Name: Buffer Piece

Type: Trainer

Sub-Type: Pokémon Tool

Attributes: It is a Trainer.  So the upside is you can put as many of them into play (presuming you have the Pokémon for them) as you got per turn.  Of course, there are many things that can foil Trainers: Chaos Gym and Neo Genesis Slowking will make you have to flip, and Dark Vileplume prevents their play completely.  This is a Pokémon Tool, so the upside is that you can have it in play to get around these things.  Of course, an Aerodactyl ex would still ruin it then anyway.  Being a Pokémon Tool (as opposed to an attached Trainer) is very limiting: using one prevents the immediate use of another, and you can’t “stack” like you can with attached Trainers.

Abilities: Well, simply put, after you have been hit by an attack and applied Weakness and Resistance, you then drop the damage by 20.  Not useless, but there is a catch: it goes away at the end of your opponent’s next turn (after having played Buffer Piece).  It also only blocks opposing attacks.

Uses/Combinations: If you have absolutely no Pokémon Tool you think could benefit you, then, early game, this can actually help a bit.  For example, say you do a common opening move: having a Wynaut use repeated Alluring Smiles to set up.  With this, those early attacks by opposing Pokémon won’t hurt as bad, and you can probably sneak in an extra Alluring Smile.  Yes, you could just use a different search Trainer, but most of those are Supporters and even do less than Smile does.  Much as a well timed Strength Charm can win you the game, a well timed Buffer Piece can wreck an opponent’s plans and yes, win you the game, by making them pursue the wrong Strategy.  If a big attack isn’t flip based, it usually includes some other detrimental effect, like Energy discards or self damage.  So, with this dropping after they have “gone for broke” and burned up these resources so that their last attack will be a guaranteed kill… well, it makes a comeback slightly easier.  Of course, pulling that off is probably less likely than getting SER2 to work.  Oh well, I tried.

Ratings

Unlimited: 1/5-Use Defender.  It lasts as long and can stack with itself.  Defender even blocks self damage, something Buffer Piece doesn’t do.  You can then attach Gold Berry or Focus Band as well.

Modified: 1.75/5-Like I said, an incredibly slight chance it can buy you the turn you need, but in the long run, 20 damage isn’t much, and your Pokémon Tool slot is better used for something else.

2-on-2: 1.5/5-Even worse here, since if you don’t play one on each of your Pokémon, then your opponent will just hit the other.  While you could use this to deter your opponent from attacking one of your actives, but its doubtful that it will often save something: like I said, it’s just 20 damage.

TMP: 1.5/5-More or less the same as above-too bad it doesn’t last until the beginning of your next turn; it’d be pretty good then.

Limited: 3/5-Finally, a place it can do some good!  Here, that 20 damage will often matter, enough to give whatever big (or not so big) attackers just one more shot.  Here, that can be enough to give you the game.

Summary: One of those “take an old Trainer and ruin it” cards.  If it didn’t get discarded at the end of the turn, it would be a good Tool, maybe on par with Gold Berry.  But as is, it’s more a joke than anything.

-Otaku ( nintendotaku@hotmail.com )