Ruling Inkay's Ink Spit Timing

[PrecinctSix]

Hello!

With Inkay's Ink Spit attack, would the defending pokemon flip and check before having to discard an energy or pay some other cost, such as with a Magnezone Thunder Blast? Thanks!

http://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-tcg/pokemon-cards/xy-series/xy7/45/

http://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-tcg/pokemon-cards/xy/xy8/54/

 

[My Little Keldeo]

Correct. As of the current rules, flipping for a "smokescreen" effect like Inkay's Ink Spit occurs before you begin resolving the attack's effects. Basically, if you get tails the attack fails before you get to performing any part of it. If you get heads, then the attack proceeds as normal.