When Pokemon TCG Pocket first launched, the meta was quickly dominated by a small handful of decks. One standout was the Misty and water-type Pokemon deck, which became notorious early on for its ability to overpower opponents early in the game based on the luck of coin flips. This deck's reliance on chance made losses to it particularly frustrating for players.
Despite three expansions since its introduction, the dominance of Misty decks has not waned. Instead, the latest expansion has introduced a new card that further amplifies their power, leaving many players feeling frustrated and seeking more variety in the game.
Misty, a Supporter card, has a unique ability that allows players to select a water-type Pokemon and flip a coin until they land on tails. For each heads flipped, a water-type energy is attached to the chosen Pokemon. This mechanism can lead to zero energy being attached, making the card a wasted slot, or it could result in a significant boost of 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, or more energies, potentially enabling a first-turn win or accelerating powerful plays.
Subsequent expansions have only bolstered Misty's effectiveness. Mythical Island introduced Vaporeon, which can freely move the bonus energy among water-type Pokemon. Space-Time Smackdown added Manaphy, further increasing the water energy on the board. These expansions also brought in formidable water-type Pokemon like Palkia ex and Gyarados ex, cementing water decks' place at the top of the meta across multiple expansions.
The latest expansion, Triumphant Light, introduces Irida, another Supporter card that can heal 40 damage from each Pokemon with water-type energy attached. This new addition makes water decks even more resilient, potentially allowing them to stage comebacks with the help of cards like Misty, Manaphy, and Vaporeon.
Some experts suggest that Irida's introduction might be an attempt by developer DeNA to force players to make strategic choices about which Supporters to include in their limited 20-card decks. However, many deckbuilders have managed to incorporate both Misty and Irida, further solidifying water decks' dominance.
With an upcoming event in Pokemon TCG Pocket offering rewards for win streaks in online competitive mode, including a coveted gold profile badge for five consecutive wins, players can expect to see a high prevalence of water decks. The challenge of achieving such win streaks is heightened by the potential for these decks to secure early victories and recover from setbacks, making them a formidable choice for the event and beyond.
