Pokemon TCG Pocket's Wisdom of Sea and Sky expansion couldn't put an end to DarkTina's reign. It did, however, introduce several new deck shells, some of which are quite fun to play. One of the most notable is built around the A4-exclusive, slug-like Pokemon Magcargo, which uses its AoE damage to secure early-game wins.
With Magcargo, you can win a match within the first few rounds if everything lines up and RNG is on your side. The strategy, though, comes with a major risk, as you'll often have to lead with only one Magcargo on the board to get the most out of its effect.
Pokemon TCG Pocket's New Magcargo Card is a Blessing and a Curse
Pokemon TCG Pocket just added a new Magcargo card that takes the concept of "high risk, high reward" to new levels with its deck.
Building a consistent deck in Pokemon TCG Pocket's meta around an unpredictable card like Magcargo is no easy task. But it's not impossible either. While you can't make Magcargo as reliable as Darkrai EX & Giratina EX decks, you can support it with the right mix of Trainer Cards to reduce its RNG and maximize its damage. This guide provides one blueprint for doing so, along with deeper insight into how Magcargo fits into the current metagame.
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Magcargo (A4 031) Card Overview
- HP: 120
- ATK: Up to 150
- Text: One other Pokemon (either yours or your opponent's) is chosen at random three times. For each time a Pokemon was chosen, do 50 damage to it.
- ATK Cost: Two (One Fire-type, one Colorless)
- Retreat Cost: Three
- Evolution Line: Slugma > Magcargo (Stage One)
- Type: Fire
- Expansion: Wisdom of Sea and Sky (A4)
Magcargo's text is quite similar to Pokemon TCG Pocket's Wugtrio EX and the classic Dragonite. The catch, however, is that Magcargo can also target your own cards. For example, if you have two cards on the Bench and your opponent has only one in the Active Spot, the odds of Magcargo damaging your side are higher than it hitting the enemy. On the other hand, if you keep your Bench empty, you can guarantee Magcargo will only target your opponent's cards since it never attacks itself.
The Best Magcargo Deck in Pokemon TCG Pocket
In Pokemon TCG Pocket's Wisdom of Sea and Sky era, the ideal Magcargo deck shell closely resembles the 18-Trainer archetype. You only run two primary Pokemon—Slugma and Magcargo—while the rest of the deck is filled with Trainer Cards. The real key, though, is selecting those Trainer Cards carefully.
Magcargo-friendly Trainer Cards can be split into three groups: Search & Draw, Disrupt, and Boost. Search & Draw includes Iono, Pokemon Communication, Poke Ball, and Professor's Research, cards that let you dig through the deck or fetch specific options. Disrupt features cards like Silver, Guzma, Cyrus, and Team Rocket Grunt, which interfere with your opponent's strategy. Lastly, Boost consists of HP-recovery and utility cards such as Pokemon Center Lady, Giant Cape, Potion, and Rescue Scarf.
Only by balancing these three groups can you build a reliable Magcargo deck. The following table presents one of the strongest possible lineups for the slug-like Fire-type Pokemon.
Magcargo Deck Shell
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You can swap a Trainer Card for Magby, one of Pokemon TCG Pocket's new baby Pokemon. This card provides extra energy, helping accelerate Magcargo's attack.
How to Play Magcargo Decks Effectively
With Magcargo decks, your board presence is heavily restricted. In most cases, you'll only have one card in the Active Spot, which also serves as your sole win condition. The real depth of the strategy lies in how you play your Trainer Cards—Supporters, Items, and Tools.
- Prioritize Disruption: Focus on slowing down your opponent as much as possible. An early Red Card followed by Silver can severely limit their hand. With this combo, you target one of the opponent's key Supporters and send it back to the deck while also reducing the number of cards in their hand. Also, make full use of Guzma, and remove the opponent's Pokemon Tools whenever you get the chance.
- Don't Go All In: Rescue Scarf gives you another shot at staying in the game by reviving the discarded Pokemon it's attached to. If you’re forced to play your other Slugma to the Bench, protect it with this Tool to avoid losing your backup.
- Use Your Search Cards Wisely: Drawing the Slugma-Magcargo combo early should be your top priority, but you'll also need to slow your opponent's progression with Trainer Cards. Be mindful when playing search and draw options like Iono, Pokemon Communication, Professor's Research, and Poke Ball. Prioritize fetching Pokemon with Items, and save your Supporter plays mostly for disruption unless you have no other choice.
Magcargo's Meta Performance Report
- Win Rate: ~42%
- Meta Share: ~1%
- Tournament Appearance: ~60
Among No-EX decks in Pokemon TCG Pocket, Magcargo builds stand out as some of the stronger performers. Still, they haven't managed to secure a high spot in competitive play, with Magcargo decks not even breaking into the top 20 of the current metagame.
One of the main reasons for this underwhelming performance is that Magcargo must usually be played alone. Additionally, relying on its RNG-based attack is risky, as you're left hoping it consistently targets the right Pokemon. When it doesn't, the opponent often gets a clean opportunity to knock out this 120-HP Fire-type in a single shot and close out the match with little resistance.
Magcargo’s low win rate also shows that many meta decks can dominate it. Here are some example counters you can use against this Fire-type Pokemon.
How to Counter Pokemon TCG Pocket's Magcargo Decks
Unfortunately for Magcargo fans, the card is easy to counter in Pokemon TCG Pocket's meta. Top-performing setups like Buzzwole EX Pheromosa and Espeon EX Sylveon EX have consistently dominated it. And unsurprisingly, Magcargo has also struggled against the infamous DarkTina (Darkrai EX and Giratina EX) decks.
That said, Magcargo has shown strong results against slower setups. It often comes out on top in matches against Charizard EX and Sylveon EX, which is a notable achievement for such an inconsistent Pokemon.
The Future of Magcargo in Pokemon TCG Pocket
Magcargo is one of the most unreliable decks of the Wisdom of Sea and Sky era. It's definitely fun to play, as it can deliver some unforgettable wins when things line up. But its perilous playstyle makes it far less viable for competitive formats like Pokemon TCG Pocket's Ranked PvP or tournaments.
Magcargo will never become a true staple unless future expansions introduce a reliable way to nullify its friendly fire. For instance, a Supporter that protects your Benched cards from Magcargo's damage for one turn could instantly elevate it to a top-tier deck.
As it stands, most Magcargo builds fall short of delivering consistent wins. Their continued presence in the metagame is largely thanks to the sheer fun factor. Sometimes, a streak of lucky draws lets Magcargo close out a game within a few rounds, leaving the opponent stunned. Other times, the opponent weathers the early pressure, then retaliates for an easy win. It's a high-risk, high-reward deck best suited for players who are comfortable accepting those consequences.
- Released
- October 30, 2024
- Developer(s)
- DeNA, Creatures Inc.
- Publisher(s)
- The Pokemon Company
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- Yes
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Digital Card Game
