Pokemon TCG Pocket is finally giving Lightning types the respect they deserve

If I asked you your favorite Pokemon type, you'd probably say Dark. If it was correct, I was honestly amazed because I just said a random type that people probably like and had a 1/18 chance of getting it right. People like Tyranitar and Umbreon, right?

Anyway, if you asked 100 people their favorite type of Pokemon, how many do you think would say Lightning? I'd bet very few, as even those who love all things electric would probably call it an electric type as it's known in the video games, rather than its Lightning designation in the TCG. No, I don't know why they decided it had to be different either.

But I'm one of those Electric or Lightning type lovers. At a time when I play more Pokémon TCG Pocket than any other Pokémon game, I'll be shifting my vocabulary accordingly. I love Lightning types. My favorite Pokemon as a kid was Jolteon (though Gengar is a close second). My favorite Legendary is Raikou. You will get a picture. While I've never been a fan of Pikachu, the fact that the Pokemon mascot is a Lightning type warms my heart.

My love of lightning has taken me to strange places. I always lean towards Electric gym leaders in games and even played the mono-Electric Nuzlocke of Pokemon Shield since there was an early Yamper that acted as my starter. The last time I played TCG I ran the Electropower Zapdos deck. If there's an option to add electric current to my Pokemon game, I'll take it.

Pokemon TCG Pocket Zapdos ex Deck

When I first started Pokemon TCG Pocket I naturally gravitated towards ex Zapdos. Fortunately, I was able to quickly draw two coveted cards and use them to build the rest of my deck. Initially, I opted for an incredibly cheesy RNG based deck that relied entirely on coin flips. It was contradictory but immensely satisfying.

• 2x Zapdos ex

• 2x Giovanni

• 2x Poke Balls

• 2x Sabrina

• 2x potion

• Speed ​​2x X

• 2x handheld binoculars

• 2x Pokedex

• 2x Professorial research

• 2x red card

This cheeses the Pokemon TCG Pocket opening hand mechanic, guaranteeing you'll get ex Zapdos right off the bat. From there, you just have to hope your opponent can't prepare in the time it takes you to pump three energy and flip a bunch of heads. There's nothing more fun than flipping a coin and seeing the four tails staring at you as your opponent's 20HP Mewtwo finishes you off – you need the Marvel Snap emote at this point. You know you could have Pecked to win the game, but that's not the point.

Pokemon TCG Pocket Pikachu ex Deck

After a few hours of fun flipping coins, I switched to a more consistent deck. I tried the electrode due to the absence of retreat cost, which works well; Zebstrika with his cheap moves that can apply pressure when you bench; Pincurchin for some paralyzes; and even Jolteon just for being the best boi.

But the answer is, and always has been, Pikachu. The series mascot has an overpowered former card that I tried to avoid until I pulled the 2* rare Full Art version. With a card as cute as this, I hardly let him languish in my inventory. So I joined the masses and began Circle Circuiting my way to victory – with a few coin flips.

• 2x Voltorb

• 2x electrode

• 2x Pikachu ex

• 2x Zapdos ex

• 2x potion

• Speed ​​2x X

• 2x Poke Balls

• 2x red card

• 2x Professorial research

• 2x Sabrina

While there's no guarantee that one of your powerful ex cards will come out of the gate here, the abundance of Poke Balls and draw cards combined with Electrode's versatility means you can easily turn on Pikachu even if you draw him late. You want to fill the bench and deal 90 damage per turn from ex Pikachu before X hastening it, retreating for free and using Electrode, Zapdos ex, or your next ex Pikachu to sweep. It's simple, it's fancy, it's boringly meta, but it's great.

I'm just glad my beloved Lightnings are getting a chance to shine. There are a lot of monsters with really cool designs that are overlooked because of their writing. Tapu Koko is easily the coolest of the legendary foursome, Alolan Raichu is one of the best examples of alternate form ever designed, and Eelektross had the best sprite in all of Gen 5 – which is saying something because Black & White had excellent designs.

We can do cute (Toxel), we can do powerful (Zekrom), we can do meta (Thundurus), we can save your Kaizo run (Lanturn). There's a reason why I want more Lightning types to appear in the game's new missions, and why I want a Raikou card or three when the next Pokemon TCG Pocket expansion drops. Lightning types offer so much more than your typical glass cannons, and Pokemon TCG Pocket showcases them in the best possible way. I would build a Lightning deck whether it was good or not, but the fact that I'm winning battles is a shock to the system.