CARD INFORMATION

SUBTYPES:
- Basic
HP: 60
TYPES:
- Fire
EVOLVES TO:
- Quilava
WEAKNESSES:
- TYPE: Water
- VALUE: ×2
RETREATCOST:
- Colorless
RETREAT COST: 1
RARITY: Promo
FLAVOR TEXT: Hails from the Johto region. Though usually curled into a ball due to its timid disposition, it harbors tremendous firepower.
REGULATIONMARK: F

CARD ABILITIES

This card has no abilities

CARD ATTACKS

NAME: Charge Energy
COST:
- Colorless
ENERGY COST: 1
DAMAGE:
DETAILS: Search your deck for up to 2 basic Energy cards, reveal them, and put them into your hand. Then, shuffle your deck.

NAME: Live Coal
COST:
- Colorless
ENERGY COST: 1
DAMAGE: 10
DETAILS:

MARKET PRICES FOR CYNDAQUIL 💰

Last updated: 2025/10/11

HIGH	1.74	USD
MID	0.48	USD	TREND
LOW	0.13	USD

Check the latest prices on:

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Cyndaquil, the timid Fire-type starter from Johto, makes its appearance in the SWSH Black Star Promos with a focus on energy acceleration rather than raw power.

This Basic Pokémon may seem unassuming with its 60 HP, but its utility in setting up more powerful evolutions deserves a closer look for competitive players building Fire-type strategies.

Offensive rating: 2/10

Cyndaquil's offensive capabilities are extremely limited, offering just a single damage-dealing attack.

Live Coal delivers a meager 10 damage for a single Colorless energy, making it one of the weakest attacking options available.

While the energy efficiency is technically good (10 damage per energy), the low damage ceiling means Cyndaquil will rarely secure knockouts on its own.

The card lacks any bonus effects that might enhance damage output or apply special conditions.

Its true value lies not in dealing damage but in its supporting role through the Charge Energy attack, which indirectly contributes to offensive setup rather than direct damage.

Survival rating: 3/10

With just 60 HP, Cyndaquil sits at the lower end of the durability spectrum, making it highly vulnerable to being knocked out in a single hit by most competitive attackers.

Its Water weakness further compromises its survival against popular Water-type Pokémon, effectively halving its already minimal HP in those matchups.

The single Colorless retreat cost is a silver lining, offering reasonable mobility when needed.

Cyndaquil lacks any defensive abilities, protective effects, or healing options to extend its longevity on the field.

In the current meta, where even support Pokémon need reasonable bulk to withstand attacks, Cyndaquil falls notably short.

Versatility rating: 7/10

Cyndaquil shines in versatility despite its offensive and defensive shortcomings.

Its Charge Energy attack allows you to search for two basic Energy cards and add them to your hand, providing valuable consistency and resource management.

This ability to thin the deck while gathering specific resources makes Cyndaquil useful across various Fire-type strategies.

The attack requiring only a single Colorless energy means it can be activated with any energy type, further enhancing its flexibility.

Additionally, as the first stage in an evolution line, Cyndaquil serves as the foundation for potentially more powerful Quilava and Typhlosion cards, giving it inherent versatility as part of a larger strategic package.

Speed/Setup rating: 8/10

Cyndaquil scores impressively in the setup category due to its Charge Energy attack, which accelerates energy attachment rates by fetching two basic Energy cards from your deck.

This ability to search and secure energy resources is invaluable for preparing evolutions or other attackers.

Being a Basic Pokémon, Cyndaquil can be played immediately without prerequisites, giving it excellent first-turn potential.

The single Colorless energy requirement for both attacks means it can become operational on turn one with minimal investment.

While not directly searchable through specific Pokémon support, it benefits from standard Basic Pokémon search options like Quick Ball and Nest Ball, ensuring consistent access early in the game.

Cyndaquil thrives in decks focused on its evolution line or as energy acceleration support for powerful Fire-type attackers.

Pairing it with cards that protect Basic Pokémon or accelerate evolution can maximize its utility while minimizing its vulnerability window.

Energy retrieval effects complement its Charge Energy ability, creating a robust energy management engine.

Perfect Partners examples:

Rare Candy

Allows you to skip directly from Cyndaquil to Typhlosion, reducing the time your vulnerable Basic spends exposed on the field while still benefiting from its energy acceleration before evolving.

Welder

Creates a powerful energy acceleration engine when combined with Cyndaquil. Use Charge Energy to fetch Fire energy cards, then play Welder to immediately attach them while drawing additional cards.

Heat Factory Prism Star

Synergizes perfectly with Cyndaquil by allowing you to discard excess Fire energy (perhaps those gathered via Charge Energy) to draw more cards, improving consistency while setting up more powerful Fire attackers.

Cyndaquil from the SWSH Black Star Promos represents a classic support Pokémon that sacrifices immediate power for long-term strategic advantage.

Its greatest strengths lie in energy acceleration and evolution potential rather than standalone performance.

In competitive play, Cyndaquil functions best as an early-game setup piece that transitions into more powerful evolutions or paves the way for stronger attackers by securing crucial energy resources.

Smart players will leverage its Charge Energy attack on the first turn before evolving or pivoting to a stronger attacker.

Despite its fragility and minimal offensive output, Cyndaquil earns its place in Fire-type strategies through its ability to improve consistency and resource management.

Consider it not for what it can do alone, but for how it enables your deck's engine to run more smoothly on the path to victory.