Water Decks Gain Powerful Card in Pokemon TCG Pocket's Triumphant Light Expansion

When Pokémon TCG Pocket first launched, the meta quickly became dominated by a small number of decks, with one particular deck centered around Misty and water-type Pokémon gaining notoriety early on. This deck's ability to overpower opponents early in the game, largely dependent on the outcome of coin flips, quickly became a point of contention among players.

Despite the release of three expansions since the game's launch, the dominance of Misty decks has not waned. Instead, the latest expansion has introduced a new card that further strengthens these decks, leading to frustration among the player base.

Some variety would be appreciated
byu/Mizter_Man inPTCGP

It's important to note that Misty decks aren't necessarily the most powerful in the game; the issue lies in their luck-based mechanics. Misty, a Supporter card, allows players to flip coins until they land on tails, attaching a water-type energy to a chosen water-type Pokémon for each heads flipped. This can result in attaching anywhere from zero to a high number of energy cards, potentially allowing players to win on the first turn or bring powerful cards into play before opponents can respond effectively.

Why would they ever make a card like this?
byu/EfficientTrainer3206 inPTCGP

Subsequent expansions have only exacerbated the issue. Mythical Island introduced Vaporeon, enabling the movement of bonus energy among water-types, while Space-Time Smackdown added Manaphy, increasing the water energy on the board. New, powerful water-type Pokémon like Palkia ex and Gyarados ex have consistently kept water decks at the top of the meta.

DeNa, What the Heck are You Doing?
byu/HolographicHeart inPTCGP

The latest expansion, Triumphant Light, introduces Irida, another Supporter card that heals 40 damage from each Pokémon with water-type energy attached. This addition allows water-type decks to stage comebacks, further solidifying their dominance. While grass-type decks were traditionally the healing experts, Irida shifts the balance in favor of water decks.

Some experts suggest that the inclusion of Irida might be an attempt by developer DeNA to force players to make strategic choices about which Supporters to include, given the 20-card deck limit. However, savvy players have managed to incorporate both Misty and Irida into their decks.

Three days away… what will you all be playing?
byu/INDlGO inPTCGP

As Pokémon TCG Pocket prepares for a scheduled event where players can earn rewards for consecutive wins, the presence of water decks is expected to be overwhelming. Achieving a gold profile badge by winning five matches in a row is challenging, especially against decks that can leverage coin flips and cards like Irida to turn the tide of battle. Given the current meta, playing a water deck may be a strategic choice for those aiming to succeed in the upcoming event.