Water Decks Gain New Power with Triumphant Light Expansion

When *Pokemon TCG Pocket* first hit the scene, the meta was swiftly dominated by a select few decks, with Misty's water-type strategy emerging as particularly notorious. Early on, players found themselves at the mercy of Misty's coin flips, which could either cripple or empower a player's water-type Pokemon to an overwhelming degree. This luck-based mechanic often left opponents feeling frustrated and powerless, especially when a well-flipped Misty could lead to a first-turn victory.

Fast forward through three expansions, and one might expect the meta to have shifted or at least seen the rise of effective counters to Misty decks. However, the latest expansion, *Triumphant Light*, has instead bolstered Misty's dominance with the introduction of Irida. This new Supporter card can heal 40 damage from each Pokemon with water-type energy attached, further solidifying water decks' resilience and ability to stage comebacks.

The addition of cards like Vaporeon from *Mythical Island* and Manaphy from *Space-Time Smackdown* have only made Misty decks more formidable. These cards enhance the flexibility and power of water-type strategies, enabling players to move and generate energy efficiently across their Pokemon. High-impact water-types like Palkia ex and Gyarados ex have also contributed to the sustained dominance of water decks across multiple expansions.

Some experts suggest that the introduction of Irida might be an attempt by DeNA to encourage deck diversity by forcing players to make strategic choices about their Supporter cards. However, savvy players have found ways to incorporate both Misty and Irida into their decks, further entrenching water-type strategies at the top of the meta.

With an upcoming event where rewards, including a coveted gold profile badge, are up for grabs for achieving five consecutive wins, the prevalence of water decks is expected to be even more pronounced. The challenge of securing a win streak is daunting, especially against decks that can leverage coin flips and recovery mechanics to their advantage.

Given the current state of the game, players might find it advantageous to consider running a water deck themselves to compete effectively in this highly competitive environment.