Fossil has been out for several days now and the clamor has mostly been
about 2 PokeMon and their amazing powers. Muk and Aerodactyl. The clamor is
rightly so.

   Both are Stage 1 PokeMon, meaning that they come out very soon in a game
and posess elevated attacks. Both Muk and Aerodactyl have okay attacks, but
it's their PokeMon Powers that have worried many.

   Muk can prevent any other PokeMon power from working and Aerodactyl can
stop evolution dead in its tracks. What does all this mean for you as a
player??

   It means for the next 3 months you can put your Raindance and Damage Swap
decks away. As if it weren't bad enough already, Haymaker just got stronger.
   Although Haymaker decks typically rely on quick Basic PokeMon to do the
dirty work, fitting either Muk or Aerodactyl in will not be difficult. Many
Haymaker players are already including Scyther in their main armies; another
Grass PokeMon will not be unthinkable, especially one that can assure that
no combos are possible. Expect to see Muk in many Haymaker decks from now
on.

   Haymaker may also benefit from Aerodactyl's Evolution stopping ability.
Pound for pound, the Basics employed by Haymaker decks will overpower most
other basics and Stage 1's. Face it. A Squirtle or Wartortle that can't
evolve is no match for an Electabuzz ready to party.
    Aerodactyl will fit in nicely since it's colorless, having no Energy
color requirements at all. It never needs to go out to fight, just having it
in play is enough. It's only drawback is that it's Basic, the Mysterious
Fossil, can do nothing except look pretty. But that's a balance to it's
awesome Stage 1 power.

    Until Team Rocket and Gym Trainers come out, you can expect most of your
tournament matches to be all out slugfests. A contest to see whose
Hitmonchan can beat whose Hitmonchan first. With Muk and Aerodactyl in
circulation, nobody will risk fielding a Raindance deck or a WallStall deck
for that matter.

     On the plus side, you'll be able to get a lot more for your
Electabuzzes, Scythers and Hitmonchans in trade, assuming you'll even give
them up. I wouldn't. You'll be needing them.

      Crash-Landon
    crash_landon@hotmail.com

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