Today we take a look at Alakazam and Blastoise.
Alakazam
80 HP
Pokemon Power: Damage Swap: As often as you like during your turn (before your attack), you may move 1 damage counter from 1 of your Pokemon to another, as long as you don’t Knock Out that Pokemon. This power can’t be used if Alakazam is Asleep, Confused or Paralysed.
PPP Confuse Ray 30:
Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokemon is now Confused.
Weakness: P
Resistance: -
Retreat Cost: CCC
Blastoise
100 HP
Pokemon Power: Raindance: As often as you like during your turn (before your attack), you may attach 1 W Energy to 1 or your Water Pokemon. (This doesn’t use up your 1 Energy card attachment for the turn.) This power can’t be used if Blastoise is Asleep, Confused or Paralysed.
WWW Hydro Pump 40:
Does 40 damage plus 10 more damage for each W Energy attached to Blastoise but not used to pay for this attack’s Energy cost. Extra W Energy after the 2nd doesn’t count.
Weakness: E
Resistance: -
Retreat Cost: CCC
HP:
Well Blastoise wins the HP with 100 HP compared to Alakazam’s 80 HP. 100 is a lot more than 80 for a Stage 2, especially since you have to get through a lot of weak basics to get this result.
1-0
Powers:
There has been great dispute over which Pokemon has the greatest Power. They both hold the base of two very widely played decks, Damage Swap/Stall and Raindance. While Alakazam swaps the damage to either deck the opponent, keep your opponent from getting prizes or keep your active Pokemon alive, to continue dealing a lot of damage, Blastoise lets his entire bench have as much Energy as they need, for heavy, fast and hard hitting. I will not endeavour to sort out which Power is better, as reading hate-mail from either supporters of Blastoise or Alakazam, is not high on my list of enjoyable things to do.
1-0
Attacks:
Blastoise has the strongest attack, which benefits from its own Power, Raindance. It does a solid 40 damage for 3W while Alakazam does only 30 for 3P. Alakazam’s attack would be a lot better with instant confusion.
2-0
Weakness:
With all those haymakers with Electabuzzes out there, Blastoise is definitely not safe.
Alakazam is definitely better off as it is weak to it’s own type, giving it just as much chance as the defending Pokemon. But if Alakazam becomes confused, it does double the damage to itself and it can’t swap damage, that’s why Alakazam should mainly sit on the bench. But Alakazam can counter strike that with his own move having a chance of confusing.
2-1
Resistance:
Neither has resistance.
2-1
Retreat Cost:
Both have 3C. Not good, but the same.
2-1
Blastoise wins this battle with overall stats higher. But there is still great debate over whose power is better. E-mail me with your comments (see below).
One thing (IMO) Blastoise has an easy Power to control, but it takes a lot more skill to control Alakazam’s Power, as you have to make careful decisions, like when to play Pokemon Centres or who you should swap damage to, if your Chanseys are full.
On one last note, let’s have a look at the game, if we took out Blastoise and Alakazam. Articuno, Poliwrath and Gyarados, would still have great power, but not as much as if Blastoise’s Raindance had helped them power up. You would see Poliwrath being played a lot more, along with Gyarados. (Unfortunately, since I have not managed to get my hands on any dark cards, I cannot comment on either Alakazam or Blastoise’s impact on this playing area.)
Alakazam’s disappearance would see Chansey’s use limited and Mr. Mime would not be as effective, as no damage swapping off Mr. Mime would be able to be done. Gengar would most probably have more Psychic decks centred around him and Hypno.
That’s all for today!
Darknz