Volcarona -- Dark Explorers Pokemon Card Review

Pokemon Card Overview:
Today's Pokemon Card Review is of Volcarona from the Dark Explorers Pokemon Card Set.  This is a stage 1, fire type Pokemon card, with an hp of 110.  It has a x2 weakness to water type Pokemon, no resistance type, and a three colorless energy card retreat cost.  Volcarona's Ability is called Scorching Scales and says to put 4 damage counters on your opponent's burned Pokemon between turns instead of 2.  Besides the Ability, Volcarona has one move called Burning Wind which takes three energy cards, two colorless and one fire, and does 70 damage, if you choose to remove an energy card from Volcarona when you use this move the defending Pokemon is now burned.

Pokemon Card Strategy:
So as far as strategy goes, since this Pokemon's Ability can only take affect if the defending Pokemon is burned you'll definitely want to have Pokemon in your deck that can easily burn the defending Pokemon, that way you can keep Volcarona on your bench, burn the defending Pokemon with another one of your Pokemon and then use Volcarona's Ability to do double damage.  If you have to put Volcarona into the active Pokemon spot, I would recommend using Burning Wind and discarding an energy card if the defending Pokemon has between 80 and 110 hp, otherwise if it has less than 80 hp you won't need to discard an energy card or if the Pokemon has between 120 and 140 hp you can use Burning Wind two turns in a row and knock out those Pokemon.  I would probably have a 2-2 line of Volcarona and Larvesta in a fire type deck.

Pokemon Card Rating:
I would give this card a 4 out of 5 rating.  I think this card is very good, especially since it can do so much damage without setting foot in the active Pokemon spot if you have another Pokemon in your deck that can burn Pokemon.  Even when the Volcarona is in the active Pokemon spot it is quite powerful and as long as you have plenty of energy cards in your hand this card is great.  The only bad thing about this card is that it has a high retreat cost.

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