Hi there. I cover Pokemon cards Maractus, Druddigon and Salamence from Japan's Battle Partners.
Maractus For Retreat Locking
Maractus is a 110 HP Basic Grass Pokemon. It has two retreat cost, one attack with an ability.
The Bursting Needle ability only works if Maractus is in the Active Spot. If Maractus in the Active Spot is knocked out by damage from an attack from your opponent's Pokemon put 6 damage counters on the Attacking Pokemon. It is important to note that you put the 6 damage counters after being Knocked Out from an attack. If Maractus is not knocked out then you don't place damage counters. In addition, if damage counters are placed from the effect of an attack which results in a knockout then this ability does not work.
The Corner attack requires one Colourless Energy to do 20 damage. This is a no-retreat attack where the Defending Pokemon cannot retreat during the opponent's next turn. Maractus can be used to slowly damage and frustrate opponents as it attacks a non attacking Pokemon.
I can see Maractus having some niche use in some regular decks and in control decks.
Illustration Rare Version Of Maractus
There is an illustration rare version of Maractus. It tries to disguises itself with other cactuses.
Druddigon
Druddigon is a 120 HP Basic Dragon Pokemon. It has two retreat cost, no weakness and two attacks. The second attack of Slashing Claw requires one Fire Energy, one Water Energy and one Colourless Energy to do 120 damage. Although the 120 damage is good, this attack costs too much.
Dragon Rush is the first attack which costs one Colourless Energy. It does 20 damage plus Energy acceleration. Attach one Fire Energy from your discard pile to 1 of your Dragon Pokemon. I think Druddigon could be okay with Salamence ex (see below). It does seem underpowered though.
Bagon
Bagon is a 70 HP Basic Dragon Pokemon that is a part of the Salamence ex evolution line. The first attack of Bite does 10 damage for 1 Colourless Energy. Reckless Charge requires one Fire Energy and one Water Energy to do 50 damage and 10 recoil damage to itself.
Shelgon
Shelgon is a 100 HP Stage 1 Dragon Pokemon the evolves from Bagon. Guard Press does 30 damage for the cost of two Colourless Energy. It also has the added defensive effect of taking 30 less damage from the opponent's attack during your opponent's next turn.
Heavy Impact is the second attack. it requires one Fire Energy, one Water Energy and one Colourless Energy to do 80 damage. The energy cost costs too much.
Salamence ex
Salamence ex is a 320 HP Stage 2 Dragon Pokemon. It has two retreat cost, no weakness and no abilities. The first attack of Wide Blast requires one Fire Energy and two Colourless Energy. It does 50 damage to each of your opponent's Benched Pokemon. This damage spread attack can be super powerful as there are not many bench damage protectors out there. Manaphy is out of the standard rotation and Rabsca takes up deck space.
If you use something like Counter Catcher or Boss's Orders to trap a non attacking Pokemon then you can spam Wide Blast to the opponent's Benched Pokemon more than once. You would set up a checkmate lock situation for the opponent. Keep using Wide Blast and knockout all of your opponent's Benched Pokemon and potentially take all of your Prize cards for the win. The likelihood of this scenario is unknown.
Dragon Impact requires one Fire Energy, one Water Energy and two Colourless Energy. It does 300 damage and you discard 2 Energy from this Pokemon. Three hundred damage is good but it does not knockout certain Stage 2 Pokemon like Dragapult ex, Charizard ex, Gardevoir ex.
I think Salamence ex is okay. I don't see it being S tier but it can cause some upsets to meta decks.