Image courtesy of TCGdex.net
Aipom’s Role in Top Decks: A Win-Rate Perspective
In the ever-shifting metagame of the Pokémon TCG, win-rate analyses can illuminate how even a single, unassuming card finds a place in the most competitive decks. Aipom, sv04-211 from the Paradox Rift set, reveals how a tiny, fast draw engine can influence early-game consistency and setup tempo. This illustration-rare Colorless Basic Pokémon, illustrated by Yuka Morii, isn't a powerhouse by raw stats, but its ability to fuel smoother turns can ripple into meaningful wins when paired with the right partners and game plan. ⚡🔥
Let’s unpack why Aipom shows up in conversations about top decks and what data from recent benchmarks suggests about its role in high-level strategies. The card’s two-attacks—Filch and Smack—offer a distinct tempo profile. Filch costs a single Colorless energy and simply draws a card, while Smack costs two Colorless energy and dishes out 20 damage. That combination means Aipom is designed to accelerate card access without imposing heavy energy constraints. In a deck built to tempo-draw and answer threats quickly, Aipom’s Filch can be a reliable first-turn setup enabler, digging for essential trainer cards, evolution lines, or the crucial boss Pokémon you’ll rely on to turn the tide later in the game. 🎴
Card snapshot
- Name: Aipom
- Set: Paradox Rift (sv04)
- Rarity: Illustration Rare
- Type: Colorless
- Stage: Basic
- HP: 60
- Attacks: Filch (Draw a card); Smack (20)
- Attack costs: Filch costs Colorless; Smack costs Colorless, Colorless
- Retreat: 1
- Illustrator: Yuka Morii
- Regulation: Marked G — Standard and Expanded legal
- Variants: holo (standard), not First Edition
- Pricing snapshot (as of late 2025): Cardmarket average ~0.03 EUR (non-holo); holo variant ~0.07 EUR on average, with occasional spikes up to ~0.09 EUR in shorter-term windows
“Aipom’s value isn’t raw power—it’s tempo. If you can cushion its vulnerability with solid draw and pressure-free setup, you can turn a modest 60 HP into a chain of favorable turns that dense opponents struggle to answer.”
From a gameplay perspective, Aipom’s Filch is the kind of effect that benefits decks leaning into draw-support engines. In top-tier lists, players often hunt for consistent access to their essential evolutions, energy in the correct counts, and ensuring they don’t miss key staples on opening turns. Aipom’s one-card draw on demand helps reduce “dead draws” in the early game, which translates into smoother early aggressions or steady disruption. Its two-energy Smack is modest, but in a deck that can pressure the opponent’s bench or chase down smaller threats, that 20 can be the precise amount needed to finish a target when combined with other sources of damage. The card’s Colorless energy cost also keeps it flexible in a variety of lineups, especially those that lean into multi-type or generic-energy strategies. 💎
Strategy notes for builders
- Tempo over raw power: Use Filch to accelerate card draw on turns you’d otherwise stall. In practice, you want to chain two or three seek-and-draws before you commit to your primary attacker, reducing the risk of prize loss from missed setup.
- Bench discipline: With 60 HP, Aipom is fragile. Place it behind resilient attackers or in matchups where you can shield it with healing or Exposure-based draws. The goal is to turn a fragile opening into a sturdy mid-game engine.
- Team synergy: Aipom shines when paired with draw-supports or evolutions that capitalize on early advantage. If your deck includes Pokémon that can capitalize on fast energy acceleration or rapid evolution, Aipom’s Filch can help you reach those power spikes faster.
- Meta awareness: In the Paradox Rift environment, where holo and illustration-rare staples fetch collector attention, even small-market cards can gain value through play-to-trophy success. Aipom’s status as an illustration rare adds to its collectible appeal for fans who like a little aesthetic in their deckbox. ⚡
Market signals and collector insight
From a collectible standpoint, Aipom’s sv04-211 holo variant offers a quiet but steady interest niche. The pricing data show a floor around a few euro-cents for non-holo examples and a modest but real premium for holo copies. For players who value card condition and holo foil presence, owning a crisp holo of Aipom can be a matter of personal taste as much as tactical value. The card’s illustrator, Yuka Morii, is a known contributor whose work resonates with collectors who chase the stylistic nuances of holo-era Pokemon cards. This blend of playability and aesthetics contributes to its enduring presence in niche markets and tournament loot pools. 🎨
Putting it all together
In top tournament decks, win-rate analytics are most compelling when they connect mechanical details to deck-building outcomes. Aipom’s Filch offers a clean, reliable draw engine that can shorten the distance to key evolutions and powerful plays. While it won’t single-handedly carry a match, its role as a speed-enabler makes it a thoughtful inclusion in builds that prize setup efficiency and tempo. For players tracking performance across the circuit, Aipom’s presence in a handful of highly-parameterized lists is a reminder that smart draw-orientated micro-interactions can tip balance, even when a card looks modest at first glance. The artistry of Yuka Morii, the Paradox Rift setting, and the holo aesthetic all come together to remind us that the Pokémon TCG thrives on both strategy and story. 🎴
Neon Slim Phone Case for iPhone 16 (Glossy Lexan Finish)More from our network
- https://crypto-acolytes.xyz/blog/post/exploring-minecrafts-post-apocalyptic-maps-a-survival-guide/
- https://blog.zero-static.xyz/blog/post/what-design-chaos-reveals-about-human-behavior-enduring-scalelord/
- https://blog.digital-vault.xyz/blog/post/transforming-digital-textures-with-ai-driven-workflows/
- https://crypto-acolytes.xyz/blog/post/scorpius-hot-giant-traces-galactic-flow-with-radial-velocity/
- https://blog.digital-vault.xyz/blog/post/draft-timing-when-to-prioritize-the-binding-of-the-titans/