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

When Pokémon TCG Pocket first hit the scene, the meta was swiftly dominated by a select few decks, with Misty and her water-type Pokémon becoming particularly notorious. Players quickly grew to resent these decks due to their ability to overpower opponents early on, largely dependent on favorable coin flips. Misty, a Supporter card, allows players to pick a water-type Pokémon and flip coins until landing on tails, attaching a water-type energy for each heads flipped. This mechanic can result in anywhere from zero to numerous energy attachments, potentially enabling a first-turn win or powering up strong cards before opponents can counter.

Despite the release of three expansions, the meta has not shifted away from Misty decks. Instead, the latest expansion, Triumphant Light, has introduced Irida, another Supporter card that heals 40 damage from each Pokémon with water-type energy attached. This addition, coupled with previous cards like Vaporeon from Mythical Island and Manaphy from Space-Time Smackdown, has only made water decks more formidable. These expansions have brought powerful water-type Pokémon like Palkia ex and Gyarados ex, maintaining water decks' dominance in the meta.

Some Pokémon TCG experts suggest that Irida's introduction might be a strategic move by developer DeNA to force players to make tough decisions about their deck composition, given the 20-card limit in TCG Pocket. However, savvy deckbuilders have managed to incorporate both Misty and Irida, further solidifying water decks' position at the top.

With a highly anticipated event on the horizon, where players can earn rewards like a gold profile badge for winning five matches consecutively, the prevalence of water decks is expected to be even more pronounced. The challenge of achieving such a win streak is intensified by the potential for water decks to sweep opponents early with the right coin flips and recovery options like Irida. As a result, many players are considering joining the water deck bandwagon to compete effectively.