Magnezone, Mew Ex, and Yanmega Ex are undeniably powerful and flexible picks for any Pokemon TCG deck, offering key advantages that make them widely sought after. There’s something exceptional about Magnezone, particularly in its role as a stage-1 card that brings energy generation to the table, seamlessly slipping into any deck. Meanwhile, Mew Ex and Yanmega Ex shine with their ability to attack without being confined to a unique Energy type, making them remarkably adaptable.
Just a few weeks have rolled by since the launch of the Space-Time Smackdown expansion for Pokemon TCG Pocket, stirring excitement among fans. This new release boasts a roster of Generation 4-inspired characters and trainers, encompassing icons like Dialga and Palkia. A plethora of new cards have influenced the current meta, with notable mentions like Darkrai Ex inflicting passive damage through its Nightmare Aura ability, and Palkia Ex delivering a staggering 150-damage attack capable of overwhelming most opponents. However, three cards have emerged as particularly influential in the meta, despite not being the core of any deck: Mew Ex, Yanmega Ex, and Magnezone.
One notable deck making waves combines Exeggutor Ex from Genetic Apex and Celebi Ex from Mythical Island, and owes some of its strength to new additions from Space-Time Smackdown, such as Giant Cape and Cyrus. While Trainer cards and Items like these have become must-haves due to their universal deck compatibility, achieving the same fit with Pokemon cards is no small feat. Yet, Mew Ex, Yanmega Ex, and Magnezone stand out as exceptions.
Often, the meta for Pokemon TCG Pocket decks gravitates towards specific strategies, and even the most successful decks can crumble against particular opponents. Darkrai Ex and Magnezone headline one such dominant deck, supported by Druddigon to wear down foes with chip damage until Magnezone can swoop in with its 110-power strike. This deck owes its success to the remarkable adaptability of Magnezone, aligning well with any deck theme, closely followed by the versatility offered by Mew Ex and Yanmega Ex.
Magnezone holds a prime spot in Pokemon TCG Pocket, thanks to its robust HP and impressive attack damage, all the while being complemented by a stellar stage-1 card. Originating from Genetic Apex, Magneton’s Volt Charge ability permits the generation of one Electric Energy per turn, irrespective of the Energy type, staying productive even on the bench as it accumulates at least three Energy before evolving into Magnezone for combat.
Turning to Mew Ex and Yanmega Ex, these cards echo Magnezone’s adaptability, with an extra twist: they wield the power to attack with any type of Energy, regardless of personal energy production. Energy generation predominantly defines how quickly players can unleash their biggest attacks, making the flexibility to use any Energy quite potent. This allows Mew Ex and Yanmega Ex to integrate effortlessly into various decks, even those focused on types other than Psychic or Grass.
A small note on Mew Ex: while the card slightly leans on Psychic Energy for its Psyshot attack, dealing a modest 20 damage, its real strength lies in the main attack, Genome Hacking, which requires any three types of Energy.
These cards are reshaping the Pokemon TCG Pocket meta, thanks to their ability to thrive without restrictive strategies. Yanmega Ex, for instance, creates a niche in Grass decks, not just for its type, but because it lacks a weakness to Fire. Mew Ex, on the other hand, has the tactical edge with its ability to replicate the opponent’s most powerful move through Genome Hacking, making it a formidable adversary in high-damage scenarios.
