This guide delves into the intricacies of the Poisoned condition in Pokémon TCG Pocket, a special status effect mirroring the tabletop game. This guide explains how Poisoned works, which Pokémon inflict it, how to counteract it, and strategies for building effective Poison-based decks.
Understanding Poisoned in Pokémon TCG Pocket
Poisoned is a detrimental status effect that inflicts 10 HP damage at the end of each round. Unlike some status effects, it persists until cured or the afflicted Pokémon is knocked out. While it can coexist with other status effects, multiple Poisoned effects don't increase the damage beyond 10 HP per round. However, certain Pokémon benefit from an opponent's Poisoned status, dealing bonus damage.
Pokémon with the Poisoned Ability
In the Genetic Apex expansion, several Pokémon possess the ability to inflict the Poisoned status:
- Weezing
- Grimer
- Nidoking
- Tentacruel
- Venomoth
Grimer stands out as a particularly effective choice due to its low energy cost and ability to poison opponents quickly. Weezing offers another strong option, using its "Gas Leak" ability (requiring no energy but needing to be the active Pokémon). Rental decks offer a good starting point for experimenting with Poison strategies.
Curing the Poisoned Status
Three methods exist to neutralize the Poisoned effect:
- Evolution: Evolving a Poisoned Pokémon removes the status effect.
- Retreat: Switching out the Poisoned Pokémon to the bench prevents further HP loss.
- Item Cards: Cards like Potion mitigate the damage by healing HP, but don't cure the condition itself.
Building a Competitive Poison Deck
While not a top-tier archetype, a strong Poison deck can be built around the synergy of Grimer, Arbok, and Muk. This strategy focuses on quickly poisoning opponents with Grimer, using Arbok to hinder their movement, and capitalizing on Muk's increased damage against Poisoned opponents.
Here’s a sample decklist focusing on this strategy:
| Card | Quantity | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Grimer | x2 | Applies Poisoned |
| Ekans | x2 | Evolves into Arbok |
| Arbok | x2 | Locks the opponent's Active Pokémon |
| Muk | x2 | Deals increased damage to Poisoned Pokémon |
| Koffing | x2 | Evolves into Weezing |
| Weezing | x2 | Applies Poisoned via ability |
| Koga | x2 | Returns Weezing or Muk to hand |
| Poké Ball | x2 | Draws a Basic Pokémon |
| Professor's Research | x2 | Draws two cards |
| Sabrina | x1 | Forces the opponent's Active Pokémon to Retreat |
| X Speed | x1 | Reduces Retreat cost |
Alternative strategies include using Jigglypuff (PA) and Wigglytuff ex, or a slower, high-damage approach with the Nidoking evolution line. Remember to adapt and refine your deck based on your play style and the meta.
This comprehensive guide provides a solid foundation for mastering the Poisoned condition and building effective Poison decks in Pokémon TCG Pocket. Remember to experiment and find the strategy that best suits your playstyle.
