Hey everyone,

Me being the deck junky I am, I change my deck every week.  1. to keep

people from metagaming me and, 2. its fun.  This

week I tried a nice, common, rocket on compatable, easily splashed

dragon pokemon, erika's dratini.

Erika's Dratini        40 HP

Pokemon Power: Strange Barrier whenever an attack by a basic pokemon

(including your own) does 20 or more damage

to Erika's Dratini (after applying weakness and resistance), reduce that

damage to 10 (any other effects of attacks still

happen). This power stops working while Erkia's Dratini is asleep,

confused, or paralyzed.

CC: Tail Strike Flip a coin.  If heads, this

attackdoes                            10+

10 damages plus 20 more damage; if tails, this attack

does 10 more damage.

Weakness:

Resistance: psycic -30

Retreat Cost: C

Lv. 14   #147

Well, At first glance its Dratini.  A 40 HP pokemon with a retreat cost,

and quik attack.  But in reality, It is one of the most

interesting pokemon in the game.  In a metagame full of Big Basic

Pokemon, this pokemon power is great.  except for

electabuzz and wigglytuff, there is no archetype with status changing

attacks.  This pokemon also has a solid first turn colorless

attack. There are 3 great ways to use this pokemon, and I being a list

junky, will show you below.

1.  STALL:  Here's the combo.  you get an erika's dratini out. You use

fossil eggs, item finders and stuff, to get fossil or

prereales aerodacytal.  then you slap a metal energy on eriak's dratini,

and put down a eco gym. Finally you play a miracle

berry on dratini.  Full heal, and full heal energy work well too.  And

if your really dead set on it, you can also play dark

vileploom.  Your oponent can't evolve (even though they wouldn't anyway.

Except for wiggly, your big threat).  your oponent

cannot hurt you. If they get you with status effects, miracle berry and

the full heals can help. poison is also a threat, but miracle

can help. er is painfull, but not deadly.  aboput evolving.  noone uses

muk or goop gas anymore. Igglybuff isn't too overplayed

and magby went out a while ago.  elekid and pichu do count as basic

pokemon, so they are reduced to nothing.  and if you flip

heads, Its attack still does 20.  This does work better later in the

game though when the threat of decking is looming over them.

2. OFFENSIVE STALLING:  This isn't as extensive as the last one.

Basically, you use its power to stall for 4 turns while

you power up your wiggly's, rocket zapdos's, and scizor(which I think

more people should use). you can also use its attack,

which with a DCE,  and 2 out of 4 heads(average) you can ko a big basic

thats attacking you.

3. OFFENSIVE  : Not really that different from Offensive Stalling.  You

basicall use it as a major hitting force.  It isn't that

strong, but it can take more hits than most, and can annoy your oponent

extensively.  If any of you have ever utelized the

sneaky, low down, dirty, and effective strategy of "Siking Your Oponent

Out".  That is annoying and making your oponent mad

enough to effect there judgement. (while doing this, it's always safer

to wear a cup)  There are 3 cards I have seen that tick

people of to the point of effectiveness. well, now that I have run out

of words for it, I will tell you them.

!!!List alert!!!

3. Super energy removal.

2. Rockets sneak attack

1. ERIKA'S DRATINI.

It may be low, but it works, ecspecially during intense moments. Aren't

I a great influence.

Well, those are the best ways to use Erika's Dratini.  It is mobile,

agile, versitile, and deadlytile! (that was a bad mix of Tommy

Lee Jone's and george Dubya Bush)

Whatever, Cya!

Matt Haithcock

Matth@greenvillenc.com