Energy Search? Should it come back?

[canderson]

I know that it never really left but I was told long ago that it shouldnt be played because it could just be a spot for another energy, but.......i got to thinking, if im running sabeleye then why not? I can get the search back into my hand and if I can't et a new energy next turn then why not use it?

Does anyone have any input on this?

Thanks in advance, *canderson*

[Kayle]

One of my friends running a deck with several different types of attacker - and therefore 2 types of Basic Energy - ran two of these. I gave him the exact same argument: you might as well just run the Energy.

But in fact, Energy Search can be a very beneficial card. If you consider some somewhat advanced principles of deck thinning, Energy Search serves two purposes: firstly, it is a "wildcard energy", so that if you run multiple types of Basic Energy, you can always grab the one you need. Secondly and less obviously, it thins your deck every time you play it. If energy is important to your deck's function, playing Energy Search will grab what you need, and remove one card (the Energy Search) from your deck that would be a dead draw later in the game.

Most lists don't find a need for it because of the prevalence of monocolor decks, however.

[yoshi1001]

The place where it really shines is in limited play. There you almost always have 3 or more types and can really use it.

[Otaku]

Originally Posted by canderson

I know that it never really left...

You made me go look up Energy Search to make sure it was indeed in BW-On!

Originally Posted by canderson

...but I was told long ago that it shouldnt be played because it could just be a spot for another energy, but.......i got to thinking, if im running sabeleye then why not? I can get the search back into my hand and if I can't et a new energy next turn then why not use it?

Does anyone have any input on this?

Thanks in advance, *canderson*

Well, if I said that I was oversimplifying things, more than likely. Like all cards, I am learning it depends upon the format, and the longer the game goes on, the more chances we have to see formats where a single card is balanced or worthless or broken! The latter would be a bizarre one indeed for Energy Search.

Energy Search was brilliant when it first debuted; now your Haymaker decks could be a little more efficient running two to four Types of Energy as some builds were want to do, and of course Potpourri decks (Haymaker decks that hit every Type or at least Weakness in the game) also loved it. Energy Search debuted in Fossil, so this is going way back. This was before Rainbow Energy, literally by just one set! Well, possibly two since I think we got the reprint only Base Set 2 stuck in the middle there.

For most of the time between then and now, it wasn't especially good for constructed; it didn't thin the deck enough to be worthwhile and/or formats relied too heavily on mono-Typing their Energy or cruising on Special Energy. During this time though, it wasn't useless; Energy Search was useful for teaching newer players how to managed deck resources. Again, what Kayle mentioned about more advanced resource management theory applied; somewhat ironic that Energy Search was so useful to teach something "advanced".

It also was the middle step for weaning a new player off the need for Energy heavy decks (quantity varies depending on format), be they multi- or mono-Typed. One way or the other, this taught the new player more and more about the game, but subtly so that most wouldn't even realize they were learning.

Then we get to where we are now... and Energy Search may prove useful in constructed decks again. Prism and Blend Energy are prime candidates for multi-Type decks, but they are Special Energy cards with their own considerations. Cilan has proven more useful than anticipated in my BW-On playtesting, not just for running multi-Type decks but for the ability to freely snag Energy in large quantities.

However in decks where I just need to control my hand size/be even faster, decks where I can re-use Items (hi Sableye), an Energy Search or two may prove handy. I haven't tested enough to be certain, but with decks wishing to run such low counts of Energy and draw power often involving Professor Juniper, Bianca, and soon Bicycle, Energy Search may have some serious advantages! Remember, you can fail a search if you choose since for some reason they won't just template "up to..." for search card effect clauses.

[KAZUTO!!!]

Energy Search WAS playable last format in Celebi/Terrakion/Mewtwo decks, because it was another out to grab Fighting (or Grass) Energy, and you could Junk Arm for it later on.

Now? With the loss of Junk Arm, it loses a lot of its value. In something that uses Sableye and other types of Basic Energy where it's important to hit them, possibly, but I don't think we currently have a deck like that.

[Otaku]

To be fair, how many decks do we truly have now? Worlds is over but BW-On hasn't officially started.

[Rambo]

Originally Posted by Otaku

To be fair, how many decks do we truly have now? Worlds is over but BW-On hasn't officially started.

One of the shortest posts I've ever seen from you.

I can't see it being used in many decks now, possibly Ho-oh ex or Sableye variants, but nothing else really benefits from it.

[canderson]

Thanks guys i see how it could be valid some places and just broken others, maybe we will see it come back and actually be in thathuge deck everyone is playing.........or maybe it will just get list in the back pages of my binder, only playing it will tell if it can be useful and that's what I'm going to do, make a deck and try it lol