When Pokémon TCG Pocket first launched, the meta was quickly dominated by a select few decks, with one in particular centered around Misty and water-type Pokémon gaining notoriety. This deck's potential to overpower opponents early on, based on the luck of coin flips, led to widespread frustration among players. Despite the release of three expansions since then, the game's meta has not diversified as expected. Instead, the latest expansion has introduced a card that further strengthens Misty decks, much to the dismay of the community.

The issue with Misty decks isn't necessarily their overwhelming power but the luck-based mechanics that make losses feel particularly unsatisfying. Misty, a Supporter card, allows players to pick a water-type Pokémon and flip coins until landing on tails, attaching a water-type energy for each heads flipped. This can result in anywhere from zero to numerous energy attachments, potentially enabling a first-turn win or powering up strong cards before opponents can defend.

Subsequent expansions have only exacerbated the problem. Mythical Island introduced Vaporeon, which can freely move bonus energy among water-types. Space-Time Smackdown brought Manaphy, adding more water energy to the board. Both expansions also introduced powerful water-type Pokémon like Palkia ex and Gyarados ex, keeping water decks at the forefront of the meta.

The latest expansion, Triumphant Light, introduced Irida, another Supporter card that can heal 40 damage from each Pokémon with water-type energy attached. This addition further bolsters water decks' resilience, traditionally a strength of grass-type decks. With cards like Misty, Manaphy, and Vaporeon, water decks can easily spread and accumulate energy, making Irida a potent comeback tool.

Some experts suggest that DeNA, the game's developer, may have introduced Irida to force players to make strategic choices about which Supporters to include, given the 20-card deck limit. However, many players have found ways to incorporate both Misty and Irida, maintaining the dominance of water decks.

As Pokémon TCG Pocket approaches a regularly scheduled event where players can earn rewards, including a coveted gold profile badge for a five-win streak, the presence of water decks is expected to be significant. These decks, capable of sweeping opponents early and recovering with cards like Irida, pose a formidable challenge. Players may find it advantageous to adopt a water deck themselves to compete effectively in this highly competitive environment.