One Fan-Favorite Pokemon TCG Pocket Wisdom of Sea and Sky Card is Dead on Arrival

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Today, it was officially announced that the Pokemon TCG Pocket’s upcoming expansion, Wisdom of Sea and Sky, is scheduled to launch as early as July 29. This expansion will introduce a variety of Generation 2 creatures, with its booster packs themed around Ho-Oh and Lugia. Initially, there were rumors that the set would debut on July 30, and dataminers discovered Pichu-themed items within the game’s files, fueling speculation that this set, referred to as A4, would indeed be focused on the Johto region and its Pokemon. Fans have been eagerly waiting for a Generation 2 set, but some are expressing concerns that one of the most anticipated cards in the new Wisdom of Sea and Sky set might not live up to their expectations.

As a dedicated fan, it’s not surprising that generations 1 through 4 (or perhaps even 5) carry a strong sense of nostalgia now that the franchise is about to celebrate its 30th anniversary. Generation 2, in particular, introduced numerous captivating features that continue to resonate deeply with many fans.

For months, enthusiasts of the Pokémon Trading Card Game (Pocket edition) have been stockpiling Hourglass Packs, eyeing either a Gen 2 or Gen 3 set. However, they might be left feeling let down by how the Wisdom of Sea and Sky set handles the new Lugia Ex card.

Pokemon TCG Pocket’s New Lugia Ex May Be One of the Worst Pulls in The A4 Set

Lugia Ex is a straightforward card with several key features. It has a total of 150 HP, it takes two Energy cards to retreat from play, and its sole attack is titled “Elemental Blast.” This attack can dish out an impressive 180 damage when you have one Fire, Water, and Lightning Energy card in play, but here’s the catch: you must discard one of each type of Energy card (Fire, Water, and Lightening) after using this attack. With its massive single-hit damage output, Lugia Ex is currently the second most powerful attack in the entire game, surpassed only by Charizard Ex’s “Crimson Storm.” However, there are a few reasons why Lugia Ex might not live up to expectations:

1. The high Energy cost required for its attack (one Fire, Water, and Lightning Energy) makes it difficult to consistently use this card effectively without having the right combination of Energy cards in your deck.
2. Discarding three Energy cards after using “Elemental Blast” can leave you vulnerable if your opponent has a strong late-game strategy that depends on those discarded cards.
3. The high retreat cost of 2 means that Lugia Ex may be easier for opponents to keep in check, as it will take longer to reposition or retreat the card from play when compared to other cards with lower retreat costs.

  • Lugia Ex’s HP is fairly low at 150, and it can be KOed in one hit by several meta threats
  • It needs to have one Energy of three different types to attack, and then needs to discard that Energy
  • 180 damage is fairly high, but it can’t one-shot several meta cards, and others can simply equip a Giant Cape to get 20 more HP

The primary concern lies with the multi-Energy decks in the Pokemon TCG Pocket, as they often prove challenging to play due to Random Number Generation (RNG). This is because the game randomly selects one Energy type from the pool on every turn, making it difficult to consistently draw the specific Energy types required for a particular Pokemon in the correct sequence. For instance, Lugia Ex necessitates three different Energy types, which can be quite challenging to obtain consistently.

Why Lugia Ex is Shooting Itself in the Foot With Its Energy Requirements in Pokemon TCGP

One approach to enhance the playability of Lugia Ex could involve utilizing cards like the recently introduced Ho-Oh Ex card in the Pokemon TCG Pocket. This card attacks with three colorless Energy, inflicts 80 damage, and subsequently enables players to affix one Fire, one Water, and one Lightning Energy onto any basic Pokemon. This applies to Lugia Ex as well, providing it with all necessary Energy to launch an attack without cost. Alternatively, you could opt for the Dawn supporter card for energy swapping, or the latest Pichu, which attaches a Lightning Energy to a Pokemon for no Energy expenditure, or Manaphy, which affixes a Water Energy to two Pokemon for one Water Energy.

In simpler terms, the strategy for using Lugia Ex in the Pokemon Trading Card Game might be too intricate for its intended goal, and it lacks built-in support for multi-Energy types. This means that other tools are needed just to make it attack once. While its attack is powerful, it may not be able to defeat opposing cards in a single strike or may be forced to attack non-Ex cards, rendering its strong attack useless until the next turn. Additionally, drawing Lugia Ex as your only basic Pokemon in the opening hand can lead to a disadvantageous situation, making it difficult for competitive decks to justify including Lugia Ex, which might not see much play in tournaments.

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2025-07-24 23:04