There are sets that are treated with glory; there are also sets that are treated with some respect, and also sets that get barely any recognition. But then there are sets that receive nothing but hatred and are treated like abominations. HS Undaunted is definitely one of the most poorly received sets in the history of Pokemon TCG. Unlike real pieces of trash like HS Triumphail that get Halo Hype, HS Undaunted is the kind of set that gets Xpac Heat. This set is almost always targeted and ridiculed as one the worst sets ever. Is it really a bad set or does this set actually has good things about that make it good?
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HS Undaunted is a set of 90 cards. Most of the cards in the set come from the Japanese set Revived Legends, its corresponding theme decks: Tyranitar Constructed Standard Deck and Steelix Constructed Standard Deck. As well as a few cards from Leafeon vs Metagross Expert Deck, Battle Starter Decks, and the Clash At The Summit set. And finally a few Promo cards were added to this set. Most of the Revived Legends (and corresponding decks) cards come from this set with exceptions of some of them that were already released on HS Unleashed. Eevee and Leafeon come from Leafeon vs Metagross Expert Deck. Pikachu and Raichu were from the Battle Starter Decks,and finally the cards from Clash At The Summit are the LEGEND pairs of this set: Kyogre & Groudon LEGEND and Rayquaza & Deoxys LEGEND. The Promos added to this set were Espeon Prime, Umbreon Prime, Raichu Prime, Slowking Prime, Slowpoke, and Slowbro.
Like the HeartGold & SoulSilver Collection before it, Revived Legends is also based off of the HeartGold/SoulSilver DS games and cover many aspects of HGSS, especially the Eevee evolutions and the Legendary Beast trio, which all 3 of the trio (Raikou, Entei, and Suicune) were paired up 2 at a time for every LEGEND pair (Entei/Raikou, Suicune/Entei, Raikou/Suicune). The 4 Primes that were on that set were Lanturn Prime, Kingdra Prime, Tyranitar Prime, Steelix Prime. 2 Primes that were on the constructed decks were Houndoom Prime and Scizor Prime. The Legendary Beast Trio LEGENDS and Lanturn Prime, Tyranitar Prime, Kingdra Prime, and Steelix Prime (along with all related cards) were added to HS Unleashed. Hence the Promos and the Clash At The Summit LEGENDS filling the gap. It is interesting to note that one card, Sneasel, is actually an overhauled version of a card from the classic TCG set, Neo Genesis. That Sneasel in particular was banned from tournaments due to balancing issues at the time. The only difference between the original version and the Undaunted redo is the added fighting weakness and minor Psychic resistance lowering from -30 to -20. This card will obviously not be banned (or see any use) because the game has changed since 10 years ago and everything is now more powerful in comparison to the past.
It is to be noted that the Promo Primes are expensive to obtain in Japanese. These cards have costed at least around $50, $100, to thousands at most.
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Many of the cards in HS Undanted are novelties in use and can be used as techs. This set is nice set to host booster drafts with as most of the cards are interesting when used against each other. Each evolution line (and branch) can perform different tasks. Looking at the all the Eevee Evolutions, almost all Eevee evolutions are included in this set (Glaceon being absent). Espeon can move damage counters from your side to your opponents. Umbreon can wall Pokemon with Powers/Bodies after attacking. Flareon can do heavy damage. Jolteon does less than Flareon but can wall with a successive coin flip. Vaporeon can heal and damage the bench. And finally Leafeon can inflict status conditions and deal damage, all with one energy. Espeon Prime can use any attack from another Eevee evolution. Umbreon Prime can return to your hand and do more damage per Eevee evolutions. These cards interesting to use for modern day Eeveelution deck, (even though it won’t be much good in tournament play, but still be fun to use).
Bellossom is not a good card, the PokePower is alright but its attack is terrible. Vileplume, however is really amazing, it locks Trainers and loses its fire Weakness. As well as getting a win/win coin flip.
Holo Foretress is kinda risky, but can do serious damage. Non-Holo Forretress is worthless.
Smeargle is a good card to use to copy a Supporter that your opponent happens to have. So if he or she has Supporters they plan to use later, you can benefit from that.
Gliscor rocks. One Fighting Energy = Surefire Paralysis on Pokemon that have no damage, very statgeic and good for Donphan.
Magcargo is throwback to Neo Revelation Magcargo. Kinda good.
Scizor is pretty neat with 2 for 50 and 3 for 80. Scyther is kinda decent but you would want to evolve it.
Togekiss is an improved Blissey Prime that heals all without that crappy energy discard crap. Togetic can find cards in your deck.
Houndoom is a good Pokemon to use for Special Dark. 1 for 20-90 and 2 for 50-70
Dodrio is a very helpful tech for retreating.
Drfiblim is good for getting rid of Pokemon for the time being.
Hariyama is just crap.
Honchkrow (15) is alright but the other (16) is pretty amazing late game.
Metagross is expensive and flippy, stick with something else.
Mismagius is good with Mr. Mime and/or Weavile. At the right time, go in for wreckage.
Rotom is good once you find out what need is a Prize. Combo with the appropriate Alph.
Tropius is outdone by Togekiss.
There is a Combee and Vespiquen combo that can be powerful but very risky as Combee has only 30 HP.
Weavile is an excellent disruptor. Snesel is a fun flippy Pokemon and a good artifact.
Raichu is decent sniper, but outdone by Simisear and Hydreigon.
Sableye is a pretty good card, putting cards in your discard on your deck.
Unown DARK is really amazing that it ALWAYS supplies you with energy. Great!
Burned Tower is OK, Ruins of Alph is not worth it.
Defender returns and is good for guarding Pokemon.
Legend Box is just terrible. Bronzong does it better.
Energy Exhanger is really awesome asset that grants you the energy you need, including special energy. Great to use.
Flower Shop Lady can help you less likely to deck out.
Team Rocket’s Trickery is just a bad Mars.
The special energies are greatfully retained and are a welcome edition to the set.
Slowking Prime is terrible. Bad HP, Costly attack, and disastrous Power. Never use it. Worst Prime next to Mew and Celebi.
Epseon Prime just a tech. Outside that its just a mediocre Prime.
Umbreon Prime is somewhat useful, just never use its power.
Houndoom Prime hits hard for 70-100 damage. OK.
Raichu Prime is pretty useful, drag all energies for a KO, need support though.
Scizor Prime is the best Prime in the set. It’s much superior to the Holo Scizor, with walling against Special energy and hitting 20 for 50-70 and more for more metal energy. Must have.
Kyogre and Groudon Legend is a great novelty to use. Kind of like Unleashed Magmortar.
Rayquaza and Deoxys Legend is a great card as you get prizes much quicker and discards only ONE type of energy.
This set’s Alph lithograph is the most helpful one yet, it removes stadiums. Good to use against LW.
The artwork in the set is great. It really fits the HS series with all the Johto scenery and many of the poses are well placed. The Holographic cards range from great to poor. Half of the rares are mediocre, and the other half are well drawn. The uncommons are really well drawn, with the best one being Scyther (#36), which looks really amazing because of the CG. The commons are a mixed bag, some are good, others are decent, others are bad. But reprint Sneasel is definitely a good retro touch-up. Next up. The trainers deserve a special mention because of how well created they are. They fit the HS theme to a T. The special energies are good, too. The Primes look good for the most part. Espeon looks decent, Houndoom is great, Raichu is really manly, Scizor is alright, Slowking looks somewhat OK, and Umbreon is kinda ugly. The Alph Lithograph looks amazing in Black. And finally the Legends do not disappoint. Groudon & Kyogre LEGEND’s posing is top notch with Kyogre looking like it splash out of water and Groundon seemingly rising out of a volcano. Rayquaza & Deoxys LEGEND looks swell, too, with both of them reaching. It is surpising to see how well we can see their bodies.
What I think rocks in this set:
Bellossom
Espeon
Gliscor
Houndoom
Scizor
Togekiss
Umbreon
Honchkrow (both)
Leafeon
Metagross
Mismagius
Vileplume
Weavile
Flareon
Jolteon
Metang
Scyther (#36)
Slowbro
Skuntank
Vaporeon
Eevee (both)
Hitmonchan
Hitmonlee
Houndour (both)
Murkrow (both)
Slowpoke
Sneasel
Stunky
Defender
Energy Exchanger
Flower Shop Lady
Legend Box
Ruins of Alph
Sage’s Traning
Team Rocket’s Trickery
Darkness Energy
Metal Energy
Raichu Prime
Scizor Prime
Houndoom Prime
Kyogre & Groudon LEGEND
Rayquaza & Deoxys LEGEND
Alph Lithograph
With 10 Holos, 15 Rares, and 11 Ultra-Rares, there is decent chance to get a decent pull. The set is neatly arranged. A good number of the cards offer new interesting things to the table when it comes to Pokemon TCG. The set also has its own bunch of trainers that are helpful. The special energies of Dark and Metal are always a welcome addition. The Eeveelutions are alright for the most part, although it could be done much better. Flareon could have done a little more damage, Umbreon Prime also as well. The Pokemon selection are wonderful and I like the good mix of 2nd gen with some of the other gens.
What I really enjoy is what Primes were included. Espeon, Raichu, Slowking, and Umreon Primes were Promos in Japan and they were incredibly expensive. Bringing these cards stateside through this set so they could e purchased for much less is a good move, as collectors like myself would have loved to put these cards in Albums. Although many players resent these cards, it would have been a BAD idea to put these cards in some horrible PoP set where pulls for just a RARE is not guaranteed and the packs are 3 cards a piece. Good thing PP actually learned from the PoP 5 fail and not put Ultra Rares like Espeon * there (or in this case, Prime).
Kudos to Play Pokemon for that.
Side Notes
This set has been received very poorly by the Pokemon TCG player community. This set is consider one of the worst sets in existence. Even to this day, people talk about how “terrible” this set is. These people couldn’t be more wrong. Seriously, here are a great deal of cards use COMMONLY in the metagame that come from this oh-so horrible set; Umbreon, Dordio, Drifblim, Leafeon, Rotom, Skarmory, Vileplume, Muk, Unown DARK, Burned Tower, Energy Exchanger, Defender, Legend Box, Sage’s Training, Flower Shop Lady, Team Rocket’s Trickery, Special Dark and Metal Energies, Scizor Prime, Raichu Prime, and last but not least RAYQUAZA AND DEOXYS LEGEND!!!! Undaunted is a bad set, give me damn a break. This set is surely better than Call of Legends and Emerging Powers.
The reason this set is treated the way it is has to with the Pokemon TCG player community as a whole. Most of these people happen to some of the most avaricious, spoiled, ungrateful, and asinine crowd ever. If a Pokemon TCG set does not have cards they want, they will throw HUGE fits and label the set is the worst thing ever produced by humans. They feel that they are entitled to have everything they want and it is so bad, that even the sets prerelease has to be ruined by these people who complain that Magnezone or Celebi are not in the set. Even though the Pokemon Franchise IS full of children, grown adults have also contributed to the whining. Products like Theme Decks or Tins get treated this way but that is for another rant.
Conclusion
Despite being labeled awful by the community, this set is actually good. It’s no Black & White, but I would recommend it. Suited less for players, but still a good set to collect. It’s great that Play Pokemon actually added Primes that were hard to get in Japan. The artwork in the set is good, mainly due to the scenery and poses.
Buying a box of this set is requires consideration (in real life). Buy it ONLY if you do not have a lot of cards in the set (and want); on Pokemon TCG Online; or if you have money to burn. Otherwise it’s best to buy the single cards. It’s definitely much better than that waste of hype known as Triumphail (never buy ANYTHING except singles from that “set”). If you are looking for a box that is worth more than your money: HeartGold & SoulSilver, Black & White, Noble Victories, and Next Destinies are better buys for that.
