Dear PoJo,
I have made a list of the top 10 cards in the american sets.  Please post
this, it took me two hours to write it!  


1. Hitmonchan- The best pokemon.  Good hp (70) and awesome attacks.  Jab
for one fighting and special punch for 2 fighting, one colorless.  You can
do 20 damage in one turn.  This can be devastating to the active pokemon in
the beginning of the game, who usually has between 30 and 60 hp.  When you
get enough energy, use special punch.  Preferable deck: Haymaker
2. Gyrados- Many people may disagree, but I think Gyrados rox!  Awesome
health, 100.  As much hp as venusaur and blastoise.  It takes at least 2 or
3 turns to kill it.  Dragon Rage: the best move.  Three water energy for 50
damage.  Kill almost all basics, some uncommons, and even some rares.  Do
bubblebeam when you need a breather, 50% chance of paralysis, 40 damage.
The only bad part is it evolves from Magikarp: The worst pokemon.
Preferable deck: Raindance  
3. Venusaur- Great all around card.  100 hp, solarbeam, and a power.  Use
solarbeam to knock out most pokemon.  Energy trans lets you move grass
energy from one to another as many times as you like.  Use him with pokemon
center and it will be da' bomb.  Preferable deck: Mono-green
4. Blastoise- The best water pokemon other than Gyrados.  Some people hate
him, well I got some news for you water pokemon lovers: Ya need him to make
a Raindance deck!  Anyway, he has 100 hp, hydro pump, and pokemon power.
Hydro pump to kill all fire and others.  Rain dance lets you put water
energy from your hand to water pokemon as many times as you like during
your turn.  Perfect if you need that one extra energy, but already wasted
it on someone.  Preferable deck: Raindance
5. Electabuzz- The best basic other than Hitmonchan.  70 hp is good.
Thundershock for one lighting and a chance of paralysis.  Use him and
Thunder shock early on and the opponents pokemon will be at your mercy.
Thunderpunch for one lightning and one colorless.  Can do 40 damage or 30
and 10 to itself.  This is a good move if he has 40 or more health.  Also,
low retreat cost, two.  Preferable deck: Haymaker
6. Mr. Mime- Invisible wall.  Wow, I love this card.  Use invisible wall
and all damage done to him that's 30 or more is prevented.  Only basics and
some others can destroy him.  When meditate is used right, it can be
deadly.  Use it on a high health pokemon with at least half health so it is
guaranteed to kill it.  The only sucky part about it is it has 40 hp.  For
the life of god, a friggin drowzee has more health.  Preferable deck: Mr.
Mime, duh  
7. Vile plume- One of the best stage 2 evolutions.  Use heal and you have a
50/50 chance of removing a damage counter from one of your pokemon.  I
think it is the best power in the game.  Then comes the infamous Petal
Dance.  "Flip 3 coins.  This attack does forty damage times the number of
heads.  Vileplume is now confused (after doing damage).  This can kill a
chraizard or chansey in one shot, but can also do zero.  If it does zero
damage, it is still confused.  Preferable deck: Mono-green
8. Pinsir- The best grass basic.  Iron grip does 20 damage and a chance of
paralysis.  In the first few turns, use this low cost attack.  Later in the
game, use guillotine.  50 damage can kill a lot of pokemon.  60 hp is fair,
but not so good if you consider the hp of other tourny-suited cards.
Preferable deck: Haymaker variant and Mono-Green
9. Scyther- Pinsirs brother.  70 hp is better than pinsirs, but his attacks
aren't as good.  Swordsdace allows you to double his slash attack to 60
damage.  Slash after you use swordsdance and kill most of the basics.  Very
quick pokemon suited for quick decks.  Preferable decks: Mono-Green and
Haymaker
10. Charizard-Please don't criticize this you younger kids playing Pokemon.
 "Oh look, Charizard.  He is the best.  120 hp and fire spin does 100
damage.  Wow.  Daddy, can I buy this card, it is only 35 bucks?"  Hello!
Read the small print guys.  Discard two energy cards in order to use this
attack.  I am not criticizing it but please don't overreact.  120 hp is the
best and energy burn lets you make all of the energy on him fire.  Only use
one or two in a deck, as last resorts if you are in trouble,  Preferable
deck:Energy Retrieval, Mono-fire.


That's it.  My name is Tyler Francis and you can reach me at
pthylerf@connix.com