Image courtesy of TCGdex.net
Synergy through the lens of databases: Loudred as a case study
In the vast ecosystem of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, mastering synergy means more than knowing your strongest attacker. It requires a systematic approach to data—mining card databases, cross-referencing evolutions, and understanding how even an Uncommon Stage 1 like Loudred can unlock meaningful, repeatable strategies. This article uses Loudred’s BW8 Plasma Storm entry (bw8-106) as a focused example of how to extract practical deck-building insights from card databanks. The journey blends gameplay nuance, collector awareness, and a dash of late-90s/early-2000s nostalgia—the perfect mix for fans who enjoy both the art and the math of the game. ⚡🔥
What the card data tells you, at a glance
Loudred is a Colorless-type Pokémon with 90 HP and a stage-1 evolution line that begins with Whismur. Its two attacks provide a classic two-step flow:
- Supersonic (Colorless): The Defending Pokémon is now Confused. This is a control-oriented effect that can stall an opponent’s momentum and set up follow-up damage or misplays.
- Hyper Voice (Colorless, Colorless, Colorless): 50 damage. The three-colorless energy cost highlights Loudred’s role as a flexible, color-agnostic finisher or mid-game pressure option when you’ve built a broad energy base.
Weakness to Fighting ×2 and a retreat cost of 3 add real-world considerations for deck construction. The card’s set—Plasma Storm (bw8)—puts Loudred in a historically steel-hard era for colorless strategy, where flexibility often outweighed raw power. The illustrator, Aya Kusube, lends a dynamic, expressive style to Loudred’s stage-1 portrait, giving the card a distinctive presence in a binder or on the table. This combination of gameplay, rarity (Uncommon), and art makes Loudred a prime candidate for a database-guided exploration of value and viability. 💎
Using card databases to map Loudred’s strongest synergies
Card databases are more than catalogs—they’re analytical tools. By filtering for Loudred’s evolvesFrom Whismur, stage, HP, and Colorless typing, you can quickly surface which teammates or supports tend to maximize Loudred’s strengths. For example, because Hyper Voice is colorless, you can pair Loudred with a range of colorless-friendly teammates who share the same energy mechanics or who benefit from opponent-stalling effects. The Supersonic entry helps you plan around disruption, turning a single status effect into a multi-turn plan that pressures the opponent to adapt.
From a deck-building perspective, a database-guided Loudred shell might emphasize:
- Whismur as the Basic partner—keeping the early game pressure manageable while enabling Loudred’s evolution on turn two or three.
- Colorless-energy flexibility—ensuring you don’t get bottlenecked by a specific Energy type. This is where database-backed energy counts and energy-card synergies (such as special-energy or acceleration options from the era) influence your ratios.
- Disruption-first sequences—using Supersonic to sow confusion, followed by Hyper Voice when the opponent’s options are limited or when you can safely apply pressure without sacrificing momentum.
- Retreat management—balancing the 3-Energy retreat cost with switching options that prevent Loudred from being stranded in the active spot after a Confusion flipback or a high-damage exchange.
In practice, a database-driven Loudred build rewards deliberate pacing. You search for cards that either enhance Confusion’s reliability (or its consequences) or that enable smooth retreat and recovery so Loudred can re-enter the fray on successive turns. The Plasma Storm era’s broader toolkit—colorsless-friendly supports, stage-up options, and flexible energy bases—amplifies how Loudred can function as a mid-range anchor rather than a one-shot threat. ⚡🎴
Strategic takeaways: turning data into actions on the table
Here are concrete, database-informed ideas you can try when you assemble a Loudred-centric deck. They blend the card’s raw numbers with practical timing decisions and field-read techniques:
- Control tempo with Supersonic: Use Confusion to force your opponent into suboptimal plays. Databases help you estimate how often Supersonic lands, based on your opponent’s known deck archetypes and typical attack patterns. If you can secure a few successful Confusions, you create windows for Hyper Voice to land untouched, especially when your management of energy allows Loudred to stay active for multiple turns.
- Leverage colorless energy efficiency: Since Hyper Voice costs three Colorless energies, build around a flexible energy base that minimizes dead turns. Database-sourced averages for similar colorless attackers suggest you optimize for energy-per-turn and bench recovery, ensuring Loudred isn’t caught without fuel when you need the big hit.
- Evolution timing matters: With Whismur as the starting point, you want a clean path to Loudred by the second or third turn. Databases help you model draw odds and turn-of-game timing, so you know when to pivot toward a Loudred-centric plan or shift to a different line if early pressure isn’t paying off.
- Counterplay and resilience: Loudred has a moderate HP of 90 and a modest retreat cost. Pairing it with simple recovery or reset options—sourced from the database’s set-wide synergies—can keep your board intact while you unload the louder, heavier hits later in the match.
Market values and collector insights
For collectors and players who track card liquidity, Loudred’s BW8-106 entry presents a balanced proposition. CardMarket data shows an average around 0.27 EUR with notable range, while TCGPlayer numbers indicate non-holo versions at roughly 0.15–0.40 USD on typical listings, with holo-variants reaching higher values on occasion. The reverse-holo and holo printings often carry a premium in the right market window, reflecting both scarcity and the nostalgia factor of Plasma Storm-era colorless strategies. These numbers can shift with print runs, reprints, and local demand, so databases are especially valuable for timing purchases and identifying stable, long-term holds. 🧭
Case study recap: why Loudred deserves a spot in a database-guided deck
From a gameplay perspective, Loudred’s combination of Supersonic’s control and Hyper Voice’s consistent damage, anchored by a flexible Colorless energy demand, makes it a compelling anchor for a mid-range or tempo-focused build. The card’s Uncommon rarity means it’s accessible to many players, while its evolution path from Whismur helps you plan a lean, efficient ladder toward a stable board presence. When you couple this with the power of robust card databases—filters like set, rarity, HP, and energy cost—you can systematically explore Loudred’s synergy potential, test multiple playstyles, and adjust for local metagames with confidence. And in those moments when victory hinges on a single well-timed Confusion flip, you’ll be glad you studied the data first. 🎯
Curious to explore Loudred more deeply? The practical world of card databases makes it possible to experiment safely, track how market values shift, and discover how a modest Stage 1 can pull its weight in a well-rounded lineup. It’s the kind of behind-the-scenes mastery that turns casual collection into strategic storytelling—one loud, calculated move at a time. 🎮💎
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