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Pojo's Pokemon Card of the Day

 

Shaymin Lv. X

Platinum

Date Reviewed: 02.26.09

Ratings & Reviews Summary

Modified: 3.33
Limited: 3.00

Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale.
1 being the worst. 
3 ... average.  
5 is the highest rating.

Back to the main COTD Page

Jigglypuff13 2/26 Shaymin (Sky Form) Lv.X (PT)

Right, had a bit of a break (been very busy recently), and it's time to get back to reviewing cards. And of course, it happens to be a card that I'm not that keen on, it's Shaymin (Sky Form) Lv.X! Due to the annoyingly large name, I'll just call it Skymin Lv.X from now (like most people), so I don't have to type all of that out again. Anyway, Skymin Lv.X, a card that has been overshadowed by it's Land brethren gets a chance to shine in the spotlight today. First off, it's the basics of the card, and 110 HP on a Basic Lv.X isn't too bad really. However, like the people review Dialga G Lv.X yesterday said, Regigigas Lv.X (SF) has spoiled us, so we would all prefer that HP to be boosted up a smidgeon, but 110 HP should be plenty survivable. Fire Weakness isn't too bad at the moment, but if Grass decks get popular (as predicted), it will become annoying. -20 Fighting Resistance is nice to see, since any Resistance is nice, but fighting keeps it a bit safe from Rampardos (PT), helpfully reducing the damage from the first attack to 60. Still not enough to reduce it from a 2HKO to a 3HKO, but with the minimal amount of effort in healing, it will be possible. Free Retreat Cost is perfect, and there is nothing else that can be said about it.

Right, Abilities now, and I'll get straight off to Revenge Seed. This Poké-Body makes all of Skymin Lv.X's (including the normal forms attacks) +60 damage if one of your Grass Pokémon were KOed last turn. In any Grass deck, than makes Skymin Lv.X a fantastic little revenge killer. Allow one of your expendable Grass Pokémon to be KOed, and let Revenge Seed do the rest. Of course, there's one little problem with that; you need an expendable Grass Pokémon. Grass doesn't have access to a lot of good starters at the moment (in fact, I think Celebi (MT) is the only starter they have access to), so your starter isn't likely to be the one that you can KO, so you have to go for one of your main lines basics, and which point you are wasting deck space on having something that will allow you and your opponent to draw one more prize each probably. Near the end of the game, not too bad an idea maybe, but until then, you may as well just let one of your main attackers get KOed naturally during the course of the game. Not necessarily something you want, but you have to except that it will happen at some point. The attack of Skymin Lv.X is all right. Energy Flare is quite good value really, doing 50 for GC is not bad, especially when it's like to become 50 for G instead thanks to Sceptile (GE). The effect is rather situational. As a Poké-Power, moving energies is lovely, and has often been the main part of a deck (think about Energy Trans decks, RAMBO, DragTrode, and other deck that moves energies around that I can't remember at the moment), but all of those times, it's been from a Poké-Power, not an attack. When you get to move energies from an attack, you generally just transfer energies from the attacking Pokémon to one of your bench, which is nice enough really. However, Energy Flare allows you to move all of your in play energies around as you like. Unless you want to desperately move all the energies off a near-KOed Torterra or something that's about to find itself KOed from sniping, it's a pretty useless effect.

So, what's the best way of using this card then, you may be asking. Well, the best way is probably to use it with Shaymin (Land Form holo, whatever number that is), and keep your opponents active effected by at least 1 Special Condition. The reason is because that particular Shaymin does 30 for GC, plus an extra 50 damage if the Defending Pokémon is effected by a Special Condition. If so, and if Revenge Seed activates, you could find yourself doing 140 damage for a meagre GC cost. Maybe it's just me, but that's quite spectacular. Of course, you need to keep your opponent's active effected by a Special Condition, which is easier said than done, and then wait until one of your Pokémon are KOed. Or you could get one of your Grass Pokémon KOed, then effect your opponents active with a Special Condition. There are 3 ways of doing this. The first is to use Darkrai (MD). It's one shot Sleep Poké-Power is all your need for one Revenge Seed-ed Damage Aid, but for multiple, you will have to invest deck space into SSU's. The second is to use Wigglytuff (GE). This is slight harder since it's a Stage 1 and puts both active Pokémon to Sleep, but it can be used every turn that you need to, and Dawn Stadium can remove the Sleep from your Asleep Grass Pokémon if you attach an energy to it. The final one is probably my favourite, but it's more a "lesser out of three evils" case than a recommendation, which is Skuntank G (PT). Have a Stadium in play, and you can inflict Poison on both active Pokémon. It's a basic and can be used so long as you have a Stadium in play, and Poison is a more destructive condition than Sleep, but can't be used against SP Pokémon, so you will probably need a Darkrai (MD) for them.
However, all of this for a maximum of 5 lots of 140 damage per game? That just seems a little bit of a over board for what will probably be a little 1-1 tech you have if your Grass deck, and won't be beneficial enough to really justify. So Skymin will need it's own deck, and then you need to find a disposable Grass type. Well, I know of one good one already, and I'm going to let you figure it out yourself. It's not hard, so you won't struggle too much with that. Still, if you are going to be trade prizes and your opponent gets the first one, it isn't going to be pretty in the end.

Ratings:

Modified: As a 1-1 tech, don't go too over board with it. Have it out, and those 110 damage revenge attacks are going to be lovely (especially if you get, at some point, to make it a 140 damage on instead), but otherwise, just wastes a bit of bench space that could be used for another Claydol/Uxie/main attacker/space so Dusknoir/Plakia G Lv.X don't kill you. As a card you could base a deck off in it's own right, it might be quite nice, but you will find your self losing quite often since your opponent will draw the first prize, and then probably the last one as well if you are only going to be doing revenge 110-140 damage attacks. I'm sure there is a good combo for this card, but we just haven't figured it out yet. Also, if it's a toss up between this and the Land Form Lv.x, go Land Form every time. 3.75/5

Limited: Too hard to get out if you can actually play it, and then doesn't really do enough to justify it's use. You might get to Revenge Seed once or twice a game if you are lucky, but probably none most of the time. However, Energy Flare does finally have a use since it will move energies from where you don't need it to where you do (such as when you have to attach that Water energy to your Torchic, only to find that you really needed it for your Squirtle, or whatever). 50 for GC isn't that bad here either. 2.5/5

Meganium45
OK, a Shaymin, with an attitude!!!

110 HP, good for a level X of a basic, along with, let’s face it, about PERFECT bottom stats.

Weakness to fire, resistance to fighting and a 0 retreat cost! 0 Retreat cost! I LOVE IT!

The revenge seed Body is great for decks that are simply grass. For each of Shaymin’s attacks to do 60 more damage after your grass is knocked out is supreme.

Not just the attacks of the Level X, but the underling’s attacks, which can be QUITE potent from Shaymin to Shaymin!

Of course, due to the reading of the Body, if the pokemon is knocked out by placing damage counters, or special conditions, the Body does not activate.

There is also the whole issue of Dialga G Level X which can shut down the Body, but it is still strong.

The attack of 2 for 50, and being able to reset all of your energy, is really quite cool.

This could turn into a 1 for 110 attack after something has been knocked out!

Expect to see a TON of these cards in play, with THIS Shaymin Level X being released in the upcoming Pokemon Spring Tins.

Other than the Scizor line, I cannot remember a lot of free retreat grass Pokemon…and Jumpluff line I guess.

A great card. Will be interested to see how people play this one.

Ratings…Modified – 4.2 out of 5. Better than a 4, not quite to a 4.5. I like it though.

Limited – 3.5 out of 5. Hard to get the Shaymin out, but, being a level X, you will draft it ANYWAY!

See you SOON!!!

Vince
Little
Duck
Drew
2006 National
Champion
Uh oh, another shaymin…

A shaymin LevelX with 110 HP and a half decent Poke-Body is not my is not my idea of an ideal level Ex but an all grass deck (with uxie or claydol of course) this Pokemon will be a great addition.

The attack on this Pokemon is a 1 grass and 1 colorless 50 damage attack with the effect of being able to move your energy around on your Pokemon to others as you please, not terrible if you ask me but the card you pair it with will make the deck, but if you feel this Pokemon if good enough to play as a main hitter, its not a bad idea, but as in most levelX decks, the underling makes all the difference.

This card could be paired with the LA vileplume if you chose to play the 14 shaymin in platinum with the attacks of 1 grass for 10damage and heal yourself for 20 damage and put your opponent to sleep, a very good attack in my opinion, I give it 2 thumbs up, its second attack is 1 grass and 1 colorless for 30 damage (80 if the defending Pokemon is affected by a special condition but removes the special condition from the defending Pokemon) another great attack if paired correctly, one thumb up. But remember, this card can be paired with most grass Pokemon, such as a torterra deck or an out of nowhere rogue grass deck (which isn’t a bad idea with no fire in the format)
0D

Now to the basics of the Pokemon, as I said before 110 HP half decent Poke-body, blah blah blah, but with a 0 retreat cost, and a resistance to fighting, this card is good to be a late game hitter, and it’s weakness to fire isn’t a drawback.

You must remember if you play this card, there is another Shaymin levelX out there that could pair better with your deck, so choose wisely. Oh and be careful picking your underling, with a levelX like this one where there’s 3 different underlings, this decision could make or break your deck so be careful.


Ratings

Modified: I give this card a 2/5 lets face it, the other ones just so much better, if you can make a winning deck out of this card I challenge you to try and prove to me that the other one isn’t so much better then this one.

Limited: 3/5 if you can get this card in a draft this card will destroy your foes in a grass deck, because 110 for 2 energy? Its amazing, why don’t I rate it higher? Because getting it is one thing, and getting the underling is another.


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