Jason Klaczynski
"Ness"
Two-Time World Champion
Check out The Klaczynski Open. August 31, 2013 |
Dragonite
Turning item cards off can be
extremely disruptive in modified, as decks often run 20+
item cards. However, one issue facing Dragonite is that
a three-energy requirement on a Stage 2 makes Deafen
sometimes too slow to disrupt your opponent. In a fast
format where our opponent often plays Rare Candy on Turn
2, a Turn 3 Deafen will be too late to disrupt our
opponent.
One neat aspect of stopping our
opponent from playing items is that our opponent is
unable to play Pokémon Catcher nor Tool Scrapper, making
a Garbodor with a tool on it basically untouchable.
Modified: 4/5
Limited: 1/5
Combos with: Double Colorless
Energy, Garbodor
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virusyosh |
Hello once again, Pojo readers! Today we're reviewing
a card that some people have been trying to build around
in Modified, since it is superficially similar to a very
popular card from years past. Today's Card of the Day is
Dragonite.
Dragonite is a Stage 2 Dragon Pokemon. Dragons still see
some play, with Black Kyurem-EX still a popular force in
Blastoise decks, as well as Rayquaza-EX occasionally
popping up as well. 150 HP is decent for a Stage 2, and
should allow Dragonite to take at least one hit (along
with a Hypnotoxic Laser/Virbank) combo before going
down. Like in the video games, Dragonite is weak to
Dragon, but since both Black Kyurem-EX and Rayquaza-EX
will OHKO anyway, it doesn't matter all that much in
Modified. Dragonite also has no Resistance and a Retreat
Cost of three, which is a bit of a pain to pay for, so
be sure to have a Switch, Escape Rope, Float Stone, or
Scramble Switch ready.
This Dragon Pokemon has two attacks. Deafen is very
similar to Dialga G's attack from Platinum, dealing 60
damage for three Colorless Energy and prevents your
opponent from playing Item cards from their hand during
their next turn. With Gothitelle rotating out, many are
looking for the next big Pokemon for Item lock, so many
are testing with Dragonite and Zebstrika NXD. Dragonite
is the slower of the the two with a more expensive
attack and higher Retreat Cost, but it also deals more
damage and has more HP. For the attack itself, 60 damage
and locking Items for three Energy is fair, but not
amazing. That being said, a deck built around this
effect (and able to use it well) will be quite
formidable in a game driven by Item use.
Healwing is Dragonite's second attack, dealing 90 damage
for a Grass, a Lightning, and two Colorless, while also
healing 30 damage from Dragonite. This is great in
Limited, but it's a tad expensive for Modified (where
you'll be primarily focusing on using Deafen anyway).
However, Healwing also heals 30 damage from Dragonite,
so it allows Dragonite to tank, making Dragonite an
excellent Pokemon to use in the Limited environment.
Modified: 2.5/5 Dragonite has some Modified potential,
but it has a few roadblocks, as well. First, Deafen has
great potential as a new Item locking Pokemon, but it
requires three Energy and has a somewhat average damage
output. Second, unlike Gothitelle/Accelgor, Deafen
leaves Dragonite open to attack, so your opponent will
be able to hit Dragonite back, which is much less
effective than using Accelgor's Deck and Cover to
Paralyze the Defending Pokemon. Then again, since we are
left without Gothitelle in the next rotation and Item
lock is still a popular strategy, Dragonite could still
be viable. Expect to see a little bit of Dragonite (as
well as Zebstrika) next format, as people experiment
with new Item locking strategies.
Limited: 5/5 Dragonite is an excellent Pokemon for
Limited. Deafen is great due to its Colorless Energy
requirements, though the Item locking ability will not
be quite as great here. Of course, Healwing is
excellent, dealing great damage and healing Dragonite,
though the cost and the split Energy requirements are a
bit disappointing. That being said, like many powerful
Stage 2s in Limited, getting Dragonite out and powered
up should be enough to seal you the win.
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