In *Pokemon TCG Pocket*, the Sleep status condition is undoubtedly one of the most challenging hurdles players can face. A Pokemon afflicted with Sleep is rendered completely inactive, unable to attack, use abilities, or retreat to the bench. This can severely impact your strategy, turning your active Pokemon into a vulnerable target. Let's delve into what Sleep means in *Pokemon TCG Pocket* and explore the ways to cure it.
What Does Sleep Mean in Pokemon TCG Pocket?
When a Pokemon in *TCG Pocket* falls asleep, it's stuck in your active spot without the ability to act. It can't attack, use abilities, or retreat, leaving it as a sitting duck until you can find a way to wake it up.
How to Cure Sleep
Curing Sleep in *Pokemon TCG Pocket* can be tricky, but there are a few methods to try. The most common way is through a coin toss that occurs at the start of each turn. If you flip Heads, your Pokemon wakes up. This means your Pokemon could potentially recover from Sleep in just one turn, but consecutive bad flips can keep it out of action longer than desired.
Another method to cure Sleep is by evolving the affected Pokemon. This can be a strategic move, allowing you to set up your bench while waiting for the right evolution card. However, this approach requires patience and the right cards at the right time.
A lesser-known way to cure Sleep is by using the Koga Trainer card, which lets you return a sleeping Weezing or Muk to your hand. This method is specific to these two Pokemon but can be a game-changer in the right deck.
Compared to other status conditions like Paralysis and Poison, Sleep's reliance on coin flips can be particularly frustrating, as it can leave your active Pokemon useless for multiple turns, giving your opponent a significant advantage.
All Sleep Cards in Pokemon TCG Pocket
Image via The Pokemon Company
Currently, there are eight cards in *Pokemon TCG Pocket* that can inflict the Sleep status. These include Darkai, Wigglytuff, and Hypno, with Hypno being the standout for its competitive edge. Below is a comprehensive list of these cards, their methods of inflicting Sleep, and how to obtain them:
| Sleep Card | Method | How to Get |
|---|---|---|
| Darkrai (A2 109) | Through its attack, Dark Void, as a guaranteed effect | Space-Time Smackdown (Dialga) |
| Flabebe (A1a 036) | Using its move, Hypnotic Gaze, as a guaranteed effect | Mythical Island |
| Frosmoth (A1 093) | With its Powder Snow attack, also a guaranteed status effect | Genetic Apex |
| Hypno (A1 125) | Using its ability, Sleep Pendulum, based on a coin flip | Genetic Apex (Pikachu) |
| Jigglypuff (P-A 022) | The guaranteed effect of its Sing attack | Promo-A |
| Shiinotic (A1a 008) | A guaranteed secondary effect of its Flickering Spores attack | Mythical Island |
| Vileplume (A1 013) | A side effect of using Soothing Scent | Genetic Apex (Charizard) |
| Wigglytuff ex (A1 195) | An additional effect of its Sleepy Song attack | Genetic Apex (Pikachu) |
Among these, Hypno stands out as the most dangerous due to its ability to inflict Sleep from the bench without needing Energy. This makes Hypno an excellent support card for Psychic decks, allowing you to set up powerful attackers like Mewtwo ex with its Psydrive. Hypno's effectiveness is further enhanced when paired with Gardevoir, speeding up your strategy.
While Frosmoth and Wigglytuff ex can also be integrated into various decks, Hypno remains the most competitive Sleep card in the current *Pokemon TCG Pocket* meta without slowing down your overall strategy.
Now that you're well-versed in the Sleep status and its remedies, consider trying out the best Palkia ex deck in *Pokemon TCG Pocket* to explore more powerful combinations with the latest cards.
