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

When Pokémon TCG Pocket first launched, the meta was quickly dominated by a select few decks, with one centered around Misty and water-type Pokémon standing out. This deck gained notoriety early on due to its ability to overpower opponents early in the game, largely dependent on the outcome of coin flips.

Despite the release of three expansions since then, the expectation that new cards would counter or replace Misty decks hasn't materialized. Instead, the latest expansion has introduced a new card that has made Misty decks even more formidable, leading to frustration among many players.

Some variety would be appreciated byu/Mizter_Man inPTCGP

It's not that Misty decks are the most powerful in the game, but their luck-based mechanics make losses feel particularly frustrating. Misty, a Supporter card, allows players to select a water-type Pokémon and flip a coin until they land on tails, attaching a water-type energy for each heads flipped. This can result in attaching anywhere from zero to multiple energies, potentially enabling a turn-one win or powering up strong cards before the opponent can respond.

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

Subsequent expansions have only amplified Misty's power. Mythical Island introduced Vaporeon, which can redistribute the bonus energy among water-types, while Space-Time Smackdown added Manaphy, further increasing water energy on the board. New, powerful water-type Pokémon like Palkia ex and Gyarados ex have been released, keeping water decks at the top of the meta across multiple expansions.

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

The latest expansion, Triumphant Light, introduced Irida, another Supporter card that can heal 40 damage from each Pokémon with water-type energy attached. This addition has made water-type decks even more resilient, allowing significant comebacks. While grass-type decks were previously known for healing, Irida shifts this advantage to water decks, especially when combined with cards like Misty, Manaphy, and Vaporeon.

Some Pokémon TCG 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 20-card decks. However, many players have found ways to incorporate both Misty and Irida, maintaining the deck's dominance.

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

With a regularly-scheduled event approaching, where rewards like a gold profile badge are offered for winning five matches in a row, the prevalence of water decks is expected to be high. The challenge of achieving such a win streak is intensified by the potential for water decks to dominate early and recover from setbacks with cards like Irida. As a result, many players are considering joining the water deck trend to compete effectively.