Pokemon TCG Pocket: Miltank Deck Guide

by

The secluded springs expansion of the Pokémon Trading Card Game: Pocket introduces some intriguing new cards, among them the endearing Miltank. At first glance, this cow-like Pokémon appears innocent, but its unique attack appears overpowered on paper. Whenever Miltank successfully attacks, the following attack will gain an additional 30 damage points. However, it remains questionable whether this passive boost is substantial enough to elevate Miltank as a top-tier card in Pokémon TCG Pocket. In reality, probably not.

Miltank can be employed in creating challenging and aggravating decks, which might drive opponents to quit out of frustration. However, it’s important to note that this neutral Pokémon often finds it difficult to create strong alliances capable of defeating the current high-performing pairs. Nonetheless, we’ve compiled an extensive guide examining some top-notch Miltank decks in Pokemon TCG Pocket‘s current season. Here you’ll discover strategies for utilizing this adorable Pokémon effectively.

  • Miltank Card Overview

    • HP: 110
    • ATK: 10
    • Text: Until this Pokemon leaves the Active Spot, this Pokemon’s Rolling Frenzy attack does +30 damage. This effect stacks.
    • Stage: Basic
    • Type: Colorless
    • ATK Cost: One Colorless Energy
    • Retreat Cost: Three

Miltank is an intriguing Pokémon without a specific color in the Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket, known for its unique ability to boost itself with every attack, making it a potent early-game assailant. Yet, it’s susceptible to disruption cards like Sabrina and damage dealers that inflict minor damage such as Darkrai EX and Greninja.

The Best 18-Trainer Deck for Miltank

Miltank (18-Trainer)

Pokemon Miltank (2)
Trainer Cards Professor’s Research (2), Poke Ball (1), Whitney (2), Cyrus (2), Sabrina (1), Irida (2), Pokemon Center Lady (2), Mars (1), Red Card (1), Silver (1), Rockey Helmet (2), Guzma (1)
Energy Water

One common strategy for using Miltank involves structuring a deck around a traditional setup of 18 trainers. This approach aims to keep a single Miltank in an active position and prolong its life using Trainer cards. As the game progresses, Miltank deals increasingly higher amounts of damage.

Essential characters for this deck include Whitney, Cyrus, Irida, Pokemon Center Lady, Mars, and Professor’s Research. You can supplement the rest of your deck with other fitting choices like Sabrina, Red Card, Silver, Guzma, Rocky Helmet, or Giant Cape.

To utilize Irida effectively as a healer for Miltank, ensure that your deck’s Energy is primarily Water-type. This setup will enable her healing ability to activate. Additionally, be prepared to address your opponent’s Special Conditions, such as Poison and Burn, since Miltank has a moderate HP and is susceptible to these status effects. Pokemon Center Lady is an excellent choice for this, but you can also consider cards like Lum Berry or Big Masalada to aid in this countermeasure.

The Best Competitive Deck for Miltank

Miltank & Darkrai EX

Pokemon Miltank (2), Darkrai EX (2), Nihilego (2 – optional)
Trainer Cards Professor’s Research (2), Poke Ball (2), Whitney (2), Cyrus (1), Sabrina (1), Pokemon Center Lady (1), Mars (1), Red Card (1), Guzma (1), Poison Barb (2 – optional)
Energy Darkness

If you’re looking to create a competitive Miltank deck that makes optimal use of surplus Energy cards, pairing it with a Darkrai EX can be an effective strategy. In this approach, Miltank takes the Active position while Darkrai EX resides on the Bench, serving as our damage dealer for small chips. Upon attaching one Darkness Energy to Miltank, any leftover Energy is transferred to Darkrai EX to continually whittle down your opponent’s Health Points (HP).

To inflict even more damage over time, consider placing two Nihilego cards on your field of play (Bench) and outfitting the active Miltank with Poison Barb. With this arrangement, you can potentially cause up to 50 chip damage – 30 from the poisonous state and Nihilego’s abilities, and an additional 20 from Darkrai EX’s continuous attack.

To assemble your Trainer Cards deck, you’ll want Whitney, Pokémon Center Lady, and Cyrus. You could supplement these with disruption cards such as Mars, Red Card, and Sabrina, or buff cards like Giovanni and Red for damage boosts. Another solid option is Rocky Helmet, which increases your total chip damage to 70.

How to Play Miltank Effectively

If you want to make the most of Miltank, keep these points in mind:

  • Prepare for the opponent’s disruptive cards: Sabrina or Repel can easily interrupt Miltank. One way to reduce vulnerability is to keep only one Miltank on the Bench, which is why 18-T decks are popular for this Pokemon.
  • Remember that Miltank doesn’t have any ability. A common mistake is assuming its attack buffs automatically each turn. Rolling Frenzy only gains +30 DMG after each successful attack, so if you skip a turn, the buff won’t apply.
  • Start disrupting early. Red Card and Mars are essential in any Miltank deck to prevent the opponent from setting up a powerful damage dealer on the Bench. Many cards in Pokemon TCG Pocket‘s meta can one-shot Miltank, so it’s crucial to limit the opponent’s hand and interfere with their strategy from the beginning.
  • Make the most of Cyrus. Miltank’s gradually increasing DMG may not one-shot the opponent, giving them time to retreat to a high-HP card. Cyrus is key in almost all Miltank setups, so use it strategically and avoid playing it too early.

Miltank’s Performance in Pokemon TCG Pocket Meta

  • Win Rate: ~35%
  • Meta Share: ~0.70%

Miltank is often employed in humorous decks aimed at annoying opponents in games. However, during competitions and serious play, this cow-like Pokémon tends to underperform. At present, its combination with Darkrai EX is the most prevalent setup, but even this configuration only accounts for less than 1% of the overall game metagame.

One reason for Miltank’s underwhelming competitive performance is its susceptibility to some of the top decks from the previous season. For instance, Miltank finds it challenging against DarkTina decks in the Pokemon Trading Card Game: Pocket Edition, and it’s also vulnerable to Buzzwole EX and Pheromosa teams. Surprisingly, one of the few meta decks that has a hard time countering Miltank is the recently emerged Arceus EX and Pichu combos, as the Colorless Pokemon has managed to win more than 60% of its matches against them.

The Future of Miltank in the Metagame

Miltank introduced some exciting and innovative tactics into the monotonous metagame of Pokemon TCG Pocket, and it’s something this adorable, cow-like Pokemon deserves recognition for. It came at a crucial moment when Pokemon TCG Pocket was in need of a new, creative spark to boost deck construction. However, unfortunately, the current meta is too challenging for a card like Miltank to make it to the top.

Based on our observations during the initial period of the Secluded Springs, Miltank is likely to continue being an essential component in humorous decks and frustrating team-ups. Yet, it appears that Miltank might not make its way into any top-ranking competitive decks, at least for the time being.

Read More

2025-08-31 19:41