Torkoal V (Sword & Shield)

Overview

Having 210 HP makes Torkoal V more tanky than some of the V Pokemon since V Pokemon HP ranges from 170 HP to 230 HP so far. However, it has very high Retreat Cost of 4 Energy and this is mainly due to the adaptation of its characteristics from the Pokemon Games. If we look at its STATS from the Pokemon Game, it has very high Defense, decent Special Defense and very low Speed. By averaging its high Defense and Special Defense, it will have decent HP of 210 in PTCG. On the other hand, it has very high Retreat Cost due to its very low Speed.

Its first Attack Flame Pillar has 90 Base Damage for (R)(R)(C) and does 90 more Damage if you managed to discard Fire Energy from top of your Deck by using Flame Pillar Attack. Thus, this Attack has maximum Damage of 180 and it is strong enough to Knock Out all VMax Pokemon with 2HKO. With the help of Trainers and other Pokemon, you can get the consistence 180 Damage from Flame Pillar Attack.

The other Attack Steam Crash has 120 Damage for (R)(R)(R)(C). You might probably think this is hefty cost for 120 Damage. This is true only if you are considering its Damage alone but what about its effect. By using this Attack, you can discard up to 2 Energy Cards from your opponent's Active Pokemon. Unlike other attacks from old expansions, you don't need to flip Coins to discard 2 Energy. This attack can be also used to counter against your opponent's Deck with Energy Acceleration Build. So, the short answer is its worth 4 Energy.

Flame Pillar Combo

As mentioned earlier, the top card of your Deck need to be Fire Energy in order to get 180 Damage from Flame Pillar Attack.

Standard 

There is no better card than Oranguru to use together with Torkoal V Flame Pillar. It's Ability allows you to switch a card from your Hand with the card from top of your Deck. If you have Fire Energy in your Hand, this Ability can be used to put that Fire Energy on top of your Deck. 

What if you don't have a Fire Energy Card in your Hand?? Well, you can add Energy Search in your Deck to increase you chance of getting Fire Energy in your Hand. Since this Item Cards allows you to search a Basic Energy Card from your Deck and put it into your Hand.

  

Standard

Magcargo with Ability Smooth Over is the perfect Pokemon to use together with Flame Pillar Attack. All you have to do is use this Ability to arrange Fire Energy to the top of your Deck. Then, you will get 180 Damage from Flame Pillar Attack.

Energy Setup

Standard

As usual, the fastest way to attach Fire Energy to Fire Pokemon is through the use of Welder (Supporter) and Giant Hearth (Stadium) or Fiery Flint (Item).

The process is straight forward :

• If you have 2 Fire Energy in your Hand, you can straightaway use Welder to attach 2 Energy to Torkoal V. 
• If not, use either Giant Heart or Fiery Flint to get 2 Fire Energy in your Hand, then use Welder.

Doing so, you will be able to attach 3 Fire Energy to Torkoal V in one turn which is enough to Flame Pillar Attack. You just one more Energy in next turn to use its other Attack Steam Crash.

  

Energy Recycle

Using Flame Pillar cost additional Fire Energy each turn. To prevent running out of Energy Supply, here are few cards that allows you to recover Fire Energy Cards from your Discard Pile and put those cards into your Hand. In addition, the recover Fire Energy Cards also can be used together with new Oranguru.

Standard

Energy Retrieval (Items) Cards allow you to put 2 Fire Energy Cards from your Discard Pile into your Hand.

Fire Crystal (Item) allows you to put 3 Fire Energy from your Discard Pile into your Hand.

 

Retreat Cost

Torkoal V has very high Retreat Cost and retreating with Energy is not very wise. Here are few cards that allows you to retreat Torkoal V without discard Energy.

Standard

Switch (Item) can be used to witch Torkoal V with 1 of your Benched Pokemon without discarding Energy.

Expanded

Float Stone (Pokemon Tool) can be attached to Torkoal V to make its Retreat Cost become 0.