Just predict what cards will be good choices in the prerelease and explain why. The point of this isn't to try to correct mistakes. Just simply share what you think will dominate.
Prinplup
An uncommon card that might pop up in those 12 uncommons you get in your starting packs. Ice Blade is like the new empoleon's Dual Splash, but it only hits 1 pokemon. It has 80 HP, so it will stay for a few turns in a format flooded with basics. Ice Blade can destroy most basics in 2 turns in the prerelease, so even if you don't have empoleon, prinplup would still be a solid choice.
Scizor
With 5 special energy in the set, there's a chance your opponent will use special energy. Slap on a metal energy and punish them with special blow. Because of the limited amount of cards you can use, 80 damage will either knock out or put some serious hurt on a pokemon. If there are no special energy, use X-Scissor for a possible 90 damage.
Chatot
A common card that might be among the 42 common cards you get in your starting packs. For no energy, chatot can use mimic, which is basically a free Copycat. Any card in limited format that can draw cards is a good one.
Vaporeon
Ahh, vaporeon. Vaporeon has 2 attacks. The first is Cleanse Away. It costs 1 water energy and does a solid 30 damage. It also removes 2 damage counters from each of your benched pokemon. Anything that can heal can be considered. Plus, it 2HKOs a lot of basics, hopefully 1HKOs basics that are weak to water. The second attack is Hyper Whirlpool. It costs 1 water energy and 2 energy of any type to use. It deals 60 damage. You then flip coins until you get tails, For each heads, remove an energy attached to the defending pokemon. Very good in limited. Plus, with an Unown Q(see article below), it can retreat for free, allowing you to switch to another pokemon(possibly another vaporeon) that has removed all or most of its damage. If you don't use electric types, I would heavily watch out for Vaporeon and Prinplup.
Unown Q
What's so special about Unown Q? It has a mere 30 HP, it can deal only 20 damage, and it has no resistance. What makes it special? It's poke-power, Quick. By discarding every card attached to Unown Q, you can attach it to one of your pokemon. That pokemon's retreat cost will be reduced by 1. Most pokemon in limited have a retreat cost of 1, so you'll be able to retreat almost any pokemon you get for free if you use Unown Q.
Buneary
Now, you may be thinking "WTH?!" right now. But think about it. Buneary might be among those 42 commons you get in starting packs. Its first attack costs no energy and allows you to search your deck for any energy card and put it in your hand. It just says energy card, so you can even get things like metal energy and Call Energy(see below). This makes a good starter in the beginning of the game.
Call Energy
An energy that counts as colorless energy. It's just a normal colorless energy. That is, if you count a free call for family normal. Once during your turn, if Call Energy is attached to your active pokemon, you may skip your attack and get 2 basics from the deck and put them on your bench. A very good card in a format dominated by basics. Any pokemon can use this power if they have a Call Energy attached, so be absolutely sure to use it if you get it as well as watch out for it.
Prinplup
An uncommon card that might pop up in those 12 uncommons you get in your starting packs. Ice Blade is like the new empoleon's Dual Splash, but it only hits 1 pokemon. It has 80 HP, so it will stay for a few turns in a format flooded with basics. Ice Blade can destroy most basics in 2 turns in the prerelease, so even if you don't have empoleon, prinplup would still be a solid choice.
Scizor
With 5 special energy in the set, there's a chance your opponent will use special energy. Slap on a metal energy and punish them with special blow. Because of the limited amount of cards you can use, 80 damage will either knock out or put some serious hurt on a pokemon. If there are no special energy, use X-Scissor for a possible 90 damage.
Chatot
A common card that might be among the 42 common cards you get in your starting packs. For no energy, chatot can use mimic, which is basically a free Copycat. Any card in limited format that can draw cards is a good one.
Vaporeon
Ahh, vaporeon. Vaporeon has 2 attacks. The first is Cleanse Away. It costs 1 water energy and does a solid 30 damage. It also removes 2 damage counters from each of your benched pokemon. Anything that can heal can be considered. Plus, it 2HKOs a lot of basics, hopefully 1HKOs basics that are weak to water. The second attack is Hyper Whirlpool. It costs 1 water energy and 2 energy of any type to use. It deals 60 damage. You then flip coins until you get tails, For each heads, remove an energy attached to the defending pokemon. Very good in limited. Plus, with an Unown Q(see article below), it can retreat for free, allowing you to switch to another pokemon(possibly another vaporeon) that has removed all or most of its damage. If you don't use electric types, I would heavily watch out for Vaporeon and Prinplup.
Unown Q
What's so special about Unown Q? It has a mere 30 HP, it can deal only 20 damage, and it has no resistance. What makes it special? It's poke-power, Quick. By discarding every card attached to Unown Q, you can attach it to one of your pokemon. That pokemon's retreat cost will be reduced by 1. Most pokemon in limited have a retreat cost of 1, so you'll be able to retreat almost any pokemon you get for free if you use Unown Q.
Buneary
Now, you may be thinking "WTH?!" right now. But think about it. Buneary might be among those 42 commons you get in starting packs. Its first attack costs no energy and allows you to search your deck for any energy card and put it in your hand. It just says energy card, so you can even get things like metal energy and Call Energy(see below). This makes a good starter in the beginning of the game.
Call Energy
An energy that counts as colorless energy. It's just a normal colorless energy. That is, if you count a free call for family normal. Once during your turn, if Call Energy is attached to your active pokemon, you may skip your attack and get 2 basics from the deck and put them on your bench. A very good card in a format dominated by basics. Any pokemon can use this power if they have a Call Energy attached, so be absolutely sure to use it if you get it as well as watch out for it.
