Ways to Beat and Get Beaten by Sneasel
Hiya! It's me Master 1080 again.
I am writing an article on ways to beat Sneasel Decks
and ways Sneasel can counter my strategies. Not all
my strategies will work but when you think it over, it
can be pretty devastating to your opponent. Without
further delay, let's get started.
1. Problem: Sneasel always gets those Darkness
Energies so quickly!
Solution: Energy Removal and Super Energy Removal w/
Recycle Energy. Use Imposter Oak's Revenge and The
Rocket's Trap when Ecogym is in play.
How it works: Energy Removal cards will eliminate the
4 or less Darkness Energies from their deck. If
Ecogym is in play, use Imposter Oak's Revenge to make
them shuffle their Darkness Energy back into their
deck (after you remove the energy of course). Then it
is standard procedure from here. Use Noctowl, Lt.
Surge's Eevee (has some potential), and especially the
Rocket's Trap to limit your opponent's chances of
getting their Darkness Energy back. If they do manage
to get their energy back, then they must have wasted
tons of Trainers. This is where you can deck them
out.
If you do not have IOR, then get rid of Ecogym with
Narrow Gym (lowers effectiveness of Sneasel's attack),
Rocket's Training Gym (stops Sneasel from retreating
for free), or any other Stadium card.
Ways this is countered: Your opponent might have 4
Darkness Energy, 4 Rainbow Energy and tons of trainers
to get those energy cards. It will be difficult to
stop your opponent from getting at least two of those
energy cards. Also, No Removal Gym will screw your
Energy Removal Deck.
I mentioned you could deck your opponent but IOR can
replenish his/her deck if he/she has a big hand of
cards.
Solution 2: Erika's Dragonair.
How it works: Erika's Dragonair has an attack callled
Take Away which automatically removes both active
Pokemon from play. Both players will shuffle their
active Pokemon and all cards attached to them back
into their decks. This mean that those two Darkness
Energy your opponent worked so hard to get will be
gone like that!
Ways it is countered: If you have a low bench count,
then your opponents other Pokemon could finish
Sneasel's job. Also, it takes a while for Erika's
Dragonair to get charged up (not to much of a problem
with Double Colorless Energy).
2. Problem: Sneasel's attack does too much damage!
Solution: Chansey, Baby Pokemon, Rocket's Scyther,
Magmar, etc. combined with Gold Berry, 4 Metal Energy
(hee hee), and Focus Band (One Pokemon tool per
Pokemon, remember that).
How it works: Use Pokemon that have to make Sneasel
flip more coins thann usual to attack. Chansey,
Brock's Onix, etc. have good stalling attacks and
ridiculously high HP. It will take time for them to
get K.O.'ed. Rocket's Scyther, Baby Pokemon, Magmar,
etc. have to make Sneasel flip an extra coin in order
to attack. Focus Band (with the flip of heads) allows
your Pokemon to have 10 HP left when it gets knocked
out so it really doesn't get knocked out. Pokemon
such as Lickitung can stop Sneasel in its tracks.
Gust of Wind is a decent way to eliminate the threat
of a fully charged Sneasel. Plus if you have stalled
long enough, you should've had time to charge up a
Wiggly, Arcanine, Blastoise, or some powerful Pokemon
to knock out the troublesome Sneasel.
Ways this is countered: When Sneasel does flip that
heads, your chances for being knocked out are pretty
high. Conditions and status effects are easily erased
by Sneasel's free retreat (Curse that free retreat!).
Solution 2: Erika's Dratini and healing Trainers I
don't recommend using Mr. Mime since Sneasel has
resistance against Psychics.
How it works: Since Sneasel is a Basic Pokemon,
Erika's Dratini's Pokemon Power reduces all damage
done by Basic Pokemon to a mere 10 damage. Use
Potions, Berries, and perhaps Pokemon Centers to keep
Erika's Dratini healthy. Focus Band helps a little
too.
Ways it is countered: Goop Gas Attack and Muk are
cards to fear. Also, your opponent can simple retreat
Sneasel and replace it with an Evolved Pokemon
(Evolutions are not effected by Erika's Dratini's
Pokemon Power).
Solution 3: Any Pokemon with an Auto-sleep attack.
How it works: A sleeping Sneasel cannot retreat or
attack. Confusion is effective but Sneasel still has
the advantage of free retreat. It is standard
procedure once Sneasel's asleep.
Ways it is countered: I've seen a lot of Full Heal
Energies being played in my area so that is something
to look out for.
3. Problem: Sneasel has resistance against my Mewtwo!
Solution: Resistance Gym. Put in Pokemon of
different types other than Psychic.
How it Works: Resistance Gym lowers Resistance down
to -10. You can at least do 30 damage to Sneasel with
Psyburn. Slap a Focus Band on Mewtwo and you're kinda
safe.
Ways it is countered: Free retreat means they can
replace Sneasel with a Mewtwo of their own to finish
the job. Plus if they get rid of the Resistance Gym,
you won't be knocking out Sneasels anytime soon.
4. Problem: I can't deal enough damage to Sneasel!
Solution: Stall Pokemon, Switch, Offesive Pokemon,
PlusPowers.
How it works: Use stall Pokemon to buy time to build
up your Sycthers, Hitmonchans, Electabuzz, etc. I
suggest Rocket's Scyther and Rocket's Zapdos.
Rocket's Scyther is a perfect blend of defensive and
offensive Pokemon. Rocket's Zapdos does a lot of
damage and is resistant to Energy Removal. PlusPower
is always good for quick K.O.'s
Ways it is countered: Anything that counters a
Haymaker deck.
Solution 2: Ditto, Clefable, Sneasel, etc.
How it works: Basically, this is like having or
having a Sneasel on your side. Ditto and Metronoming
Pokemon could copy Sneasel's Beat Up attack and do a
maximum of 120 damage unless you have 2 Darkness
Energy attached to your Active Pokemon. This is just
using your opponent's Sneasel strategy against
him/her.
Ways it is countered: I'm not sure on this matter.
However, Ditto can be countered numerous ways.
Well. There's my long report on how to battle a
Sneasel deck. This concludes my report. G'bye and
have a nice day.
Please send your responses to me (Master 1080) at the_master1080@yahoo.com