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The Krooky Monster

By JC

Hello Pokeman fans! I recently purchased a Victini Box Gift Set in hopes of pulling a secret rare. It came with 5 black and white booster packs, a promo Zoroark card, and a little Victini figure. Although I pulled an awesome secret rare full art Reshiram (in my first pack!), I want to talk about the Krookodile I also pulled.

At first I didn’t give it much thought. When I pulled it, I said “Oh, that’s nice,” and set it aside. Some people absolutely love Krookodile, but I thought he looked goofy, ferocious no doubt, but still a little goofy. I even chose to go with Drilbur-Excadrill instead of Sandile-Krokorok-Krookodile in the video game. However, I really started to appreciate the Intimidation Pokemon after pulling a second one from a random booster pack.

I haven’t played the trading card game in over a decade, but I’m certain this Krookodile card (65/114 B&W) is a force to be reckoned with. Krook is a ground type with a x2 weakness to water and a -20 resistance to lightning. His two attacks, Torment and Krookoroll, make a deadly combo. This is actually the first card I have seen with the attack Torment. It requires 2 colorless energy cards and does 30 damage and you can disable one of your opponent’s Pokemon’s attacks. Of the new 94 Pokemon cards introduced in the black and white set, 28 of them have only one attack. That’s over a fourth! Torment effectively disables those Pokemon, making them punching bags for our favorite crazy crocodile. Pretty much any Pokemon with an ability is also unable to dish out damage (I’m looking at you Emboar, Serperior, and Samurott!).

Of course your opponent can switch his or her Pokemon, but the retreat costs will add up while you Torment away. Krooks’ second attack Krookoroll requires 2 colorless and 2 fighting energy cards. Krookoroll does 60 damage plus 40 if the defending Pokemon already has any damage counters on it. Not many cards can withstand a Torment-Krookoroll combo dealing a whopping 130 damage. Krooks does have a 3 energy retreat cost, but his 140 hit points ensures his staying power.
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The Sandile Line

By Jo

Ground-types and dark-types have always been pretty unique. While ground-types are normally based off from the habits of actual animals, dark-types are known for being based more off from myths and old wise tales. The Sandile evolutionary line could pass off as being a little bit of both.

Sandile is a mixture between a sandy colored crocodile and black stripes that are similar to the old stripped uniforms prisoners used to wear in jails. The black skin surrounding its eyes is similar to a mask, which is similar to a burglar’s mask (which may be why it’s also part dark-type). Sandile and its evolutionary relatives are the only Pokemon to have their unique type combination. According to its pokedex entries, Sandile live buried in the sands of the desert. The sun-warmed sands prevent their body heat from dropping. It apparently moves along below the sand’s surface, except for its nose and eyes. The dark membrane surround its eyes protect their eyes from the sun. Considering its habits, Sandile may also be based off from a “sandfish”, a desert reptile that is able to move through the sand as if it were swimming. Sandile’s name seems to come from the words ‘sand’, ‘crocodile’, and is possibly meant to be a play on the word ‘sandal’.

Once Sandile reaches level 29, it evolves into Krokorok. Krokorok is a bit taller than Sandile and gets about on its hind legs rather than on all fours. Like its pre-evolution, it is stripped black and tan, though also has a spiked back and tail leading from its neck. Its stomach is pink and stripped. Like Sandile, Krokorok has the same black ‘mask’ covering its eyes. Its pokedex entries state that Krokorok live in groups with a few individuals. Protective membranes shield their eyes from sandstorms. The special membrane covering its eyes can sense the heat of objects, so it can see its surroundings, even in darkness. Krokorok appears to be based off from a narrow nosed crocodile and possibly a caiman. Its posture is like a criminal’s, which may be a reference to its type. Krokorok’s name most-likely comes from the words ‘crocodile’ and ‘rock’.
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The Two Great Ground Pokemon of Generation Five

By Emily

Note: this contains spoilers, which some people may not like.

Pokemon Black and White have definitely improved the difficulty of Pokemon battles, and going in unprepared is a very bad idea. Especially with your final battle against N and Ghetsis. The legendary dragon N controls and many of the Pokemon on Ghetsis’ team are incredibly strong and can easily destroy an entire team of Pokemon.

However, two ground type Pokemon stand out as being near-essential in helping you win. Excadrill for Black and Krookodile for White are possibly the best Pokemon you can use in the two final battles of the main story.
Excadrill is very useful in Pokemon Black because it has immunity to Zekrom’s strongest attack, Cross Thunder. Excadrill has a very high attack stat and can learn both Earthquake and Drill Run, which will be able to faint Zekrom in only one or two attacks. Because Excadrill can learn both X-scissor and Brick Break, it will also be useful against Ghetsis’ strongest Pokemon, Hydreigon.
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