Pokemon TCG: The Best Black Bolt and White Flare Cards

For the first time, the international version of the Pokemon Trading Card Game is following its Japanese parent and releasing in two simultaneous companion sets. Pokemon TCG Scarlet & Violet: Black Bolt and White Flare also take players back to Unova, with a full complement of its wholly-original Pokedex. Given that, we’ll also share parallel analysis, with picks for the best cards of each!

The most meta-relevant Pokemon TCG Black Bolt and White Flare cards

Black Bolt: It’s weird to think of Genesect ex as a support Pokemon, but this one sure is. Its Metallic Signal ability lets you search for metal evolutions every turn, assembling whatever strategy you want within the type. This set’s special energy, Prism Energy is a colorless that adapts to whatever you need as long as it’s attached to a Basic. Air Balloon is a nice Tool, reducing retreat cost by two and allowing for some swap strategies that rely upon a creature being in the hot seat.

White Flare: The release of Brave Bangle is highly anticipated. The Tool card powers up single-prize Pokemon’s damage by 30 against ex foes, making it a must-have for anyone trying to buck that trend and run leaner fighters. These decks could also make use of Ignition Energy! It provides one colorless energy to basics in a pinch, but its primary use is to provide three to an evolution at the expense of only lasting one turn. It’s niche, but that niche includes the Team Rocket’s Porygon line that remains of use in competitive play.

The cutest Black Bolt and White Flare cards

Black Bolt: The Tympole line is having a fun day in the pond, with a fun art style accentuating the lily pads. Minccino and Cinccino are also endearingly rendered, both with a hopeful look in their eyes. The Illustration Rare Audino is made out of yarn, and that’s pretty cool. But boy, most of all? We really have a spot in our hearts for that Dwebble, in both normal and Illustration Rare forms. Gotta protect that li’l bud.

White Flare: Feels like the usual suspects? Deerling, Lillipup and Oshawott are the sorts of creatures you’d guess would be cute without ever seeing the art, and yep, they are. We’re honestly a bit disappointed? It feels like a split set like this could let the White-themed one focus on friendly buds given that game’s lower difficulty and the Black-themed one could have all the jagged edges of late-game acquisitions, so honestly it feels a bit backward.

The most interesting Black Bolt and White Flare cards

Black Bolt: We’re suckers for cards that are exceptions to the game’s basic rules. Meloetta ex can attack immediately even if you go first, priming its Echoed Voice attack to deal 110 damage on turn two. Volcarona can burn from the bench. Eelektrik is fragile and an evolution, but it can attach energy from the discard every turn and may be well worth the effort. We guess you could run Eelektross in a pinch? But it feels like a downgrade.

White Flare: We love the ability on Emboar, both on its own and as a callback to base set Blastoise. It lets you play unlimited fire energy from your hand, and Stage 2 strategies are always tricky but we like the payoff. Funnily enough, Samurott could use a partner like that Blastoise, as its attack scales with attached energy, but its primary purpose will be its ability to swap out both actives for free every turn. Finally, Hydreigon ex is a big unwieldy boy, but if it knocks out a Basic, you get one more prize. Maybe that could help?

The coolest Black Bolt and White Flare cards

Black Bolt: It’s undoubtedly the monochrome “Black & White Rare” cards. This set includes the all-black Zekrom and all-red Victini cards, and while they’re criminally rare to pull (and we didn’t get one), we really like the look of them. Make a whole expansion that looks like this, please! It’d be a really slick special set.

White Flare: It’s undoubtedly the monochrome “Black & White Rare” cards. This set includes the all-white Reshiram and all-red Victini cards, and we’re particularly struck by how legible these are without all the color getting in the way. The Victini is really weak, but the others? You could maybe justify using them just to get to see them more often.

The latest Pokemon Trading Card Game sets, Scarlet & Violet: Black Bolt and Scarlet & Violet: White Flare, are available now. For more Pokemon TCG coverage, check out our archive.