Card of the Day: Donphan
Donphan Prime (HS # 107) {6/01/12}
- Thread starter Vulpix Yolk
- Start date
This card has been played ever since HGSS came out, and every time it has done well. The fact that it is incredibly speedy and strong is amazing. 1 for 60? Yes please. Now, the card is played, but for some reason, even with the Lightning and Dark types running rampant, it isn't played incredibly much like it sounds like it should. 3 for 9 is pretty incredible too, and Donphans are easy to set up T2. It is usually never 1HKO and can abuse many different techs. The way people usually play Donphan these days is with Mewtwo and Rocky Helmet. I guess the reason Donphan is underplayed is because it lacks attackers other than Donphans. It dies to Aggro Mewtwo, but the Mewtwo versions can solve that easily. I doubt energies is a problem......I just think this card is amazing and deserves more play. (Of course, I hope I won't run into it because I'm running Zekeels.)
1. How does this card stand on its own (analyze the HP, attacks, Abilities, etc. of the card)?
This card on it's own is amazing in this format. The two top decks are Lighting and Dark, which Donphan hits double on both decks. One energy for 60 is incredibly fast and when you get him built up, Three energy for 90 doesn't seem like much, but when you can't OHKO Donphan, he can hit 180 before getting KO'd, but when you're hitting weakness on the two biggest decks there are, you're bombing 180 damage anyways and mostly only get hit once, doing 180 per turn.
He has one downside, weakness to water. Empoleon has started seeing some play which means trouble for Donphan.
2. What cards, if any, does this card combo with?
One energy for 60 and very hard to OHKO, just looking at this, one card comes to mind, Max Potion. Fully healed and running again with ease. Second. Rocky Helmet. This card is MAJORLY important, more than a staple if you will, this card attached to Donphan Prime, WINS GAMES. for the weakness side, Zekrom EX or Darkrai EX with Eviolite, if Donphan hits first, not a chance. Hit for 180 with Heavy Impact and now you leave them with a choice: Hit for damage and lose two prizes, or don't hit, and lose two prizes. Some people think that Donphan doesn't do good against Mewtwo EX, but think about it, with a Rocky Helmet you attack for 60, they you for 60-100 (god only knows with Mewtwo) and take 20, if you pull a plus power, you've put them into the same position as a Darkrai, if they attack, you've now 2HKO'd a Mewtwo EX. Even if you don't draw into a plus power, if you hit a Max Potion, you can 3HKO Mewtwo with only taking one hit. Another card that helps is Ruins of Alph. Makes Pokemon Tornadus EX and Shaymin EX so much easier to KO. instead of the 5-9HKO on Tornadus EX, it moves to 3-5, and with Rocky Helmet, it drops to 2-4, and that's just with Earthquake. With Heavy Impact, Tornadus doesn't stand a chance.
3. What role does/could this card have in the metagame?
This is my section, I run a deck called DMRH, Donphan/Mewtwo EX/Rocky Helmet. It's a troll deck sure, but against Tetrakion, it will always win, whether you use Donphan or Mewtwo as the main. Against Eel variants, Donphan's Exoskeleton and resistance to Lightning let him take a Strong Volt from Zekrom EX and still attack. And with Zekrom being weak, it's in deep trouble unless it attacks first. Everything else in that deck is weak to Donphan...except Tornadus EX. When your opponent drops this, be ready for some problems. You will need two Donphans that have one energy and a Rocky Helmet attached. Played right, you can win the prize trade, but if you want to risk it, play Ruins, but be aware of Zekrom EX from that point on. Against Darkrai/Tonradus. No problems, set up three Donphans and a Mewtwo, get Ruins of Alph out, and you'll win no problem.
4. Give it a rating (out of 10), and explain why you have given it that rating.
My rating for Donphan Prime is 10/10 for the Pokemon itself. With the Poke-Body and the speed of Earthquake, this card is DANGEROUS. I only give 9/10 for card art, if Donphan's mouth was open, it would make him more menacing.
This card on it's own is amazing in this format. The two top decks are Lighting and Dark, which Donphan hits double on both decks. One energy for 60 is incredibly fast and when you get him built up, Three energy for 90 doesn't seem like much, but when you can't OHKO Donphan, he can hit 180 before getting KO'd, but when you're hitting weakness on the two biggest decks there are, you're bombing 180 damage anyways and mostly only get hit once, doing 180 per turn.
He has one downside, weakness to water. Empoleon has started seeing some play which means trouble for Donphan.
2. What cards, if any, does this card combo with?
One energy for 60 and very hard to OHKO, just looking at this, one card comes to mind, Max Potion. Fully healed and running again with ease. Second. Rocky Helmet. This card is MAJORLY important, more than a staple if you will, this card attached to Donphan Prime, WINS GAMES. for the weakness side, Zekrom EX or Darkrai EX with Eviolite, if Donphan hits first, not a chance. Hit for 180 with Heavy Impact and now you leave them with a choice: Hit for damage and lose two prizes, or don't hit, and lose two prizes. Some people think that Donphan doesn't do good against Mewtwo EX, but think about it, with a Rocky Helmet you attack for 60, they you for 60-100 (god only knows with Mewtwo) and take 20, if you pull a plus power, you've put them into the same position as a Darkrai, if they attack, you've now 2HKO'd a Mewtwo EX. Even if you don't draw into a plus power, if you hit a Max Potion, you can 3HKO Mewtwo with only taking one hit. Another card that helps is Ruins of Alph. Makes Pokemon Tornadus EX and Shaymin EX so much easier to KO. instead of the 5-9HKO on Tornadus EX, it moves to 3-5, and with Rocky Helmet, it drops to 2-4, and that's just with Earthquake. With Heavy Impact, Tornadus doesn't stand a chance.
3. What role does/could this card have in the metagame?
This is my section, I run a deck called DMRH, Donphan/Mewtwo EX/Rocky Helmet. It's a troll deck sure, but against Tetrakion, it will always win, whether you use Donphan or Mewtwo as the main. Against Eel variants, Donphan's Exoskeleton and resistance to Lightning let him take a Strong Volt from Zekrom EX and still attack. And with Zekrom being weak, it's in deep trouble unless it attacks first. Everything else in that deck is weak to Donphan...except Tornadus EX. When your opponent drops this, be ready for some problems. You will need two Donphans that have one energy and a Rocky Helmet attached. Played right, you can win the prize trade, but if you want to risk it, play Ruins, but be aware of Zekrom EX from that point on. Against Darkrai/Tonradus. No problems, set up three Donphans and a Mewtwo, get Ruins of Alph out, and you'll win no problem.
4. Give it a rating (out of 10), and explain why you have given it that rating.
My rating for Donphan Prime is 10/10 for the Pokemon itself. With the Poke-Body and the speed of Earthquake, this card is DANGEROUS. I only give 9/10 for card art, if Donphan's mouth was open, it would make him more menacing.
MIND YOU, DONPHAN'S EARTHQUAKE IS GREAT, BUT HEAVY IMPACT SHOULD BE USED, IT WINS GAMES.
It's certainly a decent card, but Terrakion outclasses it in almost every way.
EliGagerNorris said:
Care to go into detail? Cuz I can assure you, he's only good as a tech, Donphan has more potential than Terrakion.
Donphan is fantastic! Turn 2 60 damage without any elaborate setup is already a great mark! Then it gets Exoskeleton, blessing him with an immunity to weak scratches and minor bench damage. And of course, he's got excellent synergy with my personal favorite deck, Donchamp *flexy flex* ! He has a very very heavy retreat cost of 4, but that makes him searchable with Heavy Ball, and Switch is practically a staple card anyway.
Donchamp's not the only powerful deck he's been featured in, either. You can also see him with Empoleon, to cover for the Emperor's weakness, with the Unova Dragons to add some more punch to their Outrage, and even as a heavy-hitter in The Truth! As I said before, a single-energy attack dealing 60 damage, and just 2 more energy after that for 90 is soooo reliable. Marvelous...
Donchamp's not the only powerful deck he's been featured in, either. You can also see him with Empoleon, to cover for the Emperor's weakness, with the Unova Dragons to add some more punch to their Outrage, and even as a heavy-hitter in The Truth! As I said before, a single-energy attack dealing 60 damage, and just 2 more energy after that for 90 is soooo reliable. Marvelous...