Image courtesy of TCGdex.net
Heliolisk Spotlight: Cards Illustrated by Sumiyoshi Kizuki
When you crack open a Team Up booster, Sumiyoshi Kizuki’s artwork for Heliolisk leaps out with electric swagger. This Lightning-type Stage 1 Pokémon evolves from Helioptile and anchors a fast, tempo-forward playstyle that rewards clever energy management and tactical positioning. The vivid energy of the illustration—sun-drenched hues, dynamic lines, and a confident stance—echoes the card’s on-table versatility, making it a fan-favorite among both collectors and duelists.
Card at a glance
- Set: Team Up (SM9) — 50/181
- Rarity: Uncommon
- Type: Lightning
- HP: 100
- Stage: Stage 1 (evolves from Helioptile)
- Illustrator: Sumiyoshi Kizuki
- Attacks:
- Random Spark — This attack does 30 damage to 1 of your opponent’s Pokémon. (Don’t apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokémon.)
- Volt Switch — Cost: Lightning, Colorless, Colorless. 90 damage. Effect: Switch this Pokémon with 1 of your Benched Lightning Pokémon.
- Weakness: Fighting ×2
- Resistance: Metal −20
- Retreat Cost: 1
- Legal in formats: Expanded only (Standard is not legal)
“Sumiyoshi Kizuki captures Heliolisk’s crackling confidence—the art feels like a spark ready to leap from the card into your hand.” ⚡
In gameplay, this Heliolisk embodies tempo and resilience. Random Spark serves as early-game pressure, letting you chip away at your opponent’s key threats while maintaining reach across the board. The clause about not applying Weakness and Resistance to Benched Pokémon is not just flavor—it’s a practical reminder of how this card plays with the evolving board state. You’re nudging opponents toward decisions, forcing them to react rather than simply roll over a passive attacker.
Volt Switch is the real engine behind Heliolisk’s board presence. A 90-damage payoff paired with the ability to swap into another Lightning Pokémon on your bench gives you a powerful, low-commitment way to preserve momentum. The energy cost—one Lightning and two Colorless—pushes you toward an energy-efficient deck design that can chain attacks while keeping pressure on the opponent’s board. Think of Heliolisk as a bridge-builder: you advance with calculated damage and then pivot to a fresher attacker when circumstances demand it. The result is a flexible, midrange platform that scales into the mid-game rather than folding to a single KO swing.
From a broader strategic lens, Heliolisk from Team Up shines when paired with compatible Lightning supporters and electric synergy across the deck. The expanded format opens doors to a larger pool of tools—energy acceleration, draw, and help with target selection—allowing you to maximize Random Spark’s utility and Volt Switch’s tempo. The combination of a solid HP pool (100) and a respectable 90-damage finisher means you can contest early control while you ramp into stronger threats. In practice, you’ll often see this Heliolisk used to pressure a format’s crowded board, forcing your opponent to split their resources and opening lanes for follow-up attackers.
Collectors will note Sumiyoshi Kizuki’s signature style in this piece: bold contrasts, kinetic motion, and a glow that hints at the electricity humming just beneath the surface. The Team Up set features a few holo variants—normal, reverse, and holo versions—each offering different appeal. The Uncommon rarity keeps the base copy affordable for players building a lean Lightning lineup, while holo copies remain a coveted display piece for collectors chasing that radiant, on-card presence. Market data around late 2025 places non-holo copies in the few-cent range in many regions, with holo variants typically climbing higher in value, reflecting both play demand and aesthetic desirability.
For players who love the tactile thrill of a well-timed Volt Switch, Heliolisk’s card art and gameplay loop come together as a memorable package. It’s not just about raw damage; it’s about the dance of energy, positioning, and timing—the kind of subtle complexity that makes the Pokémon TCG feel like a living, breathing game rather than a static collection of numbers. The card’s 100 HP stands as a sturdy baseline for a Stage 1, but what truly elevates it is the strategic latitude afforded by its two distinct attacks and the option to pivot into a fresh Electric attacker when the moment calls for it. ⚡🔥
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