In the world of Pokemon Trading Card Game (TCG) Pocket, players will find several similarities with the physical card game, especially when it comes to card types and the selection of Pokemon critters. While the Fairy type was once a part of the physical card game, it was removed with the introduction of the Gen 8 series, although Dragon cards still persist. However, TCG Pocket offers a distinct gaming experience, partly due to its unique deckbuilding rules.
In this mobile game, players have a strict limit of 20 cards per deck, with no option to have more or fewer. One notable departure from the real-world version is the absence of Energy cards. Instead, the game adopts a system where Energy is generated randomly based on the Energy types used by the deck or selected during deck creation. This randomness doesn’t pose a problem for decks relying solely on one Energy type but can complicate things for players who prefer a mix. In this context, while Dragon-type Pokemon appear in TCG Pocket, their demanding Energy requirements call for some enhancement to make them truly playable.
At present, seven Dragon-type Pokemon cards are featured in the game, excluding two rare versions of Dragonite and Garchomp. Except for Gible, a common characteristic among these cards is the need for at least two different Energy types for their attacks. For example, Dragonite cards demand both Water and Electric Energy, Druddigon requires Water and Fire, and Gabite and Garchomp need Water and Fighting Energy.
The primary challenge in TCG Pocket arises from the absence of specific Energy cards, meaning that players might not obtain the necessary Energy type due to the randomness of generation. Imagine having a Garchomp deck with other Pokemon like Greninja; you might end up with an excess of Water Energy while waiting indefinitely for the crucial Fighting Energy. To counteract this, here are a few suggestions for improving functionality in multi-type and Dragon decks:
First, the game could benefit from a system that generates Energy based on the Pokemon types present in the deck. For instance, if there are three Water Pokemon and one Dragon Pokemon requiring Water and Fighting Energy, the system could guarantee one Fighting Energy for every three Water Energies. Alternatively, introducing a Trainer card, perhaps inspired by the legendary Dragon Trainer Lance, could provide a mechanism for Dragon-types to attack regardless of the specific Energy types they have—or allow players to switch the Energy type available in the Energy Zone to their preference.
Addressing the need for Energy manipulation would notably elevate the Dragon-type decks’ viability in the game. Currently, many of the meta decks in TCG Pocket, like Darkrai Ex or Magnezone, exploit one Energy type, taking advantage of the inherent randomness of Energy generation. Implementing changes to allow for Energy manipulation would not only support Dragon-type creatures but would also encourage players to explore diverse deckbuilding strategies involving multiple Pokemon types. Overall, this would enrich the playing experience significantly, giving more strategic depth to Pokemon TCG Pocket.
