Pokémon TCG Pocket's latest event features a new promo card that could change its metagame, although it's not the featured card of the set. The Venusaur Drop Event is happening in Pokémon TCG Pocket, with players competing in solo battles against Venusaur-themed decks. The main prizes of the event are five new promo cards, including a full art version of Venusaur. However, Venusaur isn't the card that could appear in tournament-winning decks in the future. That honor belongs to the new Jigglypuff promo card.

Unlike Venusaur and several other promo cards in the set, the Jigglypuff promo card isn't just an alternate art card. Instead, a brand-new move separates it from the Jigglypuff card found in the Genetic Apex set. Specifically, the Jigglypuff promo card has a Sing move that automatically puts an opponent's Active Pokémon to sleep. What's more, this powerful move only costs one Colorless Energy to activate.

Pokémon TCG Pocket's Jigglypuff Promo Is Powerful

Jigglypuff Requires Minimal Energy Investment But Guarantees the Asleep Condition

Asleep is a potentially powerful condition that essentially locks the Active Pokémon in place. An Asleep Pokémon can't attack or retreat, meaning that only abilities that force a Pokémon to switch out can "rescue" an Asleep Pokémon from wasting their turn. The only downside to inflicting an opponent's Pokémon with the Asleep condition is that they have a 50/50 chance to wake up before their turn starts. After every player's turn, a player with an Asleep Pokémon flips a coin. If heads, the Asleep Pokémon wakes up. Otherwise, the Pokémon stays asleep. Functionally, Jigglypuff can force an opponent to waste their turn half the time.

What makes Jigglypuff so intriguing is that it acts as a quick disruptive force. As a Colorless Pokémon, Jigglypuff can be put into any deck without worrying about energy type. Jigglypuff can also evolve into Wigglytuff ex, which has a more powerful Sleepy Song move that deals 80 damage while also putting opponents to sleep. Wigglytuff is also a tank with 140 HP, meaning it can survive most attacks at least once.

How Jigglypuff's Guaranteed Sleep Effect Works

Jigglypuff Can Be Used In Any Deck Because It's A Colorless Pokemon

Other than Jigglypuff, only four other Pokémon in Pokémon TCG Pocket can inflict the Asleep condition on opponents. However, each of those other Pokémon comes with some setbacks. Frosmoth, Wigglytuff ex, and Hypno are Stage 1 Pokémon, while Vileplume is a Stage 2 Pokémon. Additionally, Hypno's Sleep Pendulum ability requires a successful coin flip to put a Pokemon to sleep, although it can be used even when Hypno is on the bench. While all the other Pokémon who can inflict sleep on an opponent require an evolution, Jigglypuff can be set up as early as the first turn.

Right now, there are few disruption decks in Pokémon TCG Pocket precisely because they're too finicky or require too much setup to be used effectively. However, Jigglypuff adds some much-needed early stall to those decks, making them more viable. Players can either use Jigglypuff as a way to stall so they can set up more powerful Pokémon or pair it with Pokémon like Greninja to snipe weak Pokémon on the bench while keeping an Asleep Pokémon in the Active spot. Players can also use Jigglypuff with Gengar to block opponents from using er cards, which can add even more levels of frustration to opponents.

Could Jigglypuff Shake Up Pokémon TCG Pocket?

Jigglypuff Won't Be The Engine Of A Successful Deck, But It Will Still See Play

Jigglypuff might be the most exciting promo card to come since the game's launch. While Lapras ex in Pokémon TCG Pocket added some tankiness to Water-type decks, Jigglypuff can be added into any deck and acts as the perfect opening card or stall card. While the Asleep condition requires a bit of luck to pull off and is weak against evolution-heavy decks (since conditions are removed upon evolution), the opportunity cost is incredibly low compared to other potential stall Pokémon.

Jigglypuff acts as a fantastic early counter against Pikachu ex decks and other decks that rely heavily on Basic Pokémon. While its low HP means that Jigglypuff can get knocked out easily, it should still see some success against Pokémon like Mewtwo ex, Moltres ex, Pikachu ex, and Articuno ex. Even if it will never be the focus of a deck, Jigglypuff is going to start appearing in more Pokémon TCG Pocket decks very soon, simply because it provides versatility and stall options to any deck that needs it.