Bisharp vs Similar Pokémon: TCG Performance Analysis

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Bisharp in Cosmic Eclipse: Performance and Position Among Dark-Type Contenders

Within the sprawling mechanic-rich landscape of the Cosmic Eclipse set, Bisharp (SM12) stands out as a disciplined mid-range option for Darkness-focused decks. The Uncommon rarity makes it accessible to players building budget-friendly lists, while its 120 HP and two solid attacks offer a predictable, tempo-forward path. This article dives into how Bisharp stacks up against similar Pokémon in the TCG, what its two attacks actually enable on a game-by-game basis, and how collectors might value this card in the current market.

Snapshot: the card at a glance

Type: Darkness
Stage: Stage 1 (evolves from Pawniard)
HP: 120
Attacks:
- Corner — Cost: Colorless. The Defending Pokémon can’t retreat during your opponent’s next turn. Damage: 30
- Slashing Strike — Cost: Darkness, Colorless. This Pokémon can’t use Slashing Strike during your next turn. Damage: 80
Weakness: Fighting ×2
Resistance: Psychic -20
Retreat: 1
Set: Cosmic Eclipse (SM12)
Illustrator: SATOSHI NAKAI
Rarity: Uncommon

These values place Bisharp in a familiar Price-to-Performance niche: durable enough to fight through early exchanges, but requiring careful energy management to avoid being stranded after using Slashing Strike. In Cosmic Eclipse, its emphasis on disruption and mid-range damage aligns with other Darkness engines that prize tempo and pressure rather than pure raw power.

How Bisharp plays: a tempo-based approach

On the table, Corner is the workhorse. For a single Colorless energy, Bisharp can pin an opponent’s retreat options for a turn, which is a deceptively powerful tool in tight matchups. When paired with a Pawniard on the bench, you can stage a surgical evolution into Bisharp and swing with Slashing Strike for 80 damage while still maintaining field presence. The obligation that you cannot use Slashing Strike on your next turn is a small but real cost—this forces you to plan two turns ahead, weaving Bisharp into broader stall-and-punish lines or pairing with other attackers that can cover the post-Slash window.

From the perspective of game tempo, Bisharp excels in decks that want to threaten steady damage while forcing opponents to retreat or reposition their own setup. The 120 HP helps Bisharp survive a few trades in the mid-game, especially in Expanded format where a wider array of Seth-specific counters exist. The Fighting-type weakness x2 is a familiar caution for players building into the matchups you’ll encounter in standard or expanded play, but Bisharp’s resistance to Psychic helps it weather some of the Psychic-heavy decks that often appear in the broader pool.

Comparing to similar Pokémon: Pawniard and a few Dark-type peers

As the evolution from Pawniard, Bisharp inherits a practical drawback and a practical reward. Pawniard typically sits with a lower HP pool but can accelerate a faster early board state. Bisharp, with 120 HP, becomes a sturdier turn-based engine that can outlast certain skirmishes when your bench is healthy. In Cosmic Eclipse, other Dark-type options—especially those that demand more specific energy costs or have alternative effects—tend to either surge earlier (with higher immediate damage) or require more precise setup. Bisharp’s allure is in its reliability: a straightforward two-attack plan with clear limitations that players can memorize and exploit during a match.

When you pit Bisharp against similar Stage 1 lines, you’ll notice two key differentiators: energy investment and “one-turn window” management. For example, a comparable 2-energy attack with a strong immediate payoff might exist in other sets, but Bisharp’s Corner can disrupt the opponent’s retreat even as you plug away with Slashing Strike. The practical takeaway is that Bisharp shines in decks that want to apply steady pressure while denying retreat, rather than flipping the board with a single, huge swing.

Collectibility, art, and value in 2025

The Cosmic Eclipse era remains a favorite among collectors for its wide variety of holos and reverse holos. Bisharp’s holo and reverse-holo variants, in particular, tend to attract attention from players chasing the aesthetics of dark steel on the card art as much as the gameplay utility. Contemporary market data shows a broad spectrum of prices depending on print variant and condition. Cardmarket’s snapshot indicates an average around €0.05 for common copies, with holo versions trending higher, and a high end hitting a few euros for pristine examples. On TCGplayer, the standard (non-holo) copy sits in the sub-dollar range, with mid prices around $0.19 and highs near $1.49 for the non-holo, and reverse-holo variants typically sitting higher—around $0.38 mid and up to $3 for eye-catching specimens. These numbers reinforce Bisharp’s role as a budget-friendly, collector-friendly pick in modern decks and as a neat, affordable target for shiny-variant hunters.

Art by SATOSHI NAKAI captures the sleek, metal-clad menace of Bisharp, a design that resonates with fans who appreciate the quiet intensity of a lone swordsman standing in a battlefield of oversized energies. The Cosmic Eclipse set’s crossovers and stylistic breadth mean Bisharp sits among a diverse gallery of cards that collectors love to chase, including holo and reverse-holo print runs that emphasize the blade motif and the dark, moody palette.

Market trends and deck-building implications

For players evaluating strategy on a budget, Bisharp offers a reliable core component for a Darkness-themed list in Expanded. Its two-attacks structure gives you a straightforward upgrade path: start upright with Pawniard to evolve into Bisharp, then press with Corner to pinch your opponent’s mobility, followed by Slashing Strike to push through momentum. The price floor on normal prints keeps it accessible, while holo and reverse-holo mirrors deliver collectible upside for enthusiasts who value presentation as much as power. If you’re chasing a long-term, flexible mid-range attacker that eats up small energy costs and punishes retreating, Bisharp is a strong fit.

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