"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 select few decks, with one centered around Misty and water-type Pokémon gaining notoriety for its potential to overpower opponents early on, largely dependent on the outcome of coin flips. This deck's reliance on luck has made losing to it particularly frustrating for many players.

Despite the release of three expansions since the game's debut, the expectation that new cards would counter or replace Misty decks has not been met. Instead, the latest expansion, Triumphant Light, has introduced a card that further strengthens Misty decks, much to the chagrin of the player base.

Misty, a Supporter card, enables players to select a water-type Pokémon and flip coins until a tails is landed, attaching a water-type energy to the chosen Pokémon for each heads flipped. This mechanic can result in anywhere from zero to numerous energies being attached, potentially allowing for a first-turn win or the early activation of powerful cards.

The situation has been exacerbated by subsequent expansions like Mythical Island and Space-Time Smackdown, which introduced cards such as Vaporeon and Manaphy. These cards enhance the ability to manipulate and increase water energy on the board, alongside powerful water-type Pokémon like Palkia ex and Gyarados ex, keeping water decks at the forefront of the meta.

The newest addition, Irida from Triumphant Light, is another Supporter card that can heal 40 damage from each Pokémon with water-type energy attached. This has shifted the healing advantage from grass-type decks to water decks, enabling significant comebacks. With cards like Misty, Manaphy, and Vaporeon already in play, water decks are well-equipped to leverage this new healing capability.

Some experts suggest that DeNA, the game's developer, introduced Irida to force players to make strategic choices about which Supporter cards to include in their limited 20-card decks. However, many players have found ways to incorporate both Misty and Irida, maintaining the dominance of water decks.

As Pokémon TCG Pocket prepares for a scheduled event where players can earn rewards for consecutive wins, the prevalence of water decks is expected to be high. Achieving the coveted gold profile badge for five consecutive wins is challenging, especially against decks that can secure early victories and recover from setbacks with cards like Irida. Given the current meta, many players may find it advantageous to adopt a water deck strategy themselves.