Posts

Is Kricketune a Good Pokemon in Scarlet and Violet?

  It may seem odd that we ’ re asking if a mediocre Pokemon like Kricketune is a good Pokemon in Scarlet and Violet. But, for real, Kricketune does have potential to be a low-tier competitive Pokemon thanks to having one move in particular; that move is Perish Song.   Thanks to Pikalytics, we know that in the first week plus of play on Pokemon Showdown ’ s Generation 9 ladder, Perish Song Kricketune has indeed been played . The most common moveset includes Sticky Web, Perish Song, Sing, and Taunt, so it ’ s purely utility. While it ’ s certainly not the best Sticky Web setter, lowering opponent ’ s Speed by one stage is a decent entry hazard; the problem is only having 65 speed means you really have to pick your spots to get Sticky Web set.   Sing is probably your best bet for Kricketune to do anything, and while sleep is a very powerful status, Sing is only 55 percent accurate. But, if you can get your opponent to Sleep, you ’ ll have at least one turn to set ...
Post a Comment
Read more

How to Best Use Battle for Bretagard in Magic the Gathering

  Green and White tokens has long been a popular deck-building strategy in Magic the Gathering. In fact, one of my first ever decks in EDH was Rhys the Redeemed, a Green and White Elf who was perfect to lead a swarming token army to victory. In the Kaldheim set, token lovers gained a new toy to play with the Saga card called Battle for Bretagard.   This Saga is an Enchantment card that only sticks around for its “chapters” to play out. This mechanic works by putting a Lore counter on it when it enters play, then placing another one on it at the beginning of each of your upkeep steps on your turn. The Saga creates a 1/1 white Human Warrior creature token when it gains its first Lore counter, then a 1/1 green Elf Warrior creature token with the second counter. On the third chapter, it creates a copy of each artifact and/or creature token you control with different names before sacrificing itself.   Creating tokens and being able to copy them is a good deal for 3 m...
Post a Comment
Read more

Is Lickilicky a Good Pokemon?

    Long ago, Lickitung was one of the first 150 Pokemon. Its main appeal was the fact it was a relatively rare Pokemon to get. In Red and Blue, you had to trade a Slowbro to somebody at the Route 18 Gate House. But, in Pokemon Yellow, you could actually catch one in Cerulean Cave after beating the Elite Four. The trouble is, Lickitung’s stats were never very good, and despite having a good move pool, it didn’t really stand up well to anything.   The major plus to Lickitung in the first and second generation games was that it was a great “HM Slave.” Since you needed several HM moves to complete the game, the Licking Pokemon could use Cut, Surf, and Strength. In Generation 2, though (Gold/Silver/Crystal), you could catch one in the wild at Route 44. In the third generation you could only get one in FireRed and LeafGreen the same way you did in Red and Blue. By that point, Lickitung could also learn Rock Smash.   Fortunately for Lickitung, it gained a few i...
Post a Comment
Read more

How Skrelv, Defector Mite is a Sneaky Good Commander in Magic the Gathering

  Skrelv, Defector Mite is a one-mana Legendary Creature card from the Phyrexia: All Will Be One set of Magic: The Gathering. This unassuming Phyrexian Mite shouldn’t be underestimated, however. It has Toxic, one of the key mechanics from the All Will Be One set, which delivers poison counters much like Infect from the Scars of Mirrodin, Mirrodin Besieged, and New Phyrexia sets of years past.   More importantly, Skrelv has a tap ability to give another creature you control hex proof from a chosen color and that creature can’t be blocked by creatures of that color that turn. This ability costs just one White Phyrexian mana, meaning you can pay either one white mana or pay 2 life. Because of this flexible cost, and the fact you start with 40 life in a typical game of Commander, you’re likely to tap out your regular mana sources without concern, as Skrelv’s ability is still live.   Skrelv's ability to protect its key attackers while also providing a cheap body that...
Post a Comment
Read more

Is Masquerain a Good Pokemon in Scarlet and Violet?

  Masquerain hasn ’ t been a competitive Pokemon since Black and White, but that doesn ’ t mean it ’ s not a good Pokemon. In its debut generation of Ruby and Sapphire, what seemed like a frail under-powered Bug/Flying type had one important distinction: it had the Intimidate ability. After all, that ’ s what the false eyes on its wings are for, right?   Sadly, Masquerain has lousy base stats. Butterfree is leagues better, and so is even Ledian. About all you could do even in Generation 3 was run Substitute, Stun Spore, a couple of coverage moves, and pray. Its Special Attack was just enough to shatter some glass cannons with a surprise Giga Drain, Ice Beam, or even Hydro Pump. It ’ s just not a good Pokemon outside of its Intimidate ability.   Or is it?   Actually, Masquerain got better in Diamond and Pearl . Despite its nasty 4x weakness to Stealth Rock, which invalidates many Pokemon in competitive play to this day, it found an interesting niche eve...
Post a Comment
Read more

How Good is the Humanity’s Vengeance Event Deck from Avacyn Restored?

                                           Humanity’s Vengeance is one of two Magic the Gathering Event Decks released to support the Avacyn Restored set. This deck is White and Blue and revolves around the Soulbond mechanic. While it was certainly the better value for singles at the time, as far as taking it to a tournament and playing it out of the box, it’s not actually better than its mono-black Zombie counterpart, Death’s Encroach.   Let’s see what we have in this deck list:   Creatures   •    1 Blade Splicer •    4 Fiend Hunter •    4 Gideon ’ s Lawkeeper •    1 Mirran Crusader •    3 Nearheath Pilgrim •    2 Nephalia Smuggler •    1 Phyrexian Metamorph •    4 Porcelain Legionnaire •    3 Tandem Lookout •    2 Wingcrafter...
Post a Comment
Read more

Is Mega Beedrill Good?

  Beginning in Pokemon X and Y, a handful of monsters were selected to gain Mega Evolutions. Some of these Pokemon were already objectively powerful, but some others received Mega Evolutions to breathe new life into forgotten Pokemon. After an uptick in the Diamond and Pearl era, Beedrill was one of many older Pokemon on the verge of being completely irrelevant, thanks to the massive Pokedex power creep of Black and White. Being a Generation 1 Pokemon falling far behind the power curve, Beedrill was selected for a new Mega Evolution, and Mega Beedrill was born.   Was Beedrill Ever Competitive Before Mega Evolution?   Before being bestowed with a Mega Stone, Beedrill was once a low-tier, but still very useful Pokemon. Once one of the more underwhelming Pokemon, Beedrill experienced a competitive surge during the Diamond and Pearl era. Generation 4 was kind to the OG Generation 1 Bee, since physical / special move split of Gen 4 benefitted Beedrill more than it h...
Post a Comment
Read more