This Review is On...

                      BLAINE'S ARCANINE!

A: Is Bigger better? I think not

   On the contrary to the recent review of Blaine's Arcanine, I believe this
card lacks the power to be a force in the current tournament environment
(IT'S IN A THEME DECK FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!).To show examples of this, I will
try to realisticly show the outcome of Battles with current Archetypes:

1: Haymaker,Potpourri,Sponge

   V.S. Haymaker, B's Arcanine's energy requirement would be it's downfall;
with volleys of Energy Removal and SER, it wouldn't be able power up. Also,
if it used Heat Tackle, that 10 damage to self would quickly stack up, and
it would be knocked out easily afterword. Even if you used Blaine, RSA would
just get rid of it, as would Lass. 2 Psyburns and plus power kills it on
turn 3 with Sponge!

2: Trapper

   An B's Arcanine deck would stand little chance against a Trapper going
off on turn 1 or 2; without a hand, there is no B's Arcanine! SER's and RSA
would keep the Big Dog at bay while Chans and Buzzes made short work of it.

3: Wigglymaker

   A turn 2 Wiggly can be devasting, especially against an Evolution with
high energy cost. A Wiggly can also take out an Arcanine with 3 Plus Power,
which is possible with Itemfinder and some clever Oaks. Thundser Punching
doubled with Heat Tackle's 10 to self could wipe B's Aracanine out in a few
turns. Though it has that big 120 attack, B's Arcanine is simply too slow to
defend against Wiggly's power and speed.

4: Plasma

   Not many people consider Plasma an Archetype, but it has the potential,
and the power. R's Zapdos' Plasma coupled with SERs and Super Potions is a
deadly combo that almost nothing can overcome, making useless Heat Tackle,
and disabling Firestorm. GOW is also a threat, as the retreat is a way too
high for a Stage 1. Rocket's Training Gym eats this Dawg alive.

5: Raindance

   Though most consider Raindance dead, it's absence from the environment
could be a good thing, if a rogue one showed up, players wouldn't be
prepared. The though of B's Arcanine V.S. Raindance is a laughable
situatrion; because raindance is not often used in highly competitive
Tournament play, Cinnabar Gym would not ofetn be player; even if it was,
most Neo Raindances I've heard use LOTS of No Removal Gym, nullifying the
threat.

6: STS?

   With Prop 15 3C  in effect, most decks will be full of high HP basics,
and SERs, while being an evolution with the limit being 3 for cards,
Blaine's Arcanine will a waste of space; who cares about 120 damage, when
all you need is 80 to kill most popular Pokemon?

7: Good or Bad? Ratingh 1-10

   I now conclude that, despite it's few good points, Blaines Arcanine is
not fit for Tournament play as of now, and perhaps never will be, until new
sets and bannings are issued.  I give it a 3, not completly worthless, but
bad none the less. A sad attempt of  milking the Charizard phenomenon of
cool cards with big numbers (OOOh!120!Shiny!).
Who let the dogs out? Wizards, but I wish they hadn't.

Blaine's Arcanine: 3/10

Stingrayhtr
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stingrayhtr@hotmail.com