Pokemon TCG Pocket's New Card May Revive Dead Archetype

Summary

Tapu Koko ex may revive the Lightning archetype due to his powerful abilities and potential synergy with Pikachu ex.
Some believe Tapu Koko ex is a better Lightning card than Pikachu ex, but critics point out vulnerabilities and minimal damage differences.
It is uncertain if Tapu Koko ex will redefine the meta, but players will have to wait until the mini-set releases on May 29 to find out.

Tapu Koko ex from Pokemon TCG Pocket's Extradimensional Crisis set has been seen as a potent contender for reviving the forgotten Lightning archetype. During Pokemon TCG Pocket's initial days, the metagame was largely dominated by the three major starter types: Lightning, Psychic, and Fire. This was later changed as subsequent expansions and mini-sets broadened the card roster.

Pokemon TCG Pocket launched with the Genetic Apex expansion. Shortly after, Pikachu ex emerged as one of the prominent cards, leading to a surge in the Lightning archetype's popularity. The only better deck shell at the time was the Psychic archetype's Mewtwo ex and Gardevoir. However, Pikachu ex's reign was cut short when the third expansion, Space-Time Smackdown, initiated the Darkrai ex and Celebi ex meta. From that point on, the Lightning archetype's meta share spiraled down. That said, some fans now believe that the upcoming mini-set can finally restore its glory.

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By Mohsen Baqery

Revealed in the trailer for Extradimensional Crisis, Tapu Koko ex is seen as the next best Lightning card in Pokemon TCG Pocket. It is also being labeled as a better version of Pikachu ex for several reasons. It starts attacking with only one energy, and its initial move, Plasma Hurricane, comes with an energy-generating passive ability. Additionally, its ultimate three-energy attack, Mach Bolt, deals a consistent 90 damage with no prerequisites. For comparison, Genetic Apex's Pikachu ex deals the same amount of damage only when the player has three other Lightning Pokemon on the Bench.

Tapu Koko ex Could Start a New Era for the Lightning Archetype

If Tapu Koko ex manages to replace Pikachu ex in Lightning decks or form a strong synergy with it, the archetype might be revived. One theory is that Tapu Koko ex could also replicate Pachirisu ex's success with 18-Trainer decks in Pokemon TCG Pocket.

Certainly, not everyone shares the same perspective regarding the future of the Lightning archetype. Critics point out several issues with Tapu Koko ex's mechanics. For one, it must be built up in the Active Spot, which makes it vulnerable. Pikachu ex, on the other hand, could be ramped on the Bench. More importantly, Tapu Koko ex's potential damage output seems to be merely 10% more than Pikachu ex's over the span of three turns. So, despite its advantages, critics argue, the new Lightning Pokemon is still unlikely to climb the PvP ladder.

Needless to say, it is still too soon to draw any conclusions about Pokemon TCG Pocket's Extradimensional Crisis era. Players curious to see whether Tapu Koko ex will become a meta-defining card will have to wait until the new mini-set drops on May 29.

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