Q&A for How to Play With Pokémon Cards

A damage counter is a little token that tracks how much damage a Pokemon took. Usually one counter is worth 10 damage.

You do not discard any energy unless the attack specifies otherwise.

You 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.

Most Pokémon EX cards are Basic Pokémon, so you can play them directly onto your Bench. To play a Mega EX, however, you must evolve it from its corresponding Pokémon EX.

No, your Benched Pokémon do not take damage from Burn or Poison, nor do they require a coin flip. Special Conditions are removed from your Pokémon when it moves to the Bench or is Knocked Out.

Active Pokémon are the ones currently engaged in battle. You can swap Benched Pokémon into play to replace your Active Pokémon.

You can find Pokémon cards at most major retailers, including local department or grocery stores. For the best selection and deals, check specialty game stores.

You cannot use an attack if your Pokémon does not have the required energy attached. The only exception is for attacks that require no energy, which are typically identified by a specific symbol (such as a gray circle or a number '0') in the energy cost section.

You select your Active Pokémon and any Benched Pokémon from the Basic Pokémon in your opening hand.

You can draw energy cards naturally or use 'search' cards, such as Professor's Letter, to find them in your deck.

You take six card from your deck, place them faced own for your prize cards. Once you knock out an opponent, select one order card per knock out.

Yes, you can. Energy cards remain attached to your Pokémon, allowing them to be used for subsequent attacks.

The energy does not go into the discard pile unless the attack specifies otherwise.

A basic card represents a Pokémon in its initial, unevolved form. You can identify these cards by looking for the word 'Basic' in the top left corner.

You can build a half deck which has thirty cards and three prize cards to play against another half deck. Or you can use whatever size deck you can make with the cards you have, as long as there's an equal distribution between you and the other player. However, half decks can't be used in most tournaments, so you can just play for fun with a friend.

You can effectively use regular coins as a substitute for official Pokémon coins.

No, the damage remains. Damage is only removed when you use specific Trainer cards, Abilities, or attacks designed to heal your Pokémon.

After shuffling your cards, pick 7 cards from the top and keep them in your hand. Then choose another 6 prize cards from the top.

You need a 60-card deck to play. Generally, you can only include a maximum of four copies of any single card in your deck.

You draw six prize cards, and if you knock out your opponent's, pokemon draw (collect) one prize card.

If you have enough energy on your next turn, yes. But you can't use more than one attack in the same turn unless an ability or something else specifies that you can do so.

Yes. you can, just as long as you don't attack on your first turn, and be sure you attach your energy before attacking.

To determine if your Pokémon card is genuine, compare it to official images on Pokemon.com, looking for discrepancies such as an unnaturally dark shadow under the Pokémon illustration or an incorrect shade of yellow for the card's border. Additionally, a significantly brighter border on the back of the card often indicates it is counterfeit.

You cannot play the standard game, because you need 60 cards to make a full deck, but you can create some other format to play with friends.

There is no limit, but you are only allowed to draw 7 cards at the start of the game and one card each turn after that.

You can find Pokémon energy cards in booster packs, but a more efficient way to acquire them is by purchasing a theme deck or an Elite Trainer Box. Individual energy cards are also readily available online, often for a few cents each.

You can't. You need energy cards to play.

If the necessary energy is already equipped to the Pokémon, yes. You can attack directly.

If all the Pokémon on your bench and Active Position are Knocked Out/in your discard, then you lose regardless of how many Prize Cards you or your opponent have taken.

Paralysis automatically resolves at the end of the turn *after* your Pokémon becomes paralyzed. For example, if your opponent paralyzes your Pokémon, it will recover at the end of your next turn without requiring any special actions like coin flips or retreating.