Tapu Koko ex: The Game-Changer for Lightning Archetype?

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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.

The character Tapu Koko ex from the Pokemon TCG Pocket’s Extradimensional Crisis expansion is considered a strong possibility for rejuvenating the underutilized Lightning type. During the early days of Pokemon TCG Pocket, the competitive metagame was largely controlled by the three primary starter types: Lightning, Psychic, and Fire. However, as additional expansions and mini-sets were introduced, the card pool expanded, leading to a shift in the dominant types.

In simple terms, the Pokemon TCG Pocket game debuted with the Genetic Apex expansion. Not long after, Pikachu ex became one of the standout cards, boosting the popularity of the Lightning type. At that time, the only decks more effective were those based on Mewtwo ex and Gardevoir from the Psychic archetype. However, Pikachu ex’s dominance was challenged when the third expansion, Space-Time Smackdown, introduced Darkrai ex and Celebi ex, which led to a shift in the game meta. Since then, the share of the Lightning type’s meta has been declining. Nevertheless, some fans are optimistic that an upcoming mini-set could bring its former glory back.

In the sneak peek of Extradimensional Crisis, it’s clear that Tapu Koko EX is shaping up to be an outstanding Lightning card for the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) Pocket. Compared to Pikachu EX, it seems like a significant upgrade in numerous aspects. For starters, Tapu Koko EX initiates attacks with just one energy, while its initial move, Plasma Hurricane, also generates energy as a passive ability. Furthermore, its final three-energy attack, Mach Bolt, delivers a consistent 90 damage without any preconditions – unlike Genetic Apex’s Pikachu EX, which only deals the same damage when you have three other Lightning Pokémon on your Bench.

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

If Tapu Koko ex can effectively take over for Pikachu ex in Thunder decks or establish a powerful alliance with it, the archetype could potentially be revitalized. It’s been speculated that Tapu Koko ex might emulate Pachirisu ex’s achievements in 18-Trainer decks within the Pokemon Trading Card Game (Pocket Edition).

It’s clear that opinions differ about the future impact of the Lightning archetype, with some questioning aspects of Tapu Koko ex’s design. For instance, it requires being built up in the Active Spot, making it potentially exposed. In contrast, Pikachu ex can be developed on the Bench. A more significant point of contention is that over a series of three turns, Tapu Koko ex’s potential damage output only outperforms Pikachu ex by about 10%. Consequently, despite its advantages, skeptics suggest that this new Lightning Pokemon may struggle to ascend the PvP rankings.

Clearly, it’s premature to make any definitive judgments about the Extradimensional Crisis period in the Pokemon TCG Pocket. Those eager to discover if Tapu Koko ex could shape the metagame will have to be patient until the upcoming mini-set is released on May 29th.

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2025-05-23 16:36