Pokemon TCG Pocket‘s Turtonator has been putting up impressive numbers against the top three meta decks since the launch of Extradimensional Crisis. Released on May 28, 2025, the A3a expansion introduced over 100 new and reworked cards to Pokemon TCG Pocket.
One key change brought by the A3a set was the long-awaited shift in the metagame, which resulted in the fall of DarkTina. For those unfamiliar, DarkTina refers to the pairing of Darkrai ex and Giratina ex in Pokemon TCG Pocket, a duo that dominated PvP for over two seasons. Their reign continued up until the Ultra Beasts from the May expansion finally brought them down.
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Since DarkTina’s fall, Turtonator has quietly held its ground against Pokemon TCG Pocket‘s new meta. This underrated Fire-type currently boasts an 80% win rate against the second-best deck, the Buzzwole ex-Pheromosa combo. It has also been able to win about 70% of its matches against the feared Solgaleo ex-Shiinotic lineups, which is a notable feat. But its success doesn’t stop there; a Turtonator deck variant has achieved nearly a 65% win rate against the meta’s top deck, Silvally-Rampardos.
Turtonator Might Be Pokemon TCG Pocket’s True Counter Card
In recent days, some experts have highlighted Giratina ex Stoutland as an underrated anti-meta deck in Pokemon TCG Pocket. This combo holds a 60% win rate in PvP tournaments and performs well against S-tier decks. However, recent stats show Turtonator might be an even stronger counter to the meta. On average, Turtonator wins 70% of its matches against the top three lineups, while Giratina ex and Stoutland decks win almost 60% of the time against the same opponents.
|
Decks |
Buzzwole ex-Pheromosa |
Solgaleo ex-Shiinotic |
Silvally-Rampardos |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Turtonator’s Average Win Rate |
~ 80% |
~ 70% |
~ 65% |
It’s worth noting that PvP data on Turtonator decks is limited, as the Pokemon isn’t very popular. Still, its recent success, even in a small sample, could hint at its potential in PvP. If Turtonator keeps outperforming top-tier Pokemon, it may soon be recognized as one of the best anti-meta cards in Pokemon TCG Pocket. However, for that to happen, more players will need to start using Turtonator decks, which doesn’t seem likely at this time.
Another reason Turtonator might struggle to make a lasting impact is Pokemon TCG Pocket‘s constantly shifting metagame. Like past expansions, the upcoming releases are expected to shake up the PvP scene, likely limiting the meta share for Turtonator and similar cards. For now, though, players seeking unconventional counters to frustrating meta decks can definitely benefit from Turtonator’s strong performance against them.