How to Play Mythical Slab Effectively

First things first, what is the optimal order to play Mythical Slab, Poké Ball, or Professor’s Research when you have them in hand? The answer varies depending on what you are most in need of:

When You Need a Non-Basic Pokémon

The recommended order is:

1. Poké Ball
2. Mythical Slab
3. Professor’s Research

When You Need a Specific Basic Pokémon

In this case, the correct order is:

1. Professor’s Research
2. Poké Ball
3. Mythical Slab

*This applies if there is more than one Psychic Basic Pokémon remaining in your deck.

When You Are Searching for a Non-Pokémon Card

The suggested order is:

1. Mythical Slab
2. Poké Ball
3. Professor’s Research

Note: If you do not have one of the three cards, follow the order listed above while skipping the missing card, except when you lack Poké Ball. In that case, you should always play Mythical Slab before Professor’s Research.

Key Principles and Insights

• Know your objective before playing your cards! Typically, you’ll want to search for a Pokémon to complete your combo.
• Prioritize thinning out undesirable draws first, which is why Professor’s Research often goes last. The exception is when you are searching for a Basic Pokémon; in that case, playing Professor’s Research first increases your chances of drawing a Basic before using Poké Ball.
• Using Mythical Slab to put any non-Pokémon draw at the bottom is crucial. By playing Mythical Slab after using Poké Ball, you can effectively remove the “bad” card by placing it at the bottom, even if you don’t draw a Pokémon. This action reduces the likelihood of drawing it again unless you shuffle your deck, enhancing your chances of drawing what you need next.

Maximizing the Benefits of Playing Mythical Slab

Let’s delve deeper, as this concept may be challenging for newer players:

• Consider that you have an equal chance of drawing each remaining card in your deck. Thus, the essential goal is to thin your deck as much as possible by playing Mythical Slab to improve your future draws.
• Don’t be discouraged if Mythical Slab puts a sought-after non-Pokémon card at the bottom of your deck. The misconception that playing Slab costs you a desired item or supporter is misleading. Unless you know your next card before playing Slab, it could just as well be at the bottom of your deck. Therefore, the focus should be on thinning your deck.
• Even if you “unluckily” place Professor’s Research at the bottom, playing Slab does not harm your chances. It could have easily been the last card in your deck already. The game may trick you into believing you were “unlucky.” By not playing Slab, you lower the probability of drawing the card you want. By playing it, you increase your chances of drawing a Pokémon and thinning your deck, allowing you to strategize around the known last card.
• You never reduce your odds of drawing the desired card by playing Slab, so there’s no reason to hold onto it. Play it to simplify your choices and focus on other strategies in the game.
• Furthermore, consider playing Slab even when searching for an item or supporter if you still have Pokémon in your deck. This strategy might still thin your deck and increase your chances of drawing the card you need later.
• While I recognize there are some unusual Red Card scenarios, the variations depend on the number of cards in your hand. Most players tend to exclude it from their battle lists, so I generally play as if it doesn’t exist, unless it’s manageable not to.