CARD INFORMATION

SUBTYPES:
- Basic
- V
HP: 210
TYPES:
- Darkness
RULES:
- V rule: When your Pokémon V is Knocked Out, your opponent takes 2 Prize cards.
WEAKNESSES:
- TYPE: Fighting
- VALUE: ×2
RETREATCOST:
- Colorless
- Colorless
RETREAT COST: 2
RARITY: Rare Holo V
REGULATIONMARK: F

CARD ABILITIES

NAME: Wild Style
DETAILS: This Pokémon's attacks cost Colorless less for each of your opponent's Single Strike, Rapid Strike, and Fusion Strike Pokémon in play.
TYPE: Ability

CARD ATTACKS

NAME: Dynamic Tail
COST:
- Colorless
- Colorless
- Colorless
- Colorless
ENERGY COST: 4
DAMAGE: 190
DETAILS: This attack also does 60 damage to 1 of your Pokémon. (Don't apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.)

MARKET PRICES FOR DRAPION V 💰

Last updated: 2025/10/11

HIGH	20.00	USD
MID	4.30	USD	TREND
LOW	2.73	USD

Check the latest prices on:

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Drapion V emerges as a tactical powerhouse in the current TCG meta, leveraging its unique Wild Style ability to punish opponents running popular Strike archetypes.

This dark-type enforcer offers a compelling mix of high damage output and energy efficiency, though not without some strategic drawbacks that trainers need to navigate carefully.

Offensive rating: 8/10

Drapion V's offensive capability centers around its Dynamic Tail attack, delivering a substantial 190 damage for four colorless energy.

This puts it just shy of OHKO territory against most Pokémon VMAX (with Fighting weakness being a notable exception), and comfortably handles any basic Pokémon V.

The true offensive genius lies in its Wild Style ability, which reduces energy cost based on opponent's Strike Pokémon in play.

Against popular Strike-heavy decks, Drapion can potentially swing for just one or two energy, making its damage-per-energy ratio exceptional.

The 60 self-damage is a significant drawback, but the raw offensive efficiency when properly setup cannot be ignored.

Survival rating: 6/10

With 210 HP, Drapion V offers decent survivability for a basic Pokémon V, though it falls short of tankier VMAX options.

Its Fighting weakness is problematic in a meta where Fighting types like Rapid Strike Urshifu remain relevant threats.

The 60 self-damage from Dynamic Tail further compromises its staying power, creating a significant sustainability issue in extended matches.

A moderate two-energy retreat cost offers reasonable mobility but still requires planning.

Drapion V lacks any inherent healing or damage reduction abilities, making it vulnerable to strategic targeting, especially after it has already used Dynamic Tail once and damaged itself.

Versatility rating: 7/10

Drapion V demonstrates remarkable versatility through its Wild Style ability, which creates natural synergy against Strike decks without requiring specific support cards.

Its colorless energy requirement allows it to fit into various deck types, not just Darkness-focused builds.

However, this versatility becomes significantly limited against non-Strike opponents, where its energy acceleration advantage disappears.

The self-damage mechanic forces strategic positioning decisions about when to attack and when to retreat.

While effective as a specialized counter to popular Strike archetypes, Drapion V loses considerable utility in broader matchups where opponents aren't running Strike Pokémon.

Speed/Setup rating: 7/10

Drapion V's setup speed varies dramatically based on the matchup.

Against Strike-heavy opponents, it can potentially be battle-ready by turn two with minimal energy attachment.

However, against non-Strike decks, the four-energy requirement for Dynamic Tail becomes a significant hurdle, potentially requiring 3-4 turns to fully power up without energy acceleration support.

As a Basic Pokémon, it enjoys immediate playability from hand, eliminating evolution waiting periods.

The card lacks any inherent draw or search mechanics, making it dependent on trainer cards for consistent access.

Its effectiveness is highly matchup-dependent, making it an inconsistent standalone attacker across different tournament scenarios.

Drapion V performs best in decks that can accelerate energy attachment, mitigate self-damage, and capitalize on its Strike-counter mechanics.

Dark patch-style energy acceleration is essential for matches where Wild Style provides minimal benefit.

Switching cards like Switch Cart or Escape Rope help manage the self-damage drawback by rotating damaged Drapion to the bench.

Perfect Partners examples:

Turbo Patch

Accelerates Drapion V's setup against non-Strike matchups by providing crucial energy attachment, bypassing its main weakness when Wild Style isn't providing maximum benefit.

Manaphy

Provides free retreat for benched Pokémon, allowing damaged Drapion V to cycle to the bench without retreat cost after using Dynamic Tail, creating a more sustainable attack rotation.

Path to the Peak

Shuts down Pokémon with Rule Box abilities, creating advantageous matchups against decks that rely heavily on abilities while Drapion V continues functioning through its attack-focused strategy.

Drapion V stands as a specialized meta counter that excels specifically against Strike archetypes, where its Wild Style ability transforms it into an energy-efficient powerhouse.

The 190 damage output can handle most threats in the format, though the self-damage mechanic requires careful management through proper bench support and switching strategies.

For tournament play, Drapion V works best as a tech attacker rather than a primary strategy, ready to punish opponents heavily invested in Strike mechanics while providing reasonable value against other matchups through raw damage output.

The card's effectiveness scales directly with the prevalence of Strike Pokémon in the current meta, making it a calculated inclusion rather than an automatic staple.

Players should pair Drapion with energy acceleration and recovery options to mitigate its weaknesses and maximize its disruptive potential against the right opponents.