As the ECSTS2 fast approaches, undoubtedly you've started thinking about what the heck you'll do about the format. But don't fret, that's why we're here. Last time, The Analyst looked at ways to search for cards now that we've lost our beloved Computer Search... and most of our other search cards like Trader and Item Finder as well.

There are other trainer cards that seem to be in almost every deck... You know them as Professor Oak and Bill. With the STS format, they're gone... So what else can you use to draw from your deck? We've combed the lists of Team Rocket, Gym, and Neo Genesis to see what you can use.
 

Secret Mission (Gym Heroes UNCOMMON)
  Look at your opponent's hand.  Then, you may discard as many other
  cards as you want from your hand and draw that many cards. 
Pro: You get to see your opponent's hand anyway.
Con: You have to discard to draw, and only up to the number of cards you have already.

Blaine's Gamble (Gym Heroes COMMON)
  Discard any number of other cards from your hand, then flip a
  coin.  If heads, draw twice that many cards. 
Pro: Doubling more than one card can be a lot...
Con: but tails, and you're out how many cards you had.

Sabrina's Gaze (Gym Heroes COMMON)
  Each player shuffles his or her hand into his or her deck and
  draws a new hand of the same number of cards.
Pro: Shuffling for new cards isn't bad at all.
Con: ...if you don't mind your opponent doing the same. Not as effective if you have less cards though. 
 

--- Draw 1 -------

Lt. Surge's Treaty (Gym Heroes UNCOMMON)
  Your opponent chooses 1 of the following:  everyone chooses 1 of
  his or her own Prizes and puts it into his or her hand, or you
  draw a card.
Pro: Either way is good for you...
Con: ...unless your opponent has less prizes than you (or only one).
 

--- Draw 2 -------

Blaine's Quiz #1 (Gym Heroes RARE)
  Put a Basic Pokemon or Evolution card from your hand face down in
  front of you and tell your opponent its name.  Your opponent
  guesses the length of that Pokemon.  Flip the card over.  If your
  opponent guessed right, he or she draws 2 cards.  If your opponent
  guessed wrong, you draw 2 cards.  Either way, return the card to
  your hand. 
Pro: At least it's the most reliable of the Blaine's Quizzes.
Con: But the more of a pokémaniac your opponent is... =P

Blaine's Quiz #2 (Gym Challenge UNCOMMON)
  Put a card from your hand face down in front of you.  Your
  opponent guesses whether it is an Energy card, a Trainer card, or
  a Pokemon (Basic or Evolution) card.  Flip the card over.  If your
  opponent guessed right, he or she draws 2 cards.  If your opponent
  guessed wrong, you draw 2 cards.  Either way, return the card to
  your hand.
Con: Easy for your opponent to guess your card, though.

Mary (Neo Genesis RARE)
  Draw 2 cards.  Then, shuffle 2 cards from your hand
  into your deck.
Pro: Works for sure.
Con: At least those 2 you ditch don't get discarded.

Card-Flip Game (Neo Genesis UNCOMMON)
  Choose 1 of your opponent's face-down Prizes.
  Guess whether it is an Energy card, a Trainer card,
  or a Pokemon (Basic or Evolution) card.  Flip the
  card face up (and leave it face up).  If you
  guessed right, draw 2 cards.
Pro: No consequence for a wrong answer... just a 1/3 (approximately) chance
Con: But your opponent sees one of his/her prizes...
 

--- Draw 3 -------

Erika (Gym Heroes RARE)
  You may draw up to 3 cards, then your opponent may draw up to 3
  cards.
Pro: Nonconditional. You can choose to draw less than 3.
Con: Opponent gets to do the same.

Blaine's Quiz #3 (Gym Challenge UNCOMMON)
  Put a Basic Pokemon or Evolution card from your hand face down in
  front of you and tell your opponent the name of an attack of that
  card.  Your opponent guesses the name of that card.  Flip the card
  over.  If your opponent guessed right, he or she draws 3 cards.
  If your opponent guessed wrong, you draw 3 cards.  Either way,
  return the card to your hand.
Con: If it's anything BUT turn 1, it's horribly easy for your opponent to guess...
Comment: Play 5 different pokémon with Agility or something and maybe you've got a chance. =P
 

--- Draw 4 -------

Bill's Teleporter (Neo Genesis UNCOMMON)
  Flip a coin.  If heads, draw 4 cards.
Pro: 4 cards!
Con: ... if heads!
 

--- Draw 5 -------

Computer Error (Promotional #16)
  You may draw up to 5 cards, then your opponent may draw up to 5
  cards.  Your turn is over now (you don't get to attack).
Pro: If you can't attack anyway, why not?
Con: ...but you can't attack...and your opponent gets up to 5...

Blaine's Last Resort (Gym Heroes UNCOMMON)
  You can't play this card if you have any cards in your hand other
  than Blaine's Last Resort.  Show your hand to your opponent, then
  draw 5 cards.
Con: VERY conditional use.
Comment: If you're sure you can use up your hand consistently, go for it!

Misty's Duel (Gym Heroes COMMON)
  You and your opponent play a game of Rock-Paper-Scissors.  The
  winner shuffles his or her hand into his or her deck and draws
  a new hand of 5 cards.  (If you don't know how to play 
  Rock-Paper-Scissors, flip a coin to decide who's the winner.)
Pro: Shuffling your hand into your deck for 5 cards isn't bad.
Con: ... If you get it. How's your Roshambo skills? =D
 

--- Draw 7 -------

Professor Elm (Neo Genesis UNCOMMON)
  Shuffle your hand into your deck.  Then, draw 7
  cards.  You can't play any more Trainer cards this
  turn.
Pro: 7 cards! Shuffling hand!
Con: Just can't play any trainers you draw...

And now, in case you don't want to read all of my comments, I've summarized what I think would be best for decks in general. This new section is called...

Hackman's Top 5
(otherwise known as 'IMHO these cards won't suck.')

Top 5 Draw Trainers:

1. Professor Elm
 You'll see this in just about every deck from now on... IT'S REALLY THAT GOOD!!!
2. Mary
 Those two cards you don't need? Replace them with new ones.
3. Erika
 Giving your opponent 3 cards isn't THAT bad when you can use your 3 immediately...
4. Blaine's Quiz #1
 How often is your opponent going to guess the height of your Rocket's Zapdos? (no, not 3.5 inches...)
5. Secret Mission
 You get to see your opponent's hand... then draw whatever you feel like drawing...

Top 5 Search Trainers

1. Master Ball
 For Pokémon, yes. 7 cards is at most 1/7 of your deck. (and that's first turn too... wait till later)
2. Nightly Garbage Run
 Pokémon and energy recycling! Increases your deck by 3, makes those cards you thought you lost available...
3. The Boss's Way/Brock's Training Method/Erika's Maids
 If you play Dark/Brock/Erika, for-sure Pokémon searching's great!
4. Misty's Wrath
 Get two out of your next 7 cards... Discarding is a small price to pay for the choice.
5. Rocket's Secret Experiment
 You probably won't have any trainers left to play anyway if you don't get to search for your ANY one card.

We've hit two genres of trainers, next issue we look at other trainers that'll have a big impact on strategy. What to use for Gust of Wind? What can you do with a Chaos Gym? That and more when The Analyst returns.

-- Hackman