How Playing Pokémon TCG Live Changed the Way I Rip Packs

Growing up, I was all about Pokémon games and collecting cards, but one thing I never did was actually play the Pokémon Trading Card Game. My goal was simple—pull the rarest, flashiest cards and flex my collection at school. Trainer and Item cards? Didn’t care. If it wasn’t a holo or Pokémon that my friends and I liked, it barely registered in my brain.  

That changed about a year ago when I decided to download Pokémon TCG Live.  

Jumping Into the TCG With a Championship Deck

When I started playing, I had no clue how to build a competitive deck. Instead of crafting one from scratch, I did what many new players do—I copied a winning decklist. And not just any deck—I went straight for the Regidrago VSTAR deck that won the Pokémon TCG World Championship.  

Playing this deck was an absolute blast. Regidrago’s ability to copy attacks from discarded Dragon Pokémon made every game feel dynamic. I finally understood the strategy behind deck-building, how every Trainer card, Item card, and Supporter played a role in executing a game plan. Suddenly, opening packs felt different—pulling a good Trainer card was just as exciting as pulling a chase card because I finally knew how valuable they were in actual gameplay.  

But then, things started to change.  

The Ever-Shifting Meta – What Worked Then Won’t Work Forever

For a while, I was winning a ton of matches with Regidrago VSTAR. But as more new sets were released, I started noticing something—I wasn’t winning as much anymore. Cards that once gave me an edge were being countered more often. Opponents were running new strategies, better consistency engines, and stronger attackers.  

This was my first real experience with something every TCG player eventually learns: The meta is always evolving.

The best deck today won’t be the best deck tomorrow. New releases shake up the format, introducing new powerhouses and shifting strategies. I wasn’t just seeing this happen—I was feeling it firsthand as my World Championship-winning Regidrago deck started falling behind.  

A New Perspective on Pack Openings

Before I started playing the TCG, opening packs was all about chasing big hits—everything else felt like filler. But now, I get genuinely excited when I pull cards that I’ve actually played with or faced in battles.  

- That Trainer card I used to ignore? Now I recognize it as a key card that has helped me win games.  
- That annoying Item card my opponent used against me? I know exactly how strong it is because I’ve been on the receiving end of it.  
- Pulling cards I’ve used in my deck and holding them in my hands feels completely different than just seeing them on a screen.  

I may not build physical decks, but knowing how the game works has given me a whole new appreciation for every card in a pack. It’s no longer just about the big chase pulls—it’s about seeing the game come to life.  

Final Thoughts

Learning to play the TCG has completely changed how I rip packs. I still love grading and flipping big cards, but now I also love understanding how they work in the game itself. And if you’ve never played the TCG before, I highly recommend giving Pokémon TCG Live a shot. You might just find yourself appreciating every pack you open in a whole new way.

🔥 Have you had a deck fall off because of the evolving meta? What are you playing right now? Let’s talk strategy in the comments! 🔥