If I use Armarouge's "Crimson Blaster" attack but my opponent has no benched Pokemon, do I still discard all my {R} energy?
Yes, but it would not do any damage to the Active Pokemon.
Source: Surging Sparks FAQ; TPCi Rules Team (2024-11-07)

Relevant cards

Note: All applicable cards may not be listed below.
SV8_38
SV8_38