Hi there. I cover the card reveals of Rockruff, Lycanroc and Spike Energy from Pokemon Japan's Battle Partners. The Battle Partners set is to be released in Japan in Janaury 2025. For the English and international crowd the cards are to be released in the Journey Together set in March 2025.
Spike Energy
Spike Energy is a Special Energy card that counts as 1 Colourless Energy and has an additional effect. The Pokemon that this Energy card is attached to has a counterattack effect. If the Pokemon in the Active Spot with this card is damaged from an attack from an opponent's Pokemon then you put 2 damage counters on the Attacking Pokemon.
This Special Energy card is very similar to the Rocky Helmet tool card.
With Temple of Sinnoh leaving the regulation format as we head to G, H and I cards, special Energy cards will be useful. This is assuming that there is no Temple of Sinnoh reprint or a card similar to it. Tool cards are vulnerable to Jamming Tower but Special Energy cards are not.
I don't know if this Special Energy card is good outside of Lycanroc. More cards could be released to synergize with this.
Rockruff
Rockruff is a 70 HP Basic Fighting Pokemon in the TCG. (Rock Pokemon are Fighting Pokemon here.)
The second attack of Step On is not great as it costs much in terms of Energy to do 20 damage. Dig Back as the first attack is not great. Look at the top card of your deck and you have the option to discard it. It can be useful in certain situations but it is a bit niche to my liking. This first attack is similar to this Morpeko card with its ability.
Lycanroc
Lycanroc is the evolved form of Rockruff. It has 120 HP, two retreat cost and a Grass weakness.
The Grabbing Fangs attack is interesting. You don't need Fighting Energy on this attack as it is all Colourless type. For three Colourless Energy the attack has 40 base damage. It does 40 more damage for each damage counter on the opponent's Active Pokemon. This attack is similar to Bloodmoon Ursaluna from Shrouded Fable.
One combination would be to use this Lycanroc with Iron Valiant ex. When Iron Valiant ex comes from the Bench to the Active Spot then you can place 2 damage counters anywhere you like on the opponent's side.
The Lycanroc ability is also interesting. There are not many card effects that reuse Special Energy cards from the discard pile. Entangling Spikes activates when you play this card from hand to evolve 1 of your Rockruffs to Lycanroc. Once during your turn upon meeting the evolve requirement you can attach up to 2 Spike Energy from your discard pile to Lycanroc.
If the opponent attacks Lycanroc with Spike Energy they take counterattack damage. This fuels the Grabbing Fangs attack as more damage is dealt with more damage counters on the Lycanroc.
Lycanroc has an illustration rare version. Here it is. It looks nice. I expect the price of this to be at least 7 CAD.
