading card game post I cover the card Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex. This Pokemon is a regional version of Ursaluna and Ursaluna is the evolved form of Ursaring.
This Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex is from the recent Japanese expansion Crimson Haze. Internationally, this card is to be released under the set name Twilight Masquerade in May 2024.
Pictures are taken from Bulbapedia website.
The Card
This is a Basic Pokemon ex which has a whopping 260 HP. Many Basic Pokemon Vs and exs have 200, 220 HP with a few at 230 or 240 HP. A basic Pokemon at 260 HP is kind of crazy. This 260 HP is comparable to some Stage 1 Pokemon ex cards out there like Gholdengo ex and Espathra ex.
The ability of Veteran's Technique is similar to Radiant Charizard's ability. Bloodmoon Ursaluna's ability allows the player to use its Blood Moon attack for 240 damage with a cost that is one colourless for each Prize card your opponent has taken. In the early game the Blood Moon attack costs 5 colourless energy when your opponent has not taken any prize cards. If your opponent has taken four prize cards, the Blood Moon attack costs just 1 colourless energy. If your opponent has taken five prize cards and is one prize card away from winning then Blood Moon's attack cost is zero.
Its Blood Moon attack does a hefty 240 damage. This amount can knockout pretty much any Basic Pokemon (single or two-prize) out in one hit. You can run a Double Turbo Energy (two Colourless) and do 220 damage which is still a good amount of damage.
As this Pokemon ex is colourless and has a colourless attack, this card can fit as an extra bulky attacker in a good amount of decks. Unlike Radiant Pokemon where you can only have one per deck you can run more than 1 copy of Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex in a deck. Two or more could be a bit much I think. One should be okay if you choose to use this.
I think that this card is really good and will set a lot of play. If Fighting Pokemon see popularity then this card would see less play due to Bloodmoon Ursaluna's Fightning weakness.
Pros
- A basic Pokemon with 260 HP is massive. Not many Pokemon can knock this out in one hit. Is this power creep?
- It's attack of Blood Moon becomes cheaper as opponent takes more prize cards. 240 Damage knockouts almost any Basic Pokemon in this format (with no tools attached)
- Splashable in a lot of decks due to its colourless attack.
- Can run more than 1 copy in a deck unlike Radiant Charizard.
Cons
- Fighting Weakness with three retreat cost
- Costly attack in early game
- Cannot attack next turn after Blood Moon is used (unless it is switched to the bench)
- Fire decks would prefer Radiant Charizard (single prizer) over Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex (Two prize)
Combo Ideas
Double Turbo Energy is one obvious card that makes its attack super accessible. The Blood Moon attack would be 20 less damage into 220 damage which is still a good amount of damage as there are a lot Basic Vs and Basic exs with 220 HP or lower.
Chien Pao ex with Baxcalibur's Water energy Accleration can include Bloodmoon Ursaluna as another strong attacker.
Typically fire type decks run a Radiant Charizard as a late game strong attacker. Non fire decks can run Bloodmoon Ursaluna as a strong late game attacker.
Charizard ex has a strong Fire Energy Acceleration ability once its done evolving. Bloodmoon Ursaluna can be used as another attacker on top of Radiant Charizard.
A weird but maybe workable combo would be the Xatu's Clairvoyent Sense ability for Psychic Energy acceleration to Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex along with drawing power.
Metang's Metal Maker ability allows for Metal energy acceleration. You can use Metang to accelerate energy to Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex in theory.
Attach a Bravery Charm Tool to increase the HP from 260 to 310 HP.
Attach Hero's Cape ACE SPEC tool to increase the HP of Bloodmoon Ursaluna from 260 to 360 HP.
Thank you for reading.