Skip straight to the scores and summary for a concise overview.
Please note that while I denote δ Delta Species Pokémon
by adding a δ to the end of their name, but that said symbol is
not actually part of their name for gaming purposes. For
example, a “Pokémon δ” can Evolve from or into a non-Pokémon δ,
so long as no other rules are being broken. That is, I can
Evolve Dratini δ into a Dark Dragonair, plain
Dragonair, of the “Dragonair δ”. I cannot,
however, Evolve a Dark Dragonair into a Dragonite δ
or a Dragonair δ into a Dark Dragonite.
Name:
Jolteon δ
Set:
EX Delta Species
Card#:
7/113
Types:
Lightning, Metal
Stage:
1 (Evolves from Eevee)
HP:
70
Weakness:
Fighting
Resistance:
Metal
Retreat:
C
Attack#1:
(C) Delta Search [10]
Search
your deck for a Basic Holon Energy card and attach it to Jolteon.
Shuffle your deck afterwards.
Attack#2:
(LMC) Return Spark [50]
You
may return an Energy card attached to Jolteon to your hand.
If you do, this attack does 20 damage to 1 of your
opponent’s Benched Pokémon. (Don’t Apply Weakness and
Resistance for Benched Pokémon.)
Name:
Eevee δ
Set:
EX Delta Species
Card#:
68/113
Type:
Metal
Stage:
Basic
HP:
50
Weakness:
Fighting
Resistance:
None
Retreat:
C
Attack:
(C) Metal Scoop [10]
Search your discard pile for a (M) Energy card and attach it
to Eevee.
Name:
Eevee
Set:
EX Delta Species
Card#:
/113
Type:
Colorless
Stage:
Basic
HP:
50
Weakness:
Fighting
Resistance:
None
Retreat:
C
Attack#1:
(C) Call for Family
Search
your deck for a Basic Pokémon and put it onto your Bench.
Shuffle your deck afterward.
Attack#2:
(CC) Rear Kick [20]
Attributes:
Jolteon δ is a Stage 1 δ Delta Species Pokémon. It
Evolves from Eevee. This set contains two different
Eevee: one normal Colorless version and one δ Delta Species
version. Both have 50 HP, a Fighting Weakness, and a Retreat
Cost of one. Of the actually Eevee δ, Metal Scoop
suffers since it is an attack, and the most likely time to use
it is early game before any Metal Energy are in the
discard pile, and it only affects actual Metal Energy
cards. The “plain” Eevee has two “okay” attacks. I
recommend neither, due to the superiority of EX Unseen Forces
Eevee with “Energy Evolution” for Modified. Said Poké-Power
allows you to search for an Evolution matching an Energy card
you attach from your hand to said Eevee. Using Metal
Energy (or any card that provides it), you may search for
any Eeveelution that is part Metal (which is all five Eeveelutions
that aren’t Pokémon-ex in this set). Just be careful since this
Eevee has only 40 HP. For Unlimited use, the Blackstar
Promo with Chain Reaction or Neo Discovery version with a coin
flip determined Energy Evolution may be better: note that the
Chain Reaction Eevee is to be run alongside either of the
Energy Evolution Eevee. The question is whether or not
to risk the slightly lower HP for the better reliability of the
newest version (I feel it is: Tyrogue and most Pokémon
threats can OHKO both of them anyway).
Yes,
that’s right, almost an exact cut and paste from yesterday.
Guess what? Things still haven’t changed for the lower Stage.
;)
Returning to Jolteon δ itself, it is a Dual-Type Pokémon:
both Lightning and Metal. Yes, I refer to it as a
“Lightning-Type”. I will also randomly refer to it as an
“Electric-Type” as well. Moving on, Lightning Weakness in
Modified is the beginning of the “high” end; that is, the third
most common Weakness (with most of it being Water-Types).
Lightning Resistance has nearly gone extinct in Modified:
there’s only one Pokémon with it right now, Steelix ex!
That is rather comforting. The Metal aspect increases the
amount of vulnerable Pokémon by 17, but adds 25 Resistant
Pokémon. That is rather annoying. Thankfully, we get the
wonderful bonus of Metal Energy’s defensive boost.
Steelix ex is Resistant to Grass as well, and since that’s
the only Lightning Resistant Pokémon… yeah, nothing is double
Resistant against this hybrid. Likewise… nothing Metal Weak
have a double Weakness. At least, for Modified.
Jolteon δ
has a mere 70 HP. While not the lowest for a Stage 1, even in
Modified, those that are lower tend to have fantastic or unique
Abilities… or else are a major hindrance for the card, often
making it “bad”. Looking at the actual figures, 70 HP is the
most common for a Stage 1 Pokémon that isn’t a Pokémon-ex and
doesn’t Evolve. That still doesn’t make it good, though. A max
HP score this low means that most serious attackers will be able
to OHKO you unless you are at full health, and many even if you
are. Additionally, the effect of Metal Energy becomes
more critical for defending against the weaker, early game
attacks as they can more easily overwhelm you while at the same
time you get less of a benefit late game since the Metal
Energy will likely be superfluous. That is, you are
dependant upon Metal Energy to survive early in the game,
and late game it won’t offer any real safety.
With
such a low HP, the Water Weakness of Jolteon δ… really,
any weakness becomes a serious concern Fighting Pokémon tend to
specialize in hitting hard and fast, so it the combination of
Weakness and low HP mean you might be OHKO’d… by a Basic
Fighting Pokémon. Not a big bruiser one, but like a Machop
or Mahukita.
The low
HP also increases the need for a Resistance. Why is it
different from, say, Metal Energy? Since Resistance is
built in and a guaranteed 30 point reduction in damage (at least
as guaranteed as it can be in Pokémon), even though it’s only
against one type, it will almost completely shut out early game
damage and significantly reduce late game damage (though a OHKO
would still be likely). What is incredible is that we have
a Resistance on this card! Jolteon δ actually has Metal
Resistance. This is nice: thanks to EX Delta Species, even if
such decks aren’t so great, Metal decks are getting very
popular. This should help buy some precious turns against a
Metal attacker. Of course, one of the popular new decks at the
City Championships was built around Scizor ex, so it even
is nice against one popular deck. This forces Scizor ex
to use Crosscut… which your Resistance keeps from being a OHKO.
It’s not much, but it’s something.
Finally, we come to a Retreat Cost of one. This is the second
best retreat cost in the game; even if a “naked” Jolteon δ
is forced active, you should be able to bench it with ease. Of
course, given the HP score and Pokémon, a free retreat cost
really was needed.
Abilities:
Jolteon δ has two attacks. The first, is an okay set up
move, but is rather limited by only being able to grab
Holon
Energy
cards (that would be the three actual Energy cards from EX Delta
Species). Since their effects require Basic Energy to work, it
makes it hard for good combo usage. It’d be nice if it said a
Basic Energy or a
Holon
Energy card. As is, it will still allow you to use Energy
Evolution to Evolve into Jolteon δ first turn and, so
long as you can match the specific type requirements, use the
second attack as early as second turn. Of course you could use
Double Rainbow Energy for speed, but that would
drop your damage.
The
second attack is relatively solid: after factoring in requiring
two distinct Energy types and being a Stage 1 Pokémon, 50 for
(LMC) might seem low. There is an added effect; you may return
an Energy card to your hand to hit one of the opponent’s Benched
Pokémon for 20 damage. Now, returning the Energy card to hand is
a limitation, but not a horrible one. In fact, if you are about
to be KO’d, it’s quite wonderful. 20 points of damage to hit a
Benched Pokémon with is very nice. Overall, it becomes a fair
attack when you use the secondary effect.
Of
course, there is some synergy between the two attacks: you can
fetch out
Holon
Energy cards and then bounce them to hand the next turn. Not
huge, but its there.
Uses
and
Combinations:
This card is supposed to be your “Lightning beatstick” in an
Eeveelution δ deck. The damage may not be high, but since
it can hit the bench, it tends to even out: the first attack
takes out a weaker starter, and then nails their most likely
candidate for a new Active. Now you either messed up their
plans, or you have an easier KO of the next one, almost like
you’re hitting for 70. As is expected, type matching will be
important.
Holon Energy
will likely be vital here: Holon GL, when a Basic
Lightning Energy is also attached to the Pokémon, reduces
the damage taken from Pokémon-ex. Remember how I said your
Resistance frustrates Scizor ex already? Well, against
that deck, at least, Metal Energy can be very helpful.
Now, if you get a few Metal Energy cards with a few
Holon GL and at least one basic Lighting Energy…
Scizor ex will need its Poké-Body to kick in for it to
bypass all that defense, and even then it’s a low return. So if
your opponent has Scizor ex also loaded with Metal
Energy cards, you can hit it without triggering its Poké-Body…
while slowly killing off the opponent’s Bench. With all that
Energy, EX Deoxys Metagross’ Link Blast will be very hard
to synch up, and if you have four Metal Energy on
Jolteon δ, then they can’t hurt you at all. If they run an
EX Hidden Legends Metagross, that Metal Resistance,
combined with the effects of Metal Energy, will dull its
attack as well. Finally, bringing up a Pidgeot wouldn’t
happen… at least by the opponent’s choice. If you can
Reversal it out, then you can score a nice OHKO.
Of
course, that is just one deck.
Ratings
(assuming an Eeveelution δ Deck)
Unlimited:
1/5-Don’t run this deck here, okay?
Modified:
3.5/5-Possibly the best card in the deck right now.
Limited:
4/5-Fishing out and attaching Energy is much more useful here,
and Bench damage is almost as sick as Special Conditions. The
Resistance will be so useful here, though the Weakness is
reasonably common. Just remember, I am assuming you get at
least one of the many cards that can supply Metal Energy.
Summary
Jolteon δ
is a must for an Eeveelution δ deck, but the deck as a
whole seems like more a fun thing than a serious competition
piece. If you build it right, it might be fun to annoy SMP
players.
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