Banette
Chilling Reign (CRE 063)

Banette (Chilling Reign 63/198) is a Stage 1 Psychic-type Pokémon card from the Chilling Reign expansion of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. With 80 HP, a single Colorless retreat cost, and two distinct attacks—Resolute Spite and Eerie Light—this card brings unique tactical possibilities to any deck focused on disruption and calculated risk-taking.

Overview: Banette at a Glance

Banette evolves from Shuppet and sits comfortably as a Rare card within its set. Its Psychic typing allows it to fit into a variety of decks that leverage damage manipulation, status effects, and surprise knockouts. While its 80 HP is modest for a Stage 1 Pokémon, its attacks offer both offensive potential and strategic disruption. The card’s Single Strike subtype further expands its synergy options, particularly for players who enjoy aggressive playstyles.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths

• Flexible Attacks: "Resolute Spite" lets you place up to seven damage counters on Banette, dealing 20 damage per counter placed. This means you can scale your attack based on the situation, potentially hitting for a massive 140 damage with just a single Psychic Energy.
• Status Disruption: "Eerie Light" not only deals a solid 50 damage for two Energy but also Confuses your opponent’s Active Pokémon, forcing tough decisions and possibly stalling their strategy.
• Low Retreat Cost: With a single Colorless retreat, Banette can be moved out of harm’s way without much investment, keeping your board flexible.
• Resistance to Fighting: The -30 resistance to Fighting-types gives Banette more staying power against common threats in the meta.
• Single Strike Synergy: As part of the Single Strike family, Banette benefits from cards and strategies that enhance Single Strike Pokémon, opening doors to powerful combos.

Weaknesses

• Low HP: 80 HP leaves Banette vulnerable to most attacks, especially after using Resolute Spite. Strategic timing is crucial.
• Darkness Weakness: A x2 weakness to Darkness-types can result in quick knockouts by popular attackers in the current format.
• Self-Damage Risk: Placing damage counters on itself with Resolute Spite makes Banette a high-risk attacker, requiring careful planning and support.
• Lack of Ability: Without an ability, Banette relies solely on its attacks and synergy with other cards, limiting its versatility compared to some competitors.

When to Use Banette: Optimal Scenarios

Banette shines brightest in decks designed to capitalize on sudden bursts of damage and disruption. If you’re facing opponents who rely on setting up evolving Pokémon or who have trouble dealing with Confusion, Banette can stall and punish them effectively. Its greatest strength is the ability to control how much damage you deal with Resolute Spite, making it ideal for finishing off wounded Pokémon or taking surprise knockouts on key targets.

In matchups where your opponent lacks reliable switching options or healing, the Confusion from Eerie Light becomes a valuable tool, buying you extra turns or forcing misplays. Banette is also useful in Single Strike builds, where boosting its attack or recovering it from the discard pile can lead to unexpected swings in momentum.

When to Avoid Banette: Potential Pitfalls

Banette’s low HP means it struggles against decks that can snipe the bench or hit for wide spread damage. Against Darkness-heavy decks, its weakness makes it a risky choice unless you have techs to mitigate this disadvantage. Additionally, if your deck lacks ways to heal or recycle Pokémon, Banette’s self-damaging attack can become a liability, leading to easy prize cards for your opponent.

If your local meta features many fast attackers or decks that consistently hit for 80+ damage, Banette may not survive long enough to justify its inclusion. It’s best reserved for decks that can protect it, accelerate Psychic Energy, or otherwise turn its drawbacks into advantages.

Why Add Banette to Your Deck?

The main appeal of Banette lies in its flexibility and element of surprise. The card offers:

• High Burst Damage: Few Stage 1 Pokémon can deal 140 damage for a single Energy attachment, even at the cost of self-damage.
• Status Utility: Confusing the opponent’s Active Pokémon can disrupt their plans and buy you critical turns.
• Single Strike Support: If you’re building around Single Strike mechanics, Banette fits seamlessly and can benefit from various buffs and recovery options.
• Psychic-Type Coverage: Psychic decks often struggle with certain matchups; Banette’s damage scaling and status effect can help cover those gaps.

For collectors, Banette’s rare status and unique artwork from the Chilling Reign set make it a desirable addition, especially for fans of Ghost-type Pokémon or those seeking to complete the set.

Market Value and Collector Appeal

In terms of quality-to-price ratio, Banette offers excellent value for players looking to experiment with creative strategies without breaking the bank. Its rarity ensures it holds steady collector interest, particularly among those who appreciate Chilling Reign’s thematic focus on spectral and eerie Pokémon. While not the most expensive card, its utility in niche decks and appeal to collectors keep demand healthy.

If you’re aiming to build a comprehensive Chilling Reign collection or simply love the design and lore behind Banette, this card is a must-have. Its role in the meta might be specialized, but its collectibility remains strong due to its status and art.

Strategic Play: Tips and Adaptation

• Timing is Everything: Use Resolute Spite when you’re confident Banette won’t be knocked out immediately after. Ideally, use it to finish off an opponent’s Pokémon or to take a critical prize card.
• Leverage Confusion: Deploy Eerie Light against decks that lack consistent switching or healing. Confusion can force your opponent into awkward choices, sometimes causing them to waste resources or risk failed attacks.
• Support with Healing: Consider pairing Banette with cards that can heal or move damage counters off it after using Resolute Spite. This prolongs Banette’s lifespan and keeps its threat level high.
• Single Strike Synergy: Take advantage of trainers and supporters that boost Single Strike Pokémon. These can increase Banette’s damage output or recover it from the discard pile for repeated use.
• Bench Management: Keep Banette off the field until you’re ready to strike. Use it as a late-game sweeper or to counter specific threats once your opponent has committed resources elsewhere.

Adapting Banette’s use depending on your opponent is crucial. Against slow, evolving decks, pressure them early with Confusion. Against heavy hitters, wait for the right moment to strike with Resolute Spite, ideally when you can secure a knockout and minimize the risk of retaliation.

Deck Synergies and Archetype Compatibility

Banette works best in decks that can support its unique playstyle. In Single Strike builds, it can serve as a surprise attacker, especially when combined with cards that recover Single Strike Pokémon or accelerate Psychic Energy. It also fits well into Psychic toolboxes that focus on spreading damage and disrupting the opponent’s setup.

Consider decks that manipulate damage counters or benefit from having Pokémon with damage on them. Banette’s self-damage can be leveraged with healing or transfer effects, turning a potential weakness into an advantage. It’s also effective in control strategies that aim to disrupt the opponent’s tempo with status conditions and unpredictable damage spikes.

Conclusion: Is Banette Right for You?

Banette from Chilling Reign is a dynamic and intriguing option for both competitive players and collectors. Its combination of scalable damage, disruptive Confusion, and Single Strike synergy allows for creative deck-building and tactical play. While its low HP and self-damaging attack require careful management, the payoff can be significant in the right hands.

If you enjoy decks that reward smart timing, risk-taking, and disruption, Banette deserves a spot in your collection or your next Psychic or Single Strike deck. For collectors, its rarity and distinct artwork make it a standout piece from the Chilling Reign expansion. Whether you’re playing to win or collecting for passion, Banette offers value, excitement, and plenty of room for strategic innovation.