Name:
Holon’s Castform
Set:
EX Holon Phantoms
Card#:
44/100
Rarity:
Uncommon
Type:
Colorless
Stage:
Basic
HP:
50
Weakness:
Fighting
Resistance:
None
Retreat:
C
Attack:
(C) Delta Draw
Count the number of Pokémon you have in play that has δ on
its card. Draw up to that many cards.
Text:
You may attach this as an Energy card from your hand to 1 of
your Pokémon that already has an Energy card attached to
it. When you attach this card, return an Energy card
attached to that Pokémon to your hand. While attached, this
card is a Special Energy card and provides every type of
Energy but 2 Energy at a time. (Has no effect other than
providing Energy.)
Attributes:
Holon’s
Castform
is a Basic Pokémon with no Evolutions. It is a Colorless
Pokémon, which isn’t really a bad or good thing. It also has 50
HP, which is a tad low for a Basic that can’t further Evolve.
The Fighting Weakness is common though potentially deadly as
Fighting Pokémon often specialize in quick, inexpensive damaging
attacks. No Resistance is a tad disappointing but not hugely
disappointing and a Retreat Cost of just one Energy seems to be
the standard for Basics anymore and is pretty good as it’s easy
to pay.
Not bad
Attributes, but definitely not what will get this played.
Abilities:
Delta Draw is a solid attack if you run at least a few Pokémon
δ. If you run almost exclusively that, then it can be a
fantastic opening attack, allowing you to draw up to 5 cards for
a single Energy.
However, the real reason this will see play is that it has an
additional effect: it may be attached from hand as an Energy
card. Doing so requires the Pokémon that receives it already
has at least one Energy card attached, because you have to send
on back when you attach this. It’s worth it though: it provides
two of any Energy type, just like Holon’s Magneton and
Holon’s Electrode. While not very important to many
Pokémon, it’s fantastic for Pokémon-ex and Basic Pokémon, as
they can’t use Double Rainbow Energy. You won’t come out
Energy ahead in terms of quantity, but in terms of quality it’s
great. Well, unless you bounced a Darkness Energy or
Metal Energy card. Quite nice to reuse other Special Energy
cards, though.
Simply
put, the Energy effect is wonderful and the attack actually
means its okay for some decks if this little fellow is
unfortunately the only Basic Pokémon in your opening hand… and
is forced to start.
Uses
and
Combinations:
As a Basic Pokémon, there are many ways to get this into your
hand, including several attacks and Trainers. What compensates
for occasionally being forced to start with it in a deck without
Pokémon δ is that it’s easier to search out than its fellows:
Holon Mentor can grab three of them! That has to be nice
for a deck like LBS.
Ratings
Unlimited:
2/5 – Energy Removal can unfortunately remove this in one
shot, but if you really want to play a Pokémon-ex or other no
Double Rainbow Energy-target in this format, this might be
the only way to power it up decently and quickly.
Modified:
4/5 – Not a must have for all decks, but for many, it will
likely replace Holon’s Electrode unless the risk of being
forced to open with it ends up being truly devastating.
Limited:
5/5 – There is an exception to my “perfect” score: if you are
running a deck with no Pokémon δ that uses a single Energy Type.
Otherwise, it will make juggling multiple Energy types easier,
and even though there are a few ways to provide for Dark and
Metal Energy requirements doesn’t mean this is any less useful
as yet another way.
Summary
A
wonderful card with many uses, I strongly encourage you to trade
for them if you can. I wouldn’t go too crazy, as it is just an
Uncommon, but at the same time it is a very, very good Uncommon,
not unlike Rare Candy.
-Otaku
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