Hey, this is Erik. I've been receiving some e-mails criticizing
my deck construction, and some saying its working great. Let's
see how this can work out for you!

First of all, you never want to overload on any card other
then trainers. Trainers win the game. If you fall for those
6-10 trainer decks, and make them, I don't wanna play you
because it would just be too easy to destroy you. You never
need more then 26 energies, trust me. These 30 energy decks
are not good- i usually play 24 or 25 energies, and I'm
never short. And you only need 9-13 basic pokemon, and
6-10 evolved. Too many pokemon causes too many problems.
I play 15-23 trainers in very deck I have, and trust me, 
its a good idea.

When you start making a deck, first decide which type(s) it 
will be. Lets say your going to make a fighting and fire, 
the simplest combo. Pick out the best pokemon first- which 
ones? Well, Charizard is good, obviously. Get 4 Charmanders, 
2 Charmeleon, 1 Charizard. Machamp is good too, so add him in 
there, same thing as the charmander 4-2-1. Next, get some good 
pokemon other then them. 2 Growltihe and an Arcanine, and 
2 Diglett and a Dugtrio.Now, get some good basics. A Hitmonchan 
and a Magmar will do. So, you've got great pokemon.

Now, look at the pokemon you picked. The fire pokemon need more 
energy, so you'll need more fire energy. You have 22 Pokemon, 
and you only need about 23 energies. So, lets go with 14 Fire 
energies, and 9 Fightinig Energies. Trust me, this will get 
you through the match easily enough.

Now, you need trainer cards. You need card access first of 
all, so put FOUR BILLS in the deck and TWO PROFESSOR OAKS. 
Now, you have access to alot of cards. Get 2 Pokemon Traders 
and a Computer Search as well. Now, you need healing cards. 
Get yourself 2 Potions and a Super Potion. Now, get some 
removal. 2 Energy Removals and a Super Energy Removal should 
cover it.

Let me explain why you DON'T need any other trainers. They 
are not that good, really. When was the last time that Devolution 
Spray, Clefairy Doll, Scoop Up, or Lass REALLY helped you out? 
Probably never. If it did, it happened rarely. Switch and Gust of 
Wind rarely come in much handy, along with cards like pokemon 
center and pokemon flute and revive or full heal. Pokedex is a 
good card, but the bills and prof. oaks do more then enough to get 
cards out.

That is how you make a REALLY good deck. You'll never need 
to waste space by putting 4 stage 1 or 2 pokemon in any deck, 
and energies and 10 trainers is a good idea. The idiots who make 
decks the way the precon and starter decks are made are easily 
beaten by these type decks i make. Try this out with any combo, 
and try to be imaginative with good deck combos (Pokemon Powers). 
A good idea might be to put four pokemon centers in a psychic/grass 
deck. Venusaur mvoes energies to non damaged pokemon, or alakazam 
moves damage to pokemon with no energies. Then let pokemon center 
work it's magic. 


Use strategies like these, and others, to help you out! 
Good luck deckbuilders!
 

     gtff@utinet.net