Yet another article in my long-running series, Number 22, Dark Blastoise, from Rocket!

Facts:

**70 HP. Problem here. 70 HP on a Stage 2 Pokemon isn't very good. But, there are 3solutions: Rocket's Hideout, which makes it 90, Gold Berry, and Focus Band, whichlengthen Dk. Blastoise's lifespan.

**Bottom Stats. There are mixed feelings about this section...Lightning Weakness is nevera selling point on cards in today's environment. Rocket's Zapdos shreds this card. Also,Neo3 Ampharos. This is not an easy point...No Resistance doesn't affect it...and theRetreat Cost of (*)(*) is ok. It can be paid using energy, Switch/Balloon Berry, or you can just let Dk. Blastoise fight it out, until he gets Knocked Out.

**Evolves from Squirtle, Dk. Wartortle. In Modified, you don't have much of a choice. You need Rocket Squirtle, and you need Dk. Wartortle, also from Rocket. In Standard, I'm recommending Rocket Squirtle anyway. And of course, use Breeder.

**Hydrocannon. For at least 2 Water Energy, it does 30 damage plus 20 more for each extra Water (up to 2 extra Water counts for adding damage). So, with 4 Water alone, you can have 70 damage. Many Pokemon will be Knocked Out with 70 damage, such as Rocket's Zapdos, Sneasel, Typhlosion/Blaine's Arcanine (weakness), and almost all the un-evolved Basic Pokemon.

**Rocket Tackle. I'll quote it... "(W)(*)(*) Rocket Tackle  40  Dark Blastoise does 10 damage to itself. Flip a coin. If heads, prevent all damage done to Dark Blastoise during your opponent's next turn. (Any other effects of attacks still happen.)" Well, this is a very good attack! Those 2 Colorless energy needed can be Darkness...2 Darknesses and 1 Water will do 60 damage, and a chance to prevent ALL damage done to you on the opponent's next turn! (except the 10 from using this attack). This is very nice especially due to the Lightning Weakness. While fighting a Lightning Pokemon, preventing a turn's damage is really nice! It can also give you another chance to Knock Out the opponent. Used nicely, it can be very efficient.

Combos:

**Rocket's Hideout. This is very useful with any Pokemon with Dark in its name. There is no real downside, and you get to add 20 HP to any of these such Pokemon. He now has 90 HP. This is great for a Stage 2.

**Darkness Energy. The second most useful card with Dark Blastoise. This adds 10 damage to Dark Blastoise's attacks, since Dark is in his name. When used in multiples, the added damage is cumulative! It seems wasteful to do this, but under the right circumstances, Rocket Tackle can do 80 damage, and sometimes prevent the opponent's damage to you.

**Gold Berry/Metal Energy. This probably seems strange that I'm combining these two. But they both serve the same purpose, of removing/reducing damage to Dark Blastoise. Metal Energy removes the 10 done to you using Rocket Tackle. I wouldn't use more than 1 Metal Energy on Dark Blastoise because it reduces the damage YOU deal to the opponent also.

**The Boss's Way. Simply allows you search your deck for any Dark-in-its-name Pokemon. In this case, Dk. Wartortle or Dk. Blastoise.

**Pokemon Breeder/P. B. Fields. Depending on Modified or not, depends on which 1 or both of these cards can be used. In Standard, using both can be wise. In Modified, only Breeder Fields is usable.

Ratings:

Standard: Evolutions, namely Stage 2s, aren't easily used in Modified, even with the use of Breeder. I'm giving it a 7.5/10.

Modified: Now it gets interesting! Evolutions dominate under this format, and Blaine's Arcanine is sometimes annoying to fight. Dark Blastoise owns Blaine's Arcanine. :-) For this ability, and used with the combo cards above...I'll give it an 8/10. It would have made a higher rating, but Rocket's Zapdos is extremely overpowering against Dark Blastoise, and against a deck of all Lightning Pokemon, you have a next-to-nothing chance to win.

That wraps it up! Thanks to the person who requested Dark Blastoise! Base Nidoking is next.

Questions, comments, requests for future articles, etc...you know what to do by now ;-).

Have fun, and try Dark Blastoise in a deck sometime!

~Chris
Baboonskin@aol.com