Ola, chicos y chicas (Spanish for "Hello, boys and girls). I, the McNitester, have decided to start giving strategies again. But enough about me, let's talk about the...

CRAZY MCLIGHT MACHAMP-UMUS

Now we examine him closely...

Its got 100 HP, pretty much standard for a Stage 2 evolution card. It has only 1 attack, Beatdown, which does 50 damage for 3 fighting energy. That's a nice 3:5 energy-to-damage ratio, but something we would expect from a good Stage 1 card, not enough to go WAHOO over for a Stage 2. But the really monkeylicious (a word made by me, meaning "SWEET DEAL!") part about beatdown is...

"If the defending pokemon has Dark in its or is a (Darkness) Pokemon, flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 100 damage instead of 50."

You hear that noise? It's me laughing maniacally on the floor. A heads coin flip will take out ANY Darkness pokemon (not counting Metal Energy, Defender, etc.), and any Dark Pokemon (even with Rocket's Hideout!). This is an AWESOME advantage, considering Dark Scizors (tune in next time, folks), Tyranitars (one of my personal favorites), and Sneasals are quite popular (don't say Dark Scizor isn't popular, because if you do, I will have to whack you in the head with a rabid Furret).

But even better... its Pokemon Power, Tag Team!!! Ahem:

"When you plya Light Machamp from your hand, if it is on your Bench, remove 3 damage counters from your Active Pokemon. If it has fewer damage counters than that, remove all of them. Then, switch Light Machamp with your Active Pokemon."

It's a super-Blissey-riffic-Step-In! 30 Damage off your main attacker can be life saving, PLUS you get to send out a fresh attacker! On top of that, few things can stop this power (examples: Muk (Fossil), Goop Gas Attack, Aerodactyl (Fossil)). Thrilled yet?

Now, granted, it doesn't have a resistance, and is weak to Psychic. But, with the right playing, that won't matter. And a retreat cost of 2 isn't terribly bad for such a great attacker, mainly because you'll rarely find yourself throwing in the towel for this Heavy-Hitter.

And so, we move on to the greatest disadvatage: it evolve from Light Machoke (NOOOO!!!). Light Machoke is pretty much completely non-offensive. That's why I recommend Pokemon Breeder (the only way to evolve ^_^). Just be sure to keep Light Machoke (or, if you have multiple Pokemon Breeders and were smart and didn't put any Light Machoke in your deck, Machop) safe and sound on your bench where you can build it up to be ready for its ultimate purpose. DON'T EVOLVE INTO LIGHT MACHAMP AS SOON AS YOU CAN!!! Get everything ready, and when your attacker's tired and your opponent's smug, THEN play it. That way you can Maximize the efficiency of it's power.

Strategy: For Light Machamp

Basic

You'll probably want to use Base Set Machop, so you'll be ready just in case you find it being your attacker. With a nice 1:2 energy-to-damage ratio and 50 HP, it's a great first turn attacker (but don't lose sight of your ultimate goal: Light Machamp!).

Stage 1

Like I said, use Pokemon Breeder if you can. If you can't, and you must use Light Machoke, well, you are supposed to have it on the bench anyway to use its power.

Deck to use in

Use Light Machamp as the reinforcements in an Oldie Goldie Fossil Ghost deck. Fossil Gastly is (in my view) the best Gastly, Fossil and Expedition Haunters are both good, and Fossil Gengar is a great attacker. Expedition Gengar is good too, but you want whatever Gengar you use to stay out there as your main attacker, and Hide in Shadows doesn't accomplish that (unless you have another Expedition Gengar on your bench... hmmm...). The Fossil ghosts also don't have that pesky weakness to Darkness type pokemon, and can take care of any active Muks. While you're pummeling away with Fossil Gengar's Dark Mind and Curse Pokemon Power, build up the (Light) Mach -op or -oke on your bench, and right when the game is almost lost, Light Machamp can swoop in to save the day!

Strategy: Against Light Machamp

Ooh, this is tough. Your main hope is to have Muk on your bench, where it's safe from the Gengar your opponent is probably using. This will prevent Tag Team, plus Curse, and/or Chaos Move from working. If you find Machamp is active and Mowing your Pokemon down, Expedition Alakazam is juuust right. Or, any other psychic type with an attack that does 50 or more damage (to take out Light Machamp), and has 60 or more HP (to withstand a beatdown). The disadvatage, however, is your opponent's Gengar(s) will have free power to rain down apocalyptic KOing upon whoever this psychic may be. What can I say? A Gengar/Light Machamp deck is nearly unbeatable!

In closing...

Light Machamp is a great card by itself. But when used as backup for a Gengar deck, you're pretty much unstoppable. Now go out there, beg your best friend for his Light Machamp in exchange for some old sneakers, and happy gaming! 

Nite Owl

niteowlthegreat@hotmail.com