Castform Synergy Analysis Using Card Databases in Pokémon TCG

In TCG ·

Castform from Brilliant Stars card art (swsh9-116)

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Castform and Card Databases: Unpacking Synergy in the Pokémon TCG

In the sprawling landscape of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, synergy often emerges from the simplest corners. Castform, a Basic Colorless Pokémon from the Brilliant Stars era (swsh9-116), epitomizes how a common card can thread together deck-building logic with reliable database insights. With 70 HP and two unobtrusive attacks, this card teaches a valuable lesson: sometimes the strongest plays come from resource flow and card advantage more than raw power. By consulting card databases and market data, players can forecast Castform’s role in Expanded formats and build around its distinctive toolkit. ⚡🔥

Understanding Castform’s Kit

Castform is a straightforward package: a Basic Pokémon of the Colorless type, sporting 70 HP. Its two attacks illustrate a dual-track approach: the first, Double Draw, lets you draw 2 cards for a single Colorless energy—a tiny tempo boost that compounds with every draw engine you run. The second attack, Hurricane, also costs Colorless and deals 30 damage, but its practical value lies in energy management: it moves a basic Energy from Castform to one of your Benched Pokémon. That simple energy shuffle can set up a powerful late-game swing as you power up a stronger attacker on the bench while maintaining pressure on your opponent. The card’s retreat cost is modest at 1, making Castform easy to cycle in and out of the active slot. In terms of format health, Castform carries Regulation Mark F and is Expanded-legal, offering players a window into older, more varied deck ideas even as it remains outside Standard rotations. The set, Brilliant Stars, sits in the swsh9 lineage of the era, contributing to a broad pool of Colorless options with a surprisingly sturdy toolkit for creative builders.

One caveat for builders and collectors: while the data highlights the card’s core stats and attacks, illustrator credits aren’t included in every public dataset snapshot. The community-favored takeaway remains clear—Castform’s strength lies in its tempo and energy choreography rather than raw numbers. The card’s simple silhouette pairs well with the broader card-database habit of evaluating synergy through energy curves, draw efficiency, and bench versatility. For players who love to map a deck’s flow, Castform is a quintessential “connective tissue” piece⚙️🎴.

Deck-building Synergy: Castform as a Draw Engine and Energy Conduit

  • Draw tempo with Double Draw: In a match, Castform acts as a low-commitment draw engine. Every Castform on the bench multiplies your opportunities to refill your hand, dig for key pieces, and smooth out mulligans. When combined with other draw-supporters and consistency tools, you can maintain a healthy pace even in slower turns.
  • Energy choreography with Hurricane: The ability to relocate a basic Energy from Castform to a benched partner lets you stage rapid power spikes without over-committing energy attachments from the hand. This is especially potent when you pivot from a Castform-heavy opening to a sturdier attacker that demands a burst of energy in the early or mid game.
  • Colorless flexibility: As a Colorless type, Castform fits into virtually any deck color scheme. This flexibility makes it a natural anchor for draw-based engines that don’t rely on a single elemental weakness or resistance plan—an invaluable trait for hybrids and rogue strategies.
  • Tempo-rich bench strategies: By shuffling Energy across the board to multiple attackers, you can crescendo into a late-game board state where several threats threaten to overwhelm your opponent in quick succession. Castform’s low attachment cost helps you keep the pace while your heavier hitters ramp up.
  • Format-aware decisions: In Expanded, Castform can slot into older archetypes that reward aggressive draw and energy recycling. Writers and players who track the legal landscape (Regulation Mark F) can design resilient lists that stay within the rulebook while experimenting with energy-based play patterns.

Market and Collectibility Insights

As a Common rarity with a straightforward print run in Brilliant Stars, Castform swsh9-116 tends to be budget-friendly, which makes it a tempting inclusion for both players and collectors alike. Market data from CardMarket shows a low baseline around 0.02–0.03 EUR, with typical midpoints near 0.03 EUR for standard prints. In the US market, TCGPlayer shows a broad spread: normal (non-holo) prints often hover around 0.01–0.10 USD, with market pricing around 0.05 USD on average, and the reverse-holo variants running higher due to holo-foil desirability. It’s not uncommon to see cap prices spike to a few dollars for highly specific listings, but the everyday Castform remains a value-focused pickup. This price profile aligns with its role as a functional, not flashy, support piece in many modern and expanded lists. Collectors will appreciate the card’s place in the Brilliant Stars era—an accessible entry point for players building cohesive draw-and-stabilize decks.

For players, the practical takeaway is that Castform offers a predictable, repeatable engine component. Its two attacks balance card advantage with energy mobility, and its Basic status simplifies integration into diverse lists. Add in the data-backed stability of its market presence, and Castform becomes less about chasing a single combo and more about weaving a reliable thread through your deck’s drawn-out tempo game. It’s a small card with a surprisingly confident voice in the right build—an archetype-matchmaker that helps you connect draw power, energy flow, and bench strategy with clarity and efficiency. 🎨💎

Art, Lore, and the Craft of Data-Driven Deckbuilding

The art and flavor of Castform echo the broader charm of Pokémon’s weather-adapting realm. While this dataset highlights raw numbers—HP, type, stage, and the precise wording of Double Draw and Hurricane—the real story unfolds when you map those numbers to in-game outcomes. Card databases become your translation tool: you see how a 70 HP, Basic Colorless Pokémon can support a hand by two draws per turn, while enabling flexible energy management that makes your bench a living engine. The exercise isn’t just about chasing the bigger attack or rarer card; it’s about understanding how even “low-profile” pieces contribute to a winning rhythm over a tournament set. And if you’re curious about price, you can pivot to market data to decide whether Castform is a playful addition or a budget-friendly staple you can swap in and out across lists. ⚡🎴

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