Beginner’s guide
How to play the Pokémon Trading Card Game
Everything you need for your first battle: building a deck, attaching Energy, evolving your Pokémon and taking your Prize cards.
- The basics
- Setting up
- Card types
- Your turn
- Attacking and knocking out
- Special Conditions
- What to buy first
- FAQs
The basics
The Pokémon Trading Card Game is a two-player game where you are a Pokémon Trainer, sending out Pokémon to battle your opponent’s. Each time you Knock Out one of their Pokémon you take a Prize card, and the first player to take all six Prize cards wins.
60
Card deck
Each player uses a deck of exactly 60 cards.
6
Prize cards
Set aside at the start, and taken one by one as you Knock Out Pokémon.
5
Bench spaces
One Active Pokémon battles, with up to five more waiting on your Bench.
Setting up a game
- Bring a 60-card deck. No more than four copies of any card with the same name, except basic Energy. A Battle Deck is ready to play straight away.
- Shuffle and draw seven cards. If you have no Basic Pokémon in your hand, show your opponent, shuffle it back and draw again. Your opponent may draw an extra card each time you do this.
- Place your Pokémon. Put one Basic Pokémon face down as your Active Pokémon, and up to five more Basic Pokémon face down on your Bench.
- Set aside six Prize cards. Take the top six cards of your deck and place them face down to one side.
- Flip a coin and reveal. The winner chooses who goes first, then both players turn their Pokémon face up.
The three card types
Pokémon
Basic Pokémon can be played straight onto the Bench. Stage 1 and Stage 2 Pokémon evolve from them. Each has HP, attacks, a Weakness and a Retreat Cost.
Energy
Attached to your Pokémon to power their attacks. Basic Energy comes in types such as Grass, Fire, Water and Lightning.
Trainer cards
Items (play as many as you like), Supporters (one per turn), Stadiums (stay in play) and Pokémon Tools (attached to a Pokémon).
Your turn, step by step
- Draw a card. Always start your turn by drawing one card.
- Play Basic Pokémon from your hand onto your Bench, as many as you have room for.
- Evolve your Pokémon by placing a Stage 1 or Stage 2 card on top of the right Pokémon. You can’t evolve a Pokémon on the turn it was played, or on either player’s first turn.
- Attach one Energy card to one of your Pokémon (once per turn).
- Play Trainer cards: any number of Items, one Supporter and one Stadium.
- Retreat once if you need to, by discarding Energy equal to your Active Pokémon’s Retreat Cost and swapping it with a Benched Pokémon.
- Attack. Attacking ends your turn. The player who goes first can’t attack, or play a Supporter, on their very first turn.
Attacking and knocking out
Attacking
Your Active Pokémon needs the Energy shown beside an attack to use it. Damage is placed on the opponent’s Active Pokémon, and is doubled if your Pokémon matches its Weakness.
Knock Outs and Prizes
When a Pokémon’s damage reaches its HP, it’s Knocked Out and you take a Prize card. Knocking Out a Pokémon ex takes two Prize cards.
Three ways to win: take all six Prize cards, Knock Out your opponent’s last Pokémon in play, or win when your opponent has no cards left to draw at the start of their turn.
Special Conditions
Asleep: can’t attack or retreat. Flip a coin between turns to wake up.
Burned: takes damage between turns, then flips to see if the burn heals.
Confused: flips a coin to attack; on tails, it hurts itself instead.
Paralysed: can’t attack or retreat until the end of your next turn.
Poisoned: takes damage between each turn until it’s cured.
Curing: evolving or retreating to the Bench removes all Special Conditions.
What to buy first
New to the game
A Battle Deck: a ready-to-play 60-card deck that teaches you the basics.
Building your collection
Booster packs, booster bundles and booster boxes add new cards for your deck and binder.
The collector’s favourite
An Elite Trainer Box: booster packs plus sleeves, dice, condition markers and a storage box.
Ready to play?
Shop Pokémon TCG
Frequently asked questions
How long does a game of Pokémon TCG take?+
Usually around 20 to 30 minutes, once you know the basics.
What age is the Pokémon Trading Card Game for?+
It’s generally recommended for ages 6 and up, and it’s played by all ages, from beginners to world championship players.
What is a Pokémon ex?+
Pokémon ex are powerful Pokémon with high HP and strong attacks, but your opponent takes two Prize cards when they Knock one Out.
Can I mix cards from different sets?+
Yes, for casual play. Tournaments use a Standard format that only allows recent sets, so check the current rules if you play competitively.
Do I need to buy booster packs to play?+
No. A Battle Deck has everything one player needs. Booster packs let you add new cards and customise your deck once you know the game.