|
Sandslash (HGSS)
In a set full of extremely prettyful artwork, Sandslash
HGSS stands out as one of my favourites. I just love the
pose and the beautiful colours in Yukiko Baba’s picture.
But if great art made a great card, then we would all be
playing Ho-Oh Legend and Arcanine HGSS decks. And we’re
not.
Sandslash is a Stage 1 Pokémon, so it needs to work hard
to get any attention in a competitive environment. Not
having a Power or Body is not a good start, and neither
is that mediocre 80 HP and double Water Weakness. On a
more positive note, Lightning Resistance might well be
the best possible one to have right now (even if its
only -20), and no Retreat cost is always welcome, even
if it is a bit bizarre to see a 65lb porcupine skip back
to the Bench for free while something like Zapdos always
seems to get lumbered with a Retreat cost of two.
Poison Sting costs [F][C] and is Sandslash’s first
attack. For that cost you get to do 30 damage and auto
Poison. That’s not a good return on your Energy
investment: the Poison is a bonus, but Status Conditions
are too easily shrugged off to count for much in this
format. Add another [C] Energy (or use Double Colourless
Energy) and you can use Sandslash’s second attack, Fury
Swipes. For that three Energy cost, you get to flip
three coins and do 30 damage for each heads. Even
assuming you were lucky, 90 for three is decent at most,
and when 30 or 60 for three are just as likely outcomes
. . . well, what you have there is a pretty poor attack.
Underpowered, flippy, and unable to stand up to much. My
RH Sandslash all look very nice in my binder, which is
where they will stay.
Rating
Modified: 1.5 (I want to play it because of the art but
the rubbish attacks won’t let me)
Limited: 2.5 (rubbish attacks are . . . well, less
rubbish in Limited)
|
