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| MID | 0.10 | USD | TREND![]() |
| LOW | 0.04 | USD |
Hariyama emerges as a resilient Single Strike fighter with a potentially game-changing survival ability.
This Stage 1 Fighting-type brings a unique defensive mechanic that can create crucial second chances in tight tournament matches, though its offensive capabilities remain straightforward.
Let's analyze how this sumo wrestler Pokémon performs in the competitive arena.
Offensive rating: 5/10Hariyama's offensive capabilities are modest at best.
Its single attack, Hammer In, delivers 100 damage for three energy (one Fighting, two Colorless), which translates to about 33 damage per energy invested.
While this damage output is consistent, it falls short compared to other Fighting-type attackers in the current meta.
The attack lacks any additional effects or bonus damage conditions that could elevate its impact.
As a Single Strike Pokémon, it can benefit from supporting cards like Single Strike Energy or Houndoom, but even with these boosts, Hariyama struggles to reach one-hit KO thresholds against many relevant Pokémon in the competitive scene.
Survival rating: 7/10Survival is where Hariyama truly shines.
Its Guts ability is a potential game-changer, allowing it to survive what would otherwise be a knockout blow with 10 HP remaining on a successful coin flip.
This 50% chance at a second life can completely disrupt an opponent's strategy and tempo.
With a solid 140 HP, Hariyama already has reasonable staying power for a Stage 1 Pokémon.
However, its Psychic weakness is concerning in metas where Psychic attackers are prevalent, and its hefty four-energy retreat cost severely limits its mobility.
Without assistance from switching cards, Hariyama can easily become stranded in the active position.
Versatility rating: 5/10Hariyama offers limited versatility in the competitive landscape.
Its primary strength lies in its Guts ability, which provides a unique defensive mechanism rarely seen in the TCG.
As a Single Strike Pokémon, it gains access to the Single Strike archetype support, though it doesn't maximize these benefits as effectively as dedicated Single Strike attackers.
Its Fighting typing allows it to target popular Dark and Lightning Pokémon for weakness, but its modest damage output often falls short of securing critical knockouts.
Hariyama functions primarily as a defensive wall rather than a versatile competitor, limiting its role flexibility across different matchups and deck archetypes.
Speed/Setup rating: 4/10Hariyama's setup requirements present significant challenges.
As a Stage 1 Pokémon, it requires finding and playing its pre-evolution Makuhita first, adding a layer of inconsistency.
Its three-energy attack cost means it typically needs at least two turns to power up, assuming you attach one energy per turn.
The Single Strike archetype does offer acceleration options like Single Strike Energy and Houndoom, which can help mitigate this issue.
However, Hariyama's prohibitive four-energy retreat cost presents additional setup problems, making Switch, Escape Rope, or similar cards nearly mandatory inclusions.
These combined factors result in a Pokémon that operates too slowly for the current fast-paced meta.
Hariyama benefits most from cards that enhance Single Strike Pokémon while addressing its mobility issues.
Energy acceleration and switching options are essential companions to offset its slow attack charging and high retreat cost.
Cards that can capitalize on the extra turn provided by its Guts ability will maximize Hariyama's defensive potential.
This essential Single Strike engine accelerates energy attachment to Hariyama, reducing the setup time for Hammer In and allowing for more consistent attacking by turn two instead of turn three.
Provides the Fighting energy Hariyama needs while boosting damage by 20, bringing Hammer In to a more competitive 120 damage threshold and improving matchups against popular 120-130 HP Pokémon.
Addresses Hariyama's crippling four-energy retreat cost, providing essential mobility when it becomes stranded in the active position or when you need to retreat after surviving with 10 HP from Guts.
Hariyama carves out a niche as a defensive specialist with its coin-flip survival mechanism, but struggles to justify its inclusion in highly competitive decks due to mediocre offensive output and slow setup requirements.
Its greatest strength—the Guts ability—provides a 50% chance to survive a knockout blow, which can create frustrating scenarios for opponents and potentially swing games in your favor.
However, this advantage comes with significant drawbacks: modest damage output, high energy requirements, and terrible mobility.
To maximize Hariyama's potential, pair it with Single Strike support for acceleration and ensure you have plenty of switching options to overcome its retreat limitations.
While certainly not a top-tier contender, Hariyama could find a place in more casual Single Strike builds or as a surprise tech choice in tournaments where buying an extra turn with Guts could disrupt meta strategies.
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