Beartic (EP30) [12/13/2011]

[Celebi23]

Card of the Day: Beartic from Emerging Powers

NOTE: Please use today's thread to review Cubchoo (EP28), Cubchoo (EP29), and Beartic (EP31) as well.

Guiding Questions:
1. How does this card stand on its own (analyze the HP, attacks, Abilities, etc. of the card)?
2. What role does/could this card have in the metagame?
3. What cards, if any, does this card combo with?
4. Give it a rating (out of 10), and explain why you have given it that rating.

You are not required to follow the guiding questions, but make sure your post has informative and interesting content.

 

[Celebi23]

*Sigh*

You guys know the drill.

 

[Vulpix Yolk]

Looks like it is up to me to make a post (again...)

1. How does this card stand on its own (analyze the HP, attacks, Abilities, etc. of the card)?: Beartic has the magic 130 HP, something very key in this format, because it makes it so you are not OHKO'd by either of the ever so present Dragons. Beartic is a Water Type, that is nifty, allows you to hit cards like Reshiram and Donphan Prime for weakness. A three retreat cost is pretty disgusting, and the weakness to Steel isn't looking as good as it used to look, since we are since a rise in people playing Cobalion. Sheer Cold is where it's at attack wise, 50 Damage for 3 is pretty bad, but the effect of Sheer Cold is very excellent, and is the sole reason Beartic sees any play. Making it so the defending Pokémon can't attack next turn is excellent, and gives a lot of Pokémon with higher retreat costs issues.

2. What role does/could this card have in the metagame?: The main role of Beartic in this meta is... ah, I don't know, it is pretty debatable. I prefer Beartic as a tech, I don't feel that it has the stats or speed to be its own deck. My favorite tech use of Beartic is in The Truth, since it hits that magic 130 HP, very few things are going to OHKO it, especially when they can't attack after a Sheer Cold. Sheer Cold gives a lot of Pokémon that would usually be issues (such as Magnezone Prime and Donphan) a lot of problems due to their high retreat costs. If your opponent manages to hit your Beartic, you will just be able to move the damage right off with Reuniclus. A couple more props of a Beartic tech in The Truth are that your opponent can't Switch out of Sheer Cold's effect if you have a Vileplume out, and The Truth already plays Rainbow Energy.

Another interesting tech use Beartic has would be in decks such as CaKE, that use Electrode Prime as energy acceleration. CaKE is already playing Water Energy thanks to Kyurem, so that is a non-issue, and Beartic can be powered up very quickly with Electrode Prime and the Twins engine. Beartic helps with difficult match ups where Cobalion isn't going to do you much good, such as when you are playing against Reshiram variants.

A lot of people have been experimenting with Beartic as the main focus of a deck, and it seems that this has been having very little success. One way Beartic sees play as a main is attacker is when it is paired with Feraligatr Prime. Feraligatr Prime provides energy acceleration to Beartic since it is a Water Type. In a deck with Feraligatr Prime, other interesting techs can be utilized, such as Kyurem or Delibird. Unfortunately, this combo is relatively ineffective because it preforms at a fairly slow pace, and has problems with decks that can effective play Pokémon Catcher.

3. What cards, if any, does this card combo with?:

• The Truth.
• Vileplume
• Feraligatr Prime
• Electrode Prime
• Double Colorless Energy

4. Give it a rating (out of 10), and explain why you have given it that rating.: As a tech this card can be pretty effective, however it does take up a lot of space in a deck. I would recommend avoiding this card if you are looking to focus a deck around something, because I think it should only be played as a situational tech. Most the time this card will help you out if you play it well. 7/10

[/sand=Vulpix Yolk] -Celebi23

 

[Magnevire]

Beartic is a pokemon with divided purpose. Early on, people expected Beartic to be a powerful counter to Magneboar, Reshiboar and Donchamp. Paired with Vileplume, the lock was supposed to be inescapable. However, the rise of Megazone, ZPST, and even Reshiphlosion, cast Beartic's use in doubt. Yanmega was a free retreater, instantly escaping the lock. ZPST had a fairly low retreat in Tornadus, and Reshiphlosion could reattach energy from the discard, and in turn discard DCE from Beartic, slowing it down. Because of this, Beartic was reduced to an almost nonexistent threat. However, since NV, Magnezone has once again become popular, and has discarded Yanmega for Eelektrik. Thundurus acts as a counter to it as it can still escape the lock quickly, but Beartic is still much more playable now than it was in the days of Megazone. It also keeps Magnezone well in check, as three energy are needed to retreat with Magnezone, which can stall it fairly well.

Some decks could use this card in place of Cobalion. Its strengths include a lack of weakness to fire, and the fact that it can use DCE. However, it cannot use eviolite or special metal, hurting its survivability in matchups not against fire decks. Either card is playable, but it largely depends on the format. Either option is weak against Dodrio UD, and it is all but useless against Chandelure, which is steadily gaining popularity.

I would say this card is a 6.5 out of 10. It could be good now that Yanmega is largely out of the picture, but Chandelure, Thundurus, the remaining Yanmegas, and Cobalion are all problems for this deck. What will become of Beartic is yet to be seen, but it could still be an interesting, and viable, play in the right metagame.