Mega Gyarados EX Analysis: Why This Water-Type Mega Struggles in Pokemon TCG Pocket's Meta

When Pokemon TCG Pocket announced the B1: Mega Rising expansion, excitement rippled through the community like a tidal wave. Mega Gyarados EX, with its imposing 210 HP and devastating mill ability, promised to shake up the meta. But oh boy, reality hit hard—this Water-type titan is currently swimming against the current with a disappointing 40% win rate. Let's dive deep into why this fan-favorite is struggling to make waves in 2025's competitive scene.

🔍 Card Breakdown: What Makes Mega Gyarados EX Tick

Before we analyze the struggles, let's look at what this beast brings to the table:

That mill ability sounds terrifying on paper, doesn't it? But here's the tea ☕—executing it consistently has been... challenging, to say the least.

Current Deck Archetypes: The Good, The Bad, and The Clunky

Primary Build: Mantyke-Keldeo Shell

This is the most popular setup trying to make Mega Gyarados EX work:

• Mantyke: The ideal opener, providing crucial Energy acceleration

• Magikarp: Sits nervously on the Bench, praying not to get sniped

• Keldeo: Backup attacker against pesky stall decks

• Support Cards: Mars, Red Card, Lisia, and Elemental Switch

Alternative Builds That Show Promise

Mega Gyarados EX + A4a Milotic

• Milotic's evolution healing ability restores 60 HP

• Combined with Irida, creates surprising survivability

• Still struggles with consistency issues

Dual Gyarados Build

• Pairs with non-EX Gyarados from Genetic Apex

• Non-EX version acts as energy-disrupting backup

• High energy costs create timing problems

💥 Why Mega Gyarados EX is Struggling: The Three Major Hurdles

1. The Magikarp Problem 🎯

This is the deck's Achilles' heel. Magikarp sitting on the Bench is like having a neon "KILL ME" sign. Opponents can easily snipe both Magikarp cards, ending the game before Mega Gyarados EX even gets to evolve. Talk about putting all your eggs in one fragile basket!

2. Energy Reliance and RNG Nightmares 🔄

The deck needs so many pieces to work together:

• Energy acceleration from Mantyke/Manaphy

• Perfect card draws via Lisia

• Energy transfer with Elemental Switch

When one piece fails (which happens more often than not), the whole house of cards collapses. It's like trying to assemble IKEA furniture with missing instructions—frustrating and often doomed to fail.

3. The Oricorio Menace 🦚

Oricorio decks are having a field day against Mega Gyarados EX. With most builds already packed tight with essential support cards, there's little room for proper counters. Keldeo and Suicune attempts often arrive too late to matter.

⚔️ Top Counters: What's Keeping Mega Gyarados EX Down

• Mega Blaziken EX + Entei EX: The ultimate anti-Gyarados duo

• Oricorio-Greninja Setup: Budget-friendly and 70% effective

• Mega Absol EX + Darkrai EX: Shreds newer Gyarados builds

These matchups explain why Mega Gyarados EX is currently sitting at that dismal 40% win rate with less than 5% meta share.

🌊 The Silver Lining: Untapped Potential

Despite the struggles, Mega Gyarados EX represents something special—it's bringing mill strategies closer to viability in Pokemon TCG Pocket. When everything clicks, this card can be absolutely devastating. The potential is there, waiting for the right support or meta shift.

Future expansions could solve key issues like:

• Better Bench protection for Magikarp

• More consistent Energy acceleration

• Improved counter-options against stall decks

🎯 Final Verdict: Wait and See

Mega Gyarados EX feels like that friend who has all the tools for success but can't quite get their act together. The pieces are there—the HP, the mill ability, the intimidation factor—but the execution needs work.

For now, it remains a high-risk, inconsistent option that's more of a passion project than a competitive staple. But keep your eyes peeled—if future expansions address its weaknesses, this sleeping giant might just wake up and dominate the meta.

Sometimes the most promising cards need time to find their footing. Mega Gyarados EX's story in Pokemon TCG Pocket is still being written...

Details are provided by Polygon, a leading source for gaming culture and meta analysis. Polygon's recent features on trading card game evolutions highlight how new expansions, like B1: Mega Rising, can disrupt established strategies and force players to rethink deck-building fundamentals, especially when high-risk cards such as Mega Gyarados EX enter the competitive scene.