Alright, CotWs are up and running again, woohoo!

I figured that Kingler would make a pretty interesting card to review. It's one of the cards that really struck me in the new set, and I'm just itching to play it.

Ok, first of all... Crabhammer is back in the house! Yep, Kingler could actually be seeing some use. Ok, enough Krabby jokes here... Haha...

Top Stats
80 HP is this guy's downside, unfortunately. Even though some Stage 1s have only 70, or even 60 HP, 80 is still kind of fragile. But, it's not a Pokémon-ex, and Kingler's HP problem can be fixed pretty easily (more on that later).

Fire / Metal type is kinda interesting. Metal Energy on the Crabhammer (my new nickname for Kingler) helps it stay alive a bit better, and being a Delta Species Pokémon really helps in so many ways.

Attacks

Body Slam is a pretty simple, uninteresting attack. Rarely will you use this, but it's not really a horrible attack. Just something to tide you over until you get to...

Prop-up Pinchers. "Woohoo, another 3 for 40 attack... Weak." At least, that's what you might think at first glance, but once you look at the effect, that wimpy 40 damage attack suddenly turns into a 3 for 80 MONSTER with a pretty easy requirement to fulfill. All you need to do is have a Pokémon Tool attached to Kingler and you can hit for 80 damage. Not too shabby at all, especially on a Stage 1. Getting a Kingler swarm going isn't difficult at all due to the fact that it's only a Stage 1. Great, cheap, powerful attack. I'll have more on it, don't worry.

Bottom Stats

Weakness to is odd. Metanite should rip any Kingler deck apart (unless you're playing Cessation Crystal, then it's a much better fight).

Retreat Cost of 3 is also very high, but you can always stick a Fluffy Berry on it if you want to switch it out quickly.

It's Hammer Time!

Kingler becomes a really nasty swarmable Stage 1 monster when it has a Pokémon Tool attached to it, but which Pokémon Tool should you be attaching to Kingler?

• Energy Root is one of my favorites to attach. It beefs Kingler's HP up to a tasty 100, giving it a nice amount of extra lasting power. And Kingler doesn't have any Poké-Powers or Poké-Bodies, so you aren't shutting anything off.


• Cessation Crystal is also amazing on Kingler, because it turns Kingler into a Muk that can actually do some damage. I strongly recommend playing this for awesome disruption.


• Fluffy Berry helps out that Retreat Cost problem.


• Protective Orb is good for getting around Pokémon, but 80 HP still leaves it vulnerable.


• Solid Rage can also be pretty nice if you're behind in Prizes. 100 for 3, anyone? (P.S. Scramble Energy + Solid Rage is crazy for a surprise comeback strike!)


• Curse Powder can also be fun for doing some extra damage to the Pokémon that will inevitably send Kingler to its demise.

As you can see, there's really a lot you can do with Kingler. It's a Stage 1 that can do some heavy damage, and can really abuse pretty much any Pokémon Tool in a sick way.

Oh yeah, if you play Kingler, watch out for a surprise Windstorm!

New to the CotW, but since my renewal in the Pokémon TCG, I've actually gained a lot of knowledge in the game, which makes it a good thing I'm planning to become a professor soon ^^. Anyways, here's how I look at the card.

Main stats:

I particularly like this card, it has a considerably nice HP for a Stage 1 card, 80 HP, but I wouldn't use this as a main attacker for a deck. For the simple cause that its weakness is a major downfall.

Now, I see this as a nice "start up and start attacking" kind of card, as you can evolve it quickly and start attacking right away. Though considering the Pokémon is a Pokémon, a Fire/Metal combo is a nice tactic against types weak against Fire, and with the metal atribute it brings a high defense if needed.

Attacks:

Body Slam - I don't really like this attack's setup, considering that you will rarely use it, and it requires that you have a metal energy attached to it. That means a lot of problems with this attack. One, if you don't have a metal, or have any type of rainbow energy on it, the attack is useless. Two, the only time I can see using this attack is when you're in need of energy and you're stalling. Three, it's down-right risky, and not a good idea when you're betting on your own luck (and you're unlucky like me, lol).

Prop-up Pinchers - "Oh, that attack stinks" You will be hearing that a lot for this card, until Boom! Pokémon tool, and Prop-up Pinchers is now dealing 80 damage! I love the idea of this attack, and I see a lot of strategies with it (look at Marriland's post for some of the possibilites, which most of them I've heard :3) If you look at a LOT of Stage 1 Pokémon, their max damage is no greater than 50, and if it is, it requires more than 3 energy (Gyarados HP). And makes this a great attack for it's stage.

My picks of the tol combos:

In my opinion I would go with either the Cessation Crystal, Protective Orb, or Energy Root combo:

Cessation Crystal - I would pick this because of it's ability to shut out PokéPowers and PokéBodies (when active) which is very helpful against the PokéBody and PokéPower heavy Pokémon you see now.

Protective Orb - Still with the weak HP, this will greatly reduce the chance of KOs against Electric type Pokémon, the one in particular I would look out for is the Kabutops HP because if it KOs you with its healing attack (first one, 2 energy) all the damage it you did to it will be gone, and makes it very annoying, yes, BUT Consider this: Protective orb, 3 hits to KO with Kabutops, OR No Protective Orb, 2 hits, and before you can KO it, it KOs you, that's considering it's ONLY using it's weakest attack.

Energy Root - It gives you an extra 20 HP, which brings it to the height inbetween the HP Gyarados and Kingdra, but STILL with weakness.

Last Thoughts:

If you compare this card to the Kingdra from Holon Phantoms, this card is has major ups!

Pros: Better attack, less energy to execute, and with the right tool, can be similar to Kingdra

Cons: Weak HP without the right tool, or no power (Crystal) without the right tool, but other than that, exactally similar to Kingdra!

Considering the ups and downs, I think Kingler has a high chance of making it in this years World's