Hi there. There has been news about a new mini set for the Pokemon TCG Pocket mobile game. This new set is called Mythical Island featuring Mew ex and more cards. The mobile game does need a shake up as people are kind of sick of Pikachu ex decks, Mewtwo ex decks and Misty coin flips.
The mini-set Mythical Island releases on Tuesday December 17, 2024. The booster pack features Mew. Source
I write this on Thursday Dec 12, 2024. More information on Tuesday on the day of the update.
Mythical Island Cards
Snivy
Sinvy is the grass Starter Pokemon from the Unova region. The Vine Ship attack cost is a bit high. I am interested to see how the Serperior evolution line turns out.
Morelull
Morelull at 60 HP with one retreat cost and a one Grass Energy attack cost for 20 damage seems good in the early game. I wonder what Shiinotic will turn out.
Blue Supporter Card
The Giovanni Supporter card adds 10 damage for your Active Pokemon against the opponent's Active Pokemon. Blue is a bit of an opposite to Giovanni. Blue allows all your Pokemon take 10 less damage from attacks from your opponent's Pokemon during your opponent's next turn. Notice that the damage reduction applies to all of your Pokemon. Articuno ex would not do the extra 10 damage to your Benched Pokemon.
Dedenne
Some Pikachu ex decks use a Pinurchin as a backup attacker with a chance of paralysis. This Dedenne would be a viable alternative to Pinurchin. For one Electric energy you do 10 damage with a coin flip chance of a paralysis stall.
Vaporeon
This art version of Vaporeon is quite beautiful I must say. As a playable card I think Vaporeon's ability is okay. If you get lucky with Misty then you can move as many Water Energy from your Benched Water Pokemon to your active Water Pokemon. The best water attackers are Starmie ex, Articuno ex and Blastoise ex (if you can get it out).
Exeggcute
This Exeggcute is not much different than the other 50 HP Exeggcute. The attack provides good Energy acceleration but the HP is low for my liking.
Dhelmise
Dhelmise is kind of a tanky Grass basic Pokemon with 100 HP. The downsides are the two retreat cost and needing 4 Grass Energy to do 20 base damage plus 70. There is no known grass Energy acceleration at the time of writing.
Larvesta
Larvesta seems kind of bad. Maybe Volcarona the evolution of this could be good.
Magmar
This second Magmar version is kind of interesting. For two Fire Energy the Fire Blast attack does 80 damage with the drawback of discarding two Fire Energy. Even though this Magmar is compatible with Blaine the discarding two Fire Energy is too big of a drawback. There is no Fire energy Acceleration so every Fire Energy does count.
Tauros
I don't think Tauros is good. The energy cost is too high. It is one of those cards where if you get setup somehow it can be dangerous. It does 40 base damage plus 80 more against Pokemon ex.
Leaf Supporter
I have mixed thoughts on this Leaf Supporter. Having two less retreat cost is good for certain decks to retreat a vulnerable Pokemon to the Bench. Deck space is kind of tight though. Some decks may run one copy of this. I cannot see two Leafs in a deck unless you are doing a stall strategy or something.
Pikachu
I write this on Dec 12, 2024. There is a half card reveal of a new Pikachu card in the mobile game.
This Pikachu is much more weaker than the Pikachu ex. If you run an electric deck with Raichu then this Pikachu can be an okay option in the deck.
Marshadow
Marshadow is a very good Fighting Basic Pokemon. We have the game's first Pokemon with a revenge style attack. For one Fighting Energy and one Colourless Energy you have 40 base damage plus another 60 damage if any of your other Pokemon were Knocked Out by damage from an attack during your opponent's last turn.
This Marshadow knocks out Pikachu ex in one hit if the Pikachu ex player knocks out one of your Pokemon. The damage calculation would be 40 base damage plus 60 damage from the Revenge attack condition plus 20 damage for hitting for Fighting weakness on the Pikachu ex. (40 + 60 + 20 = 120)
I do expect people trying out this card in their decks.
Aerodactyl ex
Aerodactyl ex is a very interesting attacker. The ability of Primeval Law is a restrictive (control) ability for your opponent. As long as Aerodactyl ex is in play the opponent cannot play any Pokemon from their hand to evolve their Active Pokemon.
The stats on this attacker is kind of crazy. This stage 1 Pokemon has 140 HP with a low one retreat cost and has an okay attack for two Energy. For one Fighting Energy and one Colourless Energy you do 80 damage. This 80 damage is not one hit knockout power on other Pokemon ex but 80 damage for two Energy is good.
Mew ex
Here is Mew ex. It is a Psychic Basic Pokemon with 130 HP, one retreat cost and two attacks. The first attack of Psyshot does 20 damage for one Psychic Energy. This Psyshot attack is good in the early game. Mew's second attack of Genome Hacking is the exact same attack as the Mew ex from the Phsyical trading card game. Genome Hacking requires three colourless Energy in its attack. You choose 1 of your opponent's Active Pokemon's attack and use it as this attack.
This Mew ex can be used along with Mewtwo ex in a Gardevoir engine deck. Gardevoir provides one Psychic energy from its ability and then you attack one Psychic Energy to Mew ex for the turn. You can power up Mew ex in two turns in theory.
As Mew's Genome Hacking attack requires Colourless Energy you can put Mew ex in non-Psychic decks. There is no Psychic Energy acceleration outside of Gardevoir so it would take time to set up the Genome Hacking in Mew ex.
Possible Impact On TCG Pocket Metagame
With the introduction of Marshadow, I think Fighting decks will increase in popularity and playability. Fighting types are good against Pikachu ex decks and it seems that Marshadow was made specifically as a Pikachu ex counter. Fighting decks are weak to Psychic types like Mewtwo ex and Mew ex. The metagame could be like rock-paper-scissors where Pikachu ex decks can beat Mewtwo ex decks if the Gardevoir setup is slow, Fighting decks beat Pikachu ex decks and Psychic decks beat Fighting decks. Water decks with Misty will be around but have bad matchups versus Electric.
When it comes to Aerodactyl ex I think there would be at least two deck versions that include that card. There is an Aerodactyl ex and Marowak ex idea as a rental deck. I also think that Aerodactyl ex with Marshadow could be viable too. Dual type Energy decks with Aerodactyl ex is possible too.