Hi, this is Pookachu. I'm replying to BMW's article discussing the top cards.
My comments are in red
Top 5 water Pokemon:
1. Blastoise - The only way you are LEGALLY able to break a major
Pokemon rule, allowing you to put down multiple energies.
I agree.
2. Lapras - The Haymaker Pokemon water has waited for.
I partially agree, but I would put Dk. Blastoise in this spot.
3. Dark Blastoise - 70 for 4 is awesome. Blastoise+Dark Blastoise is a
killer combo
Should be in spot 2, and I would put Articuno here.
4. Dark Golduck - 3 cards for an energy and 50 for PPC makes this card
the Colorless killer in Psychic decks.
Good point, but I would put Gyrados here.
5. Gyarados - WWW for 50 and 100 HP make this card strong. Rated this
low for grass weakness (Scyther chow) and it evolves from Magikarp.
Since this would be moved up, I would put Lapras here.
Honorable Mention: Articuno, Dark Gyarados and Dewgong
Top 5 Grass Pokemon:
1. Scyther - In my opinion, and many others' opinions as well, this is
the best card in the game. 70 HP and turn 2 60 is great.
Yes. Except for the best in game part. But this is the best Grass Pokemon.
2. Muk - Muk's Pokemon Power shuts down both Raindance and Damage Swap. Has
an average attack as well.
Well, Muk can be dealt with by Lapras and Kadabra, but a good card still.
Just maybe not number 2. Probably 4.
3. Beedrill - I think Beedrill is HIGHLY underrated. It is Scyther's
stage 2 cousin. Free retreat, Fighting resistance, 80 HP, GGG for 40 and
Poison. Highly underrated.
Amen! I agree, I love using Beedrill. Put him in slot 2.
4. Venusaur - His Pokemon Power allows for easy use of Pokemon Center,
and can save energy when a Pokemon dies by switching it off before hand.
Hmmm.... I don't agree. He is a bit slow, and Muk can shut him down easily. I
would guess him as 5.
5. Dark Muk - Raising retreat costs really hurts some Pokemon.
Unfortunately, it only work when Muk is active.
Move him up to 3. A good partial Anti-Scyther.
Honorable Mention: Nidoking, Pinsir Venomoth
Top 5 Fire Pokemon:
1. Ninetales - 80 for 4, 80 HP, and 1 retreat cost is awesome for a
Stage 1.
I like Fossil Magmar better. Switch him to 3. But the reasons are good.
2. Fossil Magmar - Smokescreen is the best disrupter in the game and
Smog is a great finisher.
Fossil Magmar is the best fire Pokemon in my opinion. Although Dark Jolteon
has a better disruptor (Lightning Flash)
3. Arcanine - 100 HP and 80 for RRCC is amazing. Would have rated higher
if not for the 3 retreat cost and self damage
Put him in space 2. Cleaner anyone?
4. Rapidash - Agility is good and Rampage is good. 70 HP is a little
above average also.
Agreed. It can do more damage for 2 colorless than Ponyta. And free retreat
is a plus.
5. Dark Flareon - Rage is the Scyther killer and Playing with Fire can
be effective too.
I agree. Rage is nice for taking out scythers.
Honorable Mention: Dark Charizard
Top 5 Psychic Pokemon:
1. Movie Mewtwo - This guy is the best late-game Pokemon currently.
Energy Absorption really helps powering up for Psyburn.
I agree. A great Haymaker Pokemon.
2. Alakazam - The power behind Stall decks with Damage Swap.
Exactly. The attack is ok also. But the Power is the best part. Although 80
HP is a bit low.
3. Dark Alakazam - Teleport Blast puts a hit and run twist to psychic
decks and mind Shock is useful on Colorless Pokemon
Yah, true. I agree.
4. Gengar - Curse is good for that last kill and Dark Mind is an above
average attack
Good point. I like comboing him w/ Mew.
5. Fossil Haunter - Transparency is a nice Power to have.
I would put Jynx here, because 2 for 10 and sleep is not that great.
Honorable Mention: Jynx Put in spot 5. 70 HP is great. Meditate can help by
increasing the damage done each shot. I like it better.
Top 5 Fighting Pokemon:
1. Hitmonchan - Do I really need to explain? 70 HP basic with quick
attacks. We've heard this before.
Agreed. The attacks are excellent. Although Rockets Hitmonchan could be here
also.
2. Aerodactyl - Shuts down Raindance, Damage Swap, Wigglytuff and any
other deck that relies on evolutions.
Like Muk, a bit overrated. But still good. Excellent against Ditto because he
has resistance to himself.
3. Hitmonlee - High Jump kick is great and Stretch Kick is good.
Agreed. High Jump Kick is excellent in mono-Fighting.
4. Dark Machamp - Fling is a great disrupter and Mega Punch is not bad
I disagree. Fling is not that good. I would put the new Rocket's Hitmonchan
here.
5. Dugtrio - 40 for FFC is good and Earthquake would be great if not for
the bench damage.
Agreed. Earthquake can be devastating.
Honorable Mention: None
Top 5 Electric Pokemon:
1. Electabuzz - See Hitmonchan
My personal favorite Basic Pokemon, 40 on turn 2 is just too good. And for a
Lightning and a Colorless!
2. Base Electrode - Electric Shock is above average and Buzzap can be
useful
A perfect quick powerup for big expensive attacks.
3. Dark Jolteon - Electric Flash is like Smokescreen only with more
damage.
Yes. A good staller. And the best 1 energy attack in the game.
4. Dark Magneton - Sonicboom is good Electric resistant Pokemon and
Magnetic Lines functions as an Energy Removal
This guy is better replaced with Fossil Zapdos.
5. Fossil Raichu - Great bench disrupter
True. HP is high and the attack is good. Use Electrode's Buzzap with this guy.
Honorable Mention: Dark Raichu, Fossil Zapdos. Fossil Zapdos should be at
4.
the attack is slow but worth it.
Top 5 Colorless Pokemon:
1. Wigglytuff - Do The Wave is awesome, especially when combined with
Challenge!
Yes. Wiggly decks are good. And Jigglypuff is a good Basic.
2. Ditto - Copies a heavy hitter's attack, but can be powered up quicker
with DCE
Yep. Although watch out for your opponent switching Pokemon.
3. Chansey - I don't see Chansey high on many Top 5/10 lists, so I guess
he is the unsung hero of stall decks
Yep. The mother of Big Basic Pokemon, Chansey can stall and attack. The self
damage hurts though.
4. Clefable - Any attack for one energy is great, but it's HP is average
and Clefairy is GOW bait.
I agree. Metronome is great, and minimize seems to boost that HP.
5. Dark Dragonair - Evolutionary Light helps in any evolution deck
I agree, this guy give Wiggly a boost.
Honorable Mention: Dragonair
Top 10 Trainers:
1. Bill - 2 cards on demand
Yep. Great for SPEED!
2. Professor Oak - Crummy hand, be gone!
See Bill.
3. Comp. Search - Get what I want when I want it.
Exactly. A great card.
4. Energy Removal - Sets your opponent back a turn.
Hmmm... replace this with Super Energy Removal and ya got it.
5. Nightly Garbage Run - Rated low because the cards go to your deck not
your hand
Yes, but you can put back discarded CPU searchs in your deck.
6. Pokemon Center - Get rid of all damage
Along with all that energy? I think not. Put lass here instead.
7. Item Finder - get valuable Trainers back from the discard pile
Agreed, it does what NGR doesn't.
8. Rocket's Sneak Attack - Get rid of your opponent's Trainers
And see their hand! Excellent.
9. PlusPower - Kill an opponent in one turn instead of two.
Now Wiggly can take out them Hitmonchans and Electabuzzes in one turn.
10. Gust of Wind - Pick out the easy kill
Exactly. They're waiting to get a Blastoise for that Squirtle on their bench?
Hitmonchan will take care of it.
Honorable Mention: Super Energy Removal, Lass, Energy Retrieval, Switch,
Impostor Professor Oak's Revenge, Challenge!, Pokemon Breeder.
(NOTE: I probably over looked several Trainers that deserved mention, so
do NOT flame me for that. Thank you) Lass should be on the list instead of
Pokemon Center. A better card.
Well, thanks for reading. And E-mail me at PikachuPac@aol.com
Also look me up at Pokegym.thedojo.com on the message boards as Pookachu.