Bastiodon Performance Heatmap by Region Reveals Meta

In TCG ·

Bastiodon XY11-70 high-resolution card art from Steam Siege

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Regional Meta Insights: Bastiodon in Focus

When a heavy Metal Pokémon with 150 HP steps into the spotlight, regional heatmaps are quick to reflect its influence on deck-building decisions. Bastiodon, a Stage 1 stalwart that evolves from Shieldon and hails from the Steam Siege set, combines durability with a pair of cunning attacks that reward players who plan several moves ahead. This Rare entry—illustrated by Match—invites players to rethink tempo, damage spread, and bench management as they navigate the evolving meta across tournament regions.

In the heatmaps that track top finishes by region, Bastiodon’s presence is often tied to two core strategic axes: battlefield retention and punishing aggression that targets its hitpoints. With 150 HP, Bastiodon can soak a surprising amount of early aggression, letting you set up Fortress of Rage while your opponent drums up damage. The card’s two attacks—Counter Head and Fortress of Rage—provide a nuanced toolkit for regional play. Let’s unpack how these abilities translate into real-world decisions on the table and why Bastiodon appears in regional rep lists with increasing frequency.

Card snapshot: Bastiodon at a glance

  • Set & rarity: Steam Siege, Rare
  • Type & stage: Metal type, Stage 1 (evolves from Shieldon)
  • HP: 150
  • Attacks:
    • Counter Head (Cost: Colorless, Colorless) — During your opponent's next turn, if Bastiodon is damaged by an attack (even if knocked out), put damage counters on the Attacking Pokémon equal to the damage done to Bastiodon.
    • Fortress of Rage (Cost: Metal, Metal, Colorless, Colorless) — This attack does 100+ damage, and it scales up “for each of your Benched Pokémon that has any damage counters on it.”
  • Weakness: Fire ×2
  • Resistance: Psychic -20
  • Retreat: 4
  • Illustrator: Match

Put simply, Bastiodon asks you to think about the state of your bench. Fortress of Rage rewards you for keeping a handful of damaged benched Pokémon, turning a potential liability into explosive damage output. Counter Head, meanwhile, flips the script on attack-focused aggression, offering a punitive counterplay that can deter reckless trades and tilt the tempo in your favor late in a match.

Mechanics that drive regional strategy

From a gameplay perspective, Bastiodon thrives in metas that valorize stall, board control, and careful resource management. The combination of high HP and a retaliatory Counter Head creates a two-layer defense: soak damage early, then punish the attacker if your opponent tries to push through. Fortress of Rage, meanwhile, scales with the number of damaged benched Pokémon, incentivizing players to curate a well-populated bench and to plan a sequence of attacks that leaves multiple targets damaged but not KO’d. The interaction is delicate: you want enough damaged benched Pokémon to maximize Fortress of Rage, yet you must avoid giving your opponent easy trades that accelerate your loss of momentum. In regional heatmaps, Bastiodon often surfaces in decks that seek to weather the early onslaught and force long-form battles. When the meta rewards endurance over speed, Bastiodon becomes a natural fit. Regions that favor spread damage and control tools can also leverage Bastiodon to punish the opponent’s “all-out” plays, because Counter Head can translate incoming damage into meaningful pressure on the attacker’s setup. The card pool itself supports this approach. The Metal typing gives Bastiodon access to a range of energy acceleration options and defensive partners that can shore up its weaknesses, notably its Fire vulnerability. The retreat cost of 4 suggests a heavier reliance on a stable Switch framework and protective stadiums or tools that reduce the need to retreat under pressure. For collectors and players following the meta, Bastiodon’s presence in heatmaps often signals a shift toward mid- to late-game attrition battles where the player who lines up Fortress of Rage most effectively can close the game in the final ecstatic turns.

Regional heatmap takeaways

Across regions, Bastiodon tends to shine in tournaments where players lean into bench management and timing. In regions with prevalent spread-damage archetypes, Bastiodon can stall the opponent’s build and set up Fortress of Rage for a big payoff once the field has enough damaged bench Pokémon. In contrast, fast, aggressive metas may still challenge Bastiodon, because the attacker’s speed can outpace Bastiodon’s ability to reliably keep a sufficient number of damaged benched targets. That dynamic—speed versus stall—creates a recognizable pulse in regional data, and it’s precisely the kind of trend heatmaps seek to illuminate. ⚡ Anecdotal reports from organizers in Europe and North America highlight Bastiodon’s utility in longer, control-oriented matchups, while APAC regions occasionally showcase Bastiodon as part of hybrid midrange lists that combine steady defense with occasional heavy-hitting finisher turns. The balance of these regional tendencies helps explain why Bastiodon remains a recurring member of “watch” lists in the heatmap analyses and why players continue to experiment with variants of Shieldon’s evolved form. 🔥

Market snapshot and card value context

Market activity around Bastiodon (XY11-70) mirrors its niche position as a steady, late-game power spike rather than a flashy, first-turn winner. Card Market data shows modest non-holo values around EUR 0.05–0.30 in common listings, with holo versions offering a touch more—roughly around EUR 0.2–0.92 depending on condition and listing type. In U.S. markets via TCGPlayer, normal copies sit in the sub-$1 range for casual collectors, with high-end listings and relevant variants reaching up toward a few dollars for well-preserved copies. This pricing snapshot aligns with Bastiodon’s role as a strategic, not a breakout, card that rewards careful deck construction and regional adaptation. 💎 For players plotting a regional travel schedule, this affordability means Bastiodon is a tempting centerpiece for midrange Metal decks that want to survive the long grind and hit a decisive Fortress of Rage crescendo in key rounds. As always, partnering Bastiodon with compatible Metal Pokémon, efficient energy acceleration, and resilient defending strategies will be the recipe that weathered heatmaps most effectively, no matter the region. 🎯 Rugged Phone Case: Impact Resistant Glossy Finish

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