In the world of Pokémon TCG Pocket, going first doesn’t come with the usual advantages that it does in other card games. In fact, it can actually put you at a disadvantage right from the start. When a match begins, the game flips a coin to determine who goes first. The player who wins the coin toss gets to pick a card, but here’s where the problem arises – going first means you don’t get to draw an energy card, which is crucial for powering up your Pokémon and launching attacks.
Without that initial energy card, your Pokémon are essentially sitting ducks on the battlefield. On the other hand, the player who goes second gets to draw their first energy card and start attacking right away. This imbalance has frustrated many players in the TCG Pocket community, with some even calling it a “fake turn” that doesn’t allow for meaningful engagement with the game mechanics.
The recent PvP event in TCG Pocket only highlighted this issue further, as top-tier decks dominated the competition, especially if they went second. Players have taken to forums like Reddit to express their frustration, pointing out that the game’s current balance heavily favors the second player, with some estimating a 70-30 split in terms of advantage.
Other card games like Magic: The Gathering and Hearthstone have implemented ways to address the first-mover advantage, such as restricting the first player’s ability to draw cards or providing the second player with extra resources. Pokémon TCG Pocket, however, still has a long way to go in terms of balancing gameplay between going first and going second.
While the game does have a coin flip mechanic to randomize turn order, many players feel that more can be done to level the playing field. Perhaps introducing new cards or mechanics that benefit the player going second could help address this issue. As of now, certain strategies like using water decks with Misty trainers and Articuno EX can exploit the turn order imbalance, leading to frustration among players.
Overall, the issue of turn order advantage in Pokémon TCG Pocket is a hot topic of discussion within the community. As the game continues to evolve and new updates are released, it will be interesting to see how developers address this issue and ensure a more balanced and enjoyable gaming experience for all players.
