Analyzing Hydreigon C Usage Stats Across Pokémon TCG Sets

Hydreigon C promo card image from SWSH Black Star Promos

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Tracking Hydreigon C’s Usage Across Sets: A Deep Dive into Stats, Strategy, and Collectibility

In the Pokémon TCG ecosystem, promo cards often fly beneath the radar of meta-defining cards—until a surge in regional tournaments and online decklists exposes their hidden potential. Hydreigon C from the SWSH Black Star Promos is a prime example of a card that rewards careful data collection and nuanced play. With 110 HP, a fairly straightforward Bite attack, and a heavier-hitter Berserker Blade that also dents two benched Pokémon, this Darkness-type Basic disrupts traditional expectations for promo power. By tracing its appearances across sets and formats, we can extract meaningful insights about why some cards become reliable picks for certain archetypes, while others remain curiosities in collectors’ binders. ⚡🔥

Card basics at a glance

Card name: Hydreigon C
Set: SWSH Black Star Promos (promo designation)
HP: 110
Type: Darkness
Stage: Basic
Attacks:
- Bite — cost: Colorless, Colorless; damage: 30
- Berserker Blade — cost: Darkness, Darkness, Colorless; damage: 100; effect: This attack also does 20 damage to 2 of your opponent's Benched Pokémon. (Don't apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.)
Retreat: 2
Rarity: None (promo)
Illustrator: not listed in the provided data
Legal in formats: Expanded only (Standard not legal for this card in the provided data)

For collectors and strategists, the absence of a typical rarity tag on a promo card doesn’t mean absence of value. Hydreigon C’s Berserker Blade is its calling card: a high-damage, bench-hitting tool that can swing games when timed correctly. Its balanced energy costs make it a candidate for merged Darkness-focused decks or pivot strategies that leverage heavy hitters late in the game. The card’s promo nature often means fewer print runs and more limited availability—an important factor when tracking market trends alongside gameplay viability. 🎴🎨

How Hydreigon C fits into deck-building philosophies

Strategically, Berserker Blade presents a clear decision point: commit two Darkness energies and a Colorless to threaten a knockout on a single target, while also pressuring the opponent’s board by distributing 20 damage to two benched Pokémon. This design encourages players to consider bench management as part of their offensive plan. When you couple Hydreigon C with cards that accelerate Darkness-energy attachments or protect the active attacker, the payoff becomes tangible even in Expanded play where a wider card pool is available. The Bite attack, while modest at 30 damage for a low-energy cost, serves as a reliable opener or finisher in games where you want to maintain pressure without expending Berserker Blade every turn. 🪄

From a meta-analysis perspective, you’ll want to map Hydreigon C’s appearance against sets that feature compatible Darkness support and common bench-based knockouts. In expanded formats, the card can slot into aggressive or midrange lines that prize board control and punishing final blows. Decks that lean on heavy hitters or fast knockouts can leverage Hydreigon C as a midgame closer, transitioning into Berserker Blade to seal wins while the opponent recovers. The critical nuance is recognizing when the board state supports a risky, high-damage swing versus when Bite or a retreat is the smarter play to avoid giving up tempo. ⚡🔥

Tracking usage across multiple sets: methodology and what to watch

To understand Hydreigon C’s trajectory, you’ll want a data-driven approach that captures appearance frequency, deck archetype fit, and matchup outcomes across Expanded events and online ladder records. Key steps include:

Data source consolidation: gather decklists from official events, community databases, and tournament coverage that include promo cards from SWSH Black Star Promos.
Normalization: account for the card’s availability window (set timing, print runs, and reprint cycles) to compare “opportunity” across eras.
Contextual metrics: track how often Hydreigon C is paired with other Darkness engines, how frequently Berserker Blade ends a game, and the typical energy attachment rates required to reach the 100-damage threshold.
Bench-damage utility: measure how often players exploit the 20-damage-to-benched-Pokémon clause, and whether that pressure correlates with opponent bench-area vulnerability or retreat costs.

Because Hydreigon C lives in the Expanded space, its statistical footprint will typically reflect how widely players incorporate Broad Support in that format rather than a single dominant deck. As new promo variants surface or reprints shift availability, fans can expect a subtle reshaping of its usage footprint. And for data enthusiasts, the card’s explicit “20 damage to 2 Benched Pokémon” clause is a great anchor for benchmarking how players value bench pressure as a strategic lever in deck construction. 💎🎮

Collector insights: scarcity, promos, and long-term value

The absence of a traditional rarity in Hydreigon C signals its promotional nature, which often translates to fewer print runs and tighter supply in market listings. Collectors who chase expansion-era promos know that print runs can vary by distributor and region, so availability can be highly cyclical. That reality makes Hydreigon C a compelling subject for long-term value tracking, especially for players who want a unique, non-meta card for display or niche decks. In practice, scarcity paired with a useful ability and expanded-legal status can yield steady interest, even when the card isn’t a staple in competition. Always verify the card’s condition and provenance when evaluating price trends and potential investment. 🔥

Market value trends and practical guidance

When analyzing any promo card’s market trajectory, consider both playability in Expanded and collectability. Hydreigon C’s aggressive strike power sits behind a two-energy requirement for Berserker Blade, which means it’s not a low-cost finisher—yet it can be a game-deciding pivot when the board state favors a high-impact swing. In markets with a robust Expanded community, promo cards like Hydreigon C can see price movements tied to deck-building trends, new supportive promos, and the ebb and flow of tournament results. For players who prefer a hybrid approach, Hydreigon C serves as a showcase piece that’s fun to pilot in casual play while offering a data point for how promo cards perform outside standard competitive pressure. ⚡💎

As you assemble your collection or refine your deck, the synergy between Hydreigon C’s raw stats and its strategic execution becomes a narrative worth following. The card’s design invites thoughtful energy management and bold bench-targeting decisions, a reminder that every card in Expanded has a story to tell if we track how it’s used across sets and communities. 🎴🎨

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