Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Influencer Reactions: Octillery in the Pokémon TCG Arena

In the ever-evolving world of Pokémon TCG, influencer takes can swing unknown cards into fan favorites overnight. Octillery, a Water-type Stage 1 from the SWSH Black Star Promos, is a perfect case study. With 110 HP, a sharp-looking holo finish, and an ability that nudges deck-thinning strategy toward the front of the line, this card has inspired a chorus of reviews from top players and content creators. Illustrated by KIYOTAKA OSHIYAMA, Octillery isn’t just a pretty holo; it’s a versatile piece that can enable tempo and card advantage in the right build. ⚡🔥

What the card is bringing to the table

First, a quick snapshot of the essentials. Octillery is a Stage 1 Water-type Evolution of Remoraid. It carries the ability Rapid Strike Search, allowing you, once per turn, to search your deck for a Rapid Strike card, reveal it, and add it to your hand (then shuffle). This is a powerful engine starter that rewards careful deck construction—especially for players chasing tempo with the Rapid Strike subset. Its attack, Waterfall, deals 50 damage for the cost of Water + Colorless + Colorless, and it sits behind a healthy 110 HP. The card’s weakness is Lightning for ×2, and it has a Retreat cost of 2, making it a flexible—if not frontline—option in many decks. The card appears in the SWSH Black Star Promos line with the official card ID SWSH089, a holo variant that catches the eye in any display. The set’s official tag and the holo treatment have drawn attention from collectors who value both playability and aesthetics. Illustrator credit goes to KIYOTAKA OSHIYAMA, whose crisp line work complements Octillery’s aquatic silhouette nicely.

• Type: Water
• HP: 110
• Stage: Stage 1 (evolves from Remoraid)
• Ability: Rapid Strike Search — search for a Rapid Strike card from your deck once per turn
• Attack: Waterfall — 50 for Water + Colorless + Colorless
• Weakness: Lightning ×2
• Retreat: 2
• Set: SWSH Black Star Promos (SWSH089), holo
• Illustrator: KIYOTAKA OSHIYAMA
• Rarity: None
• Legal: Expanded true, Standard false

Influencers have highlighted Octillery’s utility-first design. The Rapid Strike Search ability is not a one-off gimmick; it creates a reliable fetch engine that can pull crucial Rapid Strike staples—whether you’re chasing special energies, alternative attackers, or Evolution line support. In a meta where tempo and resource management matter, Octillery’s ability can swing the deck’s momentum on a single turn, enabling a smoother turn to a stronger setup. 💎🎴

Influencers’ favorite angles and caveats

Several creators emphasized how this card slots into broader Rapid Strike archetypes. The consensus: Octillery isn’t a heavyweight finisher, but it’s a bench-driven enabler that can power up your late-game plan by ensuring you see the exact Rapid Strike answer you need, when you need it. A common takeaway from reviews is that Octillery shines when the rest of the deck is built to leverage the fetch—think Rapid Strike-focused decks that cherry-pick a handful of potent tech cards to supercharge offensive turns. The result, as several players noted, is a tempo edge that non-Rapid Strike Water decks might overlook. ⚡🔥

“Octillery isn’t about landing a big single hit; it’s about ensuring you have the right card in hand at the critical moment. In the right list, that Rapid Strike Search turns a modest 50-damage attack into a reliable win condition by turn 3 or 4.”

However, every influencer also offered cautionary notes. The card’s rarity label in the promo line and its set-specific availability mean that deck-building leans on accessibility. You’ll often see discussions about including multiple Rapid Strike cards to maximize the value of the ability—if you’re chasing consistency, Octillery should be paired with a deliberate plan to ensure fetch targets remain relevant. The Lightning weakness remains a real threat against popular Lightning-leaning decks, and Octillery’s 110 HP sits in a mid-range sweet spot—not a glass cannon, but not an absolute brick either. The Retreat cost of 2 can require careful energy management, especially in pressure-heavy games. 🪄🎮

Practical deck-building tips from the review crew

For players eyeing Octillery as a cornerstone, the guidance is practical and pointed:

• Pair Octillery with a curated pool of Rapid Strike cards so that its ability always has a strong target—ideally the ones that amplify Tempo or extend reach in the late game.
• Balance energy distribution to accommodate Waterfall’s cost while protecting Octillery on the bench. A light spread of Energy Retrieval effects can keep you cycling through the deck efficiently.
• Consider your anti-Lighting matchups; since the meta features Lightning-type threats, calculate your retreat strategies and bench protection to avoid early knockouts.
• Use the holo promo’s aesthetic to inspire display choices in your binder, if you’re a collector; the illustrated art by KIYOTAKA OSHIYAMA brings a distinctive flavor to any collection.
• Watch pricing signals. CardMarket data around the Octillery promo shows a healthy interest with an average around €9.30, occasional dips to €4, and a rising trend in holo variants. If you’re optimizing a value-based purchase, factor in these market swings. 💎

Art, lore, and the tactile experience

Beyond raw stats, influencers often highlight the artistic presentation and the tactile feel of holo promos. The Octillery artwork captures the slippery, suction-cupped menace of the sea-borne predator, a vibe that fans associate with its in-game personality: tactical, a bit sly, and always ready to surprise an opponent with the right card at the right moment. The text description—“It traps enemies with its suction-cupped tentacles, then smashes them with its rock-hard head”—adds a touch of lore that resonates with collectors who love a strong narrative thread across their card art and flavor text. 🖼️🎨

Market pulse and collector insight

From a collector’s perspective, holo promos in this line have shown resilient interest. The SWSH Black Star Promos subset offers a notable blend of playability and display value. The Octillery holo’s performance in markets is influenced by the broader demand for Rapid Strike-supporting cards and the availability of the promo in different regions. As influencers stress, having a few copies—one for play and one for display—can make the most of both gameplay potential and collection pride. 🔥

With Octillery, influencers demonstrate a pairing of innovation and nostalgia: a familiar Remoraid line evolving into a card that actively contributes to a player’s deck-building strategy. The result is a card that doesn’t just sit on a shelf; it actively influences how players think about tempo, fetch effects, and the rhythm of their turns. ⚡🎴

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