Summary
- Some Pokemon TCG Pocket think Genetic Apex Kangaskhan is overpowered.
- When its Dizzy Punch move delivers 60 damage as early as turn 1, Kangaskhan can easily allow the player to dominate almost any setup.
- The card does have some fast counters, like using Giovanni on Ninetales to hit it for its exact HP amount for just 2 Energy.
Some Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket players find Kangaskhan to be pretty overpowered, having recently said as much on social media. This perception is largely rooted in the fact that the Basic mon can make short work of a wide variety of setups, including some of the currently most popular meta decks in Pokemon TCG Pocket.
Following a month-long open beta period that was exclusively available in New Zealand, the latest Pokemon mobile game launched internationally on October 30. Pokemon TCG Pocket debuted with the Genetic Apex expansion, whose main set consists of 226 cards. At number 203 is Kangaskhan, a Colorless-type Basic Pokemon with 100 HP and just a single attack in its moveset: Dizzy Punch.
Although Kangaskhan is hence a one-trick pony, some Pokemon TCG Pocket players are still finding Dizzy Punch to be too much to handle. The attack itself does between 0 and 60 damage, delivering 30 points for each heads result from two coin flips. This comes down to 30 points of damage on average, which is a fairly standard amount for a move that requires a single Energy to use. Although the output of Dizzy Punch thus seems balanced on paper, landing two heads ensures exceptionally powerful 60 damage as early as turn one (for the person who starts second), allowing the player to snowball and dominate almost any early-game setup.
Reflecting on the mon's potential to essentially win a game on turn one or two, Reddit user JRH99 has recently labeled Kangaskhan as "the real enemy boss" of the recently concluded Pokemon TCG Pocket event requiring players to earn Emblems through PvP battles. Their post amassed thousands of upvotes in late November 2024, suggesting that a vocal section of the fandom is in agreement with this assessment.
How To Counter Kangaskhan in Pokemon TCG Pocket
Be that as it may, Kangaskhan can be neutralized as early as turn two. The most efficient way to do so is to evolve Vulpix into Ninetales, then use Giovanni to hit Kangaskhan for exactly 100 damage, matching its tanky healthy pool. Giovanni isn't the only Supporter card that can make one's attacks more deadly; Blaine does the same, but should only be used as a last resort because the 30 damage buff is best given to Ninetales for bigger threats. Granted, this still won't work if the Vulpix gets eviscerated by eating 60 damage on turn one, which will happen in 25% of scenarios wherein the person using Kangaskhan starts second.
Pokemon TCG Pocket: Kangaskhan Dizzy Punch Damage Probabilities
|
Coin Flip Outcome |
Damage |
Probability |
|---|---|---|
|
Tails x2 |
0 |
25% |
|
Heads, Tails |
30 |
50% |
|
Heads x2 |
60 |
25% |
Anyone wanting to experiment with Kangaskhan themselves can currently pull it from the Genetic Apex Charizard pack. Developer DeNA has recently confirmed that Genetic Apex boosters will remain available even after the next Pokemon TCG Pocket expansion is out in December, so Kangaskhan shouldn't be too difficult to procure given its rarity. If all else fails, players struggling to pull it will likely be able to get it from their peers starting January 2025, when trading is coming to Pokemon TCG Pocket.
- Released
- October 30, 2024
- Developer(s)
- DeNA, Creatures Inc.
- Publisher(s)
- The Pokemon Company
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- Yes
WHERE TO PLAY
Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket lets you easily collect Pokémon cards. Creatures Inc. Has created exciting new visual effects for cards that are only possible digitally.
Pokémon cards, played with by people in 89 countries, are now closer to you than ever!
Enjoy Pokémon cards anytime, anywhere, on your mobile device!
■ You can open packs every day to get cards!
Collect cards every day! You can open two booster packs every day at no cost to collect Pokémon cards featuring heartwarming illustrations from the past as well as all-new cards exclusive to this game.
■ New Pokémon cards!
Immersive cards, a brand-new kind of card, make their debut here! With new illustrations that have a 3D feel, immersive cards will make you feel like you’ve leapt into the world of the card’s illustration!
■ Trade cards with friends!
You can trade certain cards with friends. Use the trade feature to collect even more cards!
■ Show off your collection!
You can use binders or display boards to showcase your cards and share them with the world!
■ Casual battles—alone or with friends!
You can enjoy casual battles during quick breaks in your day! Ranked matches are now available for players who'd like to battle even more.
