Pokemon TCG Pocket's new Secluded Springs set, which was launched earlier this week, serves as a continuation of the Wisdom of Sea and Sky expansion that came out back in July. Although Secluded Springs is, unsurprisingly, not as large as Wisdom of Sea and Sky, the set still contains over 100 new cards, 30 of which are secret rares. Three Legendary Pokemon — Entei, Suicune, and Raikou — are prominently featured in this Pokemon TCG Pocket set, and they all have their own Pokemon ex cards. Secluded Springs also features other Pokemon from the first three generations of Pokemon games, such as Latias, Latios, Jumpluff, and Poliwrath.
Although the cards included in Pokemon TCG Pocket's Secluded Springs aren't the best ones out there from a competitive point of view, there are several cards among them that are worth highlighting. Entei ex, Suicune ex, and Raikou ex, for example, all have a useful ability called Legendary Pulse, which allows players to draw a card at the end of their turn as long as these Pokemon remain in the active spot. Celebi, meanwhile, has an attack named Temporal Leaves, which can deal 40 damage and devolve an opponent's Active Pokemon for only two Grass Energies. When it comes to sheer ease-of-use, though, perhaps the best card in the set is Igglybuff, because despite it being a Basic Pokemon, it's actually shockingly strong.
Igglybuff is Surprisingly One of the Best Cards in Secluded Springs
The Igglybuff featured in Secluded Springs is a Colorless-type Pokemon card with a three-diamond rarity and a measly 30 HP. This particular Pokemon is one of the new Baby Pokemon that were recently added to the game. Baby Pokemon, for those out of the loop, are a new type of card in Pokemon TCG Pocket that all feature low HP, zero Weaknesses and Retreat Costs, and attacks that don't require any Energy to use. These cards are mostly pretty weak, but they're very easy to utilize in battle.
Baby Pokemon were originally introduced to Pokemon TCG Pocket in the Wisdom of Sea and Sky expansion.
Igglybuff's Sleepy Lullaby Attack is Stronger than It Has Any Right to Be
Secluded Springs' Igglybuff has only one attack, and it's called Sleepy Lullaby. On the surface, this attack doesn't seem that useful, but it's actually kind of overpowered. Sleepy Lullaby does 10 damage to the opponent's Active Pokemon, and, as its name suggests, it also gives them the Sleep status effect. While there are plenty of attacks out there that can inflict Sleep on an enemy's Pokemon, this one is particularly potent, due to the fact that it requires zero Energy. What's more, since Igglybuff has no Retreat Cost, players can easily swap it out for another Pokemon after using its attack.
Anyone who's played Pokemon TCG Pocket will know just how annoying the Sleep status effect can be. Since Pokemon who are asleep cannot attack or retreat, they essentially become sitting ducks and can easily be defeated by opposing Pokemon. By inflicting their opponent's Active Pokemon with the Sleep status effect, players are given the opportunity to turn a battle around in their favor, even when they're up against powerful Pokemon ex cards.
The Other Baby Pokemon Featured in Secluded Springs Aren't as Good as Igglybuff
Frankly, the fact that Igglybuff is able to inflict such a strong status effect on an enemy with almost no downsides is kind of unprecedented. The other two Baby Pokemon that are featured in the Secluded Springs set are not nearly as useful in combat. Azurill's Squishy Healing Attack, which heals 50 damage from one of a player's Benched Pokemon, and Mantyke's Splashy Toss Attack, which lets players attach a Water energy to their Benched Basic Pokemon, can both come in handy in some situations, but they're just not that powerful. Pokemon TCG Pocket players who want to gain an easy competitive advantage over their opponents should add an Igglybuff card to their decks.
- Released
- October 30, 2024
- Developer(s)
- DeNA, Creatures Inc.
- Publisher(s)
- The Pokemon Company
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- Yes
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Digital Card Game
