Pokemon Card of the Day: Kingdra Prime (Unleashed)

Today's Pokemon Card of the Day is Kingdra Prime from the Heart Gold/Soul Silver Unleashed set. This set actually doesn't come out until May 12, 2010 but I was requested to do this review so I thought I would since I found a scan of the card already. If you still don't know exactly what Prime Pokemon are you can click here to find out more information about them. Kingdra Prime for being a stage 2 Pokemon has a pretty decent hp of 130. A x2 weakness to electric type Pokemon is much better than a x2 weakness to grass types since electric types are much less prevalent. A resistance could have made Kingdra's 130 hp that much better but 130 hp is still really good. And a low 1 colorless energy retreat cost allows you to easily retreat Kingdra Prime if it starts to get in trouble. Kingdra's Poke-Power Spray Splash allows you to put one damage counter on one of your opponent's Pokemon every turn as long as Kingdra isn't affected by a special condition. So if you get Kingdra onto your bench right away it can wreak havoc on your opponent's benched Pokemon, especially their basic Pokemon. Kingdra Prime's only move is called Dragon Steam and for only 1 water energy does 60 hp damage unless your opponent has any fire Pokemon in play than its base damage is only 20. But still even if you are battling a fire Pokemon and use Dragon Steam more than likely your opponent's Pokemon, if it is powerful at all will have a x2 weakness to water type Pokemon, so Dragon Steam will do 40 hp damage for 1 energy which is still really good. As far as strategy goes, like I was saying I would get Kingdra onto your bench as soon as possible so that you can use Spray Splash as soon and as often as possible. I really wouldn't play Kingdra as your active Pokemon if your opponent has any fire Pokemon just because a 20 hp difference in a move makes a lot of difference, especially after 2 moves, because 120 hp damage will knock out pretty much all basic and stage 1 Pokemon, whereas 80 hp damage after 2 turns with a fire type Pokemon in play will knock out most basic Pokemon and a few stage 1 Pokemon. But even if you are forced to play this card since it is your last Pokemon you have on your bench, this card will be able to do a considerate amount of damage and last quite awhile with 130 hp. I am very excited to start opening some Unleashed packs when they come out in about 2 weeks, and once again thanks for reading my review and stay tuned for tomorrow's review of Staraptor FB Lv. X.