Its a geeks paradise, and I highly recommend taking the trip over there if you have the time
Yes, blocking counts as combat damage
You can cast an instant or sorcery adventure, copy it with Rikus first ability, have the creature go on an adventure, and then cast the creature permanent spell later in the game so it can be copied with Rikus second ability
immediately netting 1 mana does more work than it seems
If you want a mix of guaranteed collectible cards and packs to open for fun, specialized bundles are a great next step
Make Sure Your Deck Is Legal For Competitive Play If you're planning on playing the Pokmon Trading Card Game competitively at your local card shop or in a Championships event, all of your cards need to be in rotation