The Secluded Springs set (A4a) has debuted a new Pokémon Tool in TCG Pocket, and it is the most talked-about Trainer card in this expansion. No points for guessing, it’s the Memory Light.
Trainers are divided on whether this Tool is meta-relevant or is it just a “meme card.” Either way, there are Pokémon that actually benefit from donning the Memory Light, and it may spell more significance in the future.
What is the hype all about? Let’s find out.
Before anything else, you have to admit this is arguably the most gorgeous Pokémon Tool card until now in TCG Pocket.
And this card blends style with substance, as its impact will resonate heavily throughout the meta, and possibly even in future expansions.
When a Pokémon is equipped with Memory Light, it can use any attack from its pre-evolutions.
To give you a perspective, a Stoke Charizard EX (that can’t attack unless it has 5 Energy for Steam Artillery) can now use the 1 Energy, 20 DMG Combustion that Shining Revelry Charmander learns!
But what about the 2 Energy, 40 DMG Combustion that Shining Revelry Charmeleon uses?
Now, there’s something to consider about using this Tool for Stage 2 Evolutions. Let us take the example of Stoke Charizard EX again:
- If Charizard EX was evolved from Charmander via Rare Candy (without using Charmeleon, even if you had one copy in your deck), Memory Light Charizard EX can only use Charmander’s attack and not Charmeleon’s.
- If Charizard EX was traditionally evolved from Charmeleon (which evolved from Charmander, no Rare Candy used), Memory Light Charizard EX can use the attacks of both Charmander and Charmeleon.
It’s easy to understand from the namesake of the Tool: Memory Light. A Rare Candy promoted Charizard EX has “no memory” of ever being a Charmeleon, only Charmander.
As such, Memory Light lets a Pokémon only use pre-evolution attacks of Pokémon it evolved from. So, a Rare Candy evolved Stage 2 CANNOT use the Stage 1’s attacks, but a regularly evolved Stage 2 CAN use the Stage 1’s attacks.
While I used Stoke Charizard EX’s example to explain Memory Light, it is not one of the main benefactors of the Pokémon Tool concerned. So, here are the best ones to use Memory Light in TCG Pocket:
Donphan EX (Wisdom of Sea and Sky) | Phanpy (Secluded Springs)
Donphan EX’s true potential is unlocked when it has 3 Energy, dishing out 110 DMG. Until then, it has to contend with 50 DMG, which isn’t too bad, but what if it could be better? Donphan EX has a respectable 160 DMG, so it can certainly take some hits, and with Phanpy’s Flail enabled by Memory Light, Donphan EX can convert all of the hits into damage of an equivalent value. So, if it takes 120 DMG from Sucune EX, it will hit back with the same amount, only for 1 Energy!
Being a Stage 1 EX and requiring only 1 Energy to attack makes Donphan EX a great lead, with Coaching Lucario offering attack boosts on the Bench. Take that big hit and make your opponent pay for it. Flail is not a necessity, but a great side option to give a receipt to hard-hitting Pokémon.
Rampardos | Cranidos (Space-Time Smackdown)
Rampardos is one of the best Pokémon in TCG Pocket, and is feared for its brute power (130 DMG) for only 1 Energy. But after Rampardos is all set, there is one concern that holds it back a little: losing 50 HP on KOing an opponent. This gets extremely frustrating when you use Rampardos to take out a weakened EX with less HP (say, 40 HP or 30 HP) left. Of course, Lillie can solve that by healing 60 HP, but Memory Light gives a lucrative option of using 50 HP (or more with Giovanni or Red) without any recoil damage.
The catch here is that you need to give Rare Candy a miss or use it for something like Garchomp EX or Poliwrath EX. Rampardos is an OP card, but it is kept in check with its Stage 2 evolution requirement and the task of finding Skull Fossil (not obtainable via Poké Ball).
Does this make Rampardos better? Yes, it actually helps the powerful Pokémon battle longer and more reliably. That said, the tech of using Rampardos is skipping the Rare Candy perk altogether, so that may bother some players.
Melmetal | Meltan (Genetic Apex)
The OG Metal duo from Genetic Apex has always been underrated, and Dialga EX was the only way to go about serving 4 Energy to Melmetal. Now, Memory Light helps Melmetal farm Energy until it’s ready to use its 120 DMG Heavy Impact.
- With Memory Light Meltan active, use Amass to give it an extra Metal Energy, taking the count to 2 Energy at the end of your first turn with Meltan.
- In the second Meltan turn, evolve into Melmetal, supply another Metal Energy, and use Amass, giving it another Energy.
- Melmetal now has all 4 Energies required to hit the opponent, and in the previous turn it gathered Energy, its Hard Coat ability and the Adaman Supporter help Melmetal shrug off 40 DMG.
Bibarel EX (Shining Revelry) | Bidoof (Space-Time Smackdown)
Bibarel EX was always a neglected Pokémon, and not surprisingly, it was Lord Bidoof that was infamous, thanks to its Super Fang attack that halves the opponent’s HP. Combine these two with an Energy-generating machine like Dialga EX to give it 4 Energy, then use Super Fang to take out half of the opponent’s HP, and finish them off with the 100 DMG Carefree Press (that also heals 30 DMG for Bibarel EX).
Very few Pokémon in TCG Pocket surpass 200 HP, and even those that are so bulky, they do it with the help of Capes (Giant or Leaf). With that in mind, Bibarel EX using Super Fang and Carefree Press can KO nearly any opponent in the game! Players need to be on their toes and watch out for this deck as it can wreak havoc like no other.
The Toxic Gang
Some Stage 1 Pokémon absolutely relish it if the opponent is poisoned already, adding more damage in the mix. With Memory Light, they can use the attacks of their Basic versions to poison them while also boasting higher HP. Couple this with Nihilego and Drakrai EX, and you’ll see the opponent’s HP dropping like flies.
The Bench Snipers
Bench snipers target Pokémon on the Bench, hitting them with some damage. Then, use Cyrus to draw out the damaged card, and hit them with the evolved mon’s attack.
In Kingdra EX’s case, you actually need an extra Energy to pull off Seadra’s Bench-hitting 50 DMG. With Cyrus in tow, bring that damaged Pokémon to the Active Spot and trap it in Kingdra EX’s Stormy Prison.
Decidueye EX takes advantage of being able to hit with only 1 Energy and then using Cyrus to punish the damaged opponent with its 2 Energy attack. Keep in mind that Dartrix also has the same move (Skill Dive) as Rowlet, only doing 20 DMG instead of 10 DMG. This lets Decidueye EX choose between Rare Candy or Dartrix, whichever you draw in your Hand first. As such, Decidueye EX may be the most flexible user of the Memory Light Pokémon Tool.
You’re bound to find more users of the Memory Light in Pokémon TCG Pocket, and in most cases, it seems a little dubious.
- Rare Candy usage speedens up the deck and it is too much to give up on, especially for Rampardos. Also, you would like to get your evolved form alive and kicking ASAP against hyper aggressive decks.
- More often then not, other Pokémon Tools seem wiser. Rocky Helmet, Giant Cape, Leaf Cape, Poison Barb, and Leftovers are also viable, and seem too good to skip for Memory Light.
- Memory Light does have its benefits, helping high-Energy attack Pokémon have something to do when they are still gathering Energy, instead of being sitting ducks.
So, you can’t simply sign off the Memory Light Tool as a “meme card” or call it underwhleming. It does have its niche uses and can often win the game for you. Therefore, the Memory Light is more of a sidegrade than an upgrade in Pokémon TCG Pocket. It works, and sometimes it falls short. That’s the beauty of it.
This Tool will also be indispensable for Mega Evolutions, coming this fall. Megas are Stage 1 and Stage 2 cards, and can directly evolve from their respective Basic and Stage 1 cards (a rule followed in the physical TCG as well).
So, Mega Gyarados can evolve directly from Magikarp without Rare Candy. Now, remember that losing a Mega Evolution will give your opponent 3 points, instantly giving them the win.
In such a situation, Mega Gyarados can use Magikarp’s Leap Out to switch out with something else on the Bench.
Or, you could even use the Magikarp card from Wisdom of Sea and Sky along with the Will Supporter card to not take any damage in the next turn and farm more Energy in the process.
The Memory Light is debatable but there’s one thing you can’t discount about this Tool: More strategizing in Pokémon TCG Pocket. We will surely get new additions from future expansions that may elevate the usage of this Tool, with Mega Evolutions already grinning on the horizon.
Until then, happy collecting and battling, Pokémon TCG Pocket-ers!
The post TCG Pocket Memory Light Pokémon Tool: Best uses & is it any good appeared first on Pokémon GO Hub.
