>   Hey Spike I need help on a deck I'm playtesting at
this moment.
>I am trying for a raindance deck but with the cards I
have in my
>possesion it's sort of hard. For some very odd reason
it's hard to
>get another Blastoise. But with christmas around the
corner I'm hoping.
>Here's the deck I have.
>
>Pokemon: 13 Basic , 7 evolution
>3 Squirtle
>2 Wartortle
>1 Blastoise
>4 Seel
>3 Dewgong
>2 Magicarp
>1 Gyarados
>2 Lapras
>2 Articuno
>
>Trainers:
>2 Oaks
>3 Bills
>2 Comp. Search.
>2 Poke Ball
>3 Recycle
>2 S. Potion
>2 Potion
>
>Energy: 24 Water
>
>Strategy:
>    The whole idea is to get to the blastoise as fast
as possible. But
>with
>just one I added in Comp. Search's and Poke Balls. I
like Poke Balls
>because
>they don't make me discard which almost every game I
play I almost deck
>
>myself or I do. The Articuno are great against a
haymaker and Lapras is
>
>awesome with 80 Hps and 2 mediocre attacks. Tell me
what you would do
>thanx,
>"The Extinguisher".

***

Unlike some other deck mechanics, I'm not deterred by
card availibility. Almost anybody can find a way to
get what they need, even if it takes a few weeks and a
little effort (yes, and money.) When you send in a
deck to me, I am going to recommend the best cards for
your situation, even if you end up with a deck bulging
with rares. If you say something like "I live in
Alaska, and there are no card shops or any other
players within a 200-mile radius" I may suggest some
interim solutions, but in general I don't have much
sympathy for players who are willing to settle for
second best on more than a temporary basis.

Now then:

1) Your Blastoise evolution needs one more of each
stage. Then there's the Dewgong vs. Gyarados debate.
Gyarados is probably better in mono decks--it also
helps defuse an otherwise nasty weakness to electric.
I'm taking out Dewgong for more Gyarados--but if you
really like Dewgong, you can of course keep it in.
Just know that it makes you a bit weaker. Also add in
another Articuno and Lapras. I don't agree with Lapras
having mediocre attacks, but I won't press the
subject. The advent of Lapras has been great against
Mr. Mime, which before pretty much shut down Rain
Dance.

2) Your trainers are interesting. There are some that
are very good, and some that are, erm, not quite so
good. The Oaks and Bills are nice, but another Oak
would be even better. I don't like Pokeball at all
when there's anything better--in a deck like this, 2
or 3 Computer Search should be all you need. Take out
the regular Potions and the Recycle for 4 Energy
Removals. Is that all? Looks like it...

***

22 Pokemon:

4 Squirtle
3 Wartortle
2 Blastoise
4 Magicarp
3 Gyarados
3 Lapras
3 Articuno

15 Trainers:

3 Oak
3 Bill
3 Computer Search.
2 Super Potion
4 Energy Removal

23 Energy:

23 Water Energy

***

I admit it, it's unfair that Blastoise decks get fixed
much more often in this garage than other decks. I'll
try to work on it, but it's just so nice, because I
can just whip through them and send them off. Anyways,
I hope you found a Blastoise under the tree :-)

(This deck gets the official "I DID NOT HAVE TO ADD
ANY OAKS OR BILLS TO THIS DECK" award. Yes, I did add
an Oak, but I didn't *have* to...hehe)





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