With the Burning Shadows Pre-Release being less than a week away, thanks to PokeGym, we have some rulings on some effects that you may run into. Have a quick read through before you attend your local event!
Sun & Moon–Burning Shadows FAQ
POKÉMON ATTACKS:
== BUBBLE NET (Araquanid - Sun & Moon—Burning Shadows)
Q. If I use Araquanid's "Bubble Net" attack and my opponent switches in a new Active Pokémon, can they attach an Energy to it during their turn?
A. Yes they can. The effect was on that specific Defending Pokémon and was removed when it went to the Bench.
== DUST STORM (Palossand - Sun & Moon—Burning Shadows)
Q. If I use Palossand's "Dust Storm" against a Stage 2 Pokémon, do I discard the Basic and Stage 1 cards attached to the Stage 2 Pokémon?
A. No. The Basic and Stage 1 as well as the Sandygast are part of their respective Pokémon and are not discarded.
== ETERNAL FLAME GX (Ho-Oh-GX - Sun & Moon—Burning Shadows)
Q. If I use Ho-Oh GX's "Eternal Flame GX" attack, can I place a Stage 2 Pokémon like Charizard GX from my discard directly onto my Bench?
A. Yes. The attack does not specify that the selected Pokémon have to be Basic Pokémon.
== FIRST IMPRESSION (Golisopod-GX - Sun & Moon—Burning Shadows)
Q. If I moved Wimpod to the Active position and then evolved it into Golisopod GX, would I get the bonus damage from "First Impression"?
A. No. Wimpod is not the same Pokémon as Golisopod GX.
== SYNCHRONOISE (Bruxish - Sun & Moon—Burning Shadows)
Q. If I use Bruxish's "Synchronoise" attack against my opponent's dual type Pokémon, Volcanion EX, and there are other Volcanion EX on the Bench, do they take 40 damage or 20?
A. They take 20 damage.
== SMALL APPETITE (Eelektrik - Sun & Moon—Burning Shadows)
Q. If I use Eelektrik's "Small Appetite" against a Pokémon with 90 HP, but it has the "Body Building" Pokémon Tool attached, do I do 50 damage or 0?
A. You do 0 damage. The HP from Body Building counts toward the Pokémon's maximum HP, putting it out of range of the Small Appetite attack.
== SPARKLING WISH (Diancie - Sun & Moon—Burning Shadows)
Q. Can I use Diancie's "Sparkling Wish" attack to evolve a Pokémon that I just put into play this turn?
A. Yes, you can do that.
== TRI HAZARD-GX (Alolan Muk-GX - Sun & Moon—Burning Shadows)
Q. If my opponent has no Benched Pokémon, can I still use Alolan Muk-GX's "Tri Hazard-GX" attack?
A. You can use it, but it won't have any effect, and it will count as having used your GX attack for the game.
POKÉMON ABILITIES:
== HEAL BLOCK (Lunatone - Sun & Moon—Burning Shadows)
Q. If I have a Solrock in play so that Lunatone's "Heal Block" ability is activated, does it apply to all Pokémon in play or just the two active Pokémon?
A. It applies to all Pokémon in play.
== INITIALIZE (Porygon-Z - Sun & Moon—Burning Shadows)
Q. If I put a Charizard GX in play using Ho Oh GX's "Eternal Flame GX" attack, and my opponent evolves into Porygon-Z and uses its Ability "Initialize", does Charizard GX go back into my hand?
A. No. Charizard GX is in play as an "unevolved Pokémon" and so is not affected by the Ability.
== MORE POISON (Seviper - Sun & Moon—Burning Shadows)
Q. Does Seviper's "More Poison" Ability stack if I have more than one of them in play?
A. Yes, each of your Pokémon with a "More Poison" ability will add an additional damage counter to your opponent's Poisoned Pokémon in between turns
== RESTORATION (Darkrai-GX - Sun & Moon—Burning Shadows)
Q. If I have Darkrai-GX in my discard pile but no Darkness Energy, can I use its "Restoration" Ability?
A. Yes, Restoration only requires that Darkrai-GX is in the discard pile (and that you have space on your Bench for it).
== STANCE (Lucario - Sun & Moon—Burning Shadows)
Q. If my Active Pokémon evolves into Lucario and uses its "Stance" Ability, does its effect get cleared if it moves to the Bench? A. No, its effect remains.
TRAINER CARDS:
== GUZMA (Sun & Moon—Burning Shadows)
Q. If I play "Guzma", who chooses which Pokémon to switch for each player?
A. You make all of those choices.
== ACEROLA (Sun & Moon—Burning Shadows)
Q. Can I play "Acerola" to return a damaged Pokémon and all cards attached to it to my hand when Lunatone's "Heal Block" ability is activated?
A. Yes, you can return the Pokémon and attached cards to your hand.
