This card has been used in practically every championship-worthy deck after its release. But look at it. Its Poke-Power is the best in the format. What could possibly be wrong with it? Surely this simple Stage 1 card deserves a place in every deck. Or does it? Can Claydol really help, or is it just a sniping target for Blazikens?
Claydol (Great Encounters)
http://pokegym.net/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=33234
Firstly, let's look at the HP. A decent 80. A decent 80 that can't survive a Salamence (Secret Wonders) or Blaziken (Great Encounters) snipe. This is a problem. Unown G is commonly attached to Claydol, so that it can't be dragged into active by Luring Flame or inviting trap. It doesn't protect it from Innfernape 4 LV.X and Luxray GL LV.X's Poke-Powers. Its retreat cost is two :colorless:. That is terrible. You will get destroyed before you can retreat. Let's face it, only play this card if you're running a speed deck, or play a few Warp Points.
Salamence SW:
http://pokegym.net/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=31866
Blaziken GE:
http://pokegym.net/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=33272
Unown G GE:
http://pokegym.net/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=33245
Infernape 4 LV.X:
http://pokegym.net/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=45558
Luxray GL LV.X:
http://pokegym.net/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=45505
Play a few Uxie and some SSUs instead. I rate this card a sorry 7/10. :nonono:
This arguement is atrocious. You might as well be saying roseanne's is bad because it wastes your supporter for the turn and can only get basic's, or that bebe's is bad because you have to put a card back. It's called balance, what did you expect them to do with one of THE most format warping pokepower's in the entire game? It is in
nearly every deck, not kind of in a few, not sometimes in a few builds but only not in a deck if it absolutely does not work right with it.
So your arguements are this:
1q. 80hp, which you say is a problem because salamance, and blaziken snipes it so well.
2q. You mention attaching unown G to Claydol as if it were a problem
3q. It is unprotected by bench manipulating powers, like Infernape and Luxray.
4q. A retreat cost of 2
5q. Only worth it if you're playing warp points or a speed deck.
6q. Uxie and SSUs outclass it in your opinion.
Just making sure I've got all the main points of your arguement from the op.
Here's my answer to those arguements
1a. Salamance is a highly unplayed deck, it hasn't appeared in that many city t4s, none that I've seen at least, blazekin, while more popular, still isnt very rampant. A better example would've been Garchomp C X as that's seeing play everywhere, and yes it does snipe claydol, however it does take away 2 energy drops, and garchomp isnt using this attack that early anyway, so you will still get plenty of use out of it, it was going to KO something, claydol's just the target, because it's just that good, not because it has 80 hp.
2a. Unown G is a basic pokemon and doesnt even take up bench space, it can be searched with bebe's, roseanne's, great ball, etc. As a basic pokemon it's one of the most easily searched for pokemon, getting an unown G on a claydol is not a cripple in any stretch of the imagination.
3a. The only time infernape should be getting your claydol is if you have nothing else on your bench, you typically have options when your opponent uses inferape as well, and claydol is typically not a good choice to bring up. Also Luxray is one of the most sought after pokemon cards in the game right now and is also one of the most powerful, in this case it's not that claydol's bad as much as luxray is good.
4a. The retreat cost is obviously a sign of balance, this card had to be given some kind of down fall, how broken would it be of you got a baltoy start with claydol in hand, and then next turn evolved, got whatever you needed and then retreated. It's not that much of a handicap either.
5a. It's true that speed decks run claydols, some even run a 3-3 line, however many decks also run warp point, and plenty of decks use claydol to create the consistent force that claydol can create, not because they need to search for so many cards right away.
6a. Uxie is also bad for nearly all the reason's you stated claydol was bad, except for the fact that claydol has two retreat cost.
Claydol is in nearly every deck, and rightfully so, nothing in this format has consistent drawing power like claydol, it's ran in every deck and most arguements against are for the most part invalid, since claydol has been consistenly proven to be the most important parts of decks.
