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Author
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Topic: Which Deck?
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No Signs of Life
Member
Member # 123483
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posted February 14, 2003 12:32 PM
I'm preparing for a Battlezone (not the next one, but maybe the one after). I have two decks, both I am considering using. But I can't decide which! I need help with this decision. Here they are...
REMOVAL DUCK
Class: Disruption: Energy Denial, Combination Denial
Pokemon (20)
2 Lapras
3 Psyduck
3 Golduck
3 Tyrogue
3 Grimer
3 Muk
1 Scyther
1 Lickitung
1 Farfetch'd
Trainers (18)
3 Bill
2 Professor Oak
3 Computer Search
3 Gust of Wind
1 Switch
4 Energy Removal
1 Super Energy Removal
1 Rocket's Training Gym
Energy (22)
14 Water Energy
8 Grass Energy
Strategy: Removal Duck is based off of the Psyduck/Golduck evolution line, mainly for Golduck's extreme Hyper Beam attack. Lapras has nasty Confusion and Water Gun attacks to hold off the opposition while priming Golduck for the necessary Energy Denial tactic. Lapras, Lickitung, Grimer, and Muk all provide a variety of Special Conditions to guarantee a desired retreat to drive your opponent insane. The most valuable thing about this deck is the Tyrogue that support it. Grimer and Muk are weak against Psychic types, which is covered by Lickitung. But since Lickitung has a nasty weakness to Fighting types, you should bring out Scyther. Scyther is weak against Fire, which is covered with Water. And finally, in order to get rid of those nasty Lighting weaknesses there have been three Tyrogue at hand, who has no weakness. So basically, he pulls the deck together. Another appealing thing about Removal Duck is its ability to shut down the Pokemon Powers and attacks of those heavy Evolution Decks (like Rain Dance; with Blastoise's Rain Dance power out of commission, the opposition can't power up any of those heavy evolved Pokemon... note that all Pokemon need energy to attack, and this deck denies it).
Pitfalls: This deck bears surprising balance. Rarely will a weakness issue be your downfall. Actually, the only decks that give this some problems are the classic Haymaker types. This deck is pretty slow to handle the beatings of an unwelcome Hitmonchan or Electabuzz. Any Pokemon with a good, efficient first and second turn attack should be considered a high threat. Thankfully, though, we have a nice Scyther and Farfetch'd with its Fighting Resistance. But utilize them carefully, and always expect the unexpected. Since they're the only hope against these Fighting types, extreme caution should be at hand. However, Haymaker decks run on a pretty low supplement of energy cards, and that's what Removal Duck was designed to remove!
STRANGE RETREAT
Class: Stall, Disruption: Damage Denial
Pokemon (18)
3 Doduo
3 Dodrio
1 Mr. Mime
2 Lickitung
1 Tyrogue
4 Slowpoke
4 Slowbro
Trainers (24)
4 Potion
4 Super Potion
4 Pokemon Center
4 Mr. Fuji
2 Maintenence
3 Gambler
3 Gust of Wind
Energy (18)
18 Psychic Energy
Strategy: Strange Retreat draws its name from the Pokemon Powers of Dodrio and Slowbro. This is more of a Damage Swap-based deck, except it isn't as true to its roots. Most decks have to utilize most of their Trainer cards trying to get out Alakazam (a Stage 2 Pokemon). This has been replaced with some Slowbro, and his Strange Behavior power. I have, in fact, won several games with Dodrio's trusty Retreat Aid Pokemon Power. Free retreating is a very good strategy in games, ridding you of a chance of a Knock Out and of a Special Condition. There remain two obvious card combinations here. Dodrio and all the other Pokemon make a good damage soak if you can't get out Slowbro early enough. Then, without any energy cards attatched to any of your Pokemon (you need not worry, as they will all have a free retreat cost), you can wipe out all that damage with a single Pokemon Center! Slowbro is best utilized with the Mr. Fuji card. This way, you can promote lots of damage soaks during the game! Against those heavy-hitting decks that give out too much damage to handle, Mr. Mime is your very best friend, capable of dishing out the damage as well as emerging from the mightiest blows without a scratch. Lickitung gets rid of those nasty Psychic weaknesses, and Tyrogue is the obvious Baby Pokemon choice. I could have used an Elekid or Ditto, but I don't want this deck to rely too much on the use of Pokemon Powers (you'll see why in the Pitfalls section).
Pitfalls: There are only two immense threats to a deck like this: Muk and Slowking. Muk shuts down all the really cool Pokemon Powers this deck is based around. Without Strange Behavior or Retreat Aid, you are hopelessly lost. This is why I didn't include Elekid or Ditto; Elekid, while a Baby, would only be there for show, and Ditto would revert back to boring old Ditto if he was out there. Slowking will probably prevent all the necessary Trainer cards from being used. But he also helps decrease the opposing deck size and keep your library the tallest. There is an antidote for these two: Gust of Wind + Slowbro, Mr. Mime, or Lickitung = Since both Muk and Slowking are weak against Psychic types, use the Gust of Wind to dish out the damage with Mr. Mime and Slowbro, or use your resistance with Lickitung. Lickitung and Slowbro provide Special Conditions to shut down these two threats (plus an extra surprise with Slowbro; a lucky coin flip on turn one will have your opponent defenseless until your next turn, and then you can go for the Knock Out).
[ February 14, 2003, 01:06 PM: Message edited by: No Signs of Life ]
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"Danger is the anvil on which trust is forged."
Registered: Jan 2003
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The Dark Llama
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Member # 75434
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posted February 14, 2003 09:41 PM
for the Slowbro deck, since you seem to like Unlimited, add a Slowking, that way it prevents your opponent from trying to heal their Pokemon with trainers like Poition, MooMoo Milk.. etc.
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From: San Diego | Registered: Apr 2002
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No Signs of Life
Member
Member # 123483
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posted February 15, 2003 09:22 AM
I'd very much like to have a Slowking in the deck, but unfortunately, I don't have any.
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"Danger is the anvil on which trust is forged."
Registered: Jan 2003
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Super Magby90
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Member # 127923
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posted February 16, 2003 01:05 PM
I think the first deck will be better..
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~/ Ronnie (Magby) Wesseling \~
Registered: Feb 2003
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