Water Decks Gain Powerful Card in Pokemon TCG Pocket's Triumphant Light Expansion

When *Pokemon TCG Pocket* first launched, the meta was quickly dominated by a select few decks, with one in particular centered around Misty and water-type Pokemon gaining notoriety for its ability to overpower opponents early on, often determined by the luck of coin flips. This deck's reliance on chance has led to it being widely disliked among players, as losing to it can feel particularly frustrating.

Despite three expansions since the game's launch, one might expect new cards to counter or replace Misty decks. However, the latest expansion, *Triumphant Light*, has introduced a card that only enhances the power of Misty decks, much to the chagrin of many players who are growing weary of the lack of variety in the meta.

Some variety would be appreciated
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It's not that Misty decks are necessarily the most powerful in the game; rather, it's the luck-based nature of Misty that makes losses feel particularly bad. Misty is a Supporter card that allows the user to select a water-type Pokemon and flip a coin until they land on tails, attaching a water-type energy for every heads flipped. This mechanic can result in anywhere from zero to numerous energy attachments, potentially enabling a player to win on the first turn or power up strong cards before opponents can mount a defense.

Why would they ever make a card like this?
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Subsequent expansions have only exacerbated the issue. *Mythical Island* introduced Vaporeon, which can redistribute the bonus energy among water-types, while *Space-Time Smackdown* added Manaphy, further increasing the water energy on the board. New powerful water-type Pokemon like Palkia ex and Gyarados ex have also been introduced, cementing water decks' dominance in the meta.

DeNa, What the Heck are You Doing?
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The latest expansion, *Triumphant Light*, introduces Irida, another Supporter card that can heal 40 damage from each Pokemon with water-type energy attached. This addition allows water decks to stage comebacks, further solidifying their position at the top of the meta. While grass-type decks have traditionally been the healing specialists, Irida's introduction shifts this dynamic, allowing water decks to heal and recover more effectively.

Some experts suggest that DeNA introduced Irida to force players to make strategic decisions about deck composition, given the 20-card limit in *Pokemon TCG Pocket*. The inclusion of Irida might be an attempt to challenge players to choose between Misty and other powerful Supporters. However, savvy deck builders have found ways to incorporate both, maintaining the strength of water decks.

Three days away… what will you all be playing?
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As the community gears up for a scheduled event with rewards for win streaks in the game's online competitive mode, the presence of water decks is expected to be overwhelming. Achieving a gold profile badge by winning five matches in a row is challenging, especially against decks that can dominate early with the right coin flips and recover with cards like Irida. Given the current meta, many players are considering switching to water decks to stay competitive in this and future events.