If you're reading this, it means that you want to start playing the Pokemon TCG (Trading Card Game). We've made a simple guide to help get you started that's easy to follow. The below guide will take you through how to set up your first game and play your first turn.
If you have experience with other trading card games then this one will be fairly easy for you to pick up, if you don't you're also in luck! Pokemon TCG is designed super well and simple enough for anyone to pick up and play.
Pokemon TCG World Championships
Grab a Starter Deck
The quickest and easiest way to get started with the game is by grabbing one of the premade decks that we have available. These decks come in all different styles and difficulty levels, choose one that you think will be fun, or even features your favorite Pokemon. A Pokemon deck is essentially a stack of sixty cards that don't have more than four of the same card name, this is so it's random enough to be fun and still consistent.
These premade decks also give you a basic idea of how to construct your own; Get creative and customize with different strategies you might read online. Decks are generally made up of around twelve to sixteen Pokemon with the rest being trainer cards. Understanding how to use trainer cards and their importance can't be understated, they are the backbone of your playing strategy.
Children opening Pokemon TCG Booster Packs
The Basics
All trading cards games are made up of complex rules. The cards themselves feature quite a lot of text and overlapping imagery. However, You don't need to focus on everything! Below is an image listing the different parts of a Pokemon card.
Pokemon TCG Card Anatomy
The important things to focus on when looking at a Pokemon card are:
- Stage: If it's Basic, you can play it without restriction.
- Ability: Just below the pokemon image, some cards may have a static ability that triggers at certain points of the game. These are important!
- Text Box: Always read the text on the card before playing it. This is the number one rule for any trading card game.
Turn Order
Outlined below is the official turn order as stated by the Pokemon TCG handbook. Each turn has 3 main parts.
- Draw a card
- Do any of the following actions in any order.
- Put Basic Pokemon cards from your hand onto your Bench (as many times as you want).
- Evolve your Pokemon (as many times as you want).
- Attach an Energy card from your hand to one of your Pokemon (once per turn).
- Play Trainer cards (as many as you want, but only one supporter card and one stadium card per turn).
- Use Abilities (as many as you want). - Attack. Then, end your turn.
Setting Up the Game
To set up your game of Pokemon, decide with your opponent who will go first. You can do this by flipping a coin or rock, paper, scissors for example. Then, shuffle your sixty card deck. Once that's done, draw seven cards into your hand.
Place one of your Basic Pokemon facedown in the "Active" spot (the middle of your play area) and any other Pokemon in your hand on your bench (Just below the active spot).
Next, put the top six cards of your deck off to the side face down, these will be your Prize cards. Prize cards are awarded for defeating your opponents Pokemon.
Gameplay
To start attacking your opponent, place an energy card that's in your hand under your Pokemon. Once you have the correct amount of energy to play an attack (indicated by the cards icons to the left of the text) then you can start fighting.
Some attacks will also trigger special abilities, so make sure you read the cards text in full when you declare an attack as some Pokemon pack a powerful punch.
Below the attacks text in small font shows a Pokemon's weaknesses. Just like the video games, some attacks will be super effective against your Pokemon so watch out! You'll want to
Evolving is something you can do only at the beginning of your turn. If a Pokemon is Stage 1 on the top left then you can place the appropriate Pokemon on top to evolve the Pokemon and unlock new and more powerful attacks. To really ramp things up, a Stage 2 can go ontop of Stage 1.
It's time to begin your journey
You now know enough to get started and learn the game even more with your friends and family. Don't be afraid to ask for help and make some rules up as you go along when you're still learning.
Remember, the most important thing is to have fun!
