Ruling Absol Prime as starter

[Valcan]

http://www.chaoscards.co.uk/trading-cards-c10/pokemon-c11/hs-triumphant-c22/card-hs-triumphant-absol-prime-91102-p1831

If I put Absol as my active Pokemon at the beginning of the game, does the effect damage my opponents Pokemon that he puts on the bench at the start of the game?

 

[PokeMedic]

No, this only works when the game has already begun and your opponent plays from their hand to their bench.

 

[DNA]

To add:

When a card is face-down during setup, it is not treated as anything and none of its effects are applied. This includes Absol Prime, Spiritomb AR, and Sableye SF (Overeager only activates immediately after being flipped face-up.)