The gameplay dynamics in the Pokémon Trading Card Game’s portable version have undergone a significant shift due to the introduction of the Mythical Island expansion. Yet, among the beloved first generation Pokémon, there is one that persists in facing challenges.

The Pokemon TCG Pocket’s Mythical Island expansion has significantly transformed popular decks, as it introduces the potent attacks of Scolipede decks that are against the meta (mainstream strategies), as well as the massive damage potential of Celebi ex. In PvP battles, you’ll frequently encounter powerful cards from this expansion, while Genetic Apex decks featuring Pikachu ex and Mewtwo ex continue to be relevant.

The Mythical Island expansion in Pokemon TCG has brought new, strong cards into play, such as Scolipede decks that go against the usual strategies, and Celebi ex, which can deal a lot of damage. These powerful cards are often seen in PvP battles, while decks with Pikachu ex and Mewtwo ex from the Genetic Apex series are still being used.

Nevertheless, one Gen 1 Pokemon stands out as often overlooked despite its popularity. It’s quite likely that you haven’t witnessed this character in action, and a quick glance at its statistics provides an explanation for its rarity.

Snorlax slumbers in TCG Pocket meta

Snorlax is a fundamental Pokémon with 150 HP, possessing a high-priced four-Energy attack that deals just 70 damage. To add insult to injury, this slumbering behemoth lacks an ability and requires four Energy cards to retreat from the field.

Using Snorlax in a DPS role is not advisable due to its high damage output being poor, and it’s also quite expensive as a tank, requiring four turns for setup. Even if you opt to use Snorlax as a staller, the hefty energy retreat cost of four will quickly consume your Leaf Supporter card and two X Retreat cards.

On the TCG Pocket Reddit forum, a user pointed out that it’s often more efficient to allow your opponent to Knock Out (KO) Snorlax instead of spending resources on retreating it.

When considering it alongside other fundamental moves like Tauros’ card-snipe skill, Druddigon’s damage stall tactic, Lickitung’s unlimited coinflip attack, and Kangaskhan’s ability to deliver a KO on the first turn, Snorlax seems unnecessary in almost every situation.

Players of the TCG Pocket edition also shared the sentiment that Lax’s initial card in the game is unfit for use as it currently stands. “It’s disappointing indeed that Lax’s debut card in Pocket turned out to be a letdown. Jungle Snorlax, too, wasn’t particularly impressive back then, but it did have a fairly distinctive ability for its era and offered the possibility of Double Colorless.

Although we’re uncertain about the upcoming expansion, Snorlax enthusiasts are optimistic that this beloved creature might receive some attention. One gamer expressed their wish for “Snorlax to appear as an evolution or perhaps a new basic one” in the next release. “I’d be delighted if it got a bit more love since it’s been one of my favorites and I find it terribly ineffective in the current Pocket version,” they added.

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2025-01-06 23:53