Since its launch at the end of October, the meta for Pokemon TCG Pocket has become fairly entrenched around a few stand-out decks. Some of the best decks in Pokemon TCG Pocket revolve around cards like Misty and the card’s ability to quickly grant energy to powerhouses like Blastoise EX or Starmie EX. Other top-tier decks feature cards like Pikachu EX and Mewtwo EX as their focal points, with very little stopping them from dominating matches with one type remaining subdued within the Genetic Apex set.
Out of all the top decks in Pokemon TCG Pocket, none are quite as consistently powerful as those that take advantage of Mewtwo EX and Gardevoir’s interaction. Gardevoir’s ability allows it to add an extra Psychic energy to the player’s active Pokemon, making the two energy that are removed by Mewtwo EX’s Psydrive attack negligible. This combo wouldn’t be such a problem if players could quickly take out the opponent’s Mewtwo EX before it gets the chance to set up, but the lack of powerful Darkness-type cards to deal super effective damage to it makes this much more difficult.
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As one card from the Genetic Apex expansion has found a dominant role in the Pokemon TCG Pocket meta, it feels like the past repeating itself.
Pokemon TCG Pocket’s Next Set Needs to Come Out Swinging with Darkness Types
Darkness Types Are Under-Represented in Genetic Apex
As it stands, there are a very limited number of Darkness-type cards in Pokemon TCG Pocket. Currently, the only Darkness-type cards are:
- Ekans
- Arbok
- Nidoran F
- Nidorina
- Nidoqueen
- Nidoran M
- Nidorino
- Nidoking
- Zubat
- Golbat
- Grimer
- Muk
- Koffing
- Weezing
None of these cards have EX versions either, making cards like Muk, Weezing, and Arbok the strongest options players have at their disposal to counter powerful Psychic types like Mewtwo EX.
In
Pokemon TCG Pocket
, the Darkness type is used to represent both Poison and Dark types.
The best strategy for using Darkness cards in the current meta involves using Weezing and Muk to Poison the opposing mon while dealing increased damage thanks to Muk’s Venoshock attack. Another solid strategy is to trap an opponent’s active card with Arbok’s Corner attack to prevent them from retreating on the next turn and potentially sealing a KO. However, without the added power and bulk of an EX card, it can be hard to set up these combos before being KO’d by an opponent.
Stronger Darkness Type Cards Are Needed to Squash the Mewtwo EX Meta
A large reason that Darkness types are under-represented in Pokemon TCG Pocket at the moment is likely due to the fact that Genetic Apex has a heavy emphasis on Gen 1 critters. This is made evident by the fact that all current Darkness cards are Gen 1 Poison-type mons, leaving heavy-hitting Dark types out of the meta. With a new Pokemon TCG Pocket set scheduled to drop on January 29, 2025, it might not be long before the tide turns against the powerhouse Psychic duo that is Mewtwo EX and Gardevoir.
While it’s not clear what exactly the next set after Genetic Apex will entail, if it follows the former’s emphasis on Gen 1, it’s logical to assume that Gen 2 would be the focus of this next set. If that’s the case, the introduction of Dark types in Gen 2 could mean Pokemon TCG Pocket may finally get some powerful tools to use against Mewtwo EX decks, potentially including the introduction of Tyranitar EX or Houndoom EX. The reign of Mewtwo EX as the ruler of the current Pokemon TCG Pocket meta seems to have an expiration date that will hopefully come to pass when the next major set drops for the game early next year.
Other Gen 2 Poison types that could be added as Darkness types in the next set include Crobat and Ariados.
Experience the fun of collecting Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) cards with Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket, an upcoming game for iOS and Android devices from Creatures Inc., the original developers of the Pokémon TCG, and DeNA Co., Ltd. In this game, you will be able to open two booster packs every day at no cost. You can collect digital cards featuring nostalgic artwork from the past as well as brand-new cards that are exclusive to Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket.
Be on the lookout for new “immersive cards,” which will make you feel as though you’ve leapt into the world of the card’s illustration.
- Released
- October 30, 2024
- Developer(s)
- DeNA , Creatures Inc.
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer