Another Week, another CotW...

(Sorry about the lateness of this one.  I'm starting to get busy :-)

This time it's the annoying electric rodent that appears every time you turn 
on the TV set and see another Pokemon cartoon...

Pikachu/Raichu

Name:         Pikachu  
Type:         Basic Pokemon
Card #:       card 58 of 102  
Rarity:       Common
Color:        Lightning  
HP:           40 HP
Weakness:     F 
Resistance:   none 
Retreat:      1
Species:      Mouse 
Level:        12
Pokemon #:    25
Attack:       [1]  Gnaw  (10)
Attack:       [1L]  Thunder Jolt  (30)
              Flip coin. If tails, Pikachu does 10 dam. to self.

Name:         Raichu  
Type:         Stage 1 -- from Pikachu
Card #:       card 14 of 102  
Rarity:       Rare - Holo
Color:        Lightning  
HP:           80 HP
Weakness:     F 
Resistance:   none 
Retreat:      1
Species:      Mouse 
Level:        40
Pokemon #:    26
Attack:       [2L]  Agility  (20)
              Flip coin. If heads, during opponent's next turn, prevent all
              effects of attacks, including damage, done to Raichu.
Attack:       [1LLL]  Thunder  (60)  
              Flip coin. If tails, Raichu does 30 dam.to self.

History:
Pikachu is normally found in Viridian Forest in the Game boy Red and Blue versions.  
In the cartoon, Pikachu was given to Ash by Professor Oak, because Ash was late.  
Pikachu has a loving relationship with Ash, but is often independent.  Lt. Surge also 
has a Raichu, whom Ash's Pikachu beat.

Strategy:
I call Pikachu the "poor man's Electabuzz".  Less HP, First attack doesn't paralyze, 
and the other attack doesn't add 10 damage if heads is flipped.  Doesn't mean 
Pikachu isn't good, though.  30 for 1L is nothing to scoff at.  Besides, it can evolve.

Raichu has two abilities: Agility and Thunder.  Agility's good because half of the 
time you can't be touched at all, but you can still hurt the other guy (A Scrunch 
and an attack all rolled in one, yippee!).  Thunder's also a strong attack that can 
hit for a good amount of damage.  The downside is that it hurts Raichu for quite a bit.  
(Lodi seems to think it's too expensive, though)

Strengths:
-Strong attacks
-Agility has 50% of avoiding all other attacks

Weaknesses:
-Pikachu and Raichu may not be able to handle Thunder Jolt and Thunder's damage


Combos:
Pikachu/Raichu + Defender - Prevent 10 or 20 damage using Thunder Jolt or Thunder 
and prevent 20 more from the opponent's attack!


Ratings:

Pikachu:
Jonathan Ng: 8.5 (extra 0.5 for cuteness ^_^)
Zachary Price: 4.0
Joseph McReynolds: 8.5
Tacobill13@aol.com: 7.75
Johan Nguyen: 7.0
Mark Woodworth: 5.65
Average: 6.9

Raichu:
Jonathan Ng: 8.5
Zachary Price: 8.0
Joseph McReynolds: 9.0
Tacobill13@aol.com: 8.75
Johan Nguyen: 7.0
Mark Woodworth: 8.85
Average: 8.35

Please Post or Mail with comments, and if you want to be a rater (I will not accept 
any more ratings after a CotW comes out).