When *Pokémon TCG Pocket* first launched, the game's meta quickly became dominated by a small number of powerful decks. Among them was a Water-type deck centered around the Supporter card Misty—a card that gained notoriety early on for its ability to swing games heavily based on coin flips. Despite three major expansions since then, instead of being countered or replaced, Misty has only become more potent with each new release.
Some variety would be appreciated
byu/Mizter_Man inPTCGP
Comment from u/Mizter_Man in r/PTCGP
To clarify, Misty isn’t necessarily the strongest card in the game—but it does make losses feel particularly frustrating due to its high variance. As a Supporter, Misty allows players to flip coins until they land on tails and attach a Water Energy for every heads result. This can mean anywhere from zero to ten-plus Energies added in one turn. In the best-case scenario, this lets players win as early as Turn 1—before their opponent even gets a chance to act. More commonly, it gives them enough energy to play powerful Pokémon before the opponent is ready to respond.
Why would they ever make a card like this?
byu/EfficientTrainer3206 inPTCGP
Comment from u/EfficientTrainer3206 in r/PTCGP
Unfortunately, Misty’s strength has only been amplified by subsequent expansions. The *Mythical Island* set introduced Vaporeon, which enables players to freely move all that excess Water Energy between their Pokémon. Then came *Space-Time Smackdown*, bringing Manaphy into the mix—adding even more Water Energy to the board. Alongside these were powerful Water-type Pokémon like Palkia ex and Gyarados ex, both of which thrive off the abundance of attached Energy. As a result, Water-type decks have remained at the top of the meta across multiple expansions.
DeNa, What the Heck are You Doing?
byu/HolographicHeart inPTCGP
Comment from u/HolographicHeart in r/PTCGP
Now, with the latest expansion, *Triumphant Light*, another card has been introduced that further empowers Water decks: Irida. Like Misty, Irida is a Supporter card, but its effect allows players to heal 40 damage from each of their Water-type Pokémon that has any Water-type Energy attached. While Grass-type decks have traditionally held the advantage in healing, Irida gives Water decks a strong recovery tool just when it seemed they had reached peak consistency.
Some experts believe Irida may actually serve a balancing purpose in *Pokémon TCG Pocket*. Since decks are limited to 20 cards, adding Irida forces players to consider whether it's worth removing Misty or other Supporters. However, many experienced deck builders have already found ways to run both cards effectively.
Three days away… what will you all be playing?
byu/INDlGO inPTCGP
Comment from u/INDlGO in r/PTCGP
As the next ranked event approaches, where players compete for rewards including a coveted gold badge for five consecutive wins, expect to see Water-type decks dominating the ladder. With Misty and now Irida in the mix, it's becoming increasingly difficult to climb without either facing or using one yourself. For many, the decision to join the trend may no longer be optional.
