Baby Mario
2010 UK
National
Seniors
Champion |
Haunter
(Triumphant)
So, today we look at the only card of the week that is
actually still legal for modified play. In fact, if you
wanted to play Gengar, this
is your only option for that Stage 1 slot.
As a Pokémon, Haunter isn’t
quite as spooky as Gengar,
though those purple teeth and (especially) those
disembodied claw hands make it a pretty scary
proposition. The artwork on this particular card seems
to capture Haunter in a very
frightening pose too.
As an evolving Stage 1, this isn’t a bad card at all. 70
HP isn’t anything to write home about, but the free
Retreat and rarely-seen Weakness (for the moment anyway)
are good to have. Sneaky Placement’s effect of putting
two damage counters on one of your opponent’s Pokémon
could be situationally
useful and has nice synergy with the LV X and the Prime.
Sleep Poison costs two Energy of any
Colour and does exactly what it says on the tin,
inflicting both Status Conditions.
Nothing spectacular, but again,
there are circumstances where it could come in handy.
Even back before the rotation when there was a choice of
four Haunters to run, this
one usually earned at least one spot, if only as a way
of giving Gengar decks an
out against Umbreon UD. It’s
nothing special, but for what it is,
Haunter TM has proved its
worth.
Rating
Fear Factor as a Pokémon: 3.75
Fear Factor as a TCG card: 2
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virusyosh |
Hello hello, Pojo viewers! Today we're continuing
Scary Pokemon Week by actually reviewing a card that is
Modified-legal. Today's Card of the Day is Haunter from
HS Triumphant.
Haunter is a Stage 1 Psychic Pokemon. Gothitelle and Mew
Prime are the two most common Psychics in the Modified
format right now, although Gengar Prime does see a bit
of play in Lostgar, so Haunter has a natural place
there. 70 HP is below average for a Stage 1, meaning
that Haunter won't be able to stand up to many hits from
most of the Modified metagame - Yanmega Prime, Reshiram,
Zekrom, Tornadus, and many other attacks will easily
OHKO. Darkness Weakness is nice, only really coming into
play against the rare Tyranitar Prime or Weavile UD.
Colorless Resistance is likewise fairly nice against
Cinccino BW and Bouffalant. Finally, a free Retreat Cost
is the best you can have, and gives Haunter nice
flexibility if you need it out of the Active Position.
Haunter has two attacks, Sneaky Placement and Sleep
Poison. Sneaky Placement puts two damage counters on one
of your opponent's Pokemon in any way you like for a
single Psychic Energy. This attack is fairly decent,
essentially sniping 20 damage anywhere you want while
also getting around damage-reducing and
damage-triggering effects like Defender and Druddigon's
Rough Skin. In Modified, however, this attack will only
realistically work in the early game, as 20 damage isn't
significant enough to have a great effect on heavy
hitters later on. Sleep Poison costs two Colorless
Energy (or a Double Colorless) and does exactly what
you'd expect: the Defending Pokemon is Asleep and
Poisoned. This type of attack is better in a slower
format like Limited, as chances are your opponent can
simply use a Switch or Super Scoop Up to get out of the
conditions in Modified.
Modified: 2/5 This is the only legal Haunter in
Modified, so if you're running Gengar Prime, this is
what you get. Free retreat is fairly nice as is damage
placement in the early game, but chances are if you're
attacking with Haunter, you're in trouble.
Limited: 3/5 Haunter is a solid choice for Limited.
Sneaky Placement allows you to easily pick off weakened
and low HP opponents, where Sleep Poison can buy you
some time while dealing Poison damage. It's not a top
pick and isn't fast, but Haunter is fairly solid and
will make a good addition to a Triumphant Limited deck
running Psychic.
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