A powerful Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket deck flexed its muscles with a major tournament win. The new digital card game has quickly become popular both with Pokémon TCG veterans and newcomers. Pokémon TCG Pocket offers both an outlet for collectors and a new streamlined version of the card game that focuses on quick matches and smaller decks. Several dominant decks have emerged in Pokémon TCG Pocket, with signature cards that either hit opponents before they can get their Pokémon ready or overpower opponents with one-hit knockouts.

On November 9th, popular streamer Ursiiday organized a 1,100 person Pokémon TCG Pocket tournament via Limitless TCG (via Wargamer). The winner, who went by the name Saitama, won with a variation of the powerful Pikachu ex deck that has quickly become a mainstay in competitive play. While variations of the Pikachu ex deck ed for nearly a third of entrants in the digital tournament, Saitama emerged victorious thanks to a couple of key cards and clutch gameplay.

A Lightning-Type Pokémon TCG Pocket Deck Reigns Supreme

Pikachu ex & Zapdos ex Emerged Victorious Thanks To A Winning Strategy

Pikachu ex forms the foundation of this powerful deck. As a Basic Pokémon, Pikachu ex can enter play on round 1 and only requires two energy to unleash a devastating 90 HP damage attack. To maximize Pikachu ex's potential, players need to load up their bench with other Pokémon. Providing secondary is Zapdos ex, another powerful Basic Pokémon that can hit hard. Zapdos's main attack, Thundering Hurricane, can deal up to 200 damage depending on coin flips and averages 100 HP of damage per attack.

As a Basic Pokémon, Pikachu ex can enter play on round 1 and only requires two energy to unleash a devastating 90 HP damage attack.

Saitama supplemented their deck with two other Pokémon. The first is Zebstrika, a Stage 1 Lightning-type Pokémon that deals out 30 damage to any one of an opponent's Pokémon. Zebstrika is one of the few Pokémon in Pokémon TCG Pocket that can target benched Pokémon, meaning that a player can't retreat their Pokémon to pull them out of harm's way.

Saitama also used Pincurchin to paralyze opponents and prevent them from attacking or escaping on their turn. Pincurchin's paralyzing Thunder Shock requires a coin flip to be successful, but stalling out an opponent is a powerful tool, especially in shorter games.

The full list of cards of Saitama's winning deck can be found below:

• Blitzle x2
• Zebstrika x2
• Pikachu ex x2
• Zapdos ex x2
• Pincurchin x1
• Sabrina x2
• Professor's Research x2
• Giovanni x1
• X Speed x2
• Poké Ball x2
• Potion x2

The Winning Deck Makes Perfect Use Of Pikachu Ex

Pikachu ex Decks Hit Hard And Fast

Saitama's Pikachu ex deck is a perfect example of how a Lightning-type deck can be extra effective in Pokémon TCG Pocket, especially with cards only found in the game. Outside of Zapdos ex, the deck requires minimal energy to set up. It also neutralizes the risk of retreating via paralysis abilities and a Pokémon that can attack an opponent's bench. Plus, standard Trainer cards like the Poké Ball and Professor's Research help make sure that the bench is full to help Pikachu ex deal 90 damage as early as the second round of play.

Of course, Pokémon TCG Pocket is still in its infancy and decks are already emerging to counter dominant decks like Pikachu ex. A strong Fighting-type deck with cards like Marowak ex can potentially counter Pikachu ex, although that deck relies heavily on successful coin flips. Plus, with the announcement that new cards are coming to the game in December, it shouldn't be too long until a deck can finally challenge Pikachu ex for supremacy in Pokémon TCG Pocket.

Source: Wargamer