When to Play Yveltal-EX for Maximum Damage in Roaring Skies

Yveltal EX card art from XY Black Star Promos illustrated by Eske Yoshinob

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Maximizing Damage with Yveltal-EX in the Roaring Skies era

In the sprawling dance of energy and timing that defined the Roaring Skies block, Yveltal-EX carved out a niche as a surprise damage engine. This Darkness-type powerhouse packs a hefty 170 HP and a pair of attacks that reward careful energy management and smart risk-taking. For players chasing big numbers, the key lies in understanding Evil Ball’s scaling and leveraging Y Cyclone to shape the game state just enough to push damage toward the ceiling while keeping a plan B in your back pocket.

Card snapshot

Name: Yveltal EX
Set: XY Black Star Promos
Rarity: None
Dex ID: 717
HP: 170
Type: Darkness
Attacks: Evil Ball (cost: Darkness, Colorless) — 20+ damage times the total Energy attached to both Active Pokémon; Y Cyclone (cost: Darkness, Colorless, Colorless) — 90 damage, moves an Energy from Yveltal EX to one of your Benched Pokémon
Weakness: Lightning ×2
Resistance: Fighting −20
Retreat: 2
Illustrator: Eske Yoshinob
Legal (format): Expanded

Understanding Evil Ball: how big can the damage really get?

At its core, Evil Ball is a deceptively simple formula: base 20 damage plus 20 for every Energy attached to both Active Pokémon. That means the total damage you unleash scales with how much energy sits on your Active as well as how much energy your opponent has on theirs. If your Active Pokémon has, say, two Energy cards attached and your opponent’s Active also carries two Energy, Evil Ball looks like 20 + (20 × 4) = 100 damage on the first hit. If only you have Energy attached, a two-energy total yields 60 damage. The math rewards you for efficient energy distribution and for pressuring your opponent into energy decisions that tilt the total Energy in play toward your expectations.

In practice, this translates to a few reliable trajectories. Early in the game, you might settle for a safer 60–80 damage line as you build toward a big payoff in later turns. But if the battlefield cooperates—your opponent lacks a strong bench, or you manage to pin a higher energy total on both actives—you can swing into the three-figure range with a well-timed Evil Ball. The trick is not to chase absurd numbers every turn, but to engineer a sequence where the next Evil Ball lands with maximum possible total Energy on both sides.

Y Cyclone: turning a move into momentum

Y Cyclone adds a strategic twist to the plan. By moving Energy from Yveltal EX to a Benched Pokémon, you can accelerate the long-term damage ladder. This attack doesn’t deal a lot of punch by itself (90 damage), but it reshapes the board state. Moving Energy off the active allows you to reallocate energy in subsequent turns—either to keep Evil Ball’s scaling climbing as you stage a late-game push, or to prepare a luxury setup where a few heavy-energy turns culminate in a one-two punch that can overwhelm your opponent before they draw into an answer.

For maximum effect, pair Y Cyclone with deliberate energy attachment timing. A common approach is to keep a reserve of basic Darkness Energy in hand or at the ready to attach on the following turn, so you can push Evil Ball’s scaling to its ceiling once you’ve cycled a portion of your energy onto the bench. The move can also disrupt an opponent’s plan by forcing Energy choices that slow their own heavy hitters down just long enough for you to land a decisive Evil Ball.

Strategic timing: when to unleash and when to pivot

The sweet spot for Yveltal EX often arrives when you can balance a healthy energy total on both actives without overexposing your own board. If you suspect your opponent is primed to deliver a powerful follow-up, you might delay a big Evil Ball and instead use Y Cyclone to position energy for a later burst. Conversely, if you see an opening—perhaps the opponent has a low-energy Benched Pokémon or you’ve cornered their Active with a high-energy setup—you can press the Evil Ball trigger now, accepting a big payoff but leaving yourself with fewer resources for the immediate next turn.

Remember the matchup realities: the Lightning weakness makes Lightning-based decks a real threat, so plan your damage windows with awareness of what your opponent might be stacking. The resistance to Fighting helps you weather some counterpunches in the right boards, giving you a bit more latitude to stage that decisive Evil Ball finish when the timing is right.

Energy management and a compact toolbox

Because the Heel-ball-like scaling rests on Energy on both actives, your deck-building should emphasize consistent Energy acceleration and reliable energy cycling. Think about how you can attach, retreat, and reposition energy across turns without stalling your engine. The 170 HP pool gives Yveltal EX staying power, so you can weather early exchanges while you set up the damage ladder. The combination of a potent first attack and a tactical retreat-or-redistribution option makes this card a flexible centerpiece in Expanded rosters that lean on tempo and disruption as much as raw power.

As a collectible, Yveltal EX sits in a unique spot. The XY Black Star Promos line includes several cards with holo and reverse variants, and the Eske Yoshinob artwork is often celebrated for its stark, dark sheen that captures the character’s ominous aura. From a market perspective, the CardMarket data snapshot around late 2025 shows an average price near €4.24 with modest volatility; the holo variants, when present, can influence price differently depending on demand and supply in your region. This is not a high-flying chase card, but it remains a rewarding piece for players who value a strategic centerpiece with a satisfying damage ceiling and a strong look on the table.

Collector and player alike can appreciate the synergy between the card’s design and its role in a deck that wants to surprise opponents with big Evil Ball bursts. The dynamic of moving energy with Y Cyclone, combined with the raw bulk of 170 HP, gives Yveltal EX a memorable place in the era’s toolkit—one that rewards thoughtful planning and a willingness to adapt to whatever your opponent presents.

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