TCG Pocket has established itself as one of the most popular Pokémon games ever as players brace themselves for a new expansion set coming in early 2025.
Thankfully, Genetic Apex and Mythical Island have given everyone outstanding cards that have helped them create powerful decks. Even though there are so many EX cards on the turf, one particular Pokémon has stood out and struck more terror than the likes of Mewtwo EX, Mew EX, and Celebi EX: the formidable Gyarados EX card.
Yo ho, all together
Hoist the colors high
Heave ho, thieves and beggars
Never shall we die
The very sight of Gyarados EX has sent shivers down the spines of even seasoned TCG Pocket players.
- Boasts a remarkable 180 HP, making it impossible to be one-shot, unless you’re using Charizard EX’s Crimson Storm.
- Its signature attack Rampaging Whirlpool deals a whopping 140 DMG, enough to OHKO most EX cards, including Pikachu, Arcanine, Moltres, Celebi, Mew, the Legendary Kanto Bird trio, and Mewtwo (with Giovanni). For Venusaur, Blastoise, and the mirror, Gyarados can dish out damage, tank their move, and KO the next turn.
- Requires 4 Energy, but can take Misty’s help for that. The Misty Trainer card makes you flip a coin until you get tails. For each head, you get Water Energy.
- The Vaporeon card from Mythical Island transfers Energy from Benched Pokémon to Gyarados in any way you like!
- Gyarados EX discards a random Energy from any of the Energy attached to all available cards on the battlefield. So, Pokémon with more Energy attached are more likely to lose 1 Energy. Gyarados can recover it the next turn and hit Rampaging Whirlpool again, while these antics can slow down Pokémon that have plenty of Energy attached, such as Dragonite and the Kanto starters.
- It’s just a single-stage evolution so more often than not, it’s easier and quicker to evolve than two-stage evolutions.
- In terms of power and playability, Gyarados EX with 140 DMG is a superb card since it may lose just one Energy and recover it the next turn hassle-free. Mewtwo (150 DMG) loses 2 Energy and absolutely requires Gardevoir (two-stage evolution) to survive.
- Magikarp is a weak card and with 30 HP, can get eliminated even from the Bench by an opposing Zebstrika (can snipe Benched Pokémon)
- If Misty fails, needs several turns to set up.
- Lacks any other move, something that rival EX cards like Mewtwo have (50 DMG Psychic Sphere at 2 Energy).
If you want to torment your opponent while you set up Gyarados EX on the Bench, there’s this wild deck that does the job!
Here’s a deck that is mad powerful and can cut down opponents even without Gyarados getting into action.
- Druddigon actually spearheads this deck, taking up a comfy Active Spot and demanding no Energy investment at all. Its Rough Skin Ability does a passive 20 DMG each time it’s hit, thereby weakening the opponent!
- As the Active Druddigon starts losing HP, intercept Leaf to switch to another Druddigon and continue the painful passive damage tactics.
- Meanwhile, build Gyarados EX and Greninja on the Bench, dedicating Misty to Gyarados.
- Once Greninja is ready, take advantage of its Water Shuriken Ability to deal 20 DMG to any Pokémon on the opponent’s side (yes, including the Bench).
- The cumulative effect of the Abilities of Druddigon and Greninja often results in free KOs, especially with Greninja also targeting the Active Spot along with Druddigon or a low HP card on the Bench. All this without any of your Pokémon doing any attacks!
- This reduction in HP for opposing EX Pokémon makes the job easier for Gyarados. For instance, the 150 HP of Mewtwo EX turns to at least 130 HP, making it well within Gyarados’ damage radar.
- Two Gyarados EX cards make up the sweet spot but if you have only one Gary EX card or want to have a backup instead of relying on the sea serpent alone, Lapras EX is a good fit as it is bulky and recovers 20 DMG. Or else, try Articuno EX (+ Misty’s shenanigans) or Mew EX (custom fits any deck and stalls).
Alternatives for 1 Gyarados EX card if you have only one of them or don’t want to rely solely on Gyarados EX
- If you’re going with Mew EX, drop one Druddigon card for Budding Expeditioner. In this case, use Mew EX as a damage sponge, use Budding Expedtioner to recall it to your Hand and fully recover it (just like Koga | Weezing), and place Druddigon in the Active Spot.
- Gyarados EX is very flexible! Aside from the Druddigon | Greninja combo, you can also try the Vaporeon | Starmie EX set. This set, again, gives you another card to rely on and Vaporeon can play its tricks. Moreover, Eevee can go berserk with Continuous Steps if you get multiple heads on flipping coins.
Alternatives for Druddigon and Greninja
Gyarados EX has cemented itself as one of the strongest cards to come out of TCG Pocket and arguably the most powerful in 2024.
Mewtwo EX needs Gardevoir, Mew EX requires the opponent to have a viable move it can do Genome Hacking on, Celebi requires Serperior and heads from coin flips, the Kanto starter EX cards require long and tiresome setups, and Pikachu EX needs a full Bench.
Gyarados just needs to evolve, won’t comment on the Energy since that is a bare essential for any high-damage EX card. Moreover, Gyarados doesn’t necessarily need a duplicate to function in a deck and also gels perfectly well with a large variety of cards including Druddigon, Greninja, Lapras EX, Starmie EX, Articuno EX, Mew EX, and Vaporeon.
These factors shape up a phenomenal card that ensures that you get more wins than losses, a true match winner: Gyarados EX!
Wish you the best pack pulls and lots of fun in battles, TCG Pocket-ers!
