Why Galarian Yamask Has Unique Stats in Pokémon TCG

In TCG ·

Galarian Yamask card art (Rebel Clash swsh2-101) by Akira Komayama

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

How the Rebel Clash Basic Yamask Earned Its Signature Stats

Galarian Yamask stands out not just for its haunting lore—the clay slab that possesses a Yamask’s dark power—but for a stat line that invites thoughtful play. In the Pokémon Trading Card Game, a basic Pokémon with 70 HP, a two-colorless retreat cost, and a single attack that punishes the user creates a distinctive risk-versus-reward calculus. This design helps players explore tempo, position, and resource management in early-game matchups, while also delivering a memorable flavor moment that resonates with fans of the Galar region's eerie folklore. ⚡🔥

First, the HP at 70 is telling. It’s sturdy enough to threaten early game progress but not so bulky that Yamask becomes a safe tank. The decision aligns with its flavor: a vengeful spirit tethered to a cursed slab is not built to withstand every blow, but it is meant to press your opponent on turn after turn, pressuring them to answer and react. The basic stage keeps things accessible and deepens the tactile decision-making for new players who are building their first Rebel Clash decks as well as seasoned collectors who relish clever stat distribution.

Then there’s the attack—Reckless Charge—costing two Colorless energy and dealing 50 damage, with the risky side effect of 30 damage to Yamask itself. This is a real design moment. The energy cost is intentionally light, enabling aggressive opening plays, but the self-inflicted damage peppers the tempo with a caution flag. The designer team wanted players to weigh dropping Yamask early to pressure an opponent’s bench and board state versus keeping Yamask safe to trade later. It’s a teaching tool as much as a mechanic, encouraging careful sequencing, retreat planning, and timing with bench management. The visual and mechanical pairing makes it a memorable tool for players exploring reach and risk. 🎴🎨

The weaknesses and retreat cost further shape strategy. A ×2 weakness to Grass means you’ll want to temper aggression against Grass-heavy lines, or pair Yamask with other Pokémon that can punish or shift the battle tempo. A retreat cost of 2 isn’t prohibitive, but it dissuades reckless side transitions—learn to slide Yamask into a favorable spot while keeping a plan for switching into a more synergistic attacker. This combination of vulnerability and mobility mirrors the folklore of Yamask: nimble enough to haunt, yet susceptible to the right counterforces. 🧭

Designers aimed for a stat spread that rewards thoughtful play, not brute force: a lean HP pool, a quick-but-risky attack, and measures that incentivize careful deck construction and battlefield positioning.

From a collector’s perspective, this card’s status as a Common rarity within Rebel Clash makes it an appealing entry point for new hobbyists. Its abundance helps players assemble small, budget-friendly decks, while still offering a striking card art scene by Akira Komayama that fans adore. The visual style—an almost carved-in-clay aesthetic paired with a stark color palette—conveys Galar’s eerie charm as well as any holo could, even when the card lacks foil. The result is a staple that sits comfortably on a display shelf or in a casual binder, elevating any Yamask-focused set with its distinctive silhouette and lore. 💎🎴

Stat-by-stat: decoding the numbers

  • HP 70 balances durability with risk. Yamask can weather early hits but isn’t a brute who overwhelms opponents, inviting tactical engagements rather than brute-force brawls.
  • Attack: Reckless Charge (Colorless, Colorless) for 50 with a self-hit of 30. The energy cost is generous enough to spark aggressive starts, yet the self-damage nudges players toward deliberate plays and, occasionally, sacrificial tempo to draw into a more reliable follow-up attacker.
  • Attack cost and timing encourage bench management. You’ll want to think about which Pokemon on your bench can weather a counterattack or set up a favorable trade in the next turn.
  • Weakness: Grass ×2 nudges you to respect the broader metagame: Grass types loom large in many decks, so Yamask’s window to capitalize may be shorter in certain matchups.
  • Retreat: 2 makes it feasible to switch into a more suitable attacker, yet it’s not a no-brainer; you’ll need to allocate energy and decide when Yamask is best kept in place to threaten a comeback with the right support card.
  • Rarity: Common and Stage: Basic make it a friendly building block for casual players, while still offering a flavor-driven pulse for collectors who want to chronicle each variant from Rebel Clash.
  • Illustrator: Akira Komayama lends the piece a tactile, clay-slab vibe that harmonizes with the card’s lore—an important reminder that gameplay and storytelling often walk hand in hand. 🖌️
  • Flavor and evolution hint at Runerigus and deeper lore, but on this card there is no evolution line, reinforcing Yamask’s autonomous, haunting presence within a standard basic slot. The “cursed slab” is a narrative chef-d’oeuvre that translates into a purposeful but non-evolving mechanical footprint.

When you pair the tactical notes with the broader Rebel Clash ecosystem, you can see why the designers didn’t chase maximal stats for Yamask. The region’s vibe—an unsettled, haunted frontier—calls for cards that reward thoughtful sequencing, deck-building curiosity, and the thrill of landing pressure plays without turning every matchup into a coin-flip grind. The result is a card that feels both accessible to newcomers and deeply satisfying to seasoned players who enjoy creative risk management. ⚡🔥

Market and collector insights

From a market perspective, Galarian Yamask sits in a comfortable budget range. CardMarket data as of late 2025 shows an average around 0.07 EUR for the non-holo basic, with typical lows near 0.02 EUR and occasional spikes to around 0.08–0.10 EUR as print runs cycle. The holo and reverse-holo variants tend to fetch a bit more, with average holo values hovering around 0.20 EUR and direct low prices around 0.08–0.09 EUR for the common versions—still very accessible for new collectors entering the Rebel Clash era. In USD terms via TCGPlayer, the normal version often lands between a few cents and a few dimes, with the potential for higher prices on the rare occasions a specific print appears in a commemorative set or a promotional release. These numbers reflect the card’s enduring role as a budget-friendly staple rather than a chase piece, while still capturing the excitement of completing a Galarian Yamask line for fans. 📈💬

Collectors also appreciate the art and lore, which deepen the card’s appeal. Akira Komayama’s illustration, paired with the “clay slab” storytelling, elevates a straightforward basic into a talking point at local meetups and online showcases. Even as market values stay gentle, the card’s narrative resonance and playability ensure it remains a familiar favorite on binder pages and price sheets alike. The journey from casual play to thoughtful collection feels natural with a design this measured and thematically redolent. 🎨🎮

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Connecting play, art, and value

Galarian Yamask’s unique stats demonstrate how design teams balance mechanical clarity with thematic depth. The card encourages a precise approach to early-game tempo while inviting players to engage with the lore of a cursed clay slab that houses a restless spirit. Its modest price point makes it a natural entry for new players who want to explore the Rebel Clash set’s darker corners, while its artistic pedigree and compact, clever functionality hold appeal for collectors who value both storytelling and a strong, consistent mechanical identity. This is a card that speaks to the heart of Pokémon TCG design: give players a memorable character, a thoughtful risk profile, and a clear path to mastery—no matter where they are on their journey. 💎🎴

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