This is my first Report...

Venusaur.  He's a card that most people dream of having in their decks, and
only a few, the rich who buy rares by themselves for $20 a piece, have.  I
am lucky enough to have happened to get one in a booster pack.  Anyway,
many people think him to be good, and some bad.  Let's dissect the card and
see...
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VENUSAUR - Stage 2   100 HP

Now, he's got a Pokémon Power.  That's helpful.
ENERGY TRANS- As often as you like during your turn (before you attack), you
may take 1 grass Energy card attached to 1 of your own Pokémon and attach it
to a different one.  This power can't be used if Venusaur is Asleep,
Confused, or Paralyzed.

His one attack, SOLARBEAM, takes 4 grass Energy to do 60 damage.

Like most grass Pokémon, he's weak to fire, and has no resistance.  He
retreats with a discard of 2 Energies.
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OK, so, basically, he allows your Pokémon to play "hot potato" with their
Energies.  This allows you to put him up with no energy, and still attack on
the same turn.  He also gets really good gas mileage; most grass Pokémon get
10 damage for each energy required in an attack, and have somewhat low HPs.
However, Venusaur does much better than that.
Most people's complaint is that it takes too long to evolve him, he's almost
dead by the time he can attack.  THESE ARE LAME EXCUSES.  Evolve him on your
bench, then put him up and use Energy Trans, then Solar beam.  You'll knock
out a lot of Pokémon, especially if you get up against a fighting or select
water, like Gyrados.

And, if all else fails, he can get rid of his energy before he dies, there
by not wasting them.  Just use Energy Trans when you know he's gonna by
knocked out.

xterra_01

EMAIL ME! patrick@triggs.org