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{L} → Lightning Rod
Choose 1 of your opponent’s Pokémon and put a Lightning Rod marker on it. (A Pokémon can have only 1 Lightning Rod marker on it at a time.)
{L}{L} → Lightning Bolt : 10
This attack does 20 damage to any Pokémon with a Lightning Rod marker on it. Apply Weakness and Resistance.
illus. Miki Tanaka
External: Bulba ↗ · Shop: TCGplayer ↗, cardmarket ↗, eBay ↗
Normally found near power plants, it can wander away and cause major blackouts in cities.
TheFlub
Don’t think I’ve ever seen this promo, I always like unique cards like this. Was this card used much at all?
Adam Capriola
Nah I don’t think so. I can’t remember anyone playing it. Base Set Electabuzz was so much better.
feyblade
Ironically, “Lightning Rod” has now become a positive ability in the games. It would be hilarious if a card with similar artwork were printed, where lightning rod was modified into a poke power, and the lightning rod counters actually had positive effects (+Heal 20 and attach an energy from your discard pile, perhaps whenever Lightning Bolt is activated)
TCG ONE
“Apply Weakness and Resistance.” Is this a typo? What if the Pokemon with the marker is benched?
feyblade
No, it is not a typo. This is not the only card with an effect that specifically gets around the assumption that resistance and weakness are not applied to benched pokemon,either.
TCG ONE
I read in a compendium discussion that W&R should not be applied to benched pokemon because it’s a meta rule. I believe the card only meant applying W&R to defending pokemon in case it has a marker.
feyblade
The rules printed on a card override meta rules,as is the case with this card and (far more notably) Broken Timespace.
If you want verification, check the officially produced Pokemon TCG GB2. Dark Golbat’s Pokepower has a similar clause that allows it to apply weaknesses and resistances to benched pokemon. When the attack is used on such pokemon, the weaknesses and resistances are, in fact, applied.
Adam Capriola
No, I think this is actually a typo. Weakness is almost never applied to the Bench and these old cards are notorious for being mistranslated.
Mantidactyle
It is not a typo. I am 100% sure of this, just before someone asks. The japanese text says : (Damage of this attack is affected by the weakness and resistance)
MarxForever
I really wanna try this card in the Game Boy game now and see how it handled damage.
Calil BFR
It’s not present in the Game Boy game.
MarxForever
I know it not in the first one, cause it didn’t exist quite yet. But the second had the vending series which this card is from.
But judging from how MegaLAG said “games” I’m gonna assume it’s not that one either.
Mantidactyle
It hasn’t been implemented in any of the GBC games
MarxForever
That’s kind of a bummer, thought I just hadn’t come across one yet.
But not too surprising when I think about it, what with the markers and all. A lot of cards with complicated effects got the axe on the ol’ Game Boy; like Ditto and Electrode. Guess that means I won’t be able to finish my Bench Breaker deck in digital from.
MarxForever
For the record there’s another card in the Vending Series, a Machoke, that let’s you target any pokemon on the field. And also says to apply Weakness and Resistance. I tried it in the second TCG game for gameboy, and sure enough they are both applied for the bench Pokemon.
So there is a precedent.
Calil BFR
Espeon from Plasma Freeze also overrides this rule.
Ambassador
The Machoke card MarxForever was talking about¹ isn’t a perfect 1-to-1 precedent here. It does indeed say to apply W&R, but is specific about its interaction with Benched Pokémon;
JP: コインを投げて「おもて」なら、相手の場のポケモンから1匹を選び、20ダメージ。(このワザによる控えへのダメージは「弱点・抵抗力」の影響を受ける)
TL (mine): Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 20 damage to one of your opponent’s Pokémon. (Damage done to Benched Pokémon by this attack is affected by Weakness and Resistance.)
Electabuzz isn’t;
JP: 「ひらいしんマーカー」をのせているすべてのポケモンに、それぞれ20ダメージ。(このワザのダメージは「弱点・抵抗力」の影響を受ける)
TL (mine): This attack does 20 damage to any Pokémon with a Lighting Rod marker on it. (Damage from this move is affected by Weakness and Resistance.)
It *doesn’t* specify whether this is true for Benched Pokémon, so an argument could be made that a metarule regarding the application of W&R to Benched Pokémon could be assumed here. I mean, I’m basically making that argument right now. I think W&R should be applied only when it’s attacking (either) Active Pokémon.
(It is indeed not in Pokémon Card GB2 or I’d have already tested it out.)
¹ https://pcg-search.com/card/1st/1stex3028.php
MarxForever
Just to say something nice about this card, given it’s low rating.
Lightning Rod Markers can be used by other Electabuzz, and they can only be removed through evolution or Scoop Up (And the club Porygon’s “All Clear” attack, but that card was never released in the US, and is like 300 dollars lol). So while one’s setting up for just one energy, you can spend the next several turns letting it soak damage and as you put your energy wherever.
Then when you do decide to bring the thunder, that’s a possible 130 damage on our opponent’s side of the field for just 2 energy.