Pokemon TCG Pocket's Best Psychic Deck Doesn't Use Its…

Late last month, the Johto region entered the ever-growing roster of Pokemon TCG Pocket expansions and cards. Players have been enjoying the new range of options that the new Wisdom of Sea and Sky expansion offers, especially since so many cards bounce off well from what Eevee Grove established prior. The options these two expansions offer together have caused a large enough shift to knock Giratina, one of the most important Psychic-Type cards in Pokemon TCG Pocket, out of its coveted position in favor of Espeon, Sylveon, and Baby Pokemon.

Pokemon TCG Pocket's Recent Sets Changed the Best Psychic-Type Decks Forever

One of the most important dynamics of the Pokemon Trading Card Game and all of its other iterations is the use of energy. Energy helps set the tempo of a game and how a deck can be played and structured. All well-built Pokemon TCG decks are careful with their energy usage and even the costs of each attack and switching out one critter for another. Indeed, Shining Revelry's Giratina EX is one of the most powerful cards in Pokemon TCG Pocket's meta, even now, because of the utility it has with energy.

Its ability encourages players to sacrifice attacking to add extra energy to Giratina, making it easy to build it and any other Pokemon within a couple of turns. Giratina is currently best with Darkai as the two have abilities that make running a dual-type deck in Pokemon TCG Pocket easier with the way it avoids players having the wrong energy when they need it.

How the Eeveelutions and Baby Pokemon Managed to Dethrone Giratina in Pokemon TCG Pocket Psychic-Type Decks

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Eevee Grove saw the addition of a Psychic-Type set of Sylveon cards that entered the meta fast. Not only does the Intertwining Pokemon's standard card have a low energy cost that helps deal damage quickly, but Sylveon EX has an ability that helps players draw the cards they need for their combos on top of dealing damage within a few turns at best. Pokemon TCG Pocket's Wisdom of Sea and Sky expansion has only strengthened Eevee's staying power in the game with the addition of two strong Espeon EX and Umbreon EX cards.

Espeon EX is critical as its ability helps heal the team against hard hitters, which is a big flaw with this new deck combination. It doesn't ask for much energy to attack or retreat, either. Their combined abilities and low costs have made Sylveon EX and Espeon EX such a strong pair with a faster output together for the same cost Giratina requires to attack. This has made Giratina practically vanish from mono Psychic-type decklists. The Renegade Pokemon has also left even more decklists, as Pokemon TCG Pocket's newly added Baby Pokemon offer far more useful effects at little cost.

Pokemon TCG Pocket's Baby Pokemon and Their Effects

Pichu: Attach Electric-type energy to a benched Pokemon
Magby: Attach Fire-type energy to a benched Pokemon
Elekid: 20 damage to one of the opponent's benched Pokemon
Smoochum: Attacks 20x damage for each energy attached to the opposing Pokemon
Cleffa: Pulls a random Pokemon from the deck into the player's hand
Tyrogue: Attacks for 20 damage

These Baby Pokemon don't require any energy to use their abilities, so Cleffa, in particular, has the potential to streamline Psychic-type decks by helping gather the cards needed to evolve and combo quickly. Pikachu pre-evolution Pichu and Magmar pre-evolution Magby serve the same purpose as Giratina, but for Electric-type and Fire-type decks in a less self-serving way. Many players have substituted Giratina out of their decks in favor of Baby Pokemon, which is very impressive to watch as Baby Pokemon don't stand a chance against beasts like Giratina in the mainline games.

Elekid and Smoochum are the least-played Baby Pokemon in TCG Pocket right now, but their effects could be handy in a pinch or could see a boost with future cards, just like Sylveon EX has with Espeon EX.

Giratina May Be Knocked Out Of Its Home Field, But Other Areas Still Serve It Well

Pokemon TCG Pocket Reveals the Most Used Decks From Last Season

Pokemon TCG Pocket players aren't rid of Giratina yet, though. It might not be the shining star it used to be for Psychic-type players, but as previously mentioned, Giratina and Darkrai go together like a devastatingly dark peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Trainer and Support cards have already helped the two creatures thrive, but Giratina currently only holds the crown as a dual-type deck mainstay because of the team-up between Espeon EX and Sylveon EX.

Just as this change came with Espeon's newest card, there's a chance that future releases could put Giratina back on top. The Renegade Pokemon might just have to wait for a few sets to have a second chance, as there are still several regions to go through in future expansions.

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