Empoleon -- Dark Explorers Pokemon Card Review

Pokemon Card Overview:
Today's Pokemon Card Review is of Empoleon from the Dark Explorers Pokemon Card Set.  This is a stage 2, water type Pokemon card, with an hp of 140.  It has a x2 weakness to electric type Pokemon, no resistance type, and a two colorless energy card retreat cost.  Empoleon's Ability is called Diving Draw and says that once during your turn before you attack, you may discard one card from your hand and draw two cards from your deck.  Empoleon's only move is called Attack Command and for one water energy card it does 10 damage times the number of Pokemon in play, that includes both yours and your opponents.

Pokemon Card Strategy:
So as far as strategy goes, I would recommend getting this card on your bench as soon as possible so you can utilize its Ability and draw 2 cards if you need to.  Reasons to draw more cards would be to get a basic Pokemon or energy, get a evolution card of a Pokemon you have in play, or to get a special trainer or supporter card you need extremely bad.  So I would keep Empoleon on the bench until the benches are pretty much full, then you can put Empoleon into the active Pokemon spot and use Attack Command which will be more effective early on since more Pokemon are in play, but as soon as you start knocking out your opponent's Pokemon you'll be able to do less and less damage with Attack Command, just make sure you have a full bench at all times when Empoleon is in the active Pokemon spot.  Since Empoleon depends entirely on your bench and your opponent's bench I wouldn't put that many Empoleon in a deck, I would probably do a 3-2-1 line of Piplup, Prinplup, and Empoleon.

Pokemon Card Rating:
I would give this card a 4 out of 5 rating.  Even though Empoleon's only move may only be able to 20 damage at times I still am giving this card an above average rating, I really like its Ability and early on when benches are full Empoleon can make a major impact and do tons of damage.  Plus its Ability can help you evolve Pokemon faster or attach energy cards more often.

Tomorrow's Pokemon Card:
So thanks for reading today's Pokemon card review of Empoleon from the Dark Explorers set, stay tuned for tomorrow's card review of Glaceon from the same set.