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Author
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Topic: Copycat: A Closer Look
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Gymbo
Member # 30832
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posted December 04, 2002 08:29 AM
Recently, since the arrival of Expedition, I have added this powerful Trainer to my decks. Now, is this card more than just a Trainer, does it have pure broken status? Can it be used as more than just as a drawing source? I believe the answer is yes to all of these points and I'll explain why.
Now, for those of you who are unfamiliar with this card, it has the ability to copy the amount of cards your opponent has in their hand and draw that many cards. (IE: Your opponent has 6 cards, shuffle your current hand into your deck and draw 6 cards.) Why is this so special? Why not just use Professor Oak's Research? Well, there's the obvious reason, that with Copycat you can draw more than 5 cards. There's also this important factor with the usage of this card. Whenever your opponent Elms or Eeeeeeeks, thats a hand of 7 instantly right there. There's nothing like using Copycat for a 7+ hand, then playing out your hand and then playing an Elm. Also, if your opponent plays excessive amounts of card drawing (Bill, Teleporter, etc), and they don't slim down their hand, you have the opportunity to have a large hand next turn. Clearly I have proven that this is a pretty decent Trainer card, but so what? It is just a Trainer/Supporter card, just like Elm, right?
Well I believe that Copycat has some direct effects into the gameplay itself. For example, say that you mulligan several times, and your opponent continues to draw two additional cards. You go first, get the Copycat, and mirror their enlarged hand. So looking at it like that, is it that terrible to mulligan, assuming you can Copycat the same amount of cards you opponent has drawn. And as the opponent, you must wonder if you should or shouldn't draw the additional cards, especially if you are playing a low basic power deck like Entei/Magcargo which can Copycat and recover with a hand just as large as yours. Also, with the aspect of Copycat, you must wonder if you should play certain cards at certain times, minimizing your hand so that the opponent will not look to mirror your hand, especially in close situations. Finally, as well Elm, if you have a very large hand, and your opponent has a smaller hand you can shuffle cards back into your deck, replenishing your deck in cases of near decking.
Advantages of this card?
*Solid Drawing
*Mirrors Elms and Eeeeeeeks
*Strategic and Tactical Promise
Disadvantages of this card?
*Supporter
*Not as good when opponent has small hand
Copycat is a very useful card in this format, and has more meaning than "just another drawing card." Using some strategy in your games, especially with this card can leave you with victory.
That Espeon-Playin' Fool
![[Wink]](../tcg/wink.gif) Gymbo
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=Pokemon Professor Jim Ferrell=
*AKA The Publically Acclaimed and Talented Deck Mechanic Gymbo*
*Accomplished Rogue Player*
*Second Place Finisher at the Ohio SBZ '03*
*Creator of Espeon Decks*
*Innovator of Expedition Feraligatr*
*Current Project: Skyridge Analysis*
DCI: 2032
AIM: XGymbo01X
"Victory goes to the player who makes the next-to-last mistake."
From: Akron, OH, USA | Registered: Jul 2001
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IPGeek21
Member # 184
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posted December 04, 2002 09:15 AM
I am NOT yet convinced of it... BUT in TEAM I saw its MAGIC WORK!!
BUT think of it this way
CopyCat > Bill
Copycat CAN BE > Oak's Research & Elm
E-card trainers are so cool BECAUSE you can STILL play trainer cards.
Still not a staple in my deck BUT any card that will allow me to SHUFFLE my deck and draw
[ December 04, 2002, 09:17 AM: Message edited by: IPGeek21 ]
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Drafts bring out the BEST of the WORST cards in Pokemon
*TC Member/WizpogMOD_Squad/Master_Prof*
+GodFather to an Angel:RIP-Paloma Geronimo
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TheCompendium
Team Random
Proud bro of SSJ3DVP11
ipgeek21.com
SHUT UP & DO something about it
From: The here, BUT WHERE shall we go? | Registered: Feb 2001
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Otaku
Member # 42359
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posted December 04, 2002 10:53 AM
here's my experience with it: Copycat is a very solid Supporter indeed. It has replaced Bill in any deck of mine that doesn't need yet another Supporter. The downside? Smart players will make you pay for relying on it too much. In Gymbo's Mulligan example, I always carefully weigh the options. Second, don't forget, if I draw Basics when you mulligan, I am allowed to set them down on my playing field if there is room, so there is a chance it will not help you/hurt me should you Mulligan a few times-and buy the third Mullign, I rarely draw unless my ahnd is worthless or two cards away from containing a completed combo. Second, you mention deck replenishing aspects. Its there... but by the end of the game, when your deck is nearly out, your oppoennt likely ahs a huge hand themselves. When it comes to draw power that replenishes your deck as well, I like Professor Oak's Research: I can (and have) shuffle(d) a hand of 10 into my deck, then drew 5. I restored 5 cards to my deck-its almost like a free Time Capsule (w/o loosing all Trainers).
Finally, I must caution people-it can be harder than it sounds to pull of a Copy Cat followed by an Elm. In about 10 games versus people playing that combo, its happened once.
Now, if I could only get my Gambler back... ![[ROFL]](../tcg/graemlins/roflmao.gif)
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Imakuni Rules!
You can reach me at Otakutron on AIM and nihon_game_otaku on Yahoo Messenger.
From: Iowa | Registered: Sep 2001
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CPUSrchDiscarding2forOak
Member # 37400
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posted December 04, 2002 07:44 PM
Just thought I'd add my own two damage counters here...
I've done the Copycat then Elm thing. A LOT. If your opponent has 7+ cards I'm usually able to pull that off (as well as the Double Gust I wouldn't be able to use with Elm!)
Some other uses not covered:
Anti-decking! If you are attempting to stall, and your opponent is trying to take their last couple of prizes, they're probably desperately playing cards to get to those prizes -- meaning they won't have a 7+ card hand here. Build a large hand, then Copycat (or Oak's Research if ya have it) for a smaller one.
Now, for my area of choice...how does this card (and Oak's Research, less importantly) affect UNLIMITED?
Suddenly, the draw engine has changed. In Unlimited, the standard draw engine is usually 4 Professor Oak, 4 Computer Search, and 3 Item Finder. For people that play PURE ELM, it's 4 Elm/4 Search/3-4 Finder.
The Elm people can just get rid of Elm altogether, or at least go 2-2 on it. Usually in Unlimited, your opponent won't have 7 cards, but they'll have a fair amount.
The Oak people can ditch one Oak, one search, and one other card in the deck to go 3 Oak/3 Search/3 Copy/3 Finder.
Enhanced draw in both situations -- Expedition has really done its job.
Now if we could just make sure WotC doesn't alter Boratia of the City to cite that it must be Basic energy...
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What, like the pro-archetype attitude is supposed to be restricted to THIS company, and THIS TCG?
All card games run on archetypes. Magic is 90% archetypes. YGO is 90% archetypes. Pokemon was, for the most part, all archetypes before and during MF2. Pokemon will be archetype-based during MF3. Pokemon will be archetype based when it is under Nintendo.
Viva la unoriginality!
From: West Mifflin, PA | Registered: Aug 2001
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CPUSrchDiscarding2forOak
Member # 37400
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posted December 04, 2002 07:48 PM
[Double Post x.x]
[ December 04, 2002, 07:51 PM: Message edited by: CPUSrchDiscarding2forOak ]
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What, like the pro-archetype attitude is supposed to be restricted to THIS company, and THIS TCG?
All card games run on archetypes. Magic is 90% archetypes. YGO is 90% archetypes. Pokemon was, for the most part, all archetypes before and during MF2. Pokemon will be archetype-based during MF3. Pokemon will be archetype based when it is under Nintendo.
Viva la unoriginality!
From: West Mifflin, PA | Registered: Aug 2001
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