Summary
- Sudowoodo boosts Rampardos decks as strong anti-meta options against Arceus ex, improving their meta share.
- Palkia ex sees a revival with Irida’s addition, showcasing consistent setups and synergy improvements in Triumphant Light.
- Dialga ex decks, particularly with the help of Arceus ex and new cards like Shaymin and Adaman, dominate the meta with a 24.5% win rate increase.
When Pokemon TCG Pocket‘s first miniset, Mythical Island, was released, its influence on the meta was expected—if not underwhelming. Some even argued that it lacked meaningful new cards and felt more like a placeholder until the next major set arrived. However, the same can’t be said for Triumphant Light, as its release has reshaped the meta so significantly that top-performing lineups now look almost unrecognizable compared to the Space-Time Smackdown era.
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While Triumphant Light introduced a few new and popular decks, its biggest impact came from enhancing existing ones. The following list examines these improved TCG Pocket decks, their statistical shifts and performance trends, and how Triumphant Light cards contributed to their rise.
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Rampardos Decks
Sudowoodo Made Them the New Anti-Meta Decks
- Meta Share Growth: 337%
- Win Rate Growth: 0.252%
In the pre-Triumphant Light meta, Rampardos & Lucario briefly surged in popularity before being overshadowed by the dominance of rising stars like Magnezone & Darkrai ex. However, with TCG Pocket now in its post-Triumphant Light era, this duo has made a comeback, thanks to an initially overlooked Pokemon.
Sudowoodo’s addition to the Rampardos & Lucario shell has transformed it into one of the strongest anti-meta decks available. The rising popularity of Arceus ex, a Fighting-weak Pokemon, has also played a key role in Rampardos’s resurgence.
A closer look at the deck’s current performance reveals a significant increase in Rampardos and Lucario’s Meta Share, although the duo’s win rate has mostly remained the same. This situation arises because many players are using it specifically to counter the Arceus ex meta, which it excels in. However, other top-tier decks, particularly Exeggutor ex & Celebi ex, still outperform Fighting-type Pokemon, which accounts for the low win rate.
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Palkia ex Decks
A Water-type Healer Revived Palkia ex Setups
- Meta Share Growth: 36.21%
- Win Rate Growth: 6.5%
Palkia ex’s potential was never fully dismissed in the Space-Time Smackdown era, and it was considered one of the top plays. However, its decks lacked consistency and struggled against the dominant Darkrai ex decks. With the release of Palkia ex and the addition of Irida, this Pokemon found its place in a refined 18-Trainer setup, which seems to be one of its ideal configurations.
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Irida’s ability to heal up to 40 damage from Palkia ex allows it to stay in the Active Spot longer, dealing massive burst damage to opponents. Players now have access to key Trainer Cards like the powerful Cyrus, as well as useful Pokemon Tools like Giant Cape and Rocky Helmet, which help maximize Palkia ex’s damage output.
Looking at the metagame stats from the previous set, Palkia ex can be considered one of the cards revitalized by the Triumphant Light expansion. The Pokemon was slowly falling off the meta before the new miniset, and its synergy with Vaporeon struggled against chip-damage-centered decks. However, the revamped Palkia ex decks now appear poised to maintain their place in the metagame for the foreseeable future.
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Articuno ex Decks
Articuno ex Is Getting Closer to the Perfect 18-Trainer Set
- Meta Share Growth: 362%
- Win Rate Growth: 6.7%
Irida didn’t just revive Palkia ex; she also enhanced one of the oldest players in Pokemon TCG Pocket’s 18-Trainer archetype: Articuno ex. While 18-Trainer Articuno ex decks were never particularly popular in PvP, they came close to perfect synergy. With Irida’s introduction, it felt like the missing piece of the puzzle had finally been found for Articuno ex.
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Articuno ex’s improvement in Triumphant Light mirrors that of Palkia ex. This veteran Pokemon now enjoys a longer stay in the Active Spot, usually long enough to deal its devastating damage and defeat the opponent before they can force it into the discard pile.
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Dialga ex Decks
The Alliance of Two Pokemon Gods Has Paid Off
- Meta Share Growth: 668%
- Win Rate Growth: 24.5%
Dialga ex decks have seen the most significant growth in the Triumphant Light expansion. This Pokemon, particularly in its new partnership with Arceus ex, is currently dominating the meta. Together, they’ve boosted Dialga ex’s PvP win rate by an impressive 24.5%.
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Arceus ex wasn’t the only boost Triumphant Light gave to Dialga ex decks. The expansion also introduced a new variant of Shaymin, which reduces retreat costs from the Bench. This is crucial in the refined Dialga ex decks, as players often need to swap Dialga ex with Arceus ex (or vice versa).
One could also argue that Adaman had contributed to Dialga ex’s rise. This new Supporter is like an exclusive Blue for Steel-type Pokemon. When played, it reduces damage dealt to Steel-type Pokemon by 20 for one turn—an effect that further extends Dialga ex’s time in the Active Spot, allowing players to generate more Energy and ramp up Arceus ex faster.
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