Dear Pojo,

Please post this under "Card Comparisons" in "Single Card Strategies". Thanks!

    Hi, my name is Blake Danner, and this is my first article.  I am obsessed with all the praise Blastoise gets, and how Venusaur's price is as much as a Zapdos in some Price Guides.  Are people saying that because Venusaur *can't* get powered all in one turn (from zero energy to 4 energy) makes him *worse* than Blastoise? WHAT, ARE YOU PEOPLE CRAZY?  Oh, and by the way, Venusaur CAN get powered up in one turn if you have enough grass energy on your other Pokémon!  Now, let's compare, using a written "point system" (don't bash me, Whether man) rather than the dopey ones.

    First, type.  Well, both types are the major types of one of the expansions, but there are more choices for grass, and that works in Venusaur's way.  Then again, Grass PKMN do little damage, while most Water PKMN do more damage.  And right now, there is a deck based around Blastoise (do I have to say it?) (Although Venusaur could have a deck based aroun him...) Hmmm, it looks like a tie for the first part.  (V:1, B:1).  Second, stage.  Both Stage 2.  Bad, no points. (same score).  Third, HP.  100-100.  Tie, good, a point to each (V:2, B:2).  Pretty even so far, but now comes the good stuff.
Fourth, attacks: Both have a PKMN Power, so let's analyze them.  Venusaur's Energy Trans brings many combos, and you CAN power up Venusaur in one turn, from a no-energy, benched Bulbasaur, to a fully-pumped Venusaur in one turn (by using PKMN Breeder, Venusaur's Energy Trans, and Switch)  (You can do the same with Blastoise, but no one seems to notice that Venusaur can do basically the same thing!).  It also allows for Exeggcutor to stun your opponent's Arcanine!  For Blastoise,  his Raindance PKMN Power is awesome also, because it allows for him and his other "friends" to all be fully-pumped at the same time.  One of the best decks of all-time is based around his Pokémon Power.  Man, this is hard to decide (and I mean it), but since everyone could be powered up all at the same time with Blastoise. I guess I'll give the point to him. =( (V:2, B:3)  For the real "attack," they both have one.  Both can do 60 damage max. (base damage) so it seems like a tie, right?  WRONG!  Venusaur take only 4 energy to do 60, but Blastoise takes 5 energy to do 60!  Sure, Blastoise can at least do something with 3 energy on him, but only 40 damage (Besides, Rain Dance should make up for it, right? But sometimes you won't have enough water energy?  But I thought that Rain Dance decks always has enough energy (Yes, I hate Rain Dance decks)).  Point to Venusaur (V:3, B:3)!  Fifth, weakness.  Venusaur has a weakness to Fire (falls to a Charmeleon), and Blastoise has a weakness to Lightning (falls to MP Pikachu), Lightning is used more, point again to Venusaur (V:4, B:3).  No resistance, no points. (same score).  Last, Retreat Cost: Haha!  Blastoise has a R.C. of 3, while "Mr. Regular" Venusaur has a retreat cost of TWO, and only TWO.  One more than one, one less than three, TWO!!!  Still, both are high, but Venusaur has one less, so guess who wins this point and the match: Venusaur!!!!!!!!!!  Stupid Stadium announcer: "...and Blastoise goes down!  Venusaur is the winner!..."  Thank you, stupid person.
    Now, of course, all of this is just my opinion, and I'm not saying that Blastoise stinks and Venusaur rules all, I'm just saying that Venusaur is better than most people think.  In fact, I still don't have Blastoise and I desperately want him.  Moral: Before you ditch a card that you think is really bad, look at it's REAL stats.  I know I'll get many responses, but remember the moral...