Hey everyone,

   With the release of Gym, we got some cards that were in Gym: Challenge.
One of those cards was Blaine¹s Magmar. With this card comes a lot of
possibilities for new decks. One of the most devastating of those decks is
Lava Burst.
This deck will be very popular with Proposition 15 being enforced. The deck,
if it gets the right cards, is almost unbeatable. This deck is pure speed.
If you can¹t knock out your opponent¹s pokemon quick, chances are you deck
yourself. OTil Gym: Challenge comes out, this deck has a very different
look. Here it is:

3 Blaine¹s Magmar
3 Lickitung
2 No ER Gym
2 Erika
3 Scoop Up
2 Comp. Search
41 Fire Energy


Lickitung is there to stall until you get Magmar pumped up. Then scoop up
and send out Magmar. No ER Gym makes sure the energy stays on Magmar. Erika
and Computer Search are your search cards. They allow you to get cards that
you need. NGR is to put Magmar or Energies back into your deck.
   When Gym: Challenge comes out the deck will become quicker and more
agile. Here it is, Lava Burst, the Gym: Challenge upgrade:

4 Blaine¹s Magmar
4 Blaine
4 NGR
3 Cinnibar Island Gym
2 Erika
2 Comp. Search
41 Fire Energy

   Use Blaine to do Lava Burst on Turn 1 or 2. Cinnibar Island Gym is for
Water pokemon. Search and Erika are for getting out needed cards. NGR is so
you can replenish your deck with Energy.
  



Proposition 15 will really stir up the environment and the Metagame.
Haymaker will be slowed down a lot. Look for little bursts of speed when
playing it. Trainer count should be something like this:
4 Bill
3 Comp. Search
4 Gust of Wind
4 PlusPower

Lava Burst should be able to draw six prizes before blackout against a
Haymaker because of more pokemon and more energy.
   Against Wiggly, Lava Burst will draw six prizes before blackout like
against a haymaker. You can blackout Wiggly and Hay if they don¹t get enough
search power and pokemon.
   Against Raindance this deck has a big weakness: Water. Try to get out
Cinnibar Island Gym quick and a couple off Blaines. Your opponent will have
minimal search options due to other needs. Raindance should look like this
somewhat:
4 Sqirtle
1 Wartortle
4 Blastoise
4 Articuno
4 Lapras
4 R. Magikarp
3 Gyarados
4 Oak
3 Breeder
4 PlusPower
4 RSA
21 Water Energy

Try to Lava Burst Turn 1. If you can go 1st you will have a better
advantage.

   Against itself this deck is about whom gets more options and the better
hand, plain and simple.
   Against Trapper, this deck will work better if it goes first. But don¹t
worry if you don¹t. Trapper isn¹t much of a threat in a Prop 15 environment.
Trapper can only have a few search cards because it needs the cards to pull
off the combo. Trapper, if you can do a lot of damage quick, will cripple
over.
   Lock can hurt this deck. But if you can get your trainers out before
Chaos Gym comes out you¹ll be okay. You can use Cinnibar Island Gym to
eliminate Chaos Gym from play. Going first will also help. But be warned!
There are a lot of variations of Lock so stay on your toes.
   Against Moltres Stall, Lava Burst should it slow on search cards. Deal
damage ASAP and in large numbers. Just watch that deck size. Don¹t get down
if you lose once or twice. Moltres Stall will be hurt because of Prop 15
being enforced. Lava Burst should try to use this to their advantage.
   Against Damage Swap, try to do damage fast and high. Watch out for High
HP pokemon like Chansey. Killing them will take a while. Once you get your
pokemon pumped up, take your time, stay cool, but watch that deck size.
Stall probably won¹t get its cards out quick enough though.
   Energy Denial can give some trouble to Lava Burst. Golduck would do 40
damage and discard an energy. If you can get out your pokemon quick enough
you¹ll be okay. Fossil Psyduck will be hard to over come because of its
Headache Attack. It¹s good to go first if you can. It will definitely give
Lava Burst an advantage.
   Don¹t worry about Dark Vileplume decks too much. You have at least a
couple of turns to get pumped and use your trainers. Dark Vileplume doesn¹t
have a lot of HP so he¹ll fall quickly, even quicker if he¹s got weakness.
So don¹t fret if you see a Dark Vileplume coming your way.
   InSaNiTy is tough to beat in a normal environment, but in a Prop 15
environment it isn¹t as much as a threat, but be on your toes, you never
know what will be thrown at you.
   Sponge is like InSaNiTy. It needs those crucial trainers that Prop 15
takes away. But be wary, it can still have enough speed to be a threat.
   Aero-Mew is toast. There are no evolutions in this deck and all of the
basics should be able to be KO¹d without of a huge threat.
   The Cleaner, if it gets out Arcainine, will dominate Lava Burst. If you
can get out Magamr with 3 energies quick enough, you might be able to knock
out most of the pokemon. Watch out for Erika¹s Dratini though. If you face
it just use Fire Blowing.
   Against Lava Burst, Infinity shouldn¹t work. It can easily knock out most
of the basic pokemon. This match would go to Lava Burst. Those are my views
on Lava Burst. Thoughts, ideas, and suggestions on how to make this deck
better are appriciated.


   Apocalyptic Ninetales
gyarados13@earthlink.net