Here comes another Promo variation, it's the Promo Venusaur(American). You
can find it in the Pokemon Trading Card Game(for Gameboy) Player's Guide.
I'd like to take a look at this card and let you all know what I think of
it. Here's it's stats.:
Type:Stage 2 Grass Pokemon
HP:100
Reteat:2
Weakness:Fire
Power:Not exactly sure about the entire text but here's the basic concept:
At any time during your turn(before your attack) you may heal your active
pokemon, and the defending pokemon of, sleep, paralysis, poison, or
confusion.
Attacks:
(GGGG)Mega Drain-40-Remove a number of damage counters from this Pokemon
equal to half of the damage done to the defending Pokemon.

At first glance, Venusaur has alot of potential. 100HP is extremly good,
what surprised me was the 2 Retreat very nice for a Stage 2. It's power is
semi-useful, it deffinatley helps you more then the opponent though. It will
cure YOUR active Pokemon of paralysis, sleep, confusion, or poison. But
since your OPPONENT'S active will already be un-paralyzed, and usually awake
this gives you more possibilities. It is pretty hard sometimes to use this
power with alot of Grass types as the tend to go for Poison though.
I really love the attack, Mega Drain is always a "decent" move, but with a
100HP Pokemon it's really strong. I see this as a great combo with the Base
set Venusaur. Promo Venusaur stalls and does some decent damage, while Base
set Venusaur gives Promo Venusaur quick energy boosts(if needed) and, when
Promo Venusaur gets KO'd you won't worry too much about that 4 energy
attack. This also works extremly well with Pokemon Center, can we say Grass
Stall?
BUT, if your metagame is like mine(and I would say a little more then half
are) there's energy removal, and super energy removal everywhere. I'm sorry
to say, but this completley annihilates this type of deck. So for now,
unless your metagame isn't full of ER and SER to keep this deck idea aside.
But hold-on to your Venusaurs, I think that the Energy Removal Prohibation
Gym Stadium Card will give this deck the break it needs. Once this comes
out, along with many other Gym cards(Victreebell, Vileplume) the "Trans"
deck will become considerably strong. Fear not Grass trainers, help is on
the way!

    -Jared Schroeder Questions and Comments go to:
protoss_warrior@hotmail.com

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