I've read many articles on deck building in the past and I've had many
ideas on different strategies. Well, I'm here to tell you the basics of
deckbuilding. So here we go...

    Step 1: Think up a strategy on what you you want your deck to do.
(Examples: Do you want to you speed to obliterate your opponent early in the
game? Use a Haymaker. Do you want to stop the opposition while you load up
some hard hitting pokes? Use a stall deck. Do you want to pile on energy
cards on beefy hitters in order to devestate the opponent? Use a Raindance)
    For practice: Let's say you want to stall your opponent, but at the same
time wear 'em down with poisoning.

    Step 2: After developing a strategy, choose the pokemon that fit your
strategy. (Examples: Hitmonchan, Electabuzz, Scyther, Fossil Magmar for speed
decks, Alakazam, Mr. Mime, Chansey, Fossil Haunter for Stallers, and
Blastoise, (Duh!) Gyarados, and Articuno for Raindance)
    In order to stall we'll add:
        Chansey
        Kangaskhan
    In order to poison the heck out of 'em we'll add:
        Nidoking line [My all time favorite poisoner : )]
        Venomoth line [A two for one attacker]
        Muk line [A great disruptor too]

    Step 3: Using the pokemon you have to fit your theme, decide on the type
or types you are going to use.
    Fitting our pokemon we will use colorless and grass.

    Step 4: Get a suitable amount of energy. 18-24 is good for me, even 26 I
guess, but I think that 28 (The number that come in theme decks) is way too
many.
    For us 24 is good (20 grass, 4 DCE)

    Step 5: Now that we have our energy, and main pokemon, we'll add some
supporting pokemon.
    We'll add in Scyther and Pinsir

    Step 6: Decide on the numbers of the different pokemon for your deck.
    For this deck we'll add:
        2 Chansey
        2 Kangaskhan
        2 Nidoking
        3 Nidoran M
        2 Venomoth
        3 Venonat
        2 Scyther
        2 Pinsir
    Giving us a total of (4 Evolution + 14 Basics = 18 Pokemon)
    Add in the total energy: (20 Grass + 4 DCE = 24 Energy)
    Giving us (60 - 24 - 18 = 18) 18 Extra slots for Step 7.

Step 7: Fill in the remaining slots with trainers (Both general trainers like
Bills and Oak and trainers to fit your stradegy)
    In our case we have 18 slots to fill, so here we go...
        3 Bill
        2 Oak
        2 Scoop Up (To keep on stallin')
        3 Pokemon Breeder (How else ya' gonna' get those Nidoking out?)
        2 SER
        2 ER
        2 Comp. Search (To find the Nidokings, Venomoths, etc.)
        2 Plus Power ( To add a little more damage)

    So there ya' have it. The Basics Of Deck Building! Keep checking in for
my next article: Advanced deck building for Tournements Preperation!
    Send comments, suggestion, and flaming hatemail to: HotWingB2B@aol.com