New Supporter Card Ilima Makes Koga Obsolete in Pokemon TCG Pocket

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Summary

  • New cards in Pokemon TCG Pocket expansions can enhance gameplay by creating new meta options or power-creeping existing ones.
  • Supporter cards like Ilima can render older ones like Koga obsolete due to versatility and improved mechanics.
  • Future Supporter cards in Pokemon TCG Pocket should avoid being specific to a few critters to prevent power creep and promote diverse strategies.

In the world of Pokemon Trading Card Game (TCG) Pocket expansions, it’s quite usual to find powerful cards that either introduce fresh strategic possibilities for players or enhance existing playstyles. For instance, decks using Rare Candy cards in Pokemon TCG Pocket are now more adaptable and easier to set up compared to any Stage 2 creature prior to Celestial Guardians. On the other hand, new cards can outshine older ones, pushing them out of the meta. For example, Solgaleo Ex’s reduced Energy requirements made Dialga Ex less effective, even slow and inefficient. A similar occurrence happened with the introduction of a new Supporter card in Celestial Guardians, making another from Genetic Apex seem insignificant by comparison.

Supporter cards tend to become less crucial when new sets are introduced because they don’t depend on an evolution chain and are consistently required in any deck. For instance, when the ‘Red’ card was released, many decks utilizing Giovanni started using it instead due to its enhanced damage-dealing capabilities. This is significant because Ex cards are frequently used in most decks, and the additional 10 points of damage can tip the scales between a win and a loss. Similarly, the new Pokemon TCG Pocket set renders a Supporter card called Ilima more useful at the expense of Koga’s relevance.

Why Koga Doesn’t Hold a Candle to Ilima in Pokemon TCG Pocket

Among the eight cards inspired by Gym Leaders from Kanto in the Genetic Apex set of Pokemon TCG Pocket, Koga is one that hasn’t found much use in modern play (with Sabrina being an exception). Similar to other cards in this category, Koga has limited application. This card allows you to send a Muk or Weezing from the active spot back to the hand, which can be beneficial for thwarting your opponent’s scoring attempt or providing a cost-free retreat option when needed. However, the new Ilima Supporter card seems to fulfill what Koga was intended for, but in a more effective manner.

In general, Pokémon TCG Supporter cards focused on just a few specific creatures tend not to stay powerful over time due to the potential for them being outclassed by newer cards. Koga is no different in this regard, managing to hold its own in today’s competitive scene, but struggling when compared to Ilima from a mechanical perspective.

Ilima offers an advantage by allowing you to send back a Normal Pokémon card with damage on it to your hand, which is similar to what Koga does. However, there are three key distinctions:

1. Flexibility: Ilima’s ability can be used regardless of the type or number of cards in play, whereas Koga’s effect requires a specific condition to be met.
2. Efficiency: In one turn, you can use Ilima’s ability multiple times, while using Koga’s effect repeatedly might require more maneuvering and strategizing due to its limitations.
3. Versatility: Ilima’s utility goes beyond just managing damage on your Pokémon cards, as it also opens up possibilities for strategic plays involving card draw and deck manipulation.

  • It applies to any Normal Pokemon card, allowing more strategies to be built around it
  • The target card doesn’t have to be in the active spot
  • The Normal Pokemon card does have to have damage on it to use Ilima

The Best Ilima Decks in Pokemon TCG Pocket Explained

This new development represents a significant enhancement in mechanical aspects, as it’s versatile enough to be incorporated into decks that employ one or more Normal cards. However, its most notable feature is its role as a sort of check against Cyrus decks in the Pokemon TCG Pocket game. For instance, the recently introduced Greninja and Tapu Lele deck primarily focuses on eliminating major threats from the bench or luring them out using a Cyrus card. However, Ilima can send any Normal Pokemon back to the hand if they’ve sustained damage, thereby preventing a Cyrus-like situation while also thwarting attacks aimed at the bench.

As a devoted fan, I’d say this strategy shines brightly when it comes to decks that leverage potent Normal cards such as Pokemon TCG Pocket’s Snorlax or Arceus Ex, although they function differently. For instance, Snorlax calls for strategic partnership with Barry to maximize the number of assaults and speed at which these attacks are executed. This often means positioning it actively and absorbing incoming damage. Given its expensive 4-Energy retreat cost, Ilima can be a game-changer, offering a free escape route for Snorlax and thwarting your opponent from earning points during their turn.

In the world of Pokemon TCG Pocket, Arceus Ex decks can prove formidable, with one particularly potent strategy combining Arceus Ex, Crobat, and Carnivine. These cards are employed to activate their Link abilities, dealing extra damage each turn without incurring additional costs. Simultaneously, they construct Arceus Ex on the bench. However, Arceus Ex’s power makes it susceptible to opponents like Greninja, Tapu Lele, Decidueye Ex and others. To prevent your opponent from gaining an advantage, employing Ilima could be a smart move, ensuring that they don’t score multiple points.

Why Pokemon TCG Pocket Should Change Its Supporter Card Design

In simpler terms, having Koga’s ability only work with Muk and Weezing, and limiting its usage to the current field position, makes it a less effective card from the start. This could make it obsolete even faster within the game meta, especially if new Supporter cards continue to be released that favor specific Pokémon. Therefore, future Supporter cards should aim to avoid abilities that only benefit a few creatures, as they may become outdated soon after being introduced, given the current release schedule of the Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket in the near future.

In contrast, it appears unlikely that all Supporter cards in the Celestial Guardians set will be widely used in gameplay, given that many of them are designed to work specifically with certain Pokémon. One notable exception is Kiawe, which allows players to attack with Turtonator as early as turn one or two, making it both reliable and potent. However, exceptions aside, it seems more advantageous for deckbuilding in the Pokemon TCG Pocket format if Supporter cards catered to a broader range of Pokémon, as demonstrated by the matchup between Ilima and Koga.

It’s uncertain if this will actually occur, but it could be logical and open up new possibilities for diverse strategies. Interestingly, sometimes a card gains significance over time, such as the Red Card from the Pokemon TCG Pocket and Mars, which are now widely used due to the prevalence of Rare Candy decks in the current meta-game.

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2025-05-19 23:04