Or you can forget about leads in this format because it isn't competitive Video Games, and actually play good Trainers or Supporters, th at don't give your opponent prizes and enhance your top decks late game. I honestly see this Mawile having very little potential, in my opinion, and I'm going to do my best to give you logically solid reasons why.
This card only has a base 60 HP, which can't be raised thanks to the loss of Expert Belt and Snowpoint Temple, it is also weak to Fire. Your opponent will draw a prize if you start with this. It has a 1 Retreat cost, not awful, because you are still going to have to waste your energy for the turn if one of these is brought up into your active late game, which is highly possible because of the popularity of Pokemon Reversal. It's attack Selfish Draw, the reason you would want to lead with it, isn't good. You get to waste your attack for the turn, and possibly a prize card, for a single card, you get the option to get another card, but that would mean you would have to discard something. My guess is that if a card is not taken and discarded it is because it isn't useful to the players early game set up, meaning that it may be something they will be kicking themselves for discarding in later turns. With or without a discard of the top of your deck, you are still just drawing a card, you can't rely on anything, card that are reliable are an important aspect of the TCG, with Collector, you know you what you are getting, with a one card draw, it is just a straight up guess. Cleffa is a better starter than this card, because you can hand refresh, and get 6 news cards as opposed to one.
Now you mentioned to use it to discard energy with its attack (I think that is what you meant to say, it was a little unclear.) Once again this cards 60 HP come back to hurt it, the idea of it attacking is just laughable. It takes a Metal and a Double Colorless Energy to hit for 30, by the time you can attach those, it will be Reversaled and killed. If your are going to take the time to invest in playing up a basic with a 3 energy attack cost, you could just go with Zekrom, you would be powering it a turn quicker, have 70 more HP, better type coverage, a backup attack and be hitting for 90 more damage. Now the question comes down to whether or not you want that, or a chance of Paralyzing and an energy discard for the defending Pokemon... Hmmmm.
Anyways if you are looking to invest in something that discards your opponents Energy, it may be worth looking into
this card, and if you are looking for a solid starter, you may wanna look into
this card. Hope this helped.
.
