An ode to Magikarp.
(Do not question my sanity)

The most overlooked, underestimated, and generally disliked Pocket Monster
in the whole game is the Fish Pokemon, Magikarp.  This is due to the fact
that he's compared to Seel, Squirtle, Lapras, and other fellow Basic Water
Pokemon.  So, let's take a look at the Magikarp compared to other Magikarp.
 This is all done ignoring Gyarados.

First off, all Magikarp have 30 HP, are Water types, are Basic, are weak to
Electric, have a one Energy Retreat cost, and no Resistance.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Magikarp
Lv. 8

C Tackle 10

W Flail 10x
Does 20 damage times the number of damage counters on Magikarp.

Summary:  Magikarp's first entry into the CCG world was this one, and a
good one it is.  With a single Water Energy on him, your opponent had
better make sure that they can take him out in one shot.  Which, by the
way, is improbable on turn one.  Tackle is decent, too.

Karp Rating: 8

------------------------------------------------------------------

Magikarp
Lv. 6

C Flop 10

WWW Rapid Evolution
Search your deck for an Evolution card named Gyarados or Dark Gyarados and
put it on Magikarp.  (This counts as evolving Magikarp.)  Shuffle your deck
afterward.

Summary:  What?!  Rapid Evolution?  This Magikarp saddens me.  He just
throws in the towel.  Shame had been brought to the Magikarp dynasty.  Plus
the picture isn't as good as the others.

Karp Rating: 0

------------------------------------------------------------------

Misty's Magikarp
Lv. 5

C Play Dead
Flip a coin.  If heads, during your opponent's next turn, prevent all
effects of attacks, including damage, done to Misty's Magikarp.

C Leap 10

Summary:  Hmph...after Rocket's failure, this Magikarp brings back some
respect.  Like the ones before it, this Magikarp has a single Colorless
Energy, 10 damage technique.  Play Dead is useful in a situation when
Magikarp has to stall against something like a Mewtwo before his comrades
come to the rescue.  Overall...

Karp Rating: 6

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Giovanni's Magikarp
Lv. 9

W Ancestral Memory 40
Flip a coin.  If tails, this attack does nothing.  Either way, you can't
use this attack again as long as Giovanni's Magikarp stays in play (even
putting Giovanni's Magikarp on the Bench won't let you use it again).

WC Flail Around 10x
Flip 3 coins.  This attack does 10 damage times the number of heads.

Summary:  <Twik does his Kagato laugh>  Excellent!  Giovanni's trained
Magikarp has all the stuff.  His first technique refers to its distant past
when they were as powerful as Gyarados (hey, if they were as powerful as
Gyarados...what kind of power do they have when the evolved into
Gyarados?).  Much like Farfetch'd's Leak Slap, Ancestral Memory delivers a
powerful blow if successful, and can be combined with Scoop Up and Mr. Fuji
to attack some more.  Flail Around, while deals with some more coin
flipping, has power (sure, it costs one more Energy to attack than
Nidoran's similar Fury Swipes, but this is Magikarp).  Being one of
Giovanni's
Pokemon, it's no wonder why he's stronger than his cousins. 

Karp Rating:  10

Now, I don't want people reading this then going of with a Magikarp deck
and expect to win every battle they play.  It's somewhat impossible.  But,
combined with the appropriate Basic Pokemon and Trainers, an army of Karps
can hold off your opponent while you assemble the rest of your deck.
Someone may say "well, he's got 30 HP, so he sucks."  Well, Sherlock, duh.
His HP is a great disadvantage.  But just look at all the other 30 and 40
HP guys people use (Rocket Charmander, Abra, Rocket Porygon, Ancient Mew,
etc.).  They're all Basic.  I think what happened is that we were
introduced to the 70 HP Electabuzz, Hitmonchan, and Scyther, and
immediately thought that high HP is necessary.  While in some cases it may
be, but if everyone used the Haymaker trio, the game would get very boring.
 

There's my strategy...view and absorb.

Twik

Send any threats, hatemail, or applications to the local insane asylums to
obraf@ptdprolog.net

<Power to the Fish!>