Snifit 9 here (back with his real SN, not SIRIUS NEO. *gasp!*) Here for a
card comparision. We are going to look at the Base-Set Charizard and Blaine's
Arcanine to see who is the ultimate heavy hitter. Let's look at the cards.

Charizard. (Stage 2 evolution)
HP: 120
Pkmn Power: Energy Burn. All energy on Charizard becomes Fire energy (doesn't
work if asleep, confused, paralyzed).
Attack1: Fire Spin: 100 HP Damage. FFFF (Discard 2 fire energy cards to use
this attack)
Attack2: None
Weakness: Water
Resistant: Fighting
Retreat Cost: 3

and.....

Blaine's Arcanine (Stage 1 evolution)
HP: 90
Pkmn Power: None
Attack1: Flame Tackle. 40 damage. FCC. (This Pokemon does 10 damage to itself)
Attack2: Fire Storm. 120 damage. FFFF (Discard 3 fire energy cards to use
this)
Weakness: Water
Resistance: None
Retreat Cost: 3

Lets see...that 120 HP damage attack looks impressive and it is considering
it can KO any other Pokemon in 1 hit (besides Mr. Mime, a lucky Fossil
Haunter, or a Pokemon using Agility). Although Charizard's 100 is just as
well. It can kill anything in one shoot too except adding Chansey and another
Charizard to the above list. I think that Fire Storm is simply an over-kill
attack but thats simply my opinion. Lets look them over some more.
Charizard's 120 HP is obviously better than Arcanine's 90 but Charizard is a
stage 2 and will take a little longer to evolve. Still, if the 2 were racing
to see who could charge up to attack the fastest many things would decide the
winner. Many people see that Arcanine is Stage-1 and instantly think it's
better but the truth is that it would take just as long to get him ready to
attack as a Charizard...longer if you are planning on attacking more than
once with him. Arcanine should only be used to take the last couple of prizes
because he eats up so much energy. Plus he doesn't have the Pokemon Power to
pack him up. He's very energy-intensive. Both are weak against water but
Charizard has a resistance against fighting-types which comes in handy
against things like Hitmonchan and such...but seriously, Charizard doesn't
need a resistance with it's 120 HP and 100 damage attack. Retreat cost is
even at 3 for each card.

Charizard is better if you plan to do the massive damage over and over again
but it doesn't have the optional attack of 40 damage (perfect Scyther killer,
folks) like Arcannine does. Arcanine is more of a "I've already taken 4
prizes so I'll just mow you over now" sort of card. Would be good in a quick
deck using plenty of Fossil Magmars to fight while you charge up the Fire
Storm. I can't really pick a winner here so it's your choice.

     ~Snifit 9, Master of Plant and Psychic Pokemon.
       (ex-SIRIUSNEO)
       E-mail me at.....
       Snifit9@aol.com