Caw  Caw
by Mark S Dawson
February 3, 2001 (A Space Idiocy)
Tourney at Let the Games Begin
Greenville, SC
16 participants
3 Rounds , 2 outta 3 each round
2 Level Playoff system

The strategy of this deck is all over pojo by now but...
I use Dark Vileplume to eliminate trainers which always gives my
opponent fits.(I have used Dark VP with great success in the past and this
combo seemed like a natural. Then I see everybody and their brother using it
before I could even get my first Murkrow) I then add in the chance of using
Murkrow to take a Psychic or Colorless Pokemon and  make it an Inactive
Active. This I achieve by using Sprout Tower and Murkrow's resistance. I
then pick off his bench and win without worries.
The Dark VP combo worked for me almost religiously but I never was
able to trap a Pokemon in the Active position (more on that later).

Deck Makeup
4 R Oddish
2 Dark Gloom
3 Dark Vileplume
3 Murkrow
2 Cleffa (this is the perfect card for a Dark VP deck. It is worth
even losing it to get a new pool of 7 cards. And I like to
use it to add cards back to my deck, in case I need a handful of extra
turns)
2 Sneasel
1 Promo Mew2 (21 lashes with a wet noodle but I wanted something I
could power up on it's own)
1 Ditto (a Wild Card. Something to fall back on and give my opponent
pause)
(18)
The trainers are basically there to get Dark VP fast
3 Trader
2 Breeder
3 Computer Search
3 Gust of Wind (to pull up a Psychic that can only do 30 or less)
2 Sprout (so I can pull up a Colorless that cannot hurt Murkrow)
2 Oak
(15)
7 Grass
6 Psychic (need to trade one out for another Grass)
4 Full Heal Energy (great to have if Dark Gloom confuses MY active)
4 Dark
4 Rainbow (like, ya know, 4 more Dark)
2 Recycle (I got alot of energy, I might trade these out for another
Dark Gloom and another breeder)
(27)

How IT Went Down

1st round v. Chuckles w/ Buzz, F Magmar, Ditto Hay variant
I was able to see quick that I was facing a straight Hay.
Another slap in the face of originality. I was able to Dark VP by the 8th
turn in game 1 and then a couple of Eeeeeeeks kept me flush in energy and I
won a long slow game 6-4 in prize cards. Game 2 was more of the same
but I had got out Dark VP in turn 3 and was able to confuse his Steelix
and let him hurt himself.
2-0
2nd round v. James w/ Buzz, Ditto, Sneasel, F Magmar Hay variant
Again, a Hay that utilized Sneasel this time. We split as I
could not get out Dark VP at all in game 2 as my Oddishes were usted out
and I was CONSTANTLY 1 turn away from getting the Dark VP out. Did not get
to a rubber match as the games took too long.
3-1
3rd round v. Scott w/Erika's Dratini, R Zapdos, Buzz
Scott told me we were gonna be matched up as we were both
3-1. As it turned out whoever took 2 games was gonna make the playoffs
and the other would not. Game 1 I got crushed. I geuss I either played
poorly or he played well. Scott probably played well. He is one of the
few other adults to show up and is just a good guy, so I did not feel
especially bad but one thing I do know we both hate to lose.
Game2 got me back on track as I evolved early and he was
unable to use trainers. He definitely got frustrated and I got a
little lucky. I was good on energy and I was able to poison with Oddish and
then retreat as I damage. I won 6-4.
Game3 was tres fortuitous for me. I got a turn 2 Dark VP got
a quick 2 &3 prize advantage. Just as he got out his Neo Magmar and was
about to do some serious damage time was called and I had 2 left and him 4
prize cards.
PLAYOFFS Round 1 vs. James, again
This was a good long game and I had it in my sights until I
HAD to sacrifice my Dark VP and when I computer searched I had no breeder
left so I was unable to re-invoke it on my benched Oddish. That one hurt.
James played well and I fell.

PLAYOFFS (3rd-4th place) vs Chuckles, again
I got no cards to do anything with. I basically evolved to
Dark VP relatively early and then fell on my own sword as I was
unable to get the necessary cards needed to actually DO anything. I held up
gamely and then went down with a whimper.

Thanks for reading. I would like CONSTRUCTIVE deck help, if at all
possible. I would like to say that a Don Taylor has corresponded
with me recently and has given good, sharp advice. I appreciate it. E-mail
me at Mark.Dawson@vacorp.com.

I hate Slops since they tend to be ill-mannered rude whinings BUT...
Slops to I. At the end of the day I realized that I could have
trapped numerous Dittos with confusion and made them worthless 2 1/2
X 3 1/2 cardbard squares with a Mean Look. And I saw them in 4 of my 5
Rounds. Makes me wonder if I am as smart as I think I am. Later Gator