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Turning Bruxish Into a Damage Engine: Tactics for Expanded Play

Bruxish is a curious jewel in the Expanded format: a Water-type Basic with a pair of attacks that invite aggressive energy management and clever timing. This promo from the SM Black Star Promos line carries the rarity tag Rare, and its two-pronged approach—energy acceleration with Vivid Charge and a solid nuke with Psychic Fangs—can yield impressive damage outputs when you choreograph your turns precisely. The illustration by Mizue graces the card with a vibrant, almost electric underwater vibe, a nice match for a creature that thrives on momentum and quick decisions ⚡.

At a glance, Bruxish sits at 110 HP—a sturdy, if not tanky, baseline for a Basic Water Pokemon. The two attacks give you a clear path to control the energy flow of the game: prepare the board with extra energy in hand, then unleash a solid 90-damage hit that pierces many defensive strategies thanks to its ability to ignore opponent’s active effects. That second line is particularly relevant in Expanded where a glut of special conditions, damage modification, and trainer-driven variants attempt to bend the math. Bruxish doesn’t carry a complicated mechanic on its own; instead, it rewards you for careful energy curation and timing, turning a modest damage number into a reliable, repeatable play across multiple turns 🔥.

Attack breakdown and what they demand

• Vivid Charge — Cost: Colorless. Effect: Search your deck for up to 3 basic Energy cards, reveal them, and put them into your hand. Then, shuffle your deck.
• Psychic Fangs — Cost: Water, Water, Colorless. Damage: 90. This attack’s damage isn’t affected by any effects on your opponent’s Active Pokémon.

“This attack’s damage isn’t affected by any effects on your opponent’s Active Pokémon.”

That line matters more than it might look on paper. In the chaos of a multi-deck Expanded meta, opponents throw everything from damage modifiers to energy denial at you. Psychic Fangs keeps its 90 damage stable regardless of those defenses, so your strategy can hinge on solid execution rather than chasing a fragile damage spike. The real trick is getting that second attack off consistently, which means a steady stream of energy to Bruxish—without overcommitting to a single blow.

Strategies to maximize Bruxish’s damage output

• Pre-load with purpose: Use Vivid Charge early to search for up to three basic Energy cards and stash them in hand. The goal isn’t just to have a handful of energy; it’s to guarantee you can attach the right mix of Water energy and generic energy when you need to meet Psychic Fangs’ cost. In practice, you’ll want at least two Water energies ready to go on Bruxish to meet the attack’s requirements on your next turn.
• Consolidate your attachments: With a 90-damage baseline, every extra damage modifier you apply can swing a knockout in your favor. In Expanded, you can leverage classic energy and trainer cards that boost or move energy without exhausting your board. Think about stabilizing energy acceleration so you can attach to Bruxish each turn—even if it means stashing energy on the bench or using effects that move energy around the field. The more consistently you hit two Water energies and one Colorless on a turn, the more reliable your damage becomes.
• Bench pressure pays off: Bruxish rewards you for a compact but scary bench presence. If you can stack a couple of Bruxish with ready-to-attack energy, you pressure your opponent to respond quickly or surrender a critical prize lead. When an opponent is forced to retreat or restructure, your 90-damage hit from Psychic Fangs can snowball into a strong late-game swing, especially if you’ve already disrupted Energy attachment patterns on their side with disruptive Trainer effects.
• Supportive pacing with Energy Reset/Draw: In Expanded, you’ll find draw and search engines that sustain your hand while you keep the energy flowing. Cards that refill your hand or recycle energies let Bruxish punch again and again without stuttering on energy attachment. Keep the math simple: two Water energies plus a Colorless on each Bruxish on the turn you attack, and you’re looking at 90 damage each time—consistent pressure that compounds across prizes.

For building the actual deck, aim for a balanced approach: a couple of Bruxishs to threaten multiple turns, reliable draw and search to keep the hand stocked with energy, and a pocket of energy acceleration to maintain the tempo. Because Bruxish is a Basic Pokémon, you’ll want to pair it with a steady line of supportive basics that can stall or pressure while you prep Bruxish’s big hit. The Expanded environment rewards flexible lines and resilient energy management, so Integrating Bruxish with a few stable Water types and a consistent energy package is key to sustaining damage output across the game.

Bruxish in context: artwork, rarity, and the collector’s angle

As a Rare card from the SM Black Star Promos set, Bruxish carries a certain collector’s aura. The SM11 localId ties it to a limited print run, which often translates to modest price volatility in the secondary market—but a premium among players who prize niche promos. The card’s Water typing, its 110 HP, and its two-confident attacks create a compelling fingerprint: it’s not the flashiest attacker in the pool, but it’s an elegant tool for tempo control and midgame button-press damage. And yes, Mizue’s artwork lends a vibrant, aquatic energy to the card that fans love to point to when they discuss the set’s stylistic identity. If you’re chasing a well-rounded, esports-ready promo that still feels special in a collection, Bruxish offers that balanced blend of playability and provenance ⚡🎨.

When you’re thinking about the value proposition, consider not just raw price but how Bruxish fits into a broader Expanded strategy: its ready-access to energy and the reliability of its second attack makes it a strong candidate for decks that prize consistency over explosive single-turn spikes. For collectors, the promo lineage and Mizue’s distinctive art form a memorable package that looks great in a display binder alongside other Black Star Promos.

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