Pokemon TCG Pocket’s New Set Makes an ‘Annoying’ Archetype Seem Viable

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The A4 expansion for Pokemon TCG Pocket has introduced several new cards that bolster one of the game’s troublesome playstyles, often referred to as Mill. For those who are not familiar, Mill is a strategy used in card games such as Pokemon TCG Pocket where the aim is to discard or neutralize as many opponent’s cards as possible.

The primary aim of a mill strategy is to limit the number of playable cards your opponent has, ensuring their eventual defeat. This method works due to the existence of cards or tools that can eliminate enemy cards before they are even played, which up until now, was not abundant in the Pokemon TCG Pocket collection.

Pokemon TCG Pocket’s A4 Set Adds Multiple Mill-Friendly Cards

  • Murkrow: After a successful coin flip, Murkrow forces the enemy to reveal a random card and shuffle it back into their deck
  • Houndoom (Dark-type): Discards a random card from the opponent’s hand
  • Dark Pendant (Tool): When attached to a Dark-type Pokemon, it forces the opponent to reveal a random card and shuffle it back into their deck each time they attack and damage the Pokemon it’s attached to
  • Silver: Reveals the enemy’s hand and allows the player to send one of their Supporters back into the deck

With the introduction of cards such as Houndoom, Murkrow, Silver, and Dark Pendant, the mill strategy is no longer a seldom-used tactic. These newly added A4 cards can also work effectively with Persian from the A1 set of Pokemon TCG Pocket, which previously was considered the sole powerhouse of the mill archetype.

In this revised setup, Houndoom, positioned in the Active Spot while wearing the Dark Pendant, will inflict a double blow on the opponent’s strategy. With each attack against them, their hand will lose a card. Similarly, every time their Pokémon strikes at Houndoom, they will also discard a card. It’s essential to note that additional assistance can be gained from the Trainer Cards in the Pokémon TCG Pocket, such as Red Card and Mars, which can further limit the opponent’s playing options, leaving them with minimal cards to employ.

Despite some improvements with A4, the mill archetype still has work to do if it aims to rule the meta. Milling isn’t the most effective strategy against Pokemon TCG Pocket’s dominant decks at present. Many of these decks can handle discard cards such as Houndoom quickly, minimizing their impact. To make a difference in the metagame, the archetype needs additional synergies and some new trainers focused on discarding cards. For now, it will likely stay in the category of enjoyable decks, but may lack the consistency needed to advance up the competitive PvP ladder.

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2025-08-03 16:04