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Pojo's Pokemon Card of the Day

Metal Energy

Pojo's Average Rating -
Unlimited: 4.30 (based on 5 reviews)
Modified: 4.28 (based on 5 reviews)
Draft: 3.86 (based on 5 reviews)
Reviewed April 9, 2002

Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale
1 being the worst. 3 ... average.
5 is the highest rating.

Pokepop	Metal Energy is a great little card. While it's main purpose is to power up the attacks of Metal-type Pokemon, the game designers gave it a drawback that can be turned into an advantage if used properly. First off, Metal is like a permanent mini-defender. It protect against damage for as long as it is attached. This is great for helping your Pokemon last longer and if you have an attack that either does not do damage or does a lot, the penalty (doing 10 less damage from your own attack) is worth it. And, if your Pokemon has a self damaging attack, both functions of Metal Energy (protection AND attack reduction) get triggered, protecting you more that your opponent. For example, a Chansey with 2 Metal Energy attached will do 60 to the opponent (80-20) but only 40 to itself (80-40). Add an Unown N to your bench and you have it made. Of course, it is very much a target of energy removal, so you have to watch out for that in Unlimited. Overall, this is one of the better cards in the game. Unlimited: Watch out for ER! 3.5/5 Modified: 4.5/5 Draft: Here's the problem. You will have to win with low powered Pokemon from the Neo set. Most of them, while they will be protected by Metal, will also find their attack strength cut in half. You need to use Pokemon that can do things with colorless energy other than straight damage. There are some, but not a lot. It will require some skill and luck to get the right Pokemon to take advantage of that Metal that you draw. For that reason, I'm lowering the rating just a bit. 3.5/5
TwInSeN21	Metal Energy Ahh, one of the best Special Energy cards ever printed! Not only does it power up the Metal Energy requirement, you can also use it to abuse Non-Metal Type Pokemon Attacks that does damage to itself, like Rocket's Zapdos Electroburn, Base Chansey's Double Edge and Base Arcanine's Take Down attack. For those of you that still don't know how it works, Metal Energy reduces damage dealt AND taken by Non-Metal Pokemon. So, with 3 Lightning and 1 Metal, Rocket's Zapdos would do 60 damage to the defending Pokemon and 10 damage to itself. Back to the card... Metal Energy also works really well with Steelix. Pump it up with 3-4 Metal Energies and a Gold Berry, then the 110HP Stage 1 is almost invincible, like a Wall. Of course it works with other Metal Pokemon, but the other Metal Pokemon have rather low HP and it might not be worth it. In Unlimited, Metal Energy is really useful as Steelix, Chansey and Rocket's Zapdos really abuse it. In Modified, Steelix is really good. When the new Modified "Modified" Format rolls in, Steelix might be one of the most dominant decks as Big Fire and Entei-Cargo will lose their speed. Once you build up the Wall, it's really hard to KO it... In Draft, I can't really see a use for it. It's only good with certain cards and Metal type Pokemon. Otherwise, it's just used as a mini-defender. Probably just draft it and pray that you also draft a Steelix... Unlimited Rating: 5/5 (Chansey, Rocket's Zapdos and Steelix REALLY abuse it!) Modified Rating: 4/5 (Only Steelix can really benefit from it...) Draft Rating: 2.4/5 (Too situational IMO...) TwInSeN21
Lurili	Metal Energy Unlimited: The ways you can use this and get it back from the discard pile make this a force in Unlimited. Most any deck can run it, and those that abuse it really love it. Especially how well it works with our good friend Chansey ^_^ Modified: Metal isn’t that big in Modified. Really, what’s 10 damage you stop when they are dealing excess of 100? =\ Limited: Wow, this thing is great in Draft! Use it on a Metal Pokémon if you get it and there might not be any stopping you. Otherwise, throw it in as Colorless Energy with a twist. Works wonder by reducing damage, although a double-edged lance if you don’t deal that much damage. Unlimited (Standard): 4.5/5 Modified: 4/5 Limited (Draft): 3.9/5
Lord Gothmog	Metal Energy is arguably the most broken energy card. Unlike Darkness Energy, you can't knock yourself out from preventing damage you're doing. On the contrary, it helps you to NOT knock yourself out. Metal Energy spawned an archetype and is in quite a few decks without Metal Pokemon of any kind. In unlimited, Metal keeps alive your Cleffas, helps pound people with Chanseys, and keeps Rocket's Zapdos alive longer. And it's an energy card. It has the same weaknesses as all special energy cards(4 per deck, ER target), but with great benifits. I'm giving it a 3.5/5. Like a great pair of pants, it's good when you can keep them on, but some trainers will take them right off. In modified, you don't have Chanseys, but you do have Steelix(an actual METAL pokemon!), and Cleffas, and Rocket's Zapdos. Plus no ER. Groovy. Good for protecting stuff from Murkrows as well(on the bench of course). 3.9/5 here, Close, but no unstoppable 120 HP basic that gets -40 from attacks. In team battles, Team Rocket's Meowth seriously puts the hurt on, and Metal Energy assists in said beatings. Big Colorless is a power deck here, I've seen it. 4.4/5 In limited, I would draft it, no contest. Not just because it works pretty well for decks, but because it's quite valuable. Cha-ching. 4.5/5
Random	Metal Energy is ownage. Yes, it is an energy, so I can't really say it stinks. But the fact that it can prevent damage and sometimes prevent 20 (self-damage) makes it very useable and very archetypical. Standard Rating: 5/5 Modified Rating: 5/5 Draft Rating: 5/5 ~ RaNd0m

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