Pokémon TCG Pocket's initial meta was quickly dominated by a few powerful decks, notably those centered around Misty and Water-type Pokémon. The inherent luck-based nature of Misty's ability, which involves flipping coins to determine energy attachment, made these decks frustrating to play against. A successful Misty play could lead to overwhelming early-game advantages, while an unlucky one resulted in wasted resources.
Despite the release of three subsequent expansions, Misty decks remain a dominant force. Instead of counteracting Misty, new cards have amplified her power. Mythical Island introduced Vaporeon, allowing for flexible energy manipulation, while Space-Time Smackdown added Manaphy, further boosting energy generation. These expansions also featured powerful Water-type Pokémon like Palkia ex and Gyarados ex, perfectly complementing the energy surplus.
Triumphant Light further exacerbated the issue with the addition of Irida, another Supporter card. Irida's ability to heal Water-type Pokémon based on attached energy allows for significant comebacks, solidifying the Water deck's dominance. While some argue Irida's inclusion forces deckbuilding choices, many players successfully incorporate both Irida and Misty, creating even more resilient decks.
This situation has led to significant player frustration, particularly during upcoming ranked events. The upcoming event's reward system, which favors win streaks, is heavily skewed in favor of consistent decks like Misty-based Water decks. The high likelihood of facing these powerful, luck-dependent decks makes achieving a win streak extremely challenging. As a result, many players are considering adopting Water decks themselves for a better chance at success in the competitive environment. The prevalence of these decks is expected to continue for the foreseeable future.
