After establishing your username and the like, Pokemon TCG Pocket's first major decision is: which Genetic Apex pack do you want to open first? Maybe the adorable Pikachu catches your eye? Or the mighty Charizard? Or is it the legendary Mewtwo? Turns out the choice matters beyond simply "choosing one's favorite", as it determines a few of your starting parameters before the game begins properly and you're left to your own devices. This includes:
- Your initial starting deck, once you can start battling.
- Your first EX Pokemon from a pack.
- Your first full-art card from a (guaranteed) Wonder Pick.
In this guide we'll present all three options, such that you can make a full learned decision! While it might not matter in the long-run once your collection fills out, it could at least help maximize your fun in the beginning stages of Pokemon TCG Pocket.
The Pikachu Pack
Choosing the Pikachu pack as your initial offering provides you:
- A Fire-based deck,
- Arcanine EX,
- A full-art Squirtle.
The Charizard Pack
Choosing the Charizard pack as your initial offering nets you:
- A Grass-focused deck,
- Exeggutor EX,
- A full-art Charmander.
The Mewtwo Pack
Choosing the Mewtwo pack as your initial offering nets you:
- A Fighting-based deck,
- Marowak EX,
- A full-art Bulbasaur.
Some Concluding Thoughts
Ultimately it's up to you to decide what you want to go with: you can chase "the meta" if you want, but Pokemon TCG Pocket is a game about having fun, so play what you want with the Pokemon you enjoy. Eventually your collection will have grown such that your first deck won't even matter anymore, so don't sweat the details too much! That being said, don't forget that the different packs contain different cards. Some are located across the board, but if you want to "target farm" particular high-rarity cards, you need to know where to pull from.
Which pack did you decide to go with as your first? Will you stick with that pack afterward, or switch up your offerings? Let us know in the comments below!
Comments
The way the game grants you the full-art feels kind of manipulative, since its part of a Wonder Pick even though you're apparently guaranteed to get the full-art no matter which card you pick.
In my very amateur opinion:
Exeggutor EX is probably best if you're the type of player who wants to start dealing damage right away; the attack costs only 1 Energy and can do 80 damage if you flip Heads. It's a good early game bruiser that can buy you time to put Energy on a less cost-effective Pokemon.
Arcanine EX feels like a solid finisher: the Attack is strong but does cost 3 Energy to get online, so you'll need to find a way to buy yourself some time.
Marowak EX, in my opinion, is a bad pick for a new player because it has a potential to deal no damage even though that's just as likely as dealing 160 damage (which can wipe out most Pokemon). Probably don't want your first EX Pokemon to be something capable of whiffing.