I’m hopelessly addicted to this mediocre Pokémon Pocket deck

I’ve played more matches on Pokémon TCG Pocket’s ranked ladder this season than the last two combined. Its fast-paced matches fill every five minute gap in my day as I push the boulder up the mountain track leading to Master Ball. The trouble is, the only deck I want to play is distinctly off-meta… perhaps not even all that good.

I have a bad habit of net-decking. I can’t help it. Maybe it’s a sign of low creativity or poor morals, but it’s been that way for a while. When my job requires me to dig into the metas of several card games at once, gaining an understanding of the best MTG Arena decks and best Pokémon cards, I feel foolish not using the strategies better players have spent hours perfecting.

But at the start of Eevee Grove’s season I stumbled upon my own idea for a decklist and began to tweak it until I reached something I was fully satisfied with. And even though I’m only in Ultra Ball 2, even though my overall win rate is only about 45% (granted, I get distracted and forget to finish a match more often than I should), I’m having more fun with the game than ever before.

The deck that my heart is set on uses three Pokémon: Stoutland, Espeon, and Sylveon ex. Stoutland is the lynchpin of the strategy, and I have to thank my friend for pointing out how underrated this card is. In case you’re unfamiliar, this Stage 2 Pokémon has an ability, Guard Dog Visage, that makes your opponents’ attacks cost an extra energy.

Its arrival in your Active Zone adds an extra hoop to jump through for your adversaries, as they now have to be much more mindful about how they retreat and which Pokémon they stack energy onto. Sometimes you get into games where your foe just never gets to attack and has to sit sadly while your cats and dogs chew them up.

Stoutland is also great for solo challenges, since the AI has no idea how to play around the ability.

Sylveon ex mainly has a place in the deck to increase its consistency, and is a strong reason why I would never swap Espeon out for Tapu Lele. Right now I only have one copy, but ultimately I think you would be better off with two Sylveon, one Espeon. Unfortunately, my pack opening luck in this set has been abysmal.

But my favorite element, the thing that’s kept my interest in this deck long after it would normally have waned, is Espeon, a stage 1 Pokémon that deals 20 damage for each energy on any of your opponent’s Pokémon. There’s some obvious synergy here. Stoutland forces your enemies to pile on more energy than they would normally need and Espeon punishes them for it.

But this card is also great at catching players unaware. It’s as big a ‘gotcha’ moment as Cyrus. Unless Eevee is likely to be at risk I never evolve it, leaving it to sit on the bench looking innocent and unassuming. It’s a joyous feeling taking down a Charizard that’s just stoked up, or watching your opponent attach a fifth or sixth energy, perhaps to a Pokémon they’re not even using, turning their guaranteed win into a loss.

While it has too many bad matchups to ever be meta and struggles against aggressive archetypes unless you have the perfect opening, I actually think this strategy it’s pretty decent against the biggest decks in Pokémon Pocket right now.

After all, most of these rely on high-HP Pokémon with high-energy attacks. Stoutland can take down a Darkrai in two hits while leaving it unable to fight back. And the deck can really punish a Giratina, with Stoutland forcing an opponent to Broken-Space Bellow up to five energy, while Espeon switches in to deal 100 damage or more.

Ultimately, the thing I like least in Pokémon Pocket (or TCGs in general) is decks with just one path to victory. It’s why I find Solgaleo decks or most 18T decks interminably dull. This build has a lot of variety and, when it works, gives you a lot of control over the match. You can end up winning with Stoutland, Espeon, or even Sylveon as your primary attacker. ‘Tis the spice of life, folks!

Surprise is a key weapon in my favorite deck’s arsenal, so hopefully not too many people read this (don’t tell my editor I said that). But if it somehow, against all expectations, catches on, perhaps it’ll help me break my addiction.

Come share your own wacky Pokémon Pocket deck ideas in the Wargamer Discord. Or take a look at our guide to the top rare Pokémon cards.