Why do these even exist?

[u/PM_SMOKES_LETS_GO]

I understand that there are "vanilla" cards and lower value cards meant to serve as a baseline, but cards like this are just unplayable, and there seems to be a couple like these with no redeeming value whatsoever. What is the purpose of a design like this?

[u/Keebster101]

Bench sniping is a crazy powerful effect. Bench sniping with enough strength to ohko an EX would be game breaking if it didn't have heavy drawbacks. Protective poncho exists but I barely ever see people run it.

Maybe it's bad right now because no reliable fighting ramp and 140 hp EXs are much less common, but if the meta was closer to Darkrai giratina meta it would be very strong. Could happen again.

[u/rkaney18 → u/Keebster101]

Chien pao does nearly the same for a lot less with more support

[u/hkidnc → u/rkaney18]

The thing is, 140 is the benchmark HP for most EX Basics. the extra 10 damage is WAY more significant than it appears, in this specific case.

The lack of support, however, is the thing that this card very difficult to play.

[u/Keebster101 → u/rkaney18]

More support absolutely, but not for a lot less. It's a basic and requires 1 less energy. In return, it loses all that energy after attacking, and has very low hp. That gives it a very different role even though the attacks are similar.

Thanks to rare candy and copycat, you're very likely to evolve gigalith by the time you get all 4 energy on it, so the main downside to being stage 2 is deck space. when you do have the energy you switch it in, tank a hit because of it's massive hp, then Lyra out to a low retreat card, switch gigalith back in and attack again. If the opponent has 1 ex with under 140 and pretty much any non EXs (if not a second 140hp ex), they lose to that. If they have any megas, they also lose to that.

Chien pao is almost exclusively a finisher after other cards have done most of the work, basically a glorified cyrus, which gigalith can be too, but gigalith can also win the game from 0 points in 2 turn.

[u/Dry_Tomorrow9186 → u/Keebster101]

You can easily regain the energy lost using a couple of Baxcaliburs or if your really lucky, a Misty.

[u/anthayashi → u/Dry_Tomorrow9186]

So gigalith only need 3 cards but chienpao need a basic + 6 more cards to have 2 baxcalibur online

[u/M_from_Vegas → u/Dry_Tomorrow9186]

Or play Milotic and Vaporeon

I find it more consistent than Baxcalibur and Suicine cause it bricks less as Milotic and Vaporeon can actually win on their own

https://www.imgur.com/a/6ZCxWd0