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Pojo's Pokémon Card of the Day

 

 Arbok

- XY

Date Reviewed:
March 19, 2014

Ratings & Reviews Summary

Standard: 2.00
Limited: 3.00

Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale.
1 being the worst. 
3 ... average.  
5 is the highest rating.

Back to the main COTD Page

Baby Mario
2010 UK National
Seniors
Champion

Arbok (XY) 

First off I have to say: WELCOME BACK ARBOK! 

It’s scandalous that we have had to wait six whole years for a card that features an original 151 Pokémon who was an iconic part of the anime. I don’t care that Arbok cards have always been a bit rubbish, or that this one isn’t especially competitive either. It’s just great that he’s no longer forgotten. 

Why isn’t he competitive? Oh, because he’s a low HP Stage 1 is why. Mind you, the attacks aren’t horrible, especially Gastro Acid which does 20 for a Colourless Energy and stops the Defending Pokémon’s Ability from working until the end of your next turn. Even that sounds more useful than it really is as most Pokémon using Abilities will be sitting on the Bench (Blastoise, Emboar, Deoxys EX), or use them the turn they are promoted (Lugia EX, Trevenant). It could be a way of countering Snorlax PLS’s retreat lock, I guess, but switching cards would have a lot more utility. Arbok’s other attack, Poison Jab, is a fairly standard three Energy attack that does 50 and automatically inflicts Poison. With Muscle Band/Silver Bangle and Virbank City Gym he could two-shot an EX, but really Arbok is too frail and slow to get involved in that kind of exchange. 

The truth is that this is actually one of the better Arbok cards in existence, but it’s still nowhere near enough for him to be seen at tournaments. Still, being seen at all is a step in the right direction for this Pokémon. 

Rating 

Modified: 2 (maybe there will be a use for Gastro Acid some day?)

Limited: 3 (not bad here: a cheap attack and an auto Status Condition are pretty good) 


HEZ
Intro to
Unlimited 150

Arbok.

Standard.

Arbok came up in Pojo’s “Pokémon that haven’t seen print for 6 years” review list a few weeks back. Does Arbok make a mighty return to the TCG after all these years?

Nearly, so very nearly. Gasto Acid is very close to being an excellent attack, if only it affected all your opponent’s Abilities and not just their Active’s. Gardevoir (Secret Wonders) was part of one of the top decks for over a whole season with such an attack but for some reason the designers didn’t feel Arbok deserved its time in the limelight quite yet it seems.

As it stands it has quite low HP for a fully evolved Stage 1, its second attack isn’t too strong and it has Weakness to Trevenant, one Pokémon it might’ve attempted to Ability lock.

Unlimited 150.
The story isn’t much better in this format, locking Abilities is even more important here but only locking their Active just isn’t good enough. There’s Gardevoir that can lock all Abilities with its Psychic Lock attack and even more similar is Grumpig (Triumphant), another Psychic Stage 1 that deals 20 damage but can also use the superior Psychic Lock.

The XY Arbok isn’t even useful to tech into an existing Arbok line as Arbok has never really had a good card, especially not one that can stand up to the power-level in U150. It’s left in the dust of its Team Rocket co-worker Weezing who has had much more luck on powerful cards over the years.

Ratings.
Standard: 2
Unlimited 150: 1.5


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