Pokémon TCG Pocket’s new king is Gyarados ex

Super Smash Bros. scientist PracticalTAS came to this conclusion by collecting data from three dozen Pokémon TCG Pocket tournaments over a period of nine days in December and assigning decks a “meta weight” based on both usage and win rate. The result is a handy graphic showing Gyarados ex with a 0.4% advantage over Pikachu ex, Mewtwo ex rounding out the top three, and Celebi ex a distant fourth.

Gyarados ex was introduced to Pokémon TCG Pocket two weeks ago via the game’s first expansion, Mythical Island. It’s a powerful card in its own right, boasting 180 HP and a four-energy, 140-damage attack that removes a random energy from the game. The fact that it only requires only one evolution means it can start wreaking havoc early into the game with a lucky Misty.

The versatility of Water-type decks also means Gyarados ex can be supported by a bunch of different cards based on personal preference and availability. Current favorites include Greninja, an annoying card that snipes the opponent’s active Pokémon from the bench, and Mythical Island’s new Vaporeon, which allows the transfer of Water energy between Pokémon.

But that’s not to say Mythical Island hasn’t benefited Pikachu ex decks as well. A variant on the rise sees players pair the deadly electric mouse with a regular Pikachu who takes advantage of the same bench-stacking mechanic, an old Raichu that deals a ton of raw damage, a Dedenne that can keep an opponent’s Pokemon locked in paralysis hell, and a new Electabuzz, like Zebstrika before it, can beat up benched Pokémon.

Pokémon TCG Pocket is a much simpler game compared to its big brother, but it’s fun seeing how much competition has evolved in such a short time despite there being fewer cards and different rules. And honestly, anything that cuts down on the amount of Pikachu ex and Mewtwo ex decks I see while grinding out wins with Golem and Dragonite is a welcome addition.