Rayquaza Rampage!

Hello Pokemon Trainers! Poke6 here! Today, as our first post ever (yay!), I will be discussing the latest news on a future Pokemon expansion! No, it's not actually called Rayquaza Rampage (although I think that would be an awesome title), it's called Roaring skies, featuring all kinds of Dragon-Physic-Flying expansion that will focus on colorless Pokemon and primary aid that energy type. This is the equivalent to Emerald Break, which will release in Japan on March 14 (why they change the name, I have no idea). Already we have had several packs, cards, and even decks released!

   

As soon as we look at the art for the new packs we can get a pretty good feel for what the new set is going to be like. Fans of the big green flying snake are going to be excited for this set. After two sets revolving around Kyogre and Groudon, it looks like Rayquaza will finally be getting a chance for the spot light!

But, who really cares that much about the pack art? We want to see what's inside the packs: cards! So, without further ado, here are our latest TCG scans for the new set!

Rayquaza-EX - Colorless - HP170
Basic Pokemon

[C][C] Mega Awakening: Search your deck for a M Rayquaza card and put it into your hand. Shuffle your deck afterwards.

[C][C][C][C] Aero Scream: 130 damage. Flip a coin. If tails, discard 2 Energy attached to this Pokemon.

When a Pokemon-EX has been Knocked Out, your opponent takes 2 Prize cards.

Weakness: Lighting (x2)
Resistance: Fighting (-20)
Retreat: 2  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
Rayquaza-EX - Colorless - HP170
Basic Pokemon

[C] Rising Burn: 10+ damage. If your opponent's Active Pokemon is a Pokemon-EX, this attack does 50? more damage.

[C][C][C] Dragon Pulse: 100 damage. Discard 1 card from the top of your deck.

When a Pokemon-EX has been Knocked Out, your opponent takes 2 Prize cards.

Weakness: Lighting (x2)
Resistance: Fighting (-20)
Retreat: 2

                                                                                                                                                  

M Rayquaza-EX - Colorless - HP220
Mega Evolution - Evolves from Rayquaza-EX

When 1 of your Pokemon becomes a Mega Evolution, your turn ends.

Δ Evolution: Once during your turn (before your attack), you may play this card from your hand to evolve 1 of your Pokemon even if that Pokemon was put into play this turn or if it's your first turn.

[C][C][C] Emerald Break: 30x damage. Does 30 damage times the number of Pokemon on your Bench.

When a Pokemon-EX has been Knocked Out, your opponent takes 2 Prize cards.

Weakness: Lighting (x2)
Resistance: Fighting (-20)
Retreat: 1
                                                                                                                                                  

M Rayquaza-EX - Dragon - HP230
Mega Evolution - Evolves from Rayquaza-EX

When 1 of your Pokemon becomes a Mega Evolution, your turn ends.

Δ Wild: Damage done to this Pokemon by attacks from your opponent's [G], [R], [W], and [L] Pokemon is reduced by 20.

When a Pokemon-EX has been Knocked Out, your opponent takes 2 Prize cards.


[?] Dragon Ascent: 300 damage. Unknown effect, but probably blows up the table.
                                                                                                                                                  


Alright, so right off the bat we have three new Rayquaza cards (two Megas and two normal EXs). Just looking over these cards, they look pretty bad. The only one that looks like it might have any promise is the only dragon type. It has one attack that does 300 damage for an unknown amount of energy and affect. Considering that Mega Charizard requires five energy and forces you to either discard 1/12 of your deck or do 50 damage to you, this may have certain consequences. But still. 300 damage?! No Pokemon could survive such a thing! This is a free 1-2 prizes against almost any Pokemon. And, with the new Rayquaza Spirit Link, allowing you to Mega evolve without ending your turn, this will be even easier!

Aside from the last Mega Pokemon, there isn't too much promise in the group. The normal Rayquaza EX are pretty horrid in comparison to other cards in the modern sets. The third Pokemon, a normal-type Mega Pokemon, has a pretty sad attack two, doing 0-150 if you have a full bench. But, it's Δ ability does show some promise. It allows you to Mega evolve on your first turn. Imagine this: you start the game and go second. You use an Pokeball (or variant of) to get out a Rayquaza EX and M Rayquaza EX. You then retreat your active Pokemon (something like a Hawlucha with no retreat cost or with a float stone) and put up Rayquaza EX. After this you attach a double colorless energy and Rayquaza Spirit Link to it. Using the spirit link, you can then mega evolve into M Rayquaza without ending your turn. Then you get out as many basic Pokemon as you can (the deck would be filled with basic pokemon with no retreat cost and with Robo Substitutes). To complete this crazy first turn, you use a tool retrieval in order to remove the spirit link and attach a Team Plasma Badge, making it a Team Plasma Pokemon and then allowing you to use Colress Machine on it, searching your deck for a plasma energy and you attaching it to Rayquaza. Again you use a Startling Megaphone or Tool Retrieval and get rid of the Team Plasma badge attached to it, replacing it with a muscle band. Additionally, to do more damage, you could play lots of Team Plasma Balls and other Pokeballs to get out as many Deoxys EX as you can, and, since you are now a Team Plasma Pokemon, the Deoxys will make your attacks do 10 damage more for each of the Pokemon you have on you deck. On turn two (the first turn anyone can attack) you have done between 170-210 damage, the perfect formal for donking and an incredibly quick setup. Very complicated and difficult, yes. But, with the perfect deck, lots of skill, and some luck, you may just score a cheap win!

Phew. Got that out of the way. That was pretty long winded. If you use this deck, please give credit to Poke6! But these aren't all of the cards revealed. There are several more below!

 Shaymin-EX - Colorless - HP110
Basic Pokemon

Ability: Setup
Once during your turn (before your attack), when you play this Pokemon from your hand to your Bench, you may draw cards until you have 6 cards in your hand.

[C][C] Sky Return: 30 damage. Return this Pokemon and all cards attached to it to your hand.

When a Pokemon-EX has been Knocked Out, your opponent takes 2 Prize cards.

Weakness: Lightning (x2)
Resistance: Fighting (-20)
Retreat: 1
                                                                                                                                                                   

Unfezant - Colorless - HP140
Stage 2 - Evolves from Tranquil

Δ Evolution: Once during your turn (before your attack), you may play this card from your hand to evolve 1 of your Pokemon even if that Pokemon was put into play this turn or if it's your first turn.

[C][C] Feather Dance: If this Pokemon attacks next turn, its attacks do 80 more damage.
[C][C][C] Sky Attack: 120 damage. Flip a coin. If tails, this attack fails.

Weakness: Lightning (x2)
Resistance: Fighting (-20)

Retreat: 0
                                                                                                                                                                   

Swellow - Colorless - HP90
Stage 1 - Evolves from Taillow

Δ Plus: Take 1 more Prize card if your opponent's Pokemon is Knocked Out by damage from this Pokemon's attacks.

[C][C] Peck: 30 damage.
[C][C][C] Wing Attack: 50 damage.

Weakness: Lightning (x2)
Resistance: Fighting (-20)
Retreat: 1
                                                                                                                                                                   

Skarmory - Colorless - HP100
Basic Pokemon

[C] Search for your deck for up to 2 Basic Pokemon and put them on your Bench. Shuffle your deck afterward.
[C][C] 30+ damage. Does 30 more damage if there is a Stadium in play.

Weakness: Lightning (x2)
Resistance: Fighting (-20)
Retreat: 1


                                                                                                                                                                   

Winona - Trainer
Supporter

Search for your deck for up to 3 [C] Pokemon and put them into your hand. Shuffle your deck afterward.


You may play only 1 Supporter card during your turn (before your attack).





                                                                                                                                                                   

Skyfield - Trainer
Stadium

Both players may have up to 8 Benched Pokemon.

If this Stadium card is no longer in play, each player discards their Benched Pokemon (and all cards attached to them) until there are 5 Benched Pokemon left.


This card stays in play when you play it. Discard this card if another Stadium card comes into play. If another card with the same name is in play, you can’t play this card.

                                                                                                                                                                   

M Latios-EX - Dragon - HP220?
Mega Evolution - Evolves from Latios-EX

When 1 of your Pokemon becomes a Mega Evolution, your turn ends.

[W][P][C] Sonic Ace: ???

When a Pokemon-EX has been Knocked Out, your opponent takes 2 Prize cards.

Weakness: Fairy (x2)
Resistance: ?

Retreat: ?
                                                                                                                                                                   

Swampert-EX - Water - HP180
Basic Pokemon

[W][C][C] 40+ damage. Reveal the top 4 cards of your deck. This attack does 40 more damage for each [W] Energy you find. Shuffle the 4 cards back into your deck.
[W][w][C][C] Hydro Tackle: 120 damage. This Pokemon does 20 damage to itself.

When a Pokemon-EX has been Knocked Out, your opponent takes 2 Prize cards.

Weakness: Grass (x2)
Resistance: none

Retreat: 3
                                                                                                                                                                   

Mega Turbo - Trainer
Item

Attach 1 basic Energy card from your discard pile to 1 of your Mega Evolved Pokemon in play.

You may play as many Item cards as you like during your turn (before your attack).




                                                                                                                                                                   

That was a lot of cards! Most of them, though, are pretty bad again. I just want to highlight a few points. Again, a lot of these cards would help the RayquazaDonk deck (the name I just gave to the deck described above). Namely is Sky Field. This card goes way out of the norm and allows you to have eight benched Pokemon, something never even thought of before now. This brings the M Rayquaza EX up to a potential 300 damage on your first turn, an almost unthinkable feat! Additionally, you can also use Mega Turbo to take an energy card from your discard and attack it to one of you Mega Pokemon (such as M Rayquaza), allowing you to cut out the Colress Machine. Winona also allows you to get 3 colorless Pokemon and put them into your hand, helping to fill your bench and get out Rayquaza and M Rayquaza. Other than that, though, there really isn't too much more to this collection of cards and I don't want to go into a whole lot of depth on cards that have little to no function.

Lastly, before I go, they have also revealed two new base decks with this set. One revolves around Articuno, and the other around Zapdos. Wherever Moltres is remains a mystery. Maybe he went rouge...

Well, thanks for reading this complete summary on everything I know about the new set! Stay Tuned!

Sources:

http://pokebeach.com/
 -Fencer6

Pokken!

Hello gaming fans! Fencer6 here with a new post! Today we have news of a new game releasing soon: Pokken. This game is like a Pokemon Street Fighters game. It features Pokemon going up against each other and fighting it out with really good graphics. Before I go into it though, you can view the trailers below to get a feel for yourself!

Alright, so now that you've seen that you can now probably see what this game will look like. I'm not the greatest on Japanese, but after getting some more information on it I find it fairly interesting, First off, this is very different for Nintendo. What we usually know is Pokemon is a time based turn-by-turn attack strategy game where players are limited to certain attacks, the same number of turns, and beyond getting the best Pokemon, choosing who will be on your team, and who will attack with what, the game doesn't have a ton of battle variation or combat, making it much more of a strategy game (not that that is bad). But this takes a different spin on things. Instead, you are thrown into a 360 degree arena forced to fight with different, Pokemon melee style. While I most certainly don't want them to scrap the 'classic' Pokemon style, I find this game interesting in that you are actually fighting with the Pokemon in real time hand-to-hand combat, something I've always wondered about. I mean, if Team Plasma really were all that evil, wouldn't they keep attacking you instead of patiently waiting for you to decide what to do next? Additionally, the graphics in this look pretty amazing, with very extravagant-looking realistic attacks and high-resolution action.

Super cool as this game is, it isn't going to be easy for international fans to play. No, this is not a Japan-only Wii U release. Don't relax yet though. It's worse. Pokken isn't even a console game. It is a Japan exclusive arcade game.  

I know Pikachu. My thoughts exactly. They have yet to announce any release for a console or arcade games outside of Asia, so use on the other side of the world may never get to play this game. But, I think it is an interesting decision at least. Arcades are nearly obsolete nowadays, so to have an actual, bona-fide, get out-out-and-play-with-your-friends-in-a-real-arcade-like-the-80's is kind of cool. For most of us, with we have a game at home we either never play it because we know we can whenevery we want, or we obsessively play it to where it has no excitement to it. But with this, it has a real experience going out and inserting quarters into a machine, being an exciting and rare experience. But, I seriously hope they have a Western release. Please Nintendo? We are dying to play your newest game, and are a great audience to make money off of. The only issue is that we don't have many arcades here after the invention of home gaming, so to find a permant home may be more difficult. But, I can see it finding a place in comic/hobby shops, stores, Pokemon tournaments, and Chucky-Cheese. But, I can't really see Nintendo putting in all the work for this game and not letting the whole world play it. But, there are some interesting features to this game's arcade style. To see an analysis of all the details, see the video below (warning: while this channel is fairly clean when just one person is reviewing, I have heard cuss words before and have not watched the video to it's entire end [although I think would suspect it's fine] so proceed with caution).

First of, what I find most interesting, is the Namco Passport. This allows you to make an account and use your login to access your special Pokemon, trainer and stats. This means that no matter what arcade you go to, your info will be everywhere, like the cloud. Secondly, is the characters. Right now, we don't have the best line up. Lucario, Machamp, Pikachu, Suicine, and Gardevoir is all we have. 

                        

I love that they have very detailed Pokemon with unique statistics, attacks, battle styles, and great detailed art, but the amount simply isn't a good representation of the 700+ Pokedex we have. Not only this, but this particular group just seems... weird. I guess it's just the overwhelming presence of cool colors that's making me feel as though this group isn't very diverse, although out of all the popular Pokemon and legendaries, why they choose Gardevoir and Suicine eludes me. Not to insult Nintendo's choice of characters, but I would have added different ones if it were up to me. But, theis most likely isn't all the Pokemon, considering how cool of a game this seems to be and how many open slots there are for more characters. Almost all of these screenshots are of the demo version, and, similarly to Super Smash Bros 3DS, it most likely does not contain all the characters. Additionally, there are other support Pokemon as well, including Froagadier, Eevee, Emolga, and Lapras, Snivy, and Fenniken (all basic Pokemon), which can attacks, slow down your opponent, or aid your attacks.

                                 

Overall, I think this game is super cool, and am really hoping to be able to experience this internationally. Thanks for reading, and stay tuned!

Sources: 

http://pokebeach.com/

http://www.serebii.net/

https://www.youtube.com/user/GameXplain

Pokemon/Nintendo images and trailers

Google Images