Evolution Enthusiast (WotC Retro Pokemon TCG)

Update 2024.10.10:  This blog has migrated to  https://retrotcgs.com/wotc-retro-pokemon/  . Please find my most up-to-date Prop 15/3 lists in the  metagame page  and my  active lists page . Thanks! Bug Catcher is a Grass and Psychic type deck looking to leverage high-impact, low-energy attacks with cheap-to-free retreats (that also happens to use Bug and Bat Pokemon)! The goal of the deck is to punish Haymaker style decks playing Big Basics with 2-energy retreat costs. Unfortunately, several Pokemon having a Fire weakness is rough in a field overwhelmed with Blaine's Rapidash/Wigglytuff decks ( see a recent paper event's top performers... ): the deck has trouble with any opponent that can OHKO Koga's Beedrill (Chanseys, Arcanines, Blaine's Rapidashes, etc.). Koga's Beedrill is the main attacker with poison leading to some scenarios where Scyther can Swords Dance while an opponent's Mon is Knocked Out passively. Koga's Kakuna evolving into Beedrill on a coi...

Update 2024.10.10:  This blog has migrated to  https://retrotcgs.com/wotc-retro-pokemon/  . Please find my most up-to-date Prop 15/3 lists in the  metagame page  and my  active lists page . Thanks! (Update 2024.09.28: after losing a lot to Wigglytuff decks, I have a Pokemon Breeder list that is seems competitive though somewhat fragile.) Blastoise: an iconic Pokemon with an iconic TCG card with an iconic Pokemon Power.  Rain Dance was a staple of the early Pokemon TCG metagame, competing (and often coming up short) against the Haymaker menace. It's not a wonder that the deck has a similar hurdle in Prop 15/3 (with Rocket's Zapdos and Electabuzz natural predators). Additionally, the 15-trainer limit makes the Pokemon Powers of Dark Vileplume, Aerodactyl, Muk and Mr. Mime harder to counter. After toying with a few ideas, I believe Rain Dance can be successfully built a few ways: with Kangaskhan and/or Dark Dragonair and/or Computer Error defining...

Update 2024.10.10:  This blog has migrated to  https://retrotcgs.com/wotc-retro-pokemon/  . Please find my most up-to-date Prop 15/3 lists in the  metagame page  and my  active lists page . Thanks! Potentially Viable Trainers & Their Roles in Prop 15/3 (Posted June 22, 2024 - pictures added) This article’s intent is to eventually cover all playable Trainer cards in Prop 15/3.   The ubiquitous Trainers in Prop 15/3 are similar to those seen in other WotC Base-Gym formats, but the opportunity cost of playing one Trainer over another limits play of some of the cards that are very powerful only when the deck is drawing a lot of cards (like Bill, multiple PlusPowers, Energy Retrieval or The Rocket’s Trap). The following sections categorize Trainers from their roles during game play (with some discussion about how viable they may be), but cards may fit multiple groups and have multiple use cases. I’ve tried to include every card that I believe...