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In the Burning Shadows era, a nimble Dark-type like Weavile can reshape how you approach matchups that hinge on Special abilities and on-board trickery. Weavile enters the battlefield as a Rare Stage 1 Pokémon, evolving from Sneasel, with 90 HP and a sleek, icy silhouette drawn by Satoshi Shirai. Its two attacks—Rule of Evil for 60 damage to every Pokémon with an Ability, and Slash for 70 with a dark-claw edge—offer a playstyle built around punishing ability-dependent strategies while pushing for decisive finishes when the timing is right. With a Fighting weakness and Psychic resistance, Weavile sits comfortably in Expanded-lineups that lean on quick aggression and precise consideration of when to hit the board hard. ⚡🔥
Rule of Evil is the centerpiece here. This attack delivers 60 damage to each of your opponent’s Pokémon that has an Ability, and it also checks your own bench for those Abilities (your own Pokémon with Abilities can be damaged too). The effect—while straightforward on paper—opens a tactical frontier: decks that rely heavily on Abilities become prime targets, while flexible, non-Ability-based engines can weather the collateral with discipline. In a meta where Hydreigon-type disruptors, Gengar-like spread, or other Ability-laden attackers populate the field, Weavile’s presence creates a deliberate, tempo-driven line of play. For many players, this is less about a single knockout and more about shaping which threats survive long enough to be removed by cleaner finishes. 🎯
Deck archetypes that benefit from this effect
- Anti-Ability Control — A deck built to roam the board while prioritizing non‑Ability attackers benefits most from Rule of Evil. By curating a small, efficient toolkit of Dark-type and non‑Ability basics, you can press Weavile’s 60 damage to the opponent’s Abilities while keeping your own board safe from stray triggers. Think of it as a controlled burn: you apply pressure on abilities your opponent relies on, forcing messy trades that you can finish with Slash or a follow-up from a secondary attacker.
- Non‑Ability Heavy Aggro — A fast, low-commitment strategy that minimizes Abilities on your own side. Weavile’s ability to poke at Abilities on the opponent’s field gives your raw aggression a wider breathing room. With retreat 0 and a modest energy cost, you can keep pressure while rotating attackers that don’t suffer from Weavile’s own vulnerability to Fighting types. ⚡
- Ability‑Railgun Disruption — In matchups against decks that repeatedly rely on their Abilities to surge through turns, Weavile acts as a pressure valve. By continually pressuring Abilities on both players’ boards, you force opponents into awkward decisions—benching or evolving in ways that open doors for your heavier hitters to close out the game. The synergy shines when paired with draw and search that fetch non‑Ability support Pokémon and trainer effects to keep the pressure up. 🔥
- Early-Squeeze Sneasel–Weavile Tempo — A quick line that leverages the Sneasel→Weavile evolution to hit the board fast, then maintain control using Rule of Evil to whittle down ability-based threats. The combination of Sneasel’s branching evolution and Weavile’s two-attack kit punishes opponents who lean on Abilities for tempo while you secure the mid-game with precise removals. 🎴
- Budget Friendly Bench Control — You don’t need a fancy toolbox to maximize Weavile’s potential. A lean deck that focuses on efficient draw, consistent energy use, and a handful of anti-Ability threats can outpace heavier lists. The math is kind to budget players: Weavile’s price point is accessible in holo and non‑holo variants, and it can anchor a midrange plan that wins through superior timing and careful targeting of Abilities. 💎
When planning around Weavile, consider the energy backbone: Rule of Evil costs a single Colorless, while Slash demands Darkness + Colorless. That means you’ll typically want at least one Turn-1 or Turn-2 investment in Darkness energy and some consistent colorless support so you can drop Weavile early and threaten multiple angles. Given its weakness to Fighting and the fact that it’s Expanded-legal rather than Standard-legal, you’ll want to align it with sets and support cards that still see play across Expanded formats, alongside reliable draw, search, and healing options. The design invites a patient approach: threaten the board with Weavile, then a follow-up that capitalizes on the weakened or relocated Ability Pokémon as the field shifts. 🥷
“Rule of Evil from Weavile isn’t just a blow—it’s a strategic gatekeeper that shapes the entire mid‑game tempo, especially when your opponent can’t rely on Abilities to accelerate their plan.”
From a collector’s perspective, Weavile’s Burning Shadows variant is a standout for its holo texture and the artistry of Satoshi Shirai—an aesthetics-driven reason to chase this card in both core and complete collections. The set’s full card count sits at 147 (official) out of 169, a detail that card hunters consider when weighing the probability of finding a holo in booster pulls. If you’re seeking market cues, Cardmarket shows holo copies averaging around 0.26 EUR, with standard copies hovering near 0.07–0.27 USD on TCGPlayer, and occasional spikes for rarer print runs. It’s a modestly valued piece, but one that shines in a themed Dark‑type lineup and in a collection emphasizing the Burning Shadows era. market dynamics also reveal a healthy interest in Weavile’s art and the Sneasel–Weavile lineage, which attractive for both players and collectors. 💎
Art, lore, and practical takeaways
Weavile’s sleek, frostbitten design captures a predator that thrives on precision. Shirai’s illustration complements the card’s precise, surgical attack plan—ice-crystal aesthetics echoing the cold logic of Control and Disruption archetypes. The flavor here isn’t just about looking cool; it’s about leveraging the theme of “silent hunter” to pressure Abilities and force your opponent into risky plays. When you’re building around Weavile, you’re not chasing a single knockout; you’re orchestrating a sequence that leaves Abilities exposed, then capitalizing with a well-timed Slash or a finishing blow from a partner attacker. 🎨
As you integrate Weavile into a deck, you’ll want to keep a few practical notes in mind. The 90 HP pool isn’t gigantic by modern standards, so you’ll be mindful of how quickly opposing attackers can trade into Weavile. Resistances and weaknesses matter: Psychic resistance helps in some matchups, while the Fighting weakness means you’ll plan on protecting Weavile against those threats or pairing with healing and retreat options that keep your primary attacker safe. The bottom line: use Rule of Evil to dictate the flow, then close the game with raw pressure from Slash or a coordinating attack, all while keeping your own Abilities off the field to minimize collateral damage. ⚡🎮
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To explore this card further and fetch more Weavile-inspired lists, you’ll want to keep an eye on Expanded-format trends and the evolving anti-Ability metagame. The combination of accessibility, play value, and collectible appeal makes SM3 Weavile a compelling centerpiece for players and collectors alike. 🎴