Ah, the release of an expansion set...isn't it insanely great? Well it
hasn't been released yet but it's certainly on the verge. You probably know
what I'm talking about, the Team Rocket expansion. I'm going to explain many
of the changes that TR(Team Rocket) will make on the playscene. So, sit back
and munch on some Pokemon Fruit Roll-Ups(my personal favorite =) ) as I take
you through the borders of Team Rocket.
First off the nature of nearly ALL the pokemon in TR is extremly strong very
energy efficient attacks, but low HP and in most cases not too great
versitality. TR spreads a whole new standard of attacks many are so great
for there cost they make Thunderpunch look intensive! TR is the first set
since Base to come out with new rare Trainers, not to mention some new
Energy cards. It is also the first to make this large of an impact with
them. Night Waste Recovery makes stall decks extremly more potent, it also
is a great way to revive that lost evolution or basic. I think we'll see
this in nearly every deck, it helps Rain Dance get the deck back up to size,
gives Haymakers their valuable basics back, and it gives 3 more turns to a
stall player. Team Rocket's Big Sister is an interesting card, it helps low
energy decks by getting rid of that ER or better yet that SER in your
opponent's hand. It's an all around good card for disruption and 1 or 2 fit
in many decks.
  The new Rainbow Energy obviuosly doesn't go well with many of the TR cards
as it deals 10 damage to the pokemon you attach it to, which will often make
a big difference on a 60 or 50HP Pokemon. But with the old Haymaker diehards
this card is a killer, Potporri deck players rejoice! Here's a card for you
that allows you to play a relativley low amount of energy to save room for
trainers. I think it's time to move on to the Pokemon of this upcoming set,
as you know there are many amazing cards to come here's what I think of
some.
  Dark Alakazam...60HP, hit and run attack for 30, forget resistance and do
a straight 40. At the first glance Alakazam seems sort  of weak, but imagine
using Teleport Blast(the hit-an-run attack) to bring up other pokemon that
can easily take hits! This certainly helps the 60HP out. Not only that, but
you don't have to shudder at that Chansey or Kangaskhan hanging out on your
opponent's bench you have an attack that deals 40 damage to them for 3
Psy...Wow. He does have a whopping 3 retreat though, but once again Teleport
Blast is an excellent way to give Alakazam a breather. You won't believe you
eyes when you see Dark Kadabra, his power lets you discard a card in your
hand to draw a card from your deck. Amazing. You can easily cycle through
your deck by discarding an unwanted card from your hand. For only 2(yes 2)
psy you deal 30 to your opponent no matter Weakness/Resistance. 50HP is
weak, but all the attacks make up for it.
  Most of us know by now that Dark Vileplume is going to bring somemore
chaos into the game, Pokemon Power:No more Trainer Cards may be played. This
power stops working when Dark Vileplume is Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed.
Quite a binding power, eh? I think so, this card works especially great in a
stall deck giving it more room for pokemon since you won't be able to play
trainers anyway. Imagine a no energy, Dark Vileplume(which means no trainers
of course) stall deck, you could probably run about 3 Stage 2 lines! Throw
in a 4-4-4 Alakazam line, and a 4-4-4 Dark Vileplume line and every great
stalling basic out there and you've got a great stall coming along. Just be
careful in timed games, this deck will take much longer then the standard no
energy stall. Dark Blastoise I believe will switch Raindance up a bit, a
Hydro Pump that can deal 70 damage on turn two(what a haymaker killer!) and
a 40 damage attack that can prevent all damage=extremly solid Blastoise.
Dragonair-Dragonite can get your deck moving quicker and I think many
beatdown decks will go for 'em.
  Ah Dark Golduck this card is simply amazing in a Haymaker, this is a water
pokemon WATER. He has third eye which you've probably heard of(let's you
draw 3 friggin cards!!) but then he has Super Psy(just like Kadabra's) now
this is splashable. After looking at these geat cards it's hard to see any
deck without a couple TR cards thrown in. We have only seen the borders of
this new TR era, I will be sure to release my traditional spoiler on the set
as soon as TR is released(keep an eye out for it ;) ).

    -Jared Schroeder >) Questions and Comments go to:
protoss_warrior@hotmail.com

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