Hello people, Kevin here.  I've noticed how many people say this card or
that type is "dying."  I've realized that, though it seems extreme now, this
has been going on since the beginning.

Base-When the first set came out, several Archtypes developed quickly,
including Haymaker, Rain Dance, and Stall.  However, Stall quickly took a
nosedive.  Even though it was successful for a time, players soon realized
how powerful a Gust of Wind could be when the entire bench was full of
damage already.

Jungle-With the release of this set, the previous Colorless attack favorite
Farfetch'd, with it's 3-for-one attack, was pushed aside for a replacement
with more HP, less retreat cost, and a useful first attack in grass decks.
This, of course, is Scyther.  Also, Mr. Mime was supposedly the "death" of
Rain Dance decks.

Fossil-Supposedly revived Rain Dance and Stall, by adding Lapras, Articuno,
and Moltres.  They changed the decks, but not the strategy (well, Moltres
did a little).  Ditto was a revolutionary card in all decks and the
traners...well, the traners kinda sucked.

Team Rocket-This set caused the explosion of popularity of Wigglytuff.  With
cards like RSA to disrupt opponents and Challenge! to fill the bench, I
think no other Archetype benefitted as much as Wiggly.  This was, to many
people, the "death" of evolutions.

Gym Heroes and Challenge-These sets went a long way toward changing the way
people play.  Rocket's Zapdos was a severe blow to Haymakers because it
could blast any 70 HP Pokémon down in one shot.  It also rescued them,
because it became a key Haymaker Pokémon itself.  Also, the birth of a new
Archtype arose from The Rocket's Trap--The Trapper.  This was the "death" of
Rain Dance and Fighting.

Neo-This set was a giant leap for evolutions and disruption alike.  With
lots of amazing new cards introduces, we are seeing the rise of lots of new
Archtypes.  Meganium is the most dominant stage 2, Slowking and Dark
Vileplume have grown to counter the trainer-heavy decks, Cleffa has become
an almost Oak-like staple in decks, and the amazing Sneasel is a favorite of
beat-down, trapper, haymaker, and disruption players.  With this set
everyone said "Fighting is dying."  However, Gligar and Hitmonchan continue
to be used to this day.

As you can see, cards that are considered killer one day can end up at the
bottom of the barrel with the next release.  With the release of Neo 2, many
people expect Igglybuff to rise and kill of Slowking and Dark Vileplume.
However, even if that happens, something else will come around and kill of
Igglybuff.  Every card will have a weakness, but there will always be
someone willing to play it and improve it, and what you consider dead could
end up the next Archtype.

Questions?  Comments?  E-mail me at...
JoltiMew@hotmail.com