Interesting take-off on the Empoleon spread idea. Here are my thoughts/suggestions:
- Drop the Mars. I know the effect is better with Claydol gone once you've sniped it, and the potential combo with Empoleon lv. X is nice, but I think there are better uses for these 4 slots.
- Drop both the Pokeradar and the Energy Pickup. Running 2 of both instead 4 of one or the other minimizes the usefulness of both, especially the latter since it's a flip. Pokeradar is also way too random and a lot of the people who've tried it on these boards always seem to come to the same conclusion about it which is that it never really pays off.
- Drop the Empoleon lv. X. You already have the ability to get rid of Claydol easily without resorting to Hydro Impact, and neither Supreme Command nor a +10 to your HP are all THAT useful.
- Add a 4th Empoleon and a 4th Piplup. This is good for consistency and boosts your odds of getting a primed penguin out early.
- Add another Rare Candy. You run 5 different evolution lines and it can come in handy with all of them even if only 1 is a stage 2.
- Add 3 Cynthia's Feelings. Without Scramble this deck doesn't benefit from falling behind in prizes while it spreads, although this card lets you at least rebound with a fresh draw when you do concentrate on spreading at the expense of letting the opponent grab the first prize or two. Aside from that it's just a fantastic recovery card at any point a prize is taken off you.
- Add in 2 Night Maintenance. You're going to want some recycling capabilities.
- Add another Roseanne's Research. Playing two types of energy as well as so many lines means 4 of these is best for maximizing your options and search ability.
- Drop the two Multi for another Call and another Psychic. Multi conflicts with Call energy and can't be searched for. Your psychic energy attacks are cheap and with 4 Roseanne's you shouldn't have trouble pulling one out when you need it. A 4th Call would just be to increase consistency. My philosophy on running this, Pachirisu, Absol, or any other starter/surrogate starter is that for things to work optimally, you're best going with 4 to maximize your odds of opening with it. That's the whole point-- to open with it--and 4 obviously gives you more of a chance for that to happen than 3.
- Add another Wager. Once you've taken out their Claydol(s), this card becomes almost as vicious as it was in Plox.
Wait, I just realized I'm now suggesting you add more than I've suggested you take away... and I still had a few more suggestions to go! Hmmm. Well, I agree with Rai that Spiritomb would be nice here, but I'd only recommend 1 and not 3. It'd be a way to take out 130 HP stuff you've Dual Splashed 4 times already, or 100 HP stuff you've hit 3 times, etc. while still giving you the chance to attack afterward, or to eliminate a Pixie in the way Rai mentioned. I also was going to advise you slip a Chatot in for bad hand insurance, plus that free retreat is always nice.
