Nebby and friends join Pokemon TCG Pocket!
A new major set has launched in the world of Pokemon TCG Pocket and this time we head off to the sunny shores of the Alola Region, adding 239 cards featuring pokemon from the Generation VII games, Sun and Moon. Box legends Solgaleo and Lunala make their debuts in PTCGP, but with a noticeable omission of the Ultra Beasts and Necrozma, already sparking theories about what our next set will be based around – but for now, we’re going to be checking out the Winners and Losers from Pokemon TCG Pocket’s newest set, Celestial Guardians.
Winner – Solgaleo ex
When I first saw this card get revealed, I knew this was the deck I wanted to play, I actually let out an audible gasp when I watched the trailer. Solgaleo ex can immediately switch itself in from the bench to the active for free using its Rising Road ability, and for just 2 metal energy (a single charge from Dialga ex‘s Metallic Turbo) can dish out 120 damage using Sol Breaker. Okay, I know I usually downvote a lot of Stage 2 decks, but Poke Ball and can support this deck alongside the long awaited Rare Candy, allowing you to evolve Cosmog directly into Solgaleo ex. This is my pick for BDIF for this set by a long way and I can’t wait to gather all the cards I need to play it.
Loser – Lunala ex
I think in the history of PTCGP, Lunala ex is the only box legendary ex that just hasn’t excited me, and its a shame, because Lunala is such a great design for a pokemon, its counterpart from Pokemon Sun already got given winner status, so it just makes it even sadder to have to drop Lunala ex down to the loser tier. Its Psychic Connect ability allows you to move psychic energy from a benched pokemon to your active pokemon, which I can’t see being too useful in many cases, because if you wanted energy on your active, surely you’d just place it there in the first place rather than building up your bench. Lunar Blast is a simple 3 cost 100 damage attack, which is okay, but it doesn’t do enough for the cost or the time spent to get a Stage 2 in play. I could see a world where Lunala ex could be played alongside Giratina ex in hopes of getting the energy needed quicker, but Darkrai ex will always be the best partner to Giratina, leaving Lunala without a place in any deck.
Winner – Oricorio (Pom Pom Style)
It isn’t often that a holo card comes along that really blows me away, sure, sometimes they come out with a clear diea behind the card that fixes it into a deck archetype, much like Crobat from Triumphant Light, but Oricorio is looking like an evergreen option for electric decks. Immune to all damage from ex pokemon and able to dish out 50 damage as a 1 point, basic pokemon, this card is really exciting. I can imagine it slotting into any electric deck with ease, or even filling the Druddigon role of just being a wall with no intention to attack, simply warding off damage from opposing ex pokemon while you power up your bench. In an attacking role though, I can see Oricorio pairing well with Magnezone, a card we already know is a top contender alongside Darkrai ex, but Oricorio offers a more defensive option to protect your Magneton while it powers up with Volt Charge. I’m sure some great players will use Oricorio as a purely defensive option in a variety of decks though, and you can expect this little dancing bird to be a mainstay for a while!
Loser – Dhelmise ex
I’m going to admit it, it’s really hard to pick losers from this set, a lot of the base cards are inoffensive, the holos have potential, but then this card appears on your screen and you just feel underwhelmed, low HP, 80 damage for 3 energy and the effect of Anchor Shot, preventing your opponent from retreating next turn just doesn’t make up for what this card is asking from you, a big stack of energy and trying not to get one shot by a huge host of currently meta cards, most notably Solgaleo ex with Red, which I believe is going to be the only deck seen at the very top or tournaments this month. There’s a few bland ex cards in this set, but I had to pick one out to fill this list, and while I can’t see many people playing Passimian ex or Wishiwashi ex, they have abilities that could be either useful or fun, where Dhelmise ex to me just feels like the most boring ex card in the set, so sadly it had to take the fall.
Winner – Alolan Raichu ex
Alolan Raichu ex may have a fairly low HP pool compared to most of its peers and an attack requiring 3 energy for limited guaranteed return but this surfing mouse can OHKO a fully powered up Giratina ex and also team up with the last Winner on the list, Oricorio for protection while getting the energy to attack. I was surprised when I saw this card, because for whatever reason I just didn’t expect it to be good, probably because of how bad the last Pikachu ex was, but it looks to me like a great card. Now, is it S-Tier? No, it’s not, but I think I had to include this card on this month’s list as a solid A-Tier deck, nothing meta-defining but I think it’ll see some play, a bit like Gyarados ex‘s current place in the world. I know there’s loads of better cards than this in the set, I just fancied spotlighting something a little bit fun as well as just the insanely strong, like Incineroar ex, Rare Candy, Leaf Cape, Ilima, this whole set is a winner to be honest, and that’s coming from a non Alola enjoyer!
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