Pokemon TCG Pocket’s New Magcargo Card is a Blessing and a Curse

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Recently, Pokemon TCG Pocket unveiled their Wisdom of Sea and Sky collection, a tribute to Generation 2 enthusiasts and the Johto region as a whole. In this release, Ho-Oh Ex and Lugia Ex are merely the beginning; the set is brimming with fantastic cards centered around Pokemon or characters from Johto. For instance, the latest Silver Supporter card proves to be quite formidable in competitive battles. Interestingly enough, one of the intriguing cards from set A4 is Magcargo, despite its relatively low popularity among Generation 2 Pokémon and the entire series.

The Pokemon TCG Pocket series isn’t shy about introducing cards with unique twists in their attacks and abilities, often giving them a distinctive edge compared to others with similar characteristics. For instance, Dragonite Ex from Eevee Grove boasts a powerful attack that prevents it from attacking the following turn, much like Buzzwole Ex from the previous expansion, which was unable to execute Big Beat consecutively twice. Interestingly, Magcargo resembles a mini version of the Dragonite from Genetic Apex, as it possesses an attack that deals random damage thrice, but also includes the user’s own Pokemon in the calculation.

Pokemon TCG Pocket’s Funnest Deck Can Also Shoot Itself in the Foot

Among the engaging cards in the Pokemon TCG Pocket’s Wisdom of Sea and Sky collection, Magcargo stands out due to its ability to launch an attack using only two Energy, dealing 50 damage thrice, yet each strike randomly targets any opposing Pokemon as well as those belonging to the user, excluding Magcargo itself. This feature can facilitate swift and efficient victories early in games, particularly if playing second. The strategy is especially potent when Slugma survives a single attack from the opponent. Typically, this deck comprises:

  • 2x Slugma (Wisdom of Sea and Sky)
  • 2x Magcargo (Wisdom of Sea and Sky)
  • 2x Rescue Scarf (Wisdom of Sea and Sky) or Giant Cape (Space-Time Smackdown)
  • 2x Professor’s Research (Promo)
  • 2x Poke Ball (Promo)
  • 2x Silver (Wisdom of Sea and Sky)

If Magcargo knocks out your Pokémon, it will award points to your opponent regardless of whether your Pokémon was equipped with the Rescue Scarf item accessory.

The remaining cards can change, but strong options to play are Sabrina, Red Card, Mars, and Pokemon Communication, with some versions of the deck also using two Gladion and one Silvally cards to constantly draw from the deck and shuffle it while swapping Silvally for Slugma or Magcargo using Pokemon Communication. Rescue Scarf is a useful extra as it allows you to retrieve both Slugma and Magcargo in the Pokemon TCG Pocket game when all other cards fail, making it effective against top-tier decks.

It’s important to mention that cards such as the Pokemon TCG Pocket’s Rayquaza Ex and Dragonite have comparable randomly-selected attacks, but they aren’t commonly chosen for competitive play.

As a passionate fan, I find myself drawn to the tactical similarities between Dragonite decks and the one featuring Magcargo. Both decks inflict 50 damage on random Pokémon repeatedly, but it’s important to clarify that this happens only with your opponent’s Pokémon.

Magcargo stands out due to its swiftness in entering the battlefield and engaging in combat. Unlike Dragonite, which is a Stage 2 Pokémon, Magcargo is a Stage 1, making it quicker to set up. Additionally, Magcargo requires only two Energy cards compared to four for Dragonite.

However, there’s a catch. Magcargo’s attack can target any Pokémon, so part of the strategy involves ensuring your bench is clear unless it’s absolutely necessary to have a Slugma and Magcargo in play. This way, you can capitalize on its potent attacks while minimizing potential self-damage.

Pokemon TCG Pocket’s New Magcargo Deck is High-Risk, High-Reward

In simpler terms, playing with a Magcargo deck can offer a lot of enjoyable gameplay, but it can also turn into a difficult experience if things don’t go well or if players have bad luck. Given that Magcargo is known as the “Lava Pokemon,” it’s fitting for its gameplay to be like a volcano. However, the meta in the Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket can be harsh. The consistency of Magcargo decks relies heavily on Random Number Generation (RNG) with the cards drawn and where the damage dealt by Magcargo lands, so players should be aware that they might have to deal with some unpredictability – even though the lava Pokemon adds a unique aspect to the game.

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2025-08-06 02:07