Hey Pojo! It's Katana again, this time with a guide for Promos.  We've just
added 8 new cards, including Ancient Mew and the Jumbo Birds card, so we now
have 21 different ones. (OK, technically 23, but Mew and Mewtwo have two
cards with the same text.)  Enjoy!
                                                        -Katana
                                                        Katana_e49@hotmail.com

*=1 °=½
Example: ***°= 3.5

Promo #1- Pikachu LV.16
Rating: ****
This is a great Pika.  HP is wonderful, and while Growl is not that useful,
Thundershock is real good for the cost.  Probably the third best Electric
Basic.    

Promo #2-Electabuzz LV.20
Rating: ****
When someone says Electabuzz is a great card, you usually think of the Base
Set, Thunderpunching one.  Many people overlook this card in the light of its
powerful counterpart, but they shouldn't.   This Pokemon still has good HP,
and Quick Attack is brutal on an Electric Basic.  It's a great weapon against
Rain Dance, due to the fact it can take out Magikarp, Squirtle, and Seel in
one hit.  This gives you a good chance of winning on the first or second turn
by clearing the board.  Add that to the fact that the attack is colorless,
and you have a strong (though not incredible) Basic.

Promo #3, Promo #14- Mewtwo LV.60
Rating: *****
No explanation really needed, but I suppose I should give one anyway. While
Scyther may be a bit more versatile, and Hitmonchan a bit quicker in the
opening game, this is the one and only Pokemon with a resistance to Energy
Removal.  Add that to its HP and second attack, and you have, arguably, the
best Psychic Pokemon in the whole game.

Promo #4-Pikachu LV.13
Rating: ***°
This Pikachu serves one purpose: Evolving into Base or Dark Riachu. 
Thunderbolt is WAY too expensive for what it does, and HP and retreat are
just average.  However, it can get a powerful second-turn attack by evolving.
 

Promo #5-Dragonite LV.43
Rating ***°
HP and Retreat are average for a Stage 2, but the power is actually pretty
good.  Just swap in a card you don't need this turn (like an Oak) and you get
an extra card.  The attack is pretty good too, considering you will have
quite a few times to flip the coin.
 
Promo #6-Arcanine LV.34
Rating: ****
HP is just about average, but retreat and attacks are great.  Like Dark
Charizard and Dark Flareon, this guy has a quick, potentially devastating
attack, and another colorless attack to use while powering up.  Just as good
as the original.

Promo #7-Jigglypuff LV.12
Rating: **°
Really bad.  HP is OK, but the attacks are terrible.  First Aid is just
barely useful, but Double-Edge is way too scary.  It does good damage, but
leaves you with only 30 HP for a turn, which is not really enough to survive.
 Use Jungle, no matter what.

Promo #8, #9-Mew LV.23
Rating: ****
HP is the only thing that keeps this cat from achieving a perfect rating, as
both attacks are wonderful.  One can do tons of damage in the mid-to-late
game, and the other is broken when played with Aerodactyl.  Very, very good.

Promo #10- Meowth LV.13
Rating: ***
Not to bad, but certainty not great.  HP is average, and the attack is rather
interesting: flipping heads is good, flipping tails still does 20 damage, but
it will almost always be to someone not in danger of being KO'd.  It'll work.
                                                                             
 

Promo # 11- Eevee LV.?
Rating: ****
The best Eevee available.  HP stinks, but in or against any deck with even a
few evolutions, he quickly becomes something bigger, like Dark Jolteon of
Dark Flareon.  

Promo #12- Nintendo Power Mewtwo LV.30
Rating: ****
This card, like Promo Electabuzz, is one of the most overlooked in the game. 
It also compares well with the Promo #2: HP is the same and is 10 lower than
their Haymaker counterparts, and the first attack is not that useful, while
the second one is great.  Telekinesis can hit the active regardless of
Resistance, and can pick off Jigglies before they become Wigglies. 

Promo #13-Venusaur LV.64
Rating: ***°
The HP is still great, and Mega Drain is a real good attack on such a high HP
Pokemon.  However, the power is only useful in more of a Haymaker Grass deck,
due to the fact it will help the usually status-effected opponents in the
usual status effect-based Grass decks. (Did that come out right?)  Not bad.


Promo #15- Cool Porygon LV.15
Rating: ***°
Ah, yes.  The Cool Porygon Debate.  Started by the Whether Man (who received
lots of bashings for it fueled by the constant "RE: Cool Porygon" articles on
pojo.com, these attacks lasted from about May to June. They've pretty much
died down now, and I hope no one attacks me for saying this, but I think Cool
Porygon is actually pretty good.  Yes, HP is bad, but if you stall with
Chancey while you power him up, you can get him to a good Resistance, then
attack with a 75% chance (I think) of 40 damage.  Yes, it's not great, but it
it'll work. 

Promo #16- Trainer: Computer Crash.
Rating: ***
Drawing 5 cards is good, letting your opponent draw 5 cards is bad, and
ending your turn is bad.  Maybe useful in Rain Dance or a disguised Stall
Deck, but that's about it. 

Promo #17- Dark Persian LV.28?
Rating: **
Bad.  Low HP, weak attacks.  Free retreat is good, but that's it. 

Promo #18 - Team Rocket's Meowth
Rating: **°
With low HP, the attack is really bad.  Not horrible with a couple of
Defenders, but he'll be knocked out way too quickly.
 
Promo #21- Moltres LV. 33
Rating: ***°
A little different from the other two, thanks to the damage of it's attack. 
Once again, a flip decides how good it is.  It's not great, but it will work,
thanks to low retreat. 

Promo # 22- Articuno LV. 34
Rating: ****
HP is good, and the attack can be devastating, but only if you flip heads. 
If you do, it's great.  If you don't, it's bad.  Maybe the new Lapras,
despite lower HP and inability to attack cheaply.

Promo #23 Zapdos LV.30
Rating: ***°
See above, disregarding last sentence.  If HP was about 20 higher, he would
be great, but it's not.

Ancient Mew (Not numbered) LV.?
Rating: **
Well, even though you can use it in a deck, most people won't.  30 HP is bad
for anyone who requires two colored energies to attack, and while the damage
is great, you have a very small percent chance of using it.  Kind of a
super-overgrown Magikarp.    

Jumbo Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres (Not numbered) LV.?
Rating: *****
If only we could use this card!!!!! This is one of the most amazing cards
ever created!  200 damage for a mere 3 energy, 120 HP, no weakness, and
Resistance to Fighting are all broken, and the ability to save you from
decking yourself is really good.  I think the jumbo cards were meant to taunt
us.

 
In conclusion, the Promos, while sometime overlooked, are really good a
variety of decks.  I just wonder what the next ones will be. Hopefully a
Flying Pikachu or 9-Card Neo Set. Or maybe even Imakuni?.
-Katana
Katana_e49@hotmail.com