Image courtesy of TCGdex.net
How Pokédex Entries Shape Hatenna in Pokémon TCG Cards
Pokémon TCG designers often turn to the Pokédex to translate a creature’s personality into game mechanics. In the case of Hatenna, a timid Psychic from the SWSH Black Star Promos line illustrated by Misa Tsutsui, the flavor text and its on-card abilities work in harmony to create a playful, strategic experience. The Pokédex entry—“Via the protrusion on its head, it senses other creatures' emotions. If you don't have a calm disposition, it will never warm up to you.”—becomes a living blueprint for how this card can influence both deck-building decisions and in-game tactics. ⚡🎴
Hatenna’s basic nature translates into a card that invites patient planning and friendly pairing. On the surface, its stats are modest: 60 HP, a single‑type Psychic body, and a pair of colorless attacks that reward thoughtful play rather than raw power. The first attack, “Find a Friend”, is a quintessential flavor of empathy and connection: you search your deck for a Pokémon, reveal it, and add it to your hand. This mirrors the way the Pokédex emphasizes sensing and relationship-building—finding the right partner to share a moment with is the emotional equivalent of assembling a dream team on the battlefield. The second attack, “Psyshot”, delivers a reliable 20 damage for two colorless energies, offering a steady since-turn option that respects Hatenna’s delicate, supportive role rather than brute force. 🔎💎
“Via the protrusion on its head, it senses other creatures' emotions. If you don't have a calm disposition, it will never warm up to you.”
That flavor is echoed in the card’s ecosystem: Hatenna sits at the baseline of a Psychic lineup, which often focuses on manipulation, support, and careful timing. The card’s Basic stage suits new players entering Trainer-focused, mentor-led archetypes while still offering familiar synergy for seasoned collectors who appreciate the subtleties of emotion-as-energy. The evolution path remains in the realm of flavor—this little Pokémon is the high-sensitivity gateway to deeper, more complex Psychic strategies that flourish in the Expanded play environment. The on-card illustration by Misa Tsutsui captures the gentle curiosity that the Pokédex entry promises, and the holo treatment from the SWSH Black Star Promos line adds a glow that makes the emotion-sensing motif feel tangible on the playing field. 🎨🎮
From a design perspective, Hatenna’s weakness to Darkness (×2) and its modest retreat cost of 1 reinforce its role as a tempo-positive support piece rather than a damage sponge. The vulnerability is thematically appropriate: a sensitive Pokémon can be undone by overpowering forces, just as emotions can be overwhelmed by darkness. Its resistance to Fighting (−30) provides a tiny buffer that aligns with its shy, introspective personality—Kudos to the art and rules team for ensuring the card feels cohesive inside the broader TCG ecosystem. The regulation mark D places this card within a specific era of print, and the standard/expanded legality notes confirm that Hatenna remains a popular choice for this expanded‑legal, promo-oriented corner of the game.
In market terms, this promo holo is not a powerhouse rarity, but it holds steady collector interest due to its charming art and accessible price point. Cardmarket data, updated into 2025, shows a Belgian‑to‑European market average around €1.41, with a low of about €0.49 and a rising trend (roughly 1.2x over recent periods). The absence of a TCGPlayer price entry in the snapshot doesn’t dampen the appeal for holo enthusiasts who prize the visual storytelling as much as the gameplay utility. For players chasing a calm, value-focused Psychic core, Hatenna remains a warm, approachable option—the kind of card that rewards patient planning and careful reading of opponents’ emotional tells in the heat of a match. 💎⚡
Designers often look to the Pokédex not just for flavor text, but for a creature’s core habits, habitat, and social behavior. Hatenna’s emphasis on calm disposition and emotional receptivity provides a ready-made narrative cue for future card iterations: a deck‑building hook that rewards likable, soul-reading play styles, and a reminder that sometimes the best strategy is to listen before you act. The illustrated mood of this card—soft holo lighting, gentle coloring, and a subtle aura around the head protrusion—evokes the same aura you’d expect from a mentor guiding a fledgling trainer toward a confident, positive strategy. ⚡🎨
For collectors who love the synergy of lore and gameplay, Hatenna’s card data offers a compact case study. It shows how a single Pokédex entry can influence not only a card’s flavor text but also its card text, typing, and strategic role in a deck. The combination of Psychic type, the two colorless attacks, the calm‑focused flavor, and the holo promo presentation creates a small but memorable package—perfect for players who enjoy storytelling through playstyle as much as through art. If you’re building a supportive Psychic lineup or simply admiring the artistry of Misa Tsutsui, Hatenna is a gentle reminder of how the best Pokémon designs blend emotion and energy into something that’s both playable and collectible. 🎴💫
Custom Rectangular Mouse Pad 9.3x7.8in White Cloth Non-SlipCard data at a glance
- Name: Hatenna
- Set: SWSH Black Star Promos (SWSH040)
- Illustrator: Misa Tsutsui
- Type: Psychic
- Stage: Basic
- HP: 60
- Attacks:
- Find a Friend (Colorless) — Search your deck for a Pokémon, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then, shuffle your deck.
- Psyshot (Colorless, Colorless) — 20 damage
- Weakness: Darkness x2
- Resistance: Fighting -30
- Retreat: 1
- Rarity: None
- Regulation: Expanded legal; Standard not currently legal
- Flavor text: “Via the protrusion on its head, it senses other creatures' emotions. If you don't have a calm disposition, it will never warm up to you.”