In the world of Pokemon TCG Pocket, the game has taken a unique approach to the traditional Pokemon Trading Card Game. Notably, deckbuilding in Pocket is constrained to a concise 20 cards, setting it apart from its physical counterpart. This digital version distinguishes itself by eliminating traditional Energy cards and instead, relies on a system that randomly generates Energy according to the types used by the deck or those chosen by players during deck creation. While this randomness works fine for single-type Energy decks, it poses significant challenges for Dragon-type Pokemon.
Currently, seven Dragon-type Pokemon are available in the game, excluding two special illustrations of Dragonite and Garchomp. These Dragon-type cards generally have demanding Energy requirements, needing at least two different Energy types to unleash their attacks. For instance, Dragonite’s line requires a mix of Water and Electric Energy, Druddigon demands Water and Fire, and the likes of Gabite and Garchomp need a combination of Water and Fighting Energy.
Things become particularly tricky as there aren’t any Energy cards in the game, and Energy is generated randomly. This randomness can frustrate players who aim to utilize multi-type decks. Imagine a scenario where a Garchomp deck also includes Greninja, yet ends up with an imbalance of Water Energy and lacks the crucial Fighting Energy necessary for Garchomp to attack. This situation illustrates one of the significant hurdles for players attempting to strategize with Dragon decks in Pokemon TCG Pocket.
Several creative solutions could address this issue. A system whereby Energy types are generated based on the frequency of the types of Pokemon included in a player’s deck might be beneficial. For example, a deck featuring primarily Water-type Pokemon alongside a Water/Fighting requirement Dragon might yield one Fighting Energy for every several Water Energies. Additionally, introducing a new Trainer card, perhaps themed after the iconic Dragon trainer Lance, could empower Dragon Pokemon to harness any Energy required for their attacks or allow players to alter the Energy type available in the game as needed.
Implementing such mechanics could breathe new life into Dragon decks, which are currently outshone by the prevailing meta favoring single Energy type decks. Titles like Darkrai Ex and Magnezone utilize various Energy types, but the random nature of Energy generation in Pocket means they’re not as effective as they could be. Enhancements that permit Energy manipulations could enthuse players fond of building decks that embody a rich tapestry of Pokemon types, thereby enriching gameplay and strategy in Pokemon TCG Pocket.
