New Pokemon TCG Pocket Card Irida Sparks Overpower Controversy

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Summary

  • Irida, a new Supporter card in Pokemon TCG Pocket, is causing controversy due to a perceived imbalance in the meta.
  • Some fans argue Irida is overpowered compared to previous Supporters, impacting deck success.
  • An ongoing debate centers around Irida’s potential power and limitations, with predictions of her future success.

Some Pokemon TCG Pocket players have voiced worries about how Irida affects the game’s competitive scene. Introduced as a new Supporter card in the Triumphant Light miniset in February 2025, Irida has quickly become a common choice in Pokemon TCG Pocket’s player versus player matches. Nevertheless, certain enthusiasts contend that Irida is disrupting the meta and is excessively powerful for its class, particularly when stacked against past sets’ Supporters.

Players of TCG Pocket have long encountered cards with stats that disrupt game balance, also known as meta-breaking cards. In the Space-Time Smackdown period, Cyrus was widely considered overpowered (OP). Earlier still, concerns arose around Mythical Island’s Eevee due to its ability to deal massive damage with minimal Energy usage. However, Irida’s influence on the game has been more nuanced and debatable, leading to numerous discussions supporting or opposing her current card text in terms of impact on the meta.

User Strong_Yam_8978 critiqued the card design of Irida on the TCG Pocket subreddit, drawing a parallel to Erika, another Supporter from previous collections. They contend that Erika has limitations, like Pokemon-type exclusivity, which keep her power in check. In contrast, they believe that Irida lacks such restrictions, leading to an “unfair” level of strength. Some enthusiasts have backed this claim by pointing out the recent victories of TCG Pocket decks centered around Irida. They’ve even used Articuno ex’s optimized 18-Trainer deck as an example—a configuration that faced difficulties in PvP before Irida was introduced.

Pokemon TCG Pocket Fans Think Irida Is Overpowered

The ability of Irida to heal up to four Pokemon and harmonize with any Water-type Energy card has drawn some criticism, but there are also counterarguments being presented. For example, one Reddit user noted that the criticism is mainly about energy distribution. They suggested that because Irida requires players to distribute energy across multiple Pokemon to get the most healing, it can be risky. However, the rise of decks like Leaonf from TCG Pocket’s Leafeon ex meta could challenge this idea, as self-sufficient cards can bypass this limitation since they generate their own energy.

It’s open to discussion whether Irida is too powerful, but she’s often seen as one of the potential survivors in the upcoming TCG Pocket expansion. During the Shining Revelry period, she could remain a widely used Supporter. Whenever a Water-type deck becomes dominant, there’s a good chance that Irida will reappear and excel once more, making her a card well-suited for future strategies. The future will reveal how she handles and responds to these shifts.

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2025-03-25 17:08