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If you want to do more than look at your collection of Pokémon cards, the trading card game (TCG) is a ton of fun and easy to learn! Just like the video games and TV show, you and your opponent play cards to send out your favorite Pokémon and battle. Even though there are tons of cards, the rules and strategies are pretty easy to pick up. Keep reading, and we’ll walk you through setting up your first game from start to finish!
Pokémon TCG Rules Overview
During the Pokémon card game, players play their Pokémon to battle against each other. On a turn, you can play cards, activate abilities, evolve your Pokémon, and attack. Knock out a Pokémon to win a Prize Card. Earn 6 Prize Cards, knock out all your opponent's Pokémon, or make your opponent empty their deck to win!
Steps
How to Set Up the Pokémon Card Game
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Shuffle your deck. Each player needs a deck with exactly 60 Pokémon cards. Shuffle the cards face-down so they’re mixed really well, and put them in the deck zone on the right side of your play area.[3]
- If you’re a beginner, use a starter deck that’s prebuilt and has everything you need to play the game. Alternatively, jump to our strategy section to learn how to build your own deck.
-
Flip a coin to choose the first player. Start off each game with a friendly handshake. Then, flip a coin and have the other player call heads or tails. Whoever wins the coin toss chooses which player takes the first turn of the game.[4]
- If you don’t have a coin, pick a first player with another game like rock-paper-scissors, or choose a first player randomly.
-
Draw 7 cards from your deck. Each player takes the top 7 cards from the top of their deck. You can look at your own hand of cards, but keep them secret from your opponent.
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Choose a Basic Pokémon as your Active Pokémon. Check your hand for any Basic Pokémon, listed in the top-left corner of the card. Pick one of them that you want to use first in your game. Set the card face-down in the Active Spot in your play area.[5]
- If you don’t have a Basic Pokemon in your hand, you can take a mulligan. Show your cards to the other player and shuffle them back into your deck. Then draw 7 new cards.
- Whenever you take a mulligan, your opponent draws 1 extra card into their hand.
- If you don’t have a Basic Pokemon in your hand, you can take a mulligan. Show your cards to the other player and shuffle them back into your deck. Then draw 7 new cards.
-
Play other Basic Pokémon to your Bench. If you have more than 1 Basic Pokémon in your hand, you may play any of them face-down in a row below your Active Pokémon. You can have up to 5 other Pokémon in your Bench.[6]
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Set aside 6 cards for your Prize Cards. Draw the top 6 cards from your deck and set them face-down on the left side of your play area without looking at them. Any time you knock out your opponent’s Active Pokémon in a battle, you’ll add at least 1 Prize Card right to your hand.[7]
- If you want a shorter game, then you can use fewer Prize cards.
-
Flip your Pokémon over to start the game. Once both players set up their starting Pokémon and Prize Cards, flip over all the cards in your Active Spot and Bench. Then, the first player can immediately take their turn.[8]
How to Play Pokémon Cards
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Draw a card at the start of your turn. At the start of every turn, take the top card of your deck and add it to your hand. You’re required to draw a card every turn, and it’s not an optional action.[9]
- If your deck runs out and you can’t draw a card at the start of your turn, you immediately lose the game!
-
Take actions in any order. There are multiple actions you can take during your turn, but it doesn’t matter which order you do them in. We’ll cover what each action does in the following steps, but the actions you can take are:[10]
- Play Basic Pokémon to your Bench
- Evolve your Pokémon
- Use Pokémon abilities
- Play Trainer cards
- Attach an Energy card to a Pokémon
- Retreat your Active Pokémon
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Play a Basic Pokémon face-up on your Bench. If you have any Basic Pokémon in your hand, you can play as many of them as you want face-up in your Bench. Remember, you can only have up to 5 Pokémon on your bench at once, unless another card in play says otherwise.[11]
-
Evolve your Pokémon with a card from your hand. If you have a Stage 1 or 2 Pokémon in your hand, check if you have the Pokémon it evolves from in play. Then, play the evolved form on top of the Pokémon card in your Active Spot or Bench.[12]
- You can evolve any number of Pokémon during your turn.
- You can’t evolve a Pokémon on the first turn it’s played or during the first turn of the game.
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Use your Pokémons’ abilities. Some Pokémon have special abilities on their card that let you take extra actions. Announce the ability you’re using and do all of the actions listed.[13]
- Each ability only activates once, but you can use as many abilities as you want on your turn.
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Play Trainer cards from your hand. Trainer cards are either Items, Tools, Supporters, or Stadiums, and they each have a special effect when you play them. You can play any number of Item and Tool cards on your turn, but you’re limited to 1 Supporter and 1 Stadium card each turn.[14]
- Discard Trainer cards, except for Stadiums, right after you play them.
- When you play a Stadium card, set it horizontally between both players and leave it there until someone plays another Stadium.
-
Play an Energy card onto one of your Pokémon. Energy cards each have a specific type and they help power up your Pokémon attacks. Tuck 1 Energy card underneath one of your Pokémon so its icon in the corner is still visible.[15]
- You may only play 1 Energy card per turn unless another card says otherwise.
- You can play an Energy card on your Active or Benched Pokémon.
- Energy stays on a Pokémon when it evolves.
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Retreat your Active Pokémon to your Bench. If you want to switch your Active Pokémon, check the retreat cost listed at the bottom of the card. Discard Energy cards with matching symbols from that Pokémon to move it back into your Bench. Then, choose one of your Benched Pokémon to move to the Active Spot.
- You can only retreat once per turn.
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Attack your opponent at the end of your turn. After you’re finished with your actions, use your Active Pokémon to attack your opponent’s Pokémon if it has enough Energy. Once the attack is finished, your turn ends immediately, and your opponent takes their turn. We’ll cover attacking in depth in the next section.[16]
- If you aren’t able to attack or choose not to attack, then your turn ends after you’re finished taking actions.
- You can’t attack your opponent during the first turn of the game.
Attacking Your Opponent in Pokémon TCG
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Attack if you have the required Energy cards. Every Pokémon attack has an Energy cost listed next to it. Check the symbols next to the attack and confirm you have matching Energy cards tucked underneath your Pokémon. If you have enough Energy, then you can use that attack.[17]
- A grey symbol with a star is considered “colorless” and can use any color Energy card.
- A grey circle symbolizes no Energy cost, so you can use the attack for free.
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Check the defending Pokémon’s weakness and resistance. Most cards have a Weakness and a Resistance to particular types of Pokémon. If the type symbol of your Active Pokémon matches the Weakness, then your attack does the extra damage listed. If your Pokémon’s type matches the Resistance, then reduce the attack’s damage by the listed amount.[18]
- Weakness and Resistance values vary between different Pokémon.
- Weaknesses and Resistances are only applied when an attack targets your opponent’s Active Pokémon.
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Subtract damage from the defending Pokémon’s HP. Look for the attack’s damage to the right of the attack name. Place damage counters onto the defending Pokémon equal to the attack’s damage. Once you finish the attack, your turn ends.[19]
- Each damage counter counts as 10 damage.
- Some attacks also have special effects listed beneath the name that may help you deal extra damage, so don’t forget to activate them.
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Take a Prize Card when you make a Pokémon hit 0 HP. When you reduce a Pokémon down to 0 HP, it’s knocked out and can’t be used in battle anymore. Choose any of your face-down Prize Cards and put it directly in your hand.[20]
- It’s a common mistake to take your opponent’s Prize Cards when you knock out a Pokémon, but you only take the Prize Cards you set out in your play area.
-
Replace a knocked-out Pokémon with one from the Bench. Place the knocked-out Pokémon, along with any Energy, Items, or previous evolutions, in the owner's discard pile. Then, choose a new Pokémon from the Bench and move it into the Active Spot.[21]
- A Benched Pokémon brings along any Energy or Items you already attached to it.
- If your opponent doesn’t have a Pokémon on their Bench, then you win the game!
Community Q&A
-
QuestionWhat is a damage counter?
Community AnswerA damage counter is a little token that tracks how much damage a Pokemon took. Usually one counter is worth 10 damage. -
QuestionIf you attack, do you discard energy?
WikiHowUser20180619201339Community AnswerYou do not discard any energy unless the attack specifies otherwise. -
QuestionWhat else can I use if I don't have a burn counter?
Community AnswerYou can use anything small that you can place on the card as a reminder, such as a coin or pebble. You can also try to keep track of the condition in your head.
Video
Tips
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Visit local game or card shops to see if they host any Pokémon TCG nights where you can play against other people.Thanks
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Open booster packs to add more cards to your collection that you can use in your deck.Thanks
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If you want to play the Pokémon card game online, download the Pokémon TCG Live app.Thanks
References
- ↑ https://www.pokemon.com/static-assets/content-assets/cms2/pdf/trading-card-game/rulebook/tef_rulebook_en.pdf
- ↑ https://www.pokemon.com/static-assets/content-assets/cms2/pdf/trading-card-game/rulebook/twm_rulebook_en.pdf
- ↑ https://www.pokemon.com/static-assets/content-assets/cms2/pdf/trading-card-game/rulebook/tef_rulebook_en.pdf
- ↑ https://youtu.be/8cbHjCWZZn0?t=55
- ↑ https://youtu.be/8cbHjCWZZn0?t=112
- ↑ https://www.pokemon.com/static-assets/content-assets/cms2/pdf/trading-card-game/rulebook/twm_rulebook_en.pdf
- ↑ https://youtu.be/eKC5PlYoboE?t=81
- ↑ https://youtu.be/8cbHjCWZZn0?t=165
- ↑ https://www.pokemon.com/static-assets/content-assets/cms2/pdf/trading-card-game/rulebook/meg_rulebook_en.pdf
- ↑ https://www.pokemon.com/static-assets/content-assets/cms2/pdf/trading-card-game/rulebook/tef_rulebook_en.pdf
- ↑ https://www.pokemon.com/static-assets/content-assets/cms2/pdf/trading-card-game/rulebook/twm_rulebook_en.pdf
- ↑ https://youtu.be/8cbHjCWZZn0?t=189
- ↑ https://www.pokemon.com/static-assets/content-assets/cms2/pdf/trading-card-game/rulebook/tef_rulebook_en.pdf
- ↑ https://youtu.be/eKC5PlYoboE?t=136
- ↑ https://youtu.be/eKC5PlYoboE?t=121
- ↑ https://youtu.be/8cbHjCWZZn0?t=372
- ↑ https://www.pokemon.com/static-assets/content-assets/cms2/pdf/trading-card-game/rulebook/meg_rulebook_en.pdf
- ↑ https://www.pokemon.com/static-assets/content-assets/cms2/pdf/trading-card-game/rulebook/twm_rulebook_en.pdf
- ↑ https://youtu.be/eKC5PlYoboE?t=270
- ↑ https://youtu.be/eKC5PlYoboE?t=330
- ↑ https://youtu.be/eKC5PlYoboE?t=321
- ↑ https://www.pokemon.com/static-assets/content-assets/cms2/pdf/trading-card-game/rulebook/meg_rulebook_en.pdf
- ↑ https://www.pokemon.com/static-assets/content-assets/cms2/pdf/trading-card-game/rulebook/meg_rulebook_en.pdf
- ↑ https://www.pokemon.com/static-assets/content-assets/cms2/pdf/trading-card-game/rulebook/meg_rulebook_en.pdf
- ↑ https://www.pokemon.com/static-assets/content-assets/cms2/pdf/trading-card-game/rulebook/twm_rulebook_en.pdf
- ↑ https://www.pokemon.com/static-assets/content-assets/cms2/pdf/trading-card-game/rulebook/meg_rulebook_en.pdf
- ↑ https://www.pokemon.com/static-assets/content-assets/cms2/pdf/trading-card-game/rulebook/meg_rulebook_en.pdf
- ↑ https://www.pokemon.com/static-assets/content-assets/cms2/pdf/trading-card-game/rulebook/twm_rulebook_en.pdf
- ↑ https://www.pokemon.com/static-assets/content-assets/cms2/pdf/trading-card-game/rulebook/meg_rulebook_en.pdf
- ↑ https://www.pokemon.com/static-assets/content-assets/cms2/pdf/trading-card-game/rulebook/twm_rulebook_en.pdf
- ↑ https://www.pokemon.com/static-assets/content-assets/cms2/pdf/trading-card-game/rulebook/twm_rulebook_en.pdf
- ↑ https://youtu.be/acw7lveJuls?t=169
- ↑ https://youtu.be/acw7lveJuls?t=469
- ↑ https://www.justinbasil.com/guide/deck-strategy
About This Article
To play with Pokémon cards, draw your hand and Prize cards, and set up your active and benched Pokémon. When you’re ready to play, draw a card and determine if you can use it on your playing field based on the description written on the card. When you gather enough energy, use your Pokémon to attack your opponent. If the damage is greater than the Pokémon’s HP, that card must be discarded. You can then take a Prize card. Whoever gathers all of their Prize cards first is the winner. To learn how to deal your Pokémon cards, keep reading!
Reader Success Stories
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"Pokemon is overcomplicated and the only fun way I have played it was made up by a 2nd grader. If the card game was more focused on being actually enjoyable rather than being accurate it would appeal more to the target audience of children and teenagers."..." more








































