Pokemon Examination

Pokemon Examination: Dark Vileplume

Name: Oddish
Type: Basic Pokemon
Card #: 63 of 82
Rarity: Common
Color: Grass
HP: 50 HP
Weakness: Fire
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1
Pokemon #: 43
Species: Weed
Level: 21
Attack: [G] Sleep Powder
The Defending Pokemon is now Asleep.
Attack: [G] Poisonpowder
The Defending Pokemon is now Poisoned.

Name: Dark Gloom
Type: Stage 1 -- from Oddish
Card #: 36 of 82
Rarity: Uncommon
Color: Grass
HP: 50 HP
Weakness: Fire
Resistance: none
Retreat: 2
Pokemon #: 44
Species: Weed
Level: 21
Power: "Pollen Stench"
Once during your turn (before your attack), you may flip a coin.
If heads, the Defending Pokemon is now Confused; if tails, your
Active Pokemon is now Confused. This power can't be used if Dark
Gloom is Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed.
Attack: [GG] Poison Powder (10)
The Defending Pokemon is now Poisoned.

Name: Dark Vileplume
Type: Stage 2 -- from Dark Gloom
Card #: 13 of 82, 30 of 82
Rarity: (#13) Rare (Holo), (#30) Rare
Color: Grass
HP: 60 HP
Weakness: (#13) Fire, (#30) Fighting
Resistance: none
Retreat: 2
Pokemon #: 45
Species: Flower
Level: 29
Power: "Hay Fever"
No Trainer cards can be played. This power stops working while
Dark Vileplume is Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed.
Attack: [GGG] Petal Whirlwind (30x)
Flip 3 coins. This attack does 30 damage times the number of
heads. If you get 2 or more heads, Dark Vileplume is now
Confused (after dealing damage).

<Note: These cards are very interesting in very many ways. Dark Vileplume has a very interesting Pokemon Power, but other than that... Dark Vileplume comes in two different versions. The non holo verison of it has a weakness to Fighting, while the Holo version has a weakness to Fire. Also, don't you think Level 21 is a bit high for a basic? =) I mean Dark Blastoise is Level 28 and it does 70 damage!>

Strategy: This line is used only for Dark Vileplume's very good Pokemon Power. Hay Fever...what an appropriate name. Of course, Raindance/Hay Fever would be better. Let's start with Oddish. I think Oddish is a very intersting and good evolving Basic. It offers a good 50 HP, meaning that it will take 3 Jabs, 2 Slashes, and 2 Thunderpunches to kill it. Of course, if Buzz Thundershocked the previous turn, it will come down to the flip. Nonetheless, that is an impressive statistic. Oddish's weakness to Fire does not help (but no weaknesses do) and neither does it's non-resistance. Although I would prefer a nonexistant Retreat Cost on him, the HP makes up for it, as do the attacks. Both attacks take only 1 Grass Energy and therefore can be utilized on the first turn. Sleep Powder is automatic Sleep. In my article about Dark Muk, I wrote about Sleep. Automatic Sleep has a 50% chance of preventing all attacks, Pokemon Powers, and Retreat on the next turn. It also has a very small chance of working for multiple turns. Anyway, Sleep Powder is an effective stalling move that can give you, the Trainer, the chance to evolve into Dark Vileplume and ruin the other guy's day. Poisonpowder (gosh, I guess this guy is a powder expert) is automatic Poison. Ha! 10 damage after everyone's turn. That's more than you realize. Both of those attacks are good, but if they just dealt some damage... Dark Gloom is the second evolving Stage 1 I've examined that is just not worth it. The other: Dark Wartortle. Dark Gloom's HP is not sufficient and his Power probably will do as much damage to you as it will to the opponent and Poison Powder (with a new spelling) you should have just used Oddish's. At least it deals some damage. Only 10, though, and that is gonna hurt it big time. Even though Dark Vileplume's Power prevents Trainers, you might want to try Breeders anyway... Dark Vileplume is awesome. Hay Fever prevents all Trainers and I need not explain. This card will hurt Haymakers (goodbye BIll, Oak, & Removal), Raindances (Pokemon Breeder, Computer Search, Oak), Stalls (Pokemon Center, Scoop Up, Switch), and even more. Petal Whirlwind isn't that great. Although it will usually do 30-60 damage, half of the time Dark Vileplume will be confused. Full Heal Energy will do good. Unfortunetaly, HP is only 60...arrgh.

Strengths: Oddish has 2 automatic status effect attacks, one of which is an effective staller. Vileplume's Pokemon Power can do serveral things: (1) Stop Haymakers and Raindances dead in their tracks, therefore making a very effective anti-Haymaker and anti-Raindance, and (2) Stopping all Trainers and thus making a MASSIVE Stall deck. Combine it with Alakazam (with a stall like that you can run 2 Stage 2's) and it is unstoppable. Petal Whirlwind can do strong damage for relatively low Energy.

Weaknesses: Gloom most of all, but... Oddish's attacks do no damage at all. Dark Vileplume is hard to get out because of it's being a Stage 2. Dark Vileplume's attack will confuse it if is does any good damage, and a universal weakness of HP.

Vile Stall: A stall deck with Dark Vileplume. Just to help you guys!

4 Abra (Team Rocket)

14 Grass Energy (or Psychic, if you want)

4 Double Colorless Energy

Trainers (16) Gosh I never thought I would be using 16 Trainers in a deck. I really hate that, but...

2 Imposter Professor Oak

I just made this deck up awhile ago and never tried it. I don't want to make enemies and if you don't I wouldn't suggest it to you. However, I think this concept is a good one and you may want to toy around with this deck.

Conclusion: What do I have to say now?? Dark Vileplume is great but it makes your decks look really wierd, dontcha think.