Image courtesy of TCGdex.net
Vikavolt: Art that Echoes Iconic Moments from Pokémon Games
From the moment you glimpse the shimmering arc of Vikavolt’s wings and the electric roar that surrounds its frame, you’re invited into a gallery of homages. This Vikavolt, a rare Stage 2 Pokemon in the Unbroken Bonds set, is illustrated by Hasuno and embodies the clever fusion of gameplay power with nostalgic scenes known to every trainer who’s spent hours exploring Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and beyond. With 150 HP, this Lightning-type evolves from Charjabug and brings a distinctive silhouette to the battlefield—one that fans will recognize for its dynamic posture, electric energy, and a background that hints at memorable in-game moments. ⚡🔥
Electricannon and the strategy of a high-stakes strike
Vikavolt’s primary punch is Electricannon, a dramatic attack that costs three Lightning Energy and one Colorless. On its face, it already looks like a finisher, delivering 120 base damage. But the real twist comes if you choose to discard all Lightning Energy from Vikavolt: you trigger an additional 100 damage, blasting the total to a formidable 220. It’s a move that rewards energy management and planning, a hallmark of many top-tier deck builds that lean on heavy-hitting, multi-turn plays. In practice, you’ll often set up a board state where Vikavolt sits behind a shield of protection, wear down your opponent’s options with chip damage, and then unleash Electricannon for a decisive knockout. This combination of raw power and setup tempo makes Vikavolt a tempting pick in Expanded formats where you can leverage energy acceleration and stadiums to optimize timing. 🎴 ⚡
Evolution, resilience, and the Stealthy Body edge
As a Stage 2 evolution from Charjabug, Vikavolt often occupies a middle ground between rapid evolution and late-game projectiles. Its Stealthy Body ability reads: “If there is any Stadium card in play, this Pokémon has no Weakness.” In practice, that is a meaningful defensive line in decks that incorporate stadiums to shape the tempo—making Vikavolt less vulnerable to popular Fighting-type threats that otherwise loom large in the format. The combination of a resilience-based ability and a brutal late-game attack gives Vikavolt a distinct role: a reliable closer when you can stabilize the field with a few strategic Stadiums or disrupt your opponent’s energy acceleration. It’s a nuanced synergy that invites players to design around both board control and explosive finishing power. 🛡️ 💥
Artistic homage: Hasuno’s scene-setting and the lore of battles
“The artwork captures a moment when electricity meets a story—the same thrill you feel crawling through a game’s final arena, where the environment itself seems to crackle with destiny.”
Hasuno’s rendition on Vikavolt blends sharp angular lines with luminous glow, a deliberate nod to iconic game scenes that fans love to revisit. While the card’s mechanical text sits at the heart of play, the art speaks in a secondary, cinematic language: the background hints at battlefields and stages that many players remember from their playthroughs, while Vikavolt’s stance and the electric aura push forward a sense of immediate action. The result is a card that’s not only a playable asset but a collectible print—one that earns extra attention in display cases and binder pages where players curate their favorite moments from the franchise’s long history. 💎🎨
Collectors’ notes: rarity, print, and market pulse
- Rarity: Rare (with holo, normal, and reverse variants available in the SM10 line).
- Set: Unbroken Bonds (SM10), a fan-favorite era known for its dynamic attack strings and vibrant artwork.
- Illustrator: Hasuno, whose work on this card blends energy, motion, and a respectful nod to game scenes that shaped the franchise’s visual language.
- HP and type: 150 HP, Lightning type, a natural fit for aggressive energy-based decks that lean on high-damage attacks.
- Format legality: Expanded legal, not Standard. A key note for players planning tournament lineups or casual play this season.
From a pricing perspective, Vikavolt SM10-59 sits in an interesting spot for collectors. Cardmarket shows a typical average around 0.75 EUR for non-holo copies, with holo variants trending similarly though sometimes more volatile due to demand for holo foil aesthetics. The low end for regular copies can dip near 0.19 EUR, highlighting the card’s accessibility for budget collectors while still offering a desirable holo rendition for those chasing visual impact. On TCGPlayer, holofoil versions present a broader spread, with market prices often ranging from roughly 0.2 USD on the low end to over 1.5 USD in higher-demand listings, reflecting both rarity and playability in modern Expanded decks. For fans who value the art’s homage aspect, these price dynamics are tempered by the resonance of Hasuno’s scene-inspired design, which adds a storytelling layer beyond straightforward numbers. 💎 📈
Collecting tip: if you’re chasing the holo variant for the dramatic artwork, keep an eye on market volatility around set rotations and reprints, which can shift demand quickly. If you’re more focused on the gameplay edge, Vikavolt’s powerful Electricannon can slot into specialized Lightning-heavy builds that leverage energy acceleration with precise timing. The synergy with Stadium cards—thanks to Stealthy Body—also invites you to explore deck archetypes that control the opponent’s pace while you line up a devastating finish. The combination of strategy, art, and nostalgia makes this card a standout in many binder collections and battle-ready lists alike. ⚡🔥
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