Baby Mario
2010 UK
National
Seniors
Champion |
Blastoise
EX (XY)
It’s always nice to see the Kanto starters make an
appearance in the TCG, though of the three
Blastoise seems to be the
only one who ever makes a significant competitive
impact, and even that only happens when he gets Rain
Dance.
I don’t think that Blastoise
EX will be the card to break that pattern either. Yes,
it is a big powerful EX with a couple of good things
going for it such as having 180 HP instead of 170 (it
makes more difference than you think), and an attack
(Splash Bomb) which does 120 damage (and therefore OHKOs
one of those 170 HP EXs with Muscle Band and Laser/Virbank
– told you 180 HP was better!). It also has a fairly
cheap, disruptive punch-and-run attack in the shape of
Rapid Spin.
So, why won’t this be competitive? Simply because it
exists in a format where there are tons of even bigger
and badder EXs. If you want
to hit and run, then Palkia
EX is better. If you want to commit a lot of Water
Energy to a Pokémon for some massive hitting, then you
would use Black Kyurem EX,
which can one-shot anything less than a Mega Evolution
without the need for Bands and Lasers. Cards don’t exist
in a vacuum: they are only good or bad relative to what
else is out there. When it comes to
Blastoise, you can do so much better.
Rating
Modified: 2.5 (by the standards of the format, another
meh EX)
Limited: 3.75 (not the best EX for limited either, due
to the potential for self damage. Still solid though)
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HEZ
Intro to
Unlimited 150 |
Blastoise EX.
Standard.
For some reason Blastoise doesn’t need Squirtle and
Wartortle anymore, it can do this all by itself these
days! Apart from you can’t can you Blastoise? Despite
being a 180 HP Basic, the Stage 2 version is so much
better largely due to its incredibly powerful Deluge
Ability. The EX’s attacks are both quite lacklustre for
an EX, the 2nd one being reminiscent of
regular Basics like Zekrom or Kyurem.
Of course, this card isn’t made for attacking any more
than a Squirtle is, its only purpose in life it to Mega
Evolve into a M Blastoise EX. But with format all-star
Keldeo EX still around, the need to Evolve and skip a
turn just doesn’t seem to be worth it. Just like last
year, you’re better off using regular Blastoise to
Deluge huge amounts of Energy onto a Keldeo EX.
Unlimited 150.
N/A (Banned)
Ratings.
Standard: 2.5
Unlimited 150: N/A
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