Exploring the Mythical Island Expansion in Pokémon TCG Pocket
The Mythical Island expansion introduces a variety of exciting enhancements to one of the leading decks in Pokémon TCG Pocket. Since the launch of this mini-expansion, numerous potent decks have emerged. While the set brings about 60 new cards (excluding alternate art versions), it features only a handful of new and impactful card combinations that could serve as the foundation for fresh deck constructions. However, it also includes several cards designed to boost established, competitive decks.
For instance, the expansion includes numerous cards that strengthen the already formidable Mewtwo ex deck. Players can choose to either incorporate the versatile Mew ex into their decks or enhance their existing Mewtwo ex setup with the Mythical Slab card. Both options provide support for improving Psychic-type decks without completely overhauling the existing Mewtwo ex/Gardevoir archetype, which is among the strongest in the game.
Best Cards for a Psychic-Type Deck in Mythical Island
Mew ex: A Game-Changer
If you’re aiming to create a fresh deck, Mew ex should be a primary consideration. This card stands out in the Mythical Island expansion due to its Genome Hacking attack, which allows it to mimic an attack from the opponent’s Active Pokémon. This ability is particularly advantageous, letting players replicate powerful moves, such as Charizard ex’s Crimson Storm or Mewtwo ex’s Psydrive. Moreover, Genome Hacking sidesteps the Energy requirements from those attacks, empowering players to strike without the hassle of replenishing Energy.
While Mew ex is a formidable choice, it does have a significant flaw when matched against Pikachu ex. Pikachu ex’s Circle Circuit attack inflicts damage based on the number of Electric-type Pokémon on the bench, preventing Mew ex from fully capitalizing on its own attack power. To address this, the new Beheeyem card from Mythical Island can counteract bench-centric strategies. Beheeyem’s Mind Jack attack deals a base damage of 10, which increases by 20 for each Benched Pokémon the opponent has. Although Beheeyem can’t take out Pikachu ex in one hit, it can substantially weaken it, setting up for future attacks.
Instead of building a deck solely around Mew ex, a more strategic approach may be to integrate Mew ex into the existing Mewtwo ex deck. Mewtwo ex’s Psydrive can knock out most Pokémon with just one hit, while Mew ex can step in when the opponent brings a powerful attacker into play. This adjusted strategy can be enhanced with the new Trainer card Leaf, which cuts a Pokémon’s Retreat cost by two, enabling a seamless swap between Mewtwo ex and Mew ex. Adding Mythical Slab also aids in quickly retrieving Psychic-type Pokémon from the deck.
Winning Strategies with a Mythical Island Psychic-Type Deck
Using cards from Mythical Island allows for swift setup of powerful attackers. If combining Mew ex and Mewtwo ex is the plan, consider the following ideal deck composition:
- Mew ex
- Mewtwo ex (x2)
- Ralts (x2)
- Kirlia (x2)
- Gardevoir (x2)
- Mythical Slab (x2)
- Poké Ball (x2)
- Sabrina
- Professor’s Research (x2)
- Leaf
- Budding Expeditioner
- Potion (x2)
Aim to position Mewtwo ex in the Active Spot quickly, where it can absorb initial assaults effectively. Mythical Slab is particularly useful for drawing Gardevoir and its pre-evolution forms early in the game, accelerating Gardevoir’s Energy setup. Focus on distributing Energy between both Mewtwo ex and Mew ex, allowing Gardevoir to support whichever Active Pokémon needs it most. Mew ex can serve effectively as a backup attacker, while cards like Budding Expeditioner and Leaf enable smooth transitions.
Players can also employ Sabrina to manipulate matchups in favor of Mew ex. For instance, using Sabrina to swap out a stalling Pokémon for a primary attacker can render them vulnerable, as they may lack sufficient Energy to strike back immediately. This tactic proves effective against many dominant Pokémon decks while addressing some of the inconsistencies experienced by existing Mew ex decks.
In conclusion, a well-crafted Psychic-type deck leveraging card benefits from Mythical Island doesn’t need to reinvent the entire wheel; it simply enhances the already powerful frameworks. Mewtwo ex remains a cornerstone of strength, and the combination of Mew ex, Leaf, and Mythical Slab only serves to amplify this power further. Notably, Mew ex’s Genome Hacking attack does not require Psychic energy, positioning it as a valuable asset across various strong decks, such as Charizard ex, making it a formidable choice in many situations.
