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Pojo's Pokémon Card of the Day

		Wailord #26 Dragons Exalted Date Reviewed: Oct. 24, 2012 Ratings & Reviews Summary Modified: 1.88 Limited: 3.40 Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale. 1 being the worst.  3 ... average.   5 is the highest rating. Back to the main COTD Page
Combos With:

Baby Mario 2010 UK National Seniors Champion	Wailord (Dragons Exalted) For a card that has never made much of an impact on the competitive TCG, Wailord sure does get referenced a lot in reviews. The reason for this is that, ever since the ex version was printed in Sandstorm, way back in 2003, it has come to represent the ultimate in HP. It was the first (and so far the only) Pokemon to hit the magic 200 and has often repeated that feat (Great Encounters) or come close (Supreme Victors, Triumphant). As a result, whenever we want to express how powerful an attack is, us lazy reviewers will often say something like ‘will OHKO anything in the format (except Wailord)’. The Dragon Vault version does indeed boast that outrageous 200 HP, but as we all know, that’s not enough to make a card playable. Honestly, when did you last see anyone using this Pokémon successfully? The old ex did manage to find its way into a couple of competitive decks and there was a gimmicky list featuring the GE one, but otherwise . . . nothing really. Of course, Weakness to the nearly-always-popular Lightning Type makes that HP somewhat less attractive and the obligatory massive retreat cost and expensive attacks doesn’t help either. Today’s card has all of those problems, unfortunately. However, the next set (Boundaries Crossed) comes with a Rain Dance Blastoise which could solve the attack cost problem at least, so . . . is there any potential for Wailord to be a good partner for it? Let’s take a look at the attacks and see. The first, Water Cannon, nominally costs just one Water Energy. However, that single Energy won’t get you very far because the text states that you flip a coin for each Water Energy attached and do 30 for each heads. Now you could combine this with Blastoise to attach as many Water Energy from your hand as you can, and you can also use Victory Star Fliptini to re-do the flip but . . . why would you? If you wanted to use a Pokémon that increased damage based on the number of Energy, then you have the far more reliable options of Keldeo-EX (also in Boundaries Crossed), or Mewtwo-EX at your disposal. No need to invest in a flippy Stage 1 at all. At least Giant Wave offers you some reliable damage. It’s just that it a) costs four Energy, b) only does a no-effect 80, and c) you can’t use it during your next turn. Why the designers thought they needed that particular drawback is a mystery to me. Giant Wave would be sub-par even without it, and now you have to either resort to the flippy attack next turn, or find some method of retreating it. No thanks. In the end, what you have here is the typical Wailord. Yeah, it’s still a byword for high HP, but that’s pretty much all that it’s good for. Unfortunately. Rating Modified: 1.75 (big, fat . . . and mostly useless) Limited: 3.25 (walling is more of a viable strategy here, but the attacks are still very slow and lame)
virusyosh	Happy midweek, Pojo readers! Today we're reviewing one of the largest Pokemon (in terms of HP) that has been released in recent memory, and is something that many players have been trying to break since its release. Today's Card of the Day is Wailord.   Wailord is a Stage 1 Water Pokemon. Water-types aren't so common right now, but that will likely change with the release of Boundaries Crossed with Blastoise and Keldeo-EX. 200 HP is absolutely massive, and should make it so that Wailord can take nearly any hit with ease, provided it doesn't hit for Weakness. Unfortunately, Wailord's Lightning Weakness is a major problem, as Zekrom and Zekrom-EX will both OHKO. Unsurprisingly, Wailord has no Resistance as well as a Retreat Cost of 4, which probably shouldn't ever be paid in any normal circumstance. Definitely use Switch instead!   This huge whale has two attacks. Water Cannon is the more interesting of the two, which allows you to flip a coin, and if heads, deal 30 damage to the Defending Pokemon for each Water Energy attached to Wailord. This is an interesting take on the normal flip attack, and is notable because it works quite well with Victory Star Victini to potentially dish out a ton of damage. Of course, even with the Victory Pokemon, you're looking at a 75% chance of the attack working, which means that it can often fail in critical moments. Giant Wave, the Float Whale Pokemon's second attack, does 80 damage for a Water and three Colorless, with the additional side effect of not being able to be used during your next turn. 80 damage for four Energy is below average these days, and an additional drawback makes this attack even worse. It can be useful if you KO your opponent (as you won't have to rely on a Water Cannon flip), but even then, you'll have to settle for Water Cannon (or switching) during your next turn anyway.   Modified: 2/5 Wailord won't see much play right now due to the relative popularity of Lightning Pokemon, but that isn't to say that it won't in the future. Wailord has great synergy with Boundaries Crossed Blastoise, and these two Pokemon combined with Victini NVI (Victory Star) can lead to a lot of fun...just probably not at a major tournament.    Limited: 4/5 Wailord is great in Limited in decks that focus around Water. 200 HP is absolutely monstrous, and should easily survive many of the assaults your opponents throw at it. In terms of attacks, Water Cannon has the capability to do a ton of damage here, and even Giant Wave's drawback isn't so bad. Of course, while Giant Wave does have pretty favorable Energy requirements, Water Cannon needs a lot of Water Energy in order to maximize its potential. Overall, Wailord is quite a solid choice in Limited, especially if Water is going to be the main focus of your deck.   Combos With: Victini NVI (Victory Star), Blastoise BDC
Jebulous Maryland Player	Wailord   Wailord is a Stage 1 Water Pokemon with... 200 HP!  That's the most out there right now.  It is weak to Lightning and has a retreat cost of 4.  It is searchable by Heavy Ball and so far away from being searchable by Level Ball.   'Water Cannon' costs 1 Water energy.  You flip a coin, and if heads, it does 30 times the number of Water energy attached to Wailord.  So 30 if you do it right away, the next attack is 4, so if 4, it will do 120.  I think it's a fair attack.  The more you invest in it the more it can do.  Sadly it's on a coin flip, and I hate those.  Fliptini could help it out though.   'Giant Wave' costs 1 Water and 3 colorless energy.  It does 80 and you can use it next turn... Well that kind of killed the mood.  The effect is horrible, but it makes the attack even worse since it only does 80.  Sure it's a guaranteed 80, but you will have to Switch or flip next turn.  I would have liked to seen the damage increase, or the effect have some splash damage.   The 200 HP is impressive, had Fisherman still been around I'm sure someone would try Wailord + Blastoise + Max Potion for some crazy tanking shenanigans.  The weakness is unfortunate with so much Lightning running around right now.   Modified: 2/5 Limited: 3/5 Combos With:  ...   Questions, comments, concerns: jebulousthemighty@yahoo.com