Giovanni's Team Rocket Headquarters 2001

Skarmory, that steel bird. Better or worse than is room mate, Steelix, these two new types both need the new Metal Energy to work to their full potential, but the question on evrybody's minds at the Neo relese date and still today, some 6 months later is: which is better? Well, has Onix ever been more than mediocre? Of course not! So, why should Steelix be any better? We are here to show you which ones to put into your deck with that pretty looking Metal Energy.

Hit Points
Oh, dear, many people have overlooked this card to use with their Metal Energies to go with the Steelix, the only card in the game with 110 HP versus Skarmory's measly 60. I wonder how many of these people actually read their Metal Energy and Skarmory's second attack? With Metal Energy, 10 damage from each of your opponent's attacks is prevented, giving it that little bit of added protection. This card, even with Metal Energy, is still no good in late game, but it's HP is high enough to do some good damage if you get it in your first of second turn, especially if you draw a Metal Energy with it.

Attacks
Claw is a good start attack to head the game off. Combine that with Metal Energy, and you have a 50/50 chance of doing 30 damage first turn, enough to push many starting beasts into early retirement. The other attack is where this card shines though. Not only does this attack do damage, it keeps it off you. Combine that with Metal Energy, and it will be pretty hard to knock this bird out of the sky until the big beasts come out to play during the middle/late game. Also, combine that with the fact that no Poke'mon to daye has a resistance to Steel types, you are vertually garenteed damage!

Weakness/Resistance/Retreat
The weakness to fire is a problem, especially during the recent WCSTS, in which Blaine's Arcanine/Typhlosion ruled most of the play. This card is a good one to put into a deck with water Poke'mon, mostly Blastoise (I've seen this, trust me, it works ^_^). The resistance is good, but seeing the only really good cards that are grass are the Meganiums and Jumpluff from Neo: Revelation, not much protection there. The retreat is a little high, i think for a flying type, but still, attach a Metal and Double Colorless energires to it, which most do, and use the DCE to retreat when need be.

Combos
This card has one problem, Energy Removal. Combat this with Ecogym (don't use No Removal Gym, as attacks like Golduck's Hyper Beam will leave you with nothing). Combine with this. Also, as mentioned, it goes well with Water types to combat the weakness to fire. Experiment, you mught be pleasntly suprised.

Rating
This card has potential. 8/10 i think is good. The only down fall I can see is the fact that Steel Energies are always in short supply, only letting you have 4 in a deck (combat that with Rainbow Energy from Team Rocket) and the low HP, but once you know how to use it, then it's all systems go!

I will post another one next week to let Alakazam settle back into his house (he's been in the UK, lucky bugger)

C ya all L8er ^_^
The Muffin Man