I'm responding the an article posted recently in the
Deck Construction Tips section about energy removal
being for "Rookies".

I've got to say that I agree with how frustrating the
Energy Removal cards are, I can't say I agree with all
the things discussed.
Back in my early gaming days we called it "cheese".
Those cards that were so powerful at such a low cost
to the user that it seemed almost wrong to play with
such a thing.
Energy Removal(and SER) would in my opinion fall into
this category, without a doubt. Its one of those card
that without any big disadvantage to the guy who plays
it has a devistating effect on your his opponent.
In other games(M:TG being the most obvious) these
cards were "broken" in some way. Usually by either
changing the way they work or banning or restricting
their use.

All that said, I've got to say that anyone I play
against, in any sort of serious situation, that isn't
using energy removals of some sort simply makes me
laugh.

Why? You ask.
Because if they're not using it... I Will Win.

I don't mean to sound cocky. I'm by no means the best
player around. But the issue still remains that Energy
Removals are very powerful. They're not a like those
situationally powerful cards(Pokemon Flute or Imposter
Prof. Oak ring a bell?). They're cards that in almost
every situation you face will have some use.
If you enter a tournament and your deck does not have
any energy removals there is almost no way you can win
unless the people you play are frighteningly unlucky
or grossly incompetent.
This has been valid in every other game I can think
of(and believe me, I've played almost all of them). In
Magic, no matter how much people may talk down about a
card, if they are using the right color, they'll
almost certainly use that card.
In Pokemon its an even easier choice, because
Trainers don't care what colors you're playing.

The bottom line is this. As long as these cards are
legal, and there isn't something to seriousley
counteract them, they will be used constantly in
tournaments.
Lets face it, anyone who wants to play tournaments
can't think about it seriousley without knowing they
have to have removals.

Thanks for listening people, and feel free to email me
any time at odd_jobs_pet_flea@yahoo.com

Fuleron
AKA.
JT McCarty, Leader of the Foundation to Ban Energy
Removal and Computer Search(FBERCS)
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