Pokémon TCG Pocket's initial meta was quickly dominated by a few powerful decks, notably the Misty water-type deck. Its reliance on coin flips made victories feel unfair to opponents, leading to significant player frustration. Despite the release of three subsequent expansions, not only has Misty remained a dominant force, but new cards have actually amplified its power, further fueling player discontent.
The Misty deck's strength isn't necessarily its raw power, but its frustrating reliance on chance. Misty, a Supporter card, lets players flip coins to attach water-type energy to a chosen water Pokémon. This could result in zero energy, rendering the card useless, or a massive energy surge capable of securing early-game victories or overwhelming opponents before they can establish a defense.
Subsequent expansions exacerbated the problem. Mythical Island introduced Vaporeon, allowing energy manipulation between water Pokémon. Space-Time Smackdown added Manaphy, boosting energy even further. Powerful water Pokémon like Palkia ex and Gyarados ex further cemented the deck's dominance.
Triumphant Light introduced Irida, another Supporter card that heals 40 damage from any water Pokémon with attached energy. This healing capability, previously a grass-type deck strength, allows water decks to mount significant comebacks, particularly when fueled by Misty, Manaphy, and Vaporeon.
Some TCG experts suggest Irida was intended to counter Misty, forcing deckbuilding choices. The 20-card deck limit means including Irida necessitates removing another card. However, many players find ways to incorporate both, maintaining the deck's overwhelming strength.
Pokémon TCG Pocket's upcoming event, rewarding win streaks, highlights the problem. The difficulty of achieving a five-match win streak is significantly increased by the potential for early-game sweeps from well-played Misty decks, especially when coupled with Irida's healing capabilities. This event likely will see a heavy prevalence of water decks, possibly making playing one a strategic necessity for players aiming for rewards.
