Pokemon TCG Pocket: Poisoned, Explained (& All Cards with ‘Poison’ Ability)

This guide delves into the mechanics of the Poisoned status condition in Pokémon TCG Pocket, exploring its impact on gameplay and offering strategies for utilizing and countering it.

Quick Navigation

• Understanding Poisoned in Pokémon TCG Pocket
• Pokémon with the Poisoned Ability
• Curing the Poisoned Status
• Building a Winning Poison Deck

Pokémon TCG Pocket incorporates several Special Conditions from the physical card game, including the debilitating Poisoned effect. This condition gradually drains a Pokémon's HP until it's either defeated or healed. This guide will cover the nuances of Poisoned, including application, affected Pokémon, cures, and effective deck-building strategies.

Understanding Poisoned

Poisoned is a Special Condition inflicting 10 HP loss at the end of each round. This damage is calculated during the round's Checkup phase and persists until cured or the Pokémon is knocked out. It doesn't resolve automatically or through chance. While it can combine with other Special Conditions, it doesn't stack with additional Poison effects; a Pokémon only loses 10 HP per turn regardless of multiple Poison applications. However, this status can be exploited by cards that benefit from a poisoned opponent, such as Muk, which gains a significant damage boost.

Pokémon with the Poisoned Ability

In the Genetic Apex expansion, five Pokémon can inflict the Poisoned status: Weezing, Grimer, Nidoking, Tentacruel, and Venomoth. Grimer stands out as an effective Basic Pokémon, poisoning opponents with a single Energy. Weezing provides another strong option, utilizing its Gas Leak ability (no Energy required) while active.

Curing the Poisoned Status

Three methods exist to counteract the Poisoned effect:

1. Evolution: Evolving a Poisoned Pokémon removes the condition.
2. Retreat: Moving a Poisoned Pokémon to the bench halts HP loss.
3. Item Cards: Cards like Potion offer temporary relief by healing HP, but don't cure the Poisoned status itself, extending survivability instead.

Building a Winning Poison Deck

While not a top-tier archetype, a potent Poison deck can be constructed around the Grimer, Arbok, and Muk synergy. The strategy involves swiftly poisoning opponents with Grimer, trapping them with Arbok, and utilizing Muk's enhanced damage against poisoned foes.

Below is a sample deck list showcasing this synergistic approach:

Sample Poison Deck

Alternative strategies could incorporate Jigglypuff (PA) and Wigglytuff ex, or a slower, high-damage approach using the Nidoking evolution line (Nidoran, Nidorino, Nidoking).