In the world of Pokémon TCG Pocket, Pikachu-EX and Mewtwo-EX are dominating the current meta. But their dominance begs the question: What cards could change the balance?
The last Pokémon games sparked significant controversy.
Released in November 2022 for the Nintendo Switch, Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet aimed to bring innovation but left many fans disappointed.
Critics found the story incoherent and the gameplay uninspiring.
Additionally, the shift away from pixel graphics continued to draw ire, as performance issues and poor visuals, marked by muddy textures, overshadowed the games' open-world ambition.
In contrast, Pokémon TCG Pocket has injected new life into the franchise.
Launched in October of this year, this mobile version of the trading card game has steadily gained a loyal player base.
The EX Card Dilemma
The TCG Pocket is becoming increasingly unbalanced, though. Currently, almost everyone is playing EX decks, with the Mewtwo EX deck being the strongest.
If you've been playing in TCG Pocket over the past few days, you've probably seen the Mewtwo deck a lot, maybe too much.
Why does everyone uses mewtwo ex decks. It is so annoying and unoriginal. Stop just stop. Be original for once
— Cameron | Dat1guy2 | Video Editor | Open (@Dat1guy2_) December 10, 2024
EX cards are extra-strong trading cards that represent Pokémon with enhanced abilities and higher stats.
They are some of the most sought-after cards in the game, as they are valuable to both collectors and strategic players.
With the current overpowered EX decks being the most common in Pocket, Reddit user Lofus1989 has proposed a solution.
In his post, Lofus1989 calls for the introduction of EX Counter cards to bring more balance and excitement to the game.
Pocket works differently from the real Pokémon card game. Your deck only contains 20 cards instead of 60, so you have to choose wisely.
The developers will have to decide whether there is room for more powerful cards in these smaller decks.
V Cards and Safeguard Ability as a Solution?
V cards serve as a counterpart to EX cards, offering quicker gameplay and higher base health points, making them more resilient in battle.
Their key advantage: they can be deployed faster and are designed to counter the specific strengths of EX cards.
Currently, these abilities and cards are absent from TCG Pocket.
Given the limited deck size of 20 cards, introducing them would require careful consideration to avoid overwhelming the game mechanics.
I HATE MEWTWO GARDEVOIR. IT'S TURN 5 HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO COUNTER THIS pic.twitter.com/eX8u7aRlgQ
— TheSapphicSeas (@thesapphicseas) December 8, 2024
The discussion on Reddit highlights potential counter cards like Sigilyph and Carbink, which feature the Safeguard ability.
This ability entirely negates damage from EX Pokémon, presenting a powerful countermeasure.
A more modern example is Mimikyu, which extends this blocking ability to both EX and V Pokémon, adding further versatility.
Such counter cards, if implemented, could significantly disrupt the dominance of EX-heavy meta decks like Pikachu-EX and Mewtwo-EX, pushing players to include more standard Pokémon in their strategies.
For now, these counters remain theoretical but could become a game-changing addition in future updates or expansions.
How do you feel about the balance in TCG Pocket? Share your thoughts in the comments!
