The initial release of Pokémon TCG Pocket saw a meta dominated by a few powerful decks, most notably those centered around Misty and Water-type Pokémon. The unpredictable nature of Misty's coin-flip mechanic, capable of delivering overwhelming early-game advantages or complete failure, quickly made it a frustrating opponent for many players.

Three expansions later, instead of seeing Misty decks countered or replaced, the latest expansion, Triumphant Light, has only strengthened them. This has led to significant player frustration.

Some variety would be appreciated
by u/Mizter_Man in r/PTCGP

The issue isn't necessarily Misty decks' raw power; it's the intensely frustrating experience of losing to a deck heavily reliant on luck. Misty, a Supporter card, allows players to flip coins repeatedly, attaching a Water-type Energy to a chosen Water-type Pokémon for each heads. This can result in anything from a wasted turn to an instant, overwhelming advantage, allowing for turn-one victories or crippling early-game pressure.

Why would they ever make a card like this?
by u/EfficientTrainer3206 in r/PTCGP

Subsequent expansions exacerbated the problem. Mythical Island introduced Vaporeon, enabling easy energy manipulation between Water-types. Space-Time Smackdown added Manaphy, further boosting energy generation. Powerful Water-type Pokémon like Palkia ex and Gyarados ex capitalized on this abundance of energy, cementing Water decks' dominance.

DeNA, What the Heck are You Doing?
by u/HolographicHeart in r/PTCGP

Triumphant Light introduced Irida, another Supporter card that heals 40 damage from each Water-type Energy-attached Pokémon. This significantly improves Water decks' resilience, previously a weakness addressed primarily by Grass-type decks. The combination of Misty, Manaphy, Vaporeon, and now Irida makes Water decks incredibly consistent and difficult to overcome.

Some TCG experts suggest Irida was intended to diversify deckbuilding choices by forcing players to choose between Misty and Irida, given the 20-card deck limit. The abundance of strong Water-type cards means many players find including both cards beneficial.

Three days away… what will you all be playing?
by u/INDlGO in r/PTCGP

An upcoming in-game event rewarding win streaks in online competitive play highlights the issue. Achieving the top reward requires five consecutive wins, a significant challenge made even harder by the prevalence and power of well-played Water decks.

Given the current meta, expect a continued dominance of Water decks, potentially making playing one yourself a strategic advantage.