In a fascinating analysis by Super Smash Bros. aficionado PracticalTAS, a meticulous examination of 36 Pokémon TCG Pocket tournaments conducted over nine days in December led to a revealing insight: by assigning a “meta weight” based on deck usage and win rates, PracticalTAS crafted a visual representation showcasing Gyarados ex narrowly leading with a 0.4% edge over Pikachu ex, while Mewtwo ex trails behind in third, and Celebi ex lags significantly in fourth place.
Gyarados ex splashed onto the Pokémon TCG Pocket scene just two weeks ago with the launch of its inaugural expansion, Mythical Island. This card stands as a force to be reckoned with, packing a punch with 180 HP and an impressive attack that deals 140 damage for four energy, while also banishing a random energy from play. Requiring just a single evolution, it can unleash chaos early in the game when paired with a fortunate Misty.
The adaptability of Water-type decks further enhances the appeal of Gyarados ex, allowing players to customize their decks with a variety of supportive cards. Fan favorites currently include Greninja, known for its pesky ability to strike from the bench, and the freshly introduced Vaporeon from Mythical Island, offering the strategic advantage of moving Water energy between Pokémon.
Nevertheless, Pikachu ex decks have also enjoyed a boost from the Mythical Island expansion. A budding trend involves teaming up the electrifying Pikachu with a standard Pikachu that exploits bench-stacking mechanics. Accompanying this team is a vintage Raichu delivering immense damage, a mischievous Dedenne capable of trapping opponents in a paralysis loop, and a new Electabuzz, reminiscent of Zebstrika, which lands punches on benched Pokémon.
Pokémon TCG Pocket, though more streamlined than its traditional counterpart, showcases an impressively dynamic meta evolution in such a short span, despite its limited card pool and distinct rules. Frankly, any element that diversifies the gameplay and reduces the ubiquity of Pikachu ex and Mewtwo ex decks is a breath of fresh air, offering me a better chance at victory when I opt for Golem and Dragonite in my deck.
