Team Y2K

PokeChamp · Site Admin Joined: 03 Mar 2010 Posts: 946 Location: Gengar

16. Carnivine
A beefy basic Pokemon who's "Saliva Lure" is the closet thing to Gust of Wind in an attack. Luxray GL Lv.X is probably still better, but Carnivine might see use as a sort-of 'budget' Luxray. The problem is that attacking ends your turn, thus making Luxray Gl Lv.X so much better. Without any decent attacks other than the first and a high retreat cost for a basic, Carnivine will never be played by anyone who can afford to play Luxray GL Lv.X.

17. Ditto
With only 40 HP and a two-Energy attack, Ditto's only use will be in its Poke-Body. A very, very underpowered version of "Dark Palm", "Dittobolic" limits your opponent's bench to four instead of five as well. Of course, without Claydol set up decks have all but disappeared, so Ditto's use as a bench-limiter are, well, limited. Interesting that this is the second Ditto that can work as a counter to Jumpluff, though. xD

18. I'll be honest, I love Dragonite. The EX - Dragon Frontiers version was so awesome, it had "Deafen", which was just like Dialga G's "Deafen" instead it did 40 damage instead. I loved that card but haven't been able to find too many other playable Dragonites. This Dragonite is no exception. Although 140 HP is obviously impressive, that Colorless weakness means that pretty much every deck (because pretty much every deck plays Garchomp C) will have an easy answer to Dragonite. The attacks aren't even that great. The first attack, "Calming Wind" can be pulled off on turn 2 and it's worth 50 damage and removes all special conditions from Dragonite. Decent, but not anything to right home about. The second attack could have been cool, but with so many coin flips involved, it's as disappointing as the flippy Dragonite from LA. That Dragonite is actually better than this huge piece of junk that Pokemon International had to vomit up and put in a TCG set.

19. Dugtrio
Best art in the set, in my opinion. I love Shizurow. ;] Dugtrio is fast, just like in the games. With a free retreat cost and a 1-for-30 attack, it can attack quickly, maybe not effectively, though. With Expert Belt it can donk, actually. Actually, with said Expert Belt, Dugtrio can knock out Luxray GLs. "Sand Impact" is flippy garbage. Nice resistance to Luxray, also. If for some reason you can't afford to throw Donphan Prime into your deck, then by all means use Dugtrio. Not that bad of an SP counter, but underclassed.

20. Electivire
More awesome artwork. TOKIYA! YA! "Plasma" isn't the greatest, but you are rewarded with an Energy card. With some smart discard pile plays, you can shoot lightning on turn 2. 50 damage to all of your opponent's Pokemon with Energy cards attached them. For three Energy. Not too shabby, at all. Play it with something crazy like Tentacruel LA and you've got a fun little rogue deck. Probably not competitive, but it is a usable card unlike some other cards in the set.

21. Elekid
I hate the new babies. Not being to evolve is illogical and the ripoff of the old "Baby" mechanic is just that: a ripoff. A flippy, inconsistent ripoff. So naturally, I hate Elekid. Sniping for 20 for no Energy and not having to spend anything for retreat is pretty awesome, but why give your opponent a free prize? No baby has ever impressed me and this piece of absolute crud doesn't impress me either.

22. Golduck
A 90-HP Pokemon that hurts Donphan and heals itself every time you attach a Water Energy to it? And gets stronger every time you attach an Energy to it? But not just to it, but for every Water Energy attached to any of your Pokemon? Period? Sounds really nice. But a weakness to Luxray killed the small little flare it originally gave off. Just not strong off, like most Water-types these days, to fight off SPs. Interesting potential with Feraligatr Prime, but like I said, weakness.

23. Grumpig
OMG, PLOX IS BACK, RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!!1! ...Juuuuust kidding. Grumpig is just a shell of what Gardevoir SW was. The attack is admittedly cool, but Mesprits with SSUs and a strong attacker are probably more effective, though. "Bench Manipulation" is flippy, but cool. I remember Banette from I think EX - Power Keepers had an attack similar to this and I lucksacked a ton of newbies with it. Nothing that warrants any attention. But maybe once... for "Bench "Manipulation"... eh, maybe not.

24. Kricketune
So I herd u liekz T2 Kricketune? This thing is about as far away from that deck as anything out there. Flip coins, all day long. Flip them 'till we end this song!

25. Lunatone
A bitter disappointment compared to Solrock. He disappointed his parents and squandered his education, basically. 20-for-1 and 60-for-two with suicide hardly makes for a decent card.

26. Machamp
He's got a one-Energy attack... that isn't Take Out? I like it, I really do. 40-for-1 is cool enough for SPs, 60 for 1 with 20 backlash isn't that hot but hey, you can donk with it. "Hundred Furious Punches" (which sounds like the new Disturbed album a little bit) basically reads "If you have a Fighting Energy and a DCE attached, swing for 70 for two". Not too shabby at all. This Machamp is decent and could certainly be used. But Machamp SF is probably a little bit better. It donks without damaging itself, kills SPs (without damaging itself), can hit for a random amount of damage (the odds are you hit 60 more often than not) for the cost of a DCE, and a "Rage" attack that gives you an absolutely brutal late-game attack. But if people still need a donking, SP-killing Machamp when SF rotates out (if SPs keep Platinum, which is debatable), then it could be usable. But right now there are just better options.

27. Magmortar
"Top Burner", which could have been a really awesome deck-out attack perfect for tactical players, was ruined by the coin-flip drawback. Now why I would I want to attach all that Energy just to lose it to Lady Luck? Magmortar, once again, takes a trip to the binder.

28. Nidoqueen
Like I've stated before, I love this card. I love Nidoqueen in general, but there's just something this card that I just adore. Is it the One-Energy "Judge" insurance? Or the 80 for a Psychic a DCE if you are losing the game (Twins and Blackbelt *coughcough*)? Unown Q makes the retreat cost not as bad. This is a cool card and is nowhere near competitive, but I think it could be an awesome tech for winning back games against SPs, for example. 1-1-1 line in Vilegar, for example, would tilt the SP matchup a little bit.

29. Pidgeot
Free retreat with 120 HP and a Garchomp-killing weakness? Please. Tell me. I haven't Died. Because I'm in heaven. "Headwind" is insane. Absolutely insane. For just a DCE (Energy Exchange Unit much?) you're hitting for a mediocre 20 damage. But then they've got to pay two more for their attacks. They'll have to burn a DCE. But... wait for it... Expert Belt. 40 for a DCE. 80 against Garchomp. One-hit KO much? Yeah, this is, needless to say, an awesome tech that, theoretically, could be splashed into almost any deck. Yes, they can Warp Point/Poke Turn out of the attack cost. But early game, wasting a valuable Trainer like that could be pretty dangerous for them. "Quick Attack" is pointless, so the first attack is the only reason to play this card. And it's a pretty darn good reason, too, with all of the Garchomp Cs in this format. Awesome card.

30. Sharpedo
Before I review this card, what's up with all the weirdo artist names? "sui"? "MAHOU"? You strange Japanese people and you're oddball names. Confused

Anyway, Sharpedo can decent damage with Special Darks. "Strip Bare" is 30 damage for 1, possibly 50, assuming, of course, you've got a Special Dark and an Expert Belt attached. If you flip two heads, you have pretty much won the game, unless they, oh, I don't know, topdeck a hand-refresher or Uxie LA. "Rage" is cool too because I'm an angry person, so I love playin angry Dark-type emo sharks in my deck. Razz

But yeah, unless you bring a rigged coin to the table, this is porbably just mediocre.

Hope you enjoyed part 2, part 3 is coming around the corner!
_________________
Florida State Champion; Seniors
I sacrificed my Queen because I wanted to play like Fischer.

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