Hello again, readers of the PoJo. It has come time for my second part of my
Rocket Review! This time I shall review the uncommon cards.
By the way, you may be wondering about what I meant with Dark Hypno and
Articuno in Part One. I am referring back to a joke that is in Spike's deck
garage....mmm, Icy Bench Manipulator :-).
Name: Dark Charmeleon
Type: Stage 1 -- from Charmander
Card #: card 32 of 82
Rarity: Uncommon
Color: Fire
HP: 50 HP
Weakness: W
Resistance: none
Retreat: 2
Pokemon #: 5
Species: Flame
Level: 23
Attack: [2] Tail Slap (20)
Attack: [FFF] Fireball (70)
Use this attack only if there are any F Energy cards attached to
Dark Charmeleon. Flip a coin. If heads, discard 1 of those
Energy cards. If tails, this attack does nothing (not even
damage).
Everyone says this is a great Haymaker killer. I say, HOW THE HECK!?!?!?!?!
The card is trying to tell me that Dark Charmeleon can support ten grown men
upon it's tail alone, yet he can't support 50 points of damage?! His attack
is also horrible, involving both discarding **and** coin flips! And what's
with this: :"Use this attack only if there are any F Energy cards attached
to
Dark Charmeleon". It requires three fire, so that bit of text is
practically
useless, unless you use Rainbow Energy. But then, I don't know who'd be
idiotic enough to attach three energy cards that do ten damage apiece to the
Poke' you attach it to on a 50HP Pokemon...
Name: Dark Dragonair
Type: Stage 1 -- from Dratini
Card #: card 33 of 82
Rarity: Uncommon
Color: Colorless
HP: 60 HP
Weakness: none
Resistance: P -30
Retreat: 2
Pokemon #: 148
Species: Dragon
Level: 28
Power: "Evolutionary Light"
Once during your turn (before your attack), you may search your
deck for an Evolution card. Show it to your opponent and put it
into your hand. Shuffle your deck afterward. This power can't
be
used if Dark Dragonair is Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed.
Attack: [3] Tail Strike (20+)
Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 20 damage plus 20 more
damage; if tails, this attack does 20 damage.
This guy is.....overrated. He allows you to search your deck for evolutions
without coin flips, but he's an evolution himself. In most cases, I'd stick
with Pokemon
Traders.
Name: Dark Electrode
Type: Stage 1 -- from Voltorb
Card #: card 34 of 82
Rarity: Uncommon
Color: Electric
HP: 60 HP
Weakness: F
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1
Pokemon #: 101
Species: Ball
Level: 24
Attack: [1] Rolling Tackle (10)
Attack: [LL] Energy Bomb (30)
Take all Energy cards attached to Dark Electrode and attach them
to your Benched Pokemon (in any way you choose). If you have no
Benched Pokemon, discard all Energy cards attached to Dark
Electrode.
This guy sorta reminds me of the first Electrode, with the whole energy
thing. Might be good as an early attacker, then to charge up a Zapdos or
something. Think of him as a poor man's version of... well, himself :-).
Name: Dark Flareon
Type: Stage 1 -- from Eevee
Card #: card 35 of 82
Rarity: Uncommon
Color: Fire
HP: 50 HP
Weakness: W
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1
Pokemon #: 136
Species: Flame
Level: 23
Attack: [1] Rage (10+)
Does 10 damage plus 10 more damage for each damage counter on
Dark
Flareon.
Attack: [FF] Playing with Fire (30+)
Use this attack only if there are any F Energy cards attached to
Dark Flareon. Flip a coin. If heads, discard 1 of those Energy
cards and this attack does 30 damage plus 20 more damage. If
tails, this attack does 30 damage.
Well, the second attack doesn't seem that good at first, but really isn't
that bad. The first attack really got me, though. While he has low HP, it
only costs on C energy! Rage-ish attacks usually take three colorless or
two
colored! Ovrall, though, average.
Name: Dark Gloom
Type: Stage 1 -- from Oddish
Card #: card 36 of 82
Rarity: Uncommon
Color: Grass
HP: 50 HP
Weakness: F
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.
This is just like with the Fossil Gengar line. It's one of those Stage2 lines
that looks like it needs all of the Evolutions, yet any of the stages work
great even by themselves! People have already started to make decks based
around all of the stages without full evolutions. This guy is a great status
effect user.
Name: Dark Golduck
Type: Stage 1 -- from Psyduck
Card #: card 37 of 82
Rarity: Uncommon
Color: Water
HP: 60 HP
Weakness: L
Resistance: none
Retreat: 2
Pokemon #: 55
Species: Duck
Level: 23
Attack: [P] Third Eye
Discard 1 Energy card attached to Dark Golduck in order to draw
up
to 3 cards.
Attack: [1PP] Super Psy (50)
This is another one of those uncommons like Arcanine and Dewgong that are so
powerful, you wonder why they weren't rare. His first attack could replace **B
ill** in Psychic decks (yes, I really did say that!) and Super Psy kills just
about everything in two hits.
Name: Dark Jolteon
Type: Stage 1 -- from Eevee
Card #: card 38 of 82
Rarity: Uncommon
Color: Lightning
HP: 50 HP
Weakness: F
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1
Pokemon #: 135
Species: Lightning
Level: 23
Attack: [L] Lightning Flash (20)
If the Defending Pokemon tries to attack during your opponent's
next turn, your opponent flips a coin. If tails, that attack
does
nothing.
Attack: [1LL] Thunder Attack (30)
Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokemon is now Paralyzed.
If tails, Dark Jolteon does 10 damage to itself.
Flash is an awsome one-energy attack, with an increbible energy-to-effect
ratio. However, it still doesn't work with 50HP and fighting weakness. And
the second attack is not too good since it can hurt himself. I'm
dissappointed to see my favorite lightning Pokemon given such a card,
especially after the great Jungle
version. Overall, average. He defenitly does not deserve to be in Scott
Gerhardt's Top 10 Rocket cards (in the June issue of the magazine).
Name: Dark Kadabra
Type: Stage 1 -- from Abra
Card #: card 39 of 82
Rarity: Uncommon
Color: Psychic
HP: 50 HP
Weakness: P
Resistance: none
Retreat: 2
Pokemon #: 64
Species: Psi
Level: 24
Power: "Matter Exchange"
Once during your turn (before your attack), you may discard a
card
from your hand in order to draw a card. This power can't be
used
if Dark Kadabra is Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed.
Attack: [PP] Mind Shock (30)
Don't apply Weakness and Resistance for this attack. (Any other
effects that would happen after applying Weakness and Resistance
still happen.)
Wow! The first good 50HP Stage1 I've seen in a while. He breaks through
psychic resistance, which is starting to become as common as fighting
resistance. I think his PokePower is a tiny bit overrated, but it does create
good card advantage, And Dark Kazam has to come from somewhere, right?
Name: Dark Machoke
Type: Stage 1 -- from Machop
Card #: card 40 of 82
Rarity: Uncommon
Color: Fighting
HP: 60 HP
Weakness: P
Resistance: none
Retreat: 2
Pokemon #: 67
Species: Superpower
Level: 28
Attack: [1FF] Drag Off (20)
Before doing damage, choose 1 of your opponent's Benched Pokemon
and switch it with the Defending Pokemon. Do the damage to the
new Defending Pokemon. This attack can't be used if your
opponent
has no Benched Pokemon.
Attack: [1FF] Knock Back (30)
If your opponent has any Benched Pokemon, he or she chooses 1 of
them and switches it with the Defending Pokemon. (Do the damage
before switching the Pokemon.)
This is that Machoke I mentioned in Part One. He's a good bench distrupter.
Unfortunately, he can't attack through Fight resistance, but that's what the
first attack is for. Possibly better than the horrible Dark Machamp.
Name: Dark Muk
Type: Stage 1 -- from Grimer
Card #: card 41 of 82
Rarity: Uncommon
Color: Grass
HP: 60 HP
Weakness: P
Resistance: none
Retreat: 2
Pokemon #: 89
Species: Sludge
Level: 25
Power: "Sticky Goo"
As long as Dark Muk is your Active Pokemon, your opponent pays 2
more to retreat his or her Active Pokemon. This power stops
working while Dark Muk is Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed.
Attack: [GG] Sludge Punch (20)
The Defending Pokemon is now Poisoned.'
Now we're rolling! The attack is wonderful for the cost, and it's Pokemon
Power is awesome. It's even better because they work in perfect harmony.
Also, this is Uncommon! Another Pokemon that deserves to be rare.
Name: Dark Persian
Type: Stage 1 -- from Meowth
Card #: card 42 of 82
Rarity: Uncommon
Color: Colorless
HP: 60 HP
Weakness: F
Resistance: P -30
Retreat: none
Pokemon #: 53
Species: Classy Cat
Level: 28
Attack: [1] Fascinate
Flip a coin. If heads, choose 1 of your opponent's Benched
Pokemon and switch it with the Defending Pokemon. This attack
can't be used if your opponent has no Benched Pokemon.
Attack: [2] Poison Claws (10)
Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokemon is now Poisoned.
OK, remember what I said about Dark Charizard's attack? This is similar. He
is, simply put, a 50% Pokemon! His attacks are worthless without some good
coin flips. Why was such a horrible card chosen as a promo to be in a
future
issue of Nintendo Power...
Name: Dark Primeape
Type: Stage 1 -- from Mankey
Card #: card 43 of 82
Rarity: Uncommon
Color: Fighting
HP: 60 HP
Weakness: P
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1
Pokemon #: 57
Species: Pig Monkey
Level: 23
Power: "Frenzy"
If Dark Primeape does any damage while it's Confused (even to
itself), it does 30 more damage.
Attack: [FF] Frenzied Attack (40)
Dark Primeape is now Confused (after doing damage).
Everyone says this has a wonderful attack and Pokemon power, No way! He is
very overrated, because he does 50 damage to himself if you flip tails. I do
agree that he does have high damage potential, but with all the suicidal
risk, it's almost better off to just use Full Heals to keep him doing a
constant 40..
Name: Dark Rapidash
Type: Stage 1 -- from Ponyta
Card #: card 44 of 82
Rarity: Uncommon
Color: Fire
HP: 60 HP
Weakness: W
Resistance: none
Retreat: none
Pokemon #: 78
Species: Fire Horse
Level: 24
Attack: [2] Rear Kick (20)
Attack: [FF] Flame Pillar (30)
You may discard 1 F Energy card attached to Dark Rapidash when
you
use this attack. If you do and if your opponent has any Benched
Pokemon, choose 1 of them and this attack does 10 damage to it.
(Don't apply Weakness and Resistance for Benched Pokemon.)
It seems like a lot new types have bench destroying attacks in Rocket. Dark
Arbok, Dark Machoke, and now this. It has a good attack, but I'm not sure
it's worth it to discard energy just for 10 bench damage. Overall, good, but
unless you're doing a bench destruction deck, stick with the original.
Name: Dark Vaporeon
Type: Stage 1 -- from Eevee
Card #: card 45 of 82
Rarity: Uncommon
Color: Water
HP: 60 HP
Weakness: L
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1
Pokemon #: 134
Species: Bubble Jet
Level: 28
Attack: [3] Bite (30)
Attack: [1WW] Whirlpool (20)
If the Defending Pokemon has any Energy cards attached to it,
choose 1 of them and discard it.
Being a set with lots of distruption, it seemed inevitable that there would
be at least one new energy drainer in the set. Here it is. It can also be
used as a splash with it's colorless Bite. Also, it's the only Dark
Eevee-lution to have anywhere near decent HP. But unless your using it as a
splash or need something with resistance (Eevee), stick with Golduck and
Dragonair.
Name: Dark Wartortle
Type: Stage 1 -- from Squirtle
Card #: card 46 of 82
Rarity: Uncommon
Color: Water
HP: 60 HP
Weakness: L
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1
Pokemon #: 8
Species: Turtle
Level: 21
Attack: [W] Doubleslap (10x)
Flip 2 coins. This attack does 10 damage times the number of
heads.
Attack: [1W] Mirror Shell
If an attack does damage to Dark Wartortle during your
opponent's
next turn (even if Dark Wartortle is Knocked Out), Dark
Wartortle
attacks the Defending Pokemon for an equal amount of damage.
Doubleslap is horrible, but Mirror Shell is OK. It's sorta like Base Gastly's
Destiny Bond only it doesn't trash energy and effects the opponent even if
you don't get Knocked out. But it's really not a good Pokemon at all. You can
use Wartortle to get your regular Blastoise, but stick with Breeder for Dark
Blastoise.
Name: Magikarp
Type: Basic Pokemon
Card #: card 47 of 82
Rarity: Uncommon
Color: Water
HP: 30 HP
Weakness: L
Resistance: none
Retreat: 1
Pokemon #: 129
Species: Fish
Level: 6
Attack: [1] Flop (10)
Attack: [WWW] Rapid Evolution
Search your deck for an Evolution card named Gyarados or Dark
Gyarados and put it on Magikarp. (This counts as evolving
Magikarp.) Shuffle your deck afterward.
We finally get a good Magikarp! This guy could work with Blastoise to get
Gyarados before Magikarp gets knocked out. Now you can add your old Magikarps
in your collection with Base Gastlys and Haunters, Golems, Victreebels,
Cloysters......and just plain old toilet paper :-).
Now, for the last uncommon.....
Name: Porygon
Type: Basic Pokemon
Card #: card 48 of 82
Rarity: Uncommon
Color: Colorless
HP: 40 HP
Weakness: F
Resistance: P -30
Retreat: none
Pokemon #: 137
Species: Virtual
Level: 20
Attack: [1] Conversion 1
If the Defending Pokemon has a Weakness, you may change it to a
type of your choice other than Colorless.
Attack: [3] Psybeam (20)
Flip a coin. If heads, the Defending Pokemon is now Confused.
I thought Psybeam did paralysis....oh well, a good version of Porygon is
better than nothing. And confusion actually **is** better than paralyzation.
Add your old Porygons with that collection I just described.
That is part two of my review. Next time, the final (and probably most
boring) section: Commons!