Pokemon TCG Pocket Meta Shake-Up: Oricorio’s Reign Ends, Giratina ex Endures
The Pokemon TCG Pocket metagame is in constant flux, and recent shifts have brought both surprising upsets and persistent dominance. Oricorio, once a formidable force, is now facing effective counters, while Giratina ex remains a top contender, showcasing the evolving landscape of the game.
Oricorio's brief but impactful reign, particularly its Lightning variant, has forced players to adapt. This anti-ex card, feared even by powerful cards like Darkrai ex and Giratina ex, now faces a variety of counters:
- Charizard (A1 035): Offers durability and high damage, allowing players to withstand Oricorio's attacks and potentially one-shot it.
- Drampa (A3 124): Serves as a versatile revenge card, capable of knocking out Oricorio in one shot when a Benched Pokemon is damaged.
- Floragato (A2b 006): Boasts above-average HP, making it a resilient counter, especially with the Leaf Cape boosting its health.
- Regice (A2 034): Provides stall potential and decent HP, enduring hits while dealing consistent damage.
- Skarmory (A2 111): Can unleash significant damage when charged up, potentially one-shotting Oricorio with a Rocky Helmet.
- Magearna (A3 123): Possesses the ability to one-shot Oricorio due to its attack boost against Pokemon with abilities, a strategic advantage in the current meta.
- Lucario (A2 092): Emerges as the best counter due to its Fighting-type advantage and consistent attacking performance, capable of one-shotting Oricorio and remaining a solid attacker afterward.
While Oricorio faces increasing challenges, Giratina ex continues to hold its ground. Despite the meta shake-up from Celestial Guardians, decks featuring Giratina ex remain dominant. A new deck pairing Giratina ex with Greninja has emerged, boasting an impressive 68.04% win rate, showcasing the versatility and enduring power of Giratina ex.
The game's latest expansion, Celestial Guardians, introduced 27 new Shiny Pokemon cards, featuring variants from the Genetic Apex set. However, the generic poses and sparkly patterns of these Shiny cards have been met with criticism. Compared to Illustration Rare and Special Illustration Rare variants, the Shiny card motif feels underwhelming. Many consider them filler rather than a truly exciting rarity. Players hope for more unique card art and visual effects that leverage the digital capabilities of the game, making collecting Shinies feel like a significant accomplishment. Many feel this is a missed opportunity to innovate in the digital space.
The Pokemon TCG Pocket meta is a dynamic environment. What strategies are you using to counter Oricorio? Do you think Shiny cards need a visual overhaul to feel more special? Share your thoughts and deck strategies in the comments below!