Hey! Just thought I'd put my cents in about one of my (and nearly everyone else's) faves. I know Scyther's getting to be a hackneyed subject around the PoJo, but I can't get enough of the little fella. Thanks! Herschel Jeffrey (8/26/99) The 632nd Scyther Article By now it has been argued a thousand times and proven in even more tournament reports, but I'd like to take a minute to pay my personal tribute to the incredible utility of an increasingly popular Poké-TCG legend: Scyther. Standing 4' 11" and weighing in at a sleek 123 lbs., this awe-inspiring insect can easily Slash its way into about 90% of the existing tourney decks. Since the American release of Jungle, Scyther has been making a happy home in several themed decks (the most prominent of which, of course, is the Haymaker). I know, there've been several articles lauding Scyther's versatility and damage-dealing capabilities, and they all say pretty much the same thing, but here goes my own list of why Scyther should be included in almost every deck. Starting from the top of the card anatomy and heading downward: 1. He's a Basic Pokémon. So, not only does he contribute to the speed of a deck by being able to be played directly from the hand, but he's also independent in that he doesn't belong to an evolutionary chain. Brokaw and Arnold put it best in their stellar guidebook when they said, "This is one Basic Pokémon that doesn't need an evolution!" 2. His name is Scyther. I mean, who's not going to be just a little nervous around a Pokémon that's named for a tendency to cut stuff up? At any rate, it's a more fear-evoking handle than Jigglypuff (not, by any means, to disparage this useful Pokémon). 3. He's got 70 HP. This is above-average for a Basic Pokémon, and will allow Scyther to hold his own in the early stages of play. And, he's a Grass Pokémon. This doesn't mean a whole lot, though it does give Scyther an in with Jungle's heavy Grass theme. 4. The pic! Scyther looks poised for battle, wings buzzing and blade-arms to the fore, ready to pounce in for a Slash or bewilder his opponent with a Swords Dance. Not to be trifled with. And the holo is psychedelic! 5. Swords Dance! This is probably my biggest point of contention with some of the articles written about Scyther. Some say that Scyther's Swords Dance ability does not warrant the inclusion of a few Grass Energy cards in a standard Haymaker deck. I couldn't agree more. However, some of these same articles say that Swords Dance is an overall useless attack, and I couldn't disagree more with that. There's nothing more satisying than being able to pull off 60 damage in two turns with a well-placed DCE. And of course, there's always an added bit of satisfaction when you can Gust in a weak Pokémon to take the Slash. In a pinch, Swords Dance can also help Scyther get past an opposing Pokémon's damage-soaking ability or defenses like Onix's Harden. 6. Slash. I think everyone agrees that Slash is currently one of the most potent attacks in the game. Not because of its damage (though 30 for 3 CE is nothing to laugh at), but because of its totally independent energy requirement. Slash is a good enough attack to stand on its own without Swords Dance, so Scyther can carve a niche in any color of deck. Slash is also (sigh) Scyther's trademark. 7. Scyther's weakness vs. Fire. Nearly every Pokémon's got a weakness, and Scyther's happens to be Fire. However, considering most inermediate Fire attacks inflict 30 damage, Scyther can withstand one and still remain standing. 70 HP generally ensures a one-turn survival despite Weakness, and Scyther is no exception. 8. Resistance to Fighting. ‘Nuff said. Scyther joins his avian companions in snubbing his nose at the damage-dealing capability of a normally potent color. 9. Retreat Cost: Free! Here's where that "ninja-like agility" comes into play. With a zero-point retreat (again a frequent characteristic of flying Pokémon), Scyther proves even speedier than his Basic brethren. No more getting trapped in the active spot by energy denial. Scyther can take wing and, more often than not, return to fight another day. 10. Flavor text. "With ninja-like agility and speed, it can create the illusion that there is more than one of it." Don't we all wish we could do just that? Well, maybe some of us do, anyway. This catchy flavor tet rounds out a beautiful card. 11. Synergy. To borrow the term from Brokaw and Arnold (who borrowed it cards while preferably standing well on its own. Scyther can fit flawlessly into almost any deck with his speed, endurance, and damage-dealing potential. Moreover, he's synergistic by himself! His Basic nature and free retreat make him fast, while his above-average HP and resistance to Fighting give him added endurance. His main attack is very energy-friendly and dishes out a respectable 30 points of damage. In conclusion, well — what's not to say about Scyther's potential? True, he has his flaws; no one card in a good TCG (and Pokémon is a great one) should be a stand-alone, foolproof winner. But placed correctly in a well-thought-out deck, Scyther can easily turn the strategic tide by acting as a haymaker, a staller, or just a plain nuisance. As long as future expansions don't include a Trainer card for Ketchup ... _______________________________________________________________ Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com