FIRE
5. Flareon: Flamethrower is costly and discards energy, but the 60 damage is worth it. The 70 HP is good too. All in all, a nice card, second best Eeveelution. Rating: 7.3
4. Fossil Magmar: I don't like him as much as the Base Magmar. However, he is still a very nice card, with a whopping 70 HP, the ever-annoying Smokescreen, and the excellent Smog attack, which does 20 damage with a Poison possibility. Taht makes him the only current non-Grass card aside from Tentacruel to be able to do that. Rating: 8.3
3. Base Magmar: Raw power.....hoohoohoohoohahahahahaaaa! This card is amazingly strong. 30 damage for two energy? 50 for three, one discarded? Excellent! Rating: 8.7
2. Rapidash: Another amazing card. 70 HP is nice, as is its basic form, Ponyta. Its Agility does 30 dmage with a shot at near-invincibility! Stomp is good as well. Very good card. Rating: 8.8
1. Ninetales: Don't get me started. Fire Blast is awesome, 80 damage with only one blinkin' energy discarded! Wonderful! 80 HP is very good, as are one retrat cost and Lure, a built in Gust of Wind. This is a wonderful card, undoubtedly the best in the Fire field.
Finalists: Arcanine, Ponyta, Moltres, Charmeleon
Trash Can: Charizard. See my awards article for my opinion on the big dragon. Ugh.
Trash Can Close Calls: None. Vulpix is forgivable because of 50 HP.

WATER
5. Seadra/Omastar: Both of these are some of my very favourite Pokémon overall, and they are also great cards that don't deserve to be overlooked. Both have Water Gun, which is extremely cheap as well as powerful. Omastar might be a Stage 2, but I happen to think it is awesome. Omanyte is a cool Basic, and Spike Cannon can deal massive damage with some luck. Seadra is cool as well. It has Agility, which, like Rapidash's, gives this speedster a shot at invincibilty while damaging at the same time. Ratings: 7.9 for Omastar, 7.6 for Seadra
4. Vaporeon/Poliwrath: Hands down, Vaporeon is the best Eeveelution. He has the highest HP, as well as the best attack, Water Gun, which can do up to a marvelous 50 damage. Poliwrath can manipulate energy, as well as do massive damge with both attacks. It, too, has nice HP.Rating: 8.2 for Vaporeon, 8.9 for Poliwrath
3. Gyarados: One of the heaviest hitters in the game! Awful basic form and retreat, but his attacks are easily worth it. Dragon Rage and Bubblebeam are AWESOME, giving this Watersnake a great reputation among players. And his fantastic 100 HP can kep him battling a long time. Rating: 9.7
2. Dwegong: I just love the Big Seal. He is uncommon, and therefore far easier to find than Gyarados. Its basic, Seel, is infinitely better than Gyarados' basic, that awful Magikarp. Dewgong does have Gyarados' nasty three retreat cost, but that's the only bad thing about it. Ice Beam is a fairly good attack, Paralyzing just like Gyarados' Bubblebeam, only it does ten less damage for an adequate 30. Aurora Beam is great, dealing a terrific 50 dmage with no catch attached, similar to Gyarados' Dragon Rage. Overall, they are both great cards, but Dewgong, in my opinion, has the upper fin because Seel is a heck of a lot better than that idiotic fish. Rating: 9.8
1. Blastoise: This guy is so amazing that entire decks are built around him, and with plenty of good reason. His Pokémon Power, Rain Dance, is truly awesome, as are his great 100 HP and brutally powerful attack, Hydro Pump. Rating: 9.9
Finalists: Articuno, Lapras, Omanyte, Golduck, Kingler, Seaking
Trash Can: Shellder! Its HP is pathetic. Its attacks do no damage whatsoever, and the effects they do have are utterly worthless. Its evolution, Cloyster, is absolutely horrid. Put simply, this is one of the worst cards of all. Pity, because I personally like the little dude in the game.
Trash Can Close Calls: Cloyster (yuk), Magikarp, Goldeen

GRASS
5. Pinsir: Almost every type has a raw-power Basic Pokémon, and Pinsir is no exception. He is almost as good as his speedy counterpart Scyther, but slower since his attacks cost more. The attacks themselves are great, though. Irongrip is decent and Guillotine lays down some very heavy damage. Rating: 8.2
4. Butterfree/Beedrill: Both of these cards are absolutely magnificent! They both have okay evolution lines, good HP, free retreat, and amazing attacks. Butterfree's are Whirlwind, an okay opponent-chosen Gust of Wind, and Mega Drain, which does huge damage and heals Butterfree a lot in the process. Beedrill's are evenn better. He has the Colorless coin-flipper Twinneedle and the fantastic Poison Sting, which also does massive damage, this time Poisoning instead of healing. Excellent cards! Ratings: 9.4 for Butterfree, 9.6 for Beedrill
3. Venusaur: This is a fantastic Stage 2 card. Its Pokémon Power, Energy Trans, is eternally useful, and it has a massively damaging (yet costly) attack and a nice evolution line. As a capper, its retreat is only two, compared to the whopping three that both its rivals have! Rating: 9.7
2. Scyther: Without a doubt the game's best Basic Pokémon, and easily the most versatile in the game. 70 HP is great for a Basic, and a resistance to Fighting is always handy. To top it off, Scyther also has a Colorless attack with a potential for 60 damage. Only bad part is a weakness to Fire. Definitely deserves the praise he gets. Rating: 9.9
1. Muk: A wonderfully disruptive card. This pile o' sludge is my favourite card in the entire game, no doubt about it! It has the very best Pokémon Power in the game, Toxic Gas, which ignores all other Powers! That's tremendously useful! His attack is decent, and his HP and basic form are nice as well. Just fantastic! Rating: 10.0
Finalists: Nidoking, Golbat, Arbok, Ekans, Grimer, Vileplume, Gloom, Nidorino, Venomoth, Koffing, Weezing, Tangela, Nidoran Female
Trash Can: All of the Bellsprout line is absolutely horrid, but the worst Grass card is Bellsprout herself. Vine Whip is awful, and if you need Call for Family, try Nidoran Female or Oddish. They're both much better.
Trash Can Close Calls: Victreebel, Nidoqueen, Paras, Parasect
FIGHTING
5. Aerodactyl/Marowak: Couldn't choose. Both Marowak's moves, Call for Friend and Bonemearang, are decent, and Aerodactyl's Pokémon Power is magnificent. Both have semi-average HP. I prefer Marowak, because there is nothing else good about Aerodactyl save for a resistance to its own type, which is cool. Ratings: 7.0 for Marowak, 7.6 for Aerodactyl
4. Machamp: An average card. Machoke is horrid, but Machop is cool. 100 HP makes a surprisingly good stall. The Pokémon Power is decent, dealing dmage even on the opponent's turn. And the attack is nice as well. Be sure to have Breeder, though. Rating: 7.6
3, Primeape: Born to be wild-literally. Primeape is one crazy white gorilla! His energy cost is high, but his attacks are very good. Retreat is low, and HP is nice. All in all, this is my favourite Fighting card, although not the best, and he definitely doesn't deserve to be overlooked. Rating: 8.0
2. Hitmonlee: Although not half as fast as his brother/ second cousin/former roommate and fellow Fighter Hitmonchan, his attacks are just as good. His High Jump Kick is powerful, and Stretch Kick is nice against Fight-resistant Pokémon.....which pretty much means half the cards out there! Not a bad card at all, no sah! Rating: 9.0
1. Hitmonchan: Put simply, the speediest Pokémon of all. Nice HP, powerful attacks, and amazing speed make up a great Pokémon. Rating: 9.9
Finalists: Machop, Dugtrio, Golem, Graveler, Diglett, Rhydon, Rhyhorn
The Trash Can: Kabuto is my personal least favourite card in the game. The Power doesn't help much. Scratch is awful. So is 30 HP. His evolution is bad as well. Oy ghevalt. This is just horrible.
Trash Can Close Calls: Machoke, Kabutops, Geodude

ELECTRIC
5. Base Zapdos: Overrated, but very powerful. Has nice HP, Fighting resistance, and semi-g0od attacks, but sucks way too much energy. Retreat is horrid as well. Rating: 7.0
4. Fossil Magneton: Nothing good about blowing yourself up, but this guy's Sonicboom is cool. (No Weakness or Resistance? Woo-hooooo!) 20 more HP than the horrid Base one for a total of 80, but it still has to evolve from that awful Magnemite. Rating: 7.3
3. Electabuzz: "WHAAAAAAAT!?!" Yep, you read right. I personally depsie Electabuzz as a Pokémon, and the TCG was no exception. Love the 70 HP, but he is way too vulnearble. Seriously, a Diglett could absolutely destroy this thing! It is an energy-light Pokémon, but Thunder Wave is only truly useful on the first turn and Thunderpunch is not NEARLY as strong as it is said to be. Oh yeah...Fighting weakness. Sorry to all those that use him, I am not insulting anyone,  I am solely writing my opinion. (No flame mail, please.) Rating: 8.7
2. Base Raichu: Nice Pokémon in general. Nice HP, nice attacks, nice retreat, and very nice basic forms. All the released Pikachu cards are decnt, and it's a tossup as to which to use. Rating: 8.8
1. Base Electrode: I really like this card. His Pokémon Power is terrific, his attack is solid and his HP is nice. A bad basic and Fishting weakness are the only cons to this bomb ball Pokémon. Rating: 9.5
Finalists: All Pikachu, Jolteon, Fossil Raichu
Trash Can: Voltorb! Becomes good, but is awful in every aspect on his own.
Trash Can Close Calls: Jungle Electrode, Base Magneton, Magnemite, Fossil Zapdos, all other English Electric Pokémon

PSYCHIC

5. Kadabra: Okay HP, a Recover move, and abetter attack than its evolution! Great, the only drawback is an awful retreat cost. Rating: 8.0
4. Promo Mewtwo: Strong basic. Energy Absorption is cool, and 70 HP and Psyburn are very nice. Rating: 9.0
3. Alakazam: Good HP, so-so attack, and an AMAZING Pokémon Power. Damage Swap is a very nice Power, but the rest is so-so. Good enough for third-that Power is terrific! Rating: 9.5
2. Hypno: I love this card. No Pok Power, but it has Dark Mind like Gengar and the very cool Prophecy. A weak basic is the lone downside. Rating: 9.8
1. Gengar: Wonderful! Curse is an excellent Pokémon Power, Dark Mind is a cool attack, and 80 HP, one retreat and a fairly good evolution line are nice as well. Great card, second Psychic in the entire game only to its Japanese counterpart the Darkness Gengar. Rating: 10.0
Finalists: Jynx, Mr. Mime, Base Haunter, Fossil Haunter, Fossil Gastly
Trash Can: Base Gastly. I'm not even gonna bother to explain. Read a blinkin' spoiler if you need to. This card is downright horrible. And that's putting it mildly.
Trash Can Close Calls: Base Mewtwo, Drowzee, Abra

COLORLESS
5. Fearow/Dodrio: Both are great. I personally really like Ferow, he is immensely strong. Dodrio isn't very powerful, but it has an amazing Pokémon Power, Retreat Aid, one of the best in the game. Your active  Pokémon's retreat is lowered by the number of Dodrio on your bench! Both of these uncommon birds also have Fighting resistance, free retreat, 70 HP and nice Basic Pokemon  Ratings: 8.3 for both
4. Dragonite: Combo it with the aforementoined Dorio to make all retreats free using its PokéPower, Step In. A quaint one retreat and a full 100 HP are both very cool, and its one attack, Slam, can pound the opposition with some lucky coin flips. Rating: 8.3
3. Chansey: One word: Stall. Chansey's got a massive 120 HP, great for decks focusing on that one word. Double-Edge hurts both itself and the opponent massively, and Scrunch ain't bad either. Rating: 8.6
2. Wigglytuff: If you have a full bench, Do The Wave will pound the opponent, doing a massive 60 dmage! 80 HP is cool too. A lot of people underrate her, but she certainly does not deserve to be. Rating: 9.0
1. Clefable: Metronome is the game's BEST attack. If you own the game, you'll know what this does. What the hey, I'll explain. Put simply, it lets you use an opponent's move. Absolutely wonderful! Oh yes, and 70 HP is cool too. Rating: 10.0
Finalists: Persian, Lickitung, Clefairy, Jigglypuff, Spearow, Doduo, Dragonair
Trash Can: Pidgey Oh, come on, a double colorless for a ten-damage, opponent-chosen Gust of WInd? Yuk!
Trash Can Close Calls: Meowth, Dratini, Pidgeotto, Pidgeot

TRAINERS
5. PlusPower: This card works wonders. An extra ten damage can make a huge difference. Rating: 10.0
4. Professor Oak. Sovles all your problems. However, novices should use it carefully so as not to deck themselves. Rating: 10.0
3. Gust of Wind/Switch: Both miracle-workers. GOW is nice to blow out a low-HP Pokémon and defat it to stop your opponent from evolving it or to earn a quick prize. Switch is a lifesaver to high-retreating, ailing, or near-fainted Pokémon, or when you're in any jam. Rating: 10.0 for both.
2. Bill: Card advantage by two! Great! Rating: 10.0
1. Pokémon Trader: This card lets you find the perfect card for the job without discarding more than one card, and the only discarded card is one you don't need. Wonderful. Rating: 10.0
Finalists: Computer Search, Item Finder, Energy Removal, Super Energy Removal, Energy Retrieval, Energy Search, Defender, Full Heal, Pokédex, Recycle, Mr. Fuji, Scoop Up, Pokémon Breeder, Lass, Gambler, Impostor Oak, Pokémon Center
Trash Can: Maintenance. I have absolutely no clue as to why this card was made.
Trash Can Close Calls: Revive, Pokémon Flute, Pokéball, Devolution Spray, Clefairy Doll, Mysterious Fossil, Potion, Super Potion

Well, that's it! G'night everybody! (I had to say that.........)

The Mukmaster