This guide delves into the intricacies of the Poisoned condition in Pokémon TCG Pocket, a special status effect mirroring the tabletop game. This guide covers its mechanics, affected cards, countermeasures, and optimal deck building strategies.
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What is 'Poisoned'?
Poisoned is a Special Condition inflicting 10 HP damage at the end of each round during the Checkup phase. Unlike some conditions, it persists until cured or the Pokémon is knocked out. While it can coexist with other Special Conditions, it doesn't stack with additional Poison effects; a Pokémon only loses 10 HP per turn regardless of application frequency. However, this status can be exploited by cards like Muk, which gains a damage boost against Poisoned opponents.
Cards with the Poisoned Ability
In the Genetic Apex expansion, five cards apply the Poisoned status:
- Weezing (via its Gas Leak ability, requiring no Energy but needing to be active)
- Grimer (efficient Basic Pokémon, poisoning with one Energy)
- Nidoking
- Tentacruel
- Venomoth
Grimer stands out as a highly effective Basic Pokémon for quickly poisoning opponents.
Curing Poisoned
Three methods exist to counteract the Poisoned effect:
- Evolution: Evolving a Poisoned Pokémon removes the condition.
- Retreat: Benching the affected Pokémon halts HP loss.
- Item Cards: Cards like Potion mitigate damage but don't cure the condition, extending survivability.
Best Poison Deck
While not a top-tier archetype, a potent Poison deck can be built around the Grimer, Arbok, and Muk synergy. This strategy hinges on quickly poisoning opponents with Grimer, trapping them with Arbok, and utilizing Muk's increased damage against Poisoned Pokémon.
A sample META deck incorporating these synergies is presented below:
Poisoned Deck Details
| Card | Quantity | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Grimer | x2 | Applies Poisoned |
| Ekans | x2 | Evolves into Arbok |
| Arbok | x2 | Locks in the opponent's Active Pokémon |
| Muk | x2 | Deals 120 DMG to Poisoned Pokémon |
| Koffing | x2 | Evolves into Weezing |
| Weezing | x2 | Applies Poisoned with an Ability |
| Koga | x2 | Returns Active Weezing or Muk to your hand |
| Poké Ball | x2 | Draws a Basic Pokémon |
| Professor's Research | x2 | Draws two cards |
| Sabrina | x1 | Forces opponent's Active Pokémon to Retreat |
| X Speed | x1 | Discounts Retreat cost |
Alternative strategies include using Jigglypuff (PA) and Wigglytuff ex, or the Nidoking evolution line (Nidoran, Nidorino, Nidoking) for a slower, higher-damage approach.
