Piloswine Community Decklists: Top Builds in Pokémon TCG

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Piloswine card art from Space-Time Smackdown

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Community Decklists Spotlight: Piloswine

In the sprawling world of Pokémon TCG communities, some cards rise to become reliable workhorses rather than flashy showboats. Piloswine from Space-Time Smackdown is one such underappreciated backbone, beloved by players who value tempo, resilience, and thoughtful edge cases. With 110 HP and the defensive sheen of Thick Fat, this Water-type Stage 1 can eat hits from bigger attackers and retaliate with a clean, steady rhythm. The card’s artwork, illustrated by Suwama Chiaki, captures the icy grit of a creature whose pelt bristles when danger nears—a perfect visual match for a deck built on patience and calculated swings.

Set in Space-Time Smackdown (A2), this Piloswine wears a “Two Diamond” rarity badge and exists in multiple print variants, including holo, normal, and reverse. While not a staple in every metagame guide, it has earned a dedicated following among players who enjoy crafting durable lines that outlast opponents and set up a Hammer In finisher when the time is right. The community lists built around Piloswine emphasize not just raw damage but the value of strategic trades, energy management, and board presence across the early, middle, and late turns of a match.

Deckbuilding in practice

  • Stat line and stance: HP 110, Water type, Stage 1 (evolves from Swinub). Thick Fat is the marquee ability, reducing incoming damage from Fire and Water attacks by 20 points. This makes Piloswine a sturdy anchor against many midrange threats, letting teammates line up kills while you weather the storm.
  • Core attack: Hammer In requires Water, Water, and Colorless energy and deals 60 damage. It isn’t a one-shot hammer, but with the right support and timing, it can finish pivotal targets or clean up damaged foes while you maintain a steady board presence.
  • Weakness and defense: Weak to Metal with a +20 damage modifier, which players need to account for in matchups against steel-heavy lists or bulky opponents. The retreat cost sits at 3, meaning you’ll lean on proper energy dispersion and efficient bench management to avoid getting stuck in the active slot.
  • Evolution path: Evolve from Swinub, encouraging a measured early game that transitions smoothly into the mid-game as Piloswine grows more resilient and threatening.
  • Collector’s note: The set’s holo and non-holo variants, paired with the artist’s signature style, offer a delightful blend of nostalgia and collectibility for players who enjoy both gameplay and card archaeology.

For players chasing value in both play and progress, the space-time motif of Space-Time Smackdown adds flavor to the deck’s narrative. The team picks often emphasize steady energy attachment, precise timing for Hammer In, and ensuring that Thick Fat stays online when big threats try to crash the party. The artwork by Suwama Chiaki—known for her crisp lines and expressive character work—gives Piloswine a memorable presence on the table, one that fans love to show off during local tournaments or casual exchange nights. ⚡🔥

Top community builds you’ll encounter

  • Fortress of Fat — A control-oriented shell where Piloswine anchors the frontline, soaking up heavy hitters thanks to Thick Fat. The strategy centers on attrition and precise energy placement, letting Hammer In land when the optimal target appears and the opponent’s resources wane.
  • Tempo Hammer In — A faster variant that leans into efficient energy acceleration to push Hammer In earlier in the game. By smoothing energy access and maintaining a capable bench, this approach pressures opponents to play reactively rather than proactively.
  • Evolutionospread — An evolution-focused list that ramps from Swinub into Piloswine with a plan to leverage every forward expansion in tempo and tempo, turning midgame board advantage into late-game gravity for Hammer In finishes.
“Piloswine isn’t about flashy one-turn KO power; it’s about the long game—the kind of deck that grinds you down and then hits you where it hurts, at just the right moment.”

Artwork, lore, and the collector’s appeal

The card’s lore-friendly flavor text (If it charges at an enemy, the hairs on its back stand up straight. It is very sensitive to sound.) invites a sense of alert readiness—perfect for players who enjoy narrating their battles as if they’re part of a larger cold-weather saga. Suwama Chiaki’s illustration brings that narrative to life, balancing a sense of heft with the delicate intricacy of fur and ice reflections. Collectors often pursue the holo variant for the sheen and the way it catches light during play, while casual fans appreciate the card’s compact size and the way it slots neatly into a Space-Time Smackdown collection alongside its Swinub predecessor.

From a gameplay standpoint, the synergy between Piloswine’s defensive resilience and its straightforward offense provides a reliable option for players who want a steady midrange presence without chasing just “the biggest number.” The two-faceted nature of this card—robust defense via Thick Fat and a solid, dependable attack—helps explain why community lists keep returning to Piloswine as a dependable anchor in a variety of builds.

Market, rarity, and format notes

Space-Time Smackdown’s A2 set keeps Piloswine within a mindful collecting spectrum. With a calculated rarity of Two Diamond, the card holds appeal for players who enjoy completing a Space-Time Smackdown suite or hunting holo variants for display purposes. It’s also notable that, according to the card’s data, this Piloswine is not currently legal in Standard or Expanded formats, making it a fun “legacy” choice for casual play or local events that allow broader print styles. This distinction fosters a vibrant collector community that appreciates the nostalgia and craftsmanship of cards outside the modern metagame.

In practice, community decklists featuring Piloswine tend to emphasize robustness over brute force. The combination of 110 HP, Thick Fat’s damage mitigation, and Hammer In’s reliable damage stack makes it an attractive choice for players who value long games, precise trades, and thoughtful line-building. The holo versions, especially those featuring Suwama Chiaki’s artistry, become coveted keepsakes that celebrate both artistry and strategy in equal measure. 💎🎴

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