With the recent release of Pokémon Sword and Shield on the Nintendo Switch, the Pokémon TCG is back in the spotlight — if it ever left, of course. This beginner's guide will teach you how to play the Pokémon Trading Card Game, from the basic rules of attacking and status effects to getting the hang of how evolutions work.
Today we answer the questions you ask us most often:
- How many cards do you need to play the Pokémon TCG? Choosing the right deck for your first game of the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
- How do you play the Pokémon Trading Card Game? The basics of setup, playing cards, attacking,using Energy and your first turn.
- How does evolution work in the Pokémon TCG? Learn to evolve your Basic Pokémon into powerful Stage 1 and Stage 2 Pokémon.
- How do Special Conditions work in the Pokémon TCG? Confused about Confusion? Feeling burned by Burn? We explain how Special Conditions work and how to get rid of them.
- How do you win the Pokémon Trading Card Game? By Knocking Out your opponent's Pokémon or forcing them to run out of cards: the different paths to victory in the Pokémon card game.
- Is there an app for the Pokémon card game?
How do you play the Pokémon TCG?
One of the reasons the Pokémon Trading Card Game has stayed so popular throughout its life is its ability to keep all the familiar aspects of the video games it is based on, without watering them down. Evolutions, Shinies, Trainers, battles, Special Conditions: everything you know about Pokémon, whether from the anime or the video games, has found its place in the trading card game.
Whether you've just discovered Pokémon for the first time, rediscovered it through the latest video games, Japan or Pokémon Go, or have been a fan since Red and Blue (or Green) landed on the original Game Boy , now is the perfect time to pick up the series' almost 30-year-old tabletop counterpart and learn to play the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
Even better, if you already know the basics of how Pokémon battleswork, you'll dive into the world of Pokémon cards very easily.
How many cards do you need to play the Pokémon TCG?
Each player has a deck of exactly 60 cards, made up of Pokémon cards, Energy cards, Item cards and Trainer cards. Apart from Energy cards, you can't have more than four cards with the same name in your deck.
When you're learning to play the Pokémon TCG, it's best to pick one of the preconstructed decks available for the trading card game. Once you know the basics, you can learn to build a Pokémon TCG deck that includes all your favorite Pokémon and fits your play style.
How does a game of Pokémon cards work?
The basic flow of play in the Pokémon TCG is fairly simple to understand, but there are a few steps you'll need to learn before your first battle.
How do you start a Pokémon TCG battle?
At the start of a game, players can flip a coin to see who goes first. Then the decks are shuffled, players draw a hand of seven cards and the top six cards are set aside as Prize cards; you add one of them to your hand each time you Knock Out an opponent's Pokémon, and you claim victory if you take all six before your rival.
Both players can place a Basic Pokémon card face down as their Active Pokémon, plus up to five other Basic Pokémon on their Bench. If you have no Basic Pokémon in your hand after drawing your opening seven cards, reveal your hand to your opponent and draw a new hand of seven.
You can repeat this as many times as you like until you have at least one Basic Pokémon — but your opponent draws an extra card each time you do.
A player can have a total of six Pokémon in play at the same time, although only one — the Active Pokémon — can attack each turn. The others stay on your Bench — a row of cards behind the Active Pokémon where you keep five other Pokémon waiting to battle your opponent, a bit like your party in the Pokémon video games.
Both Active and Benched Pokémon can evolve and have Energy attached. If your Active Pokémon is Knocked Out, you must replace it with a Pokémon from your Bench; if you have no Pokémon in play, you lose.
How do turns work in the Pokémon TCG?
At the start of each turn, the active player draws a card from the top of their deck ; if you have no cards left in your deck and can't draw at the start of your next turn, you lose.
During the second phase of each turn, you can do all of the following: Play any number of Basic Pokémon from your hand onto your Bench. Attach one Energy card from your hand to one of your Pokémon. It can be your Active Pokémon or one on your Bench.
Evolve a Pokémon by playing a Stage 1 or Stage 2 evolution on top of a Basic or Stage 1 Pokémon respectively. A Pokémon can't evolve on the turn it is played, and can only evolve once per turn (unless an Item card such as Rare Candy says otherwise).
How do you attack in the Pokémon TCG?
Once you've done the above, your Active Pokémon can attack the opponent. The Pokémon can use one of the attacks shown on its card as long as the right amount and type of Energy is attached to it.
Damage is placed on the opponent's Active Pokémon as damage counters — once it has taken as much damage as it has Hit Points, it is Knocked Out. A Knocked Out Pokémon must be replaced by a Pokémon from the Bench (if there is none, that player loses), and the player who Knocked it Out takes a Prize card into their hand. If they take their sixth and last Prize card, they win.
Once you've attacked and dealt damage and/or Special Conditions, your turn ends and it's your opponent's turn. Play continues like this until one player wins!
How does evolution work in the Pokémon Trading Card Game?
The Pokémon Trading Card Game shares many traits with the Pokémon video games. One of the biggest similarities is that you can evolve your Basic Pokémon into powerful Stage 1 and Stage 2 Pokémon, letting you use stronger attacks and more powerful Abilities to Knock Out your opponent's Pokémon.
Evolution happens in stages, and you can't skip a stage unless a card in play says otherwise — meaning evolution must follow the Basic, Stage 1, Stage 2 pattern, and a single Pokémon can only evolve once per turn. The exception is Pokémon-GX and EX, which can be played immediately and don't require evolution.
To evolve a Pokémon, just place the evolved form on your Active Pokémon or a Benched Pokémon. This removes all current Special Conditions, but attached Energy and damage stay as they are. Once a Pokémon has evolved, you can't use the attacks or Abilities of a previous stage — only those of the current evolution.
Evolution can happen on the Bench side of your play area, letting you build stronger Pokémon ahead of theKnock Out of your current Pokémon — and doing so is highly recommended.
How do Special Conditions work in the Pokémon TCG?
As in the Pokémon video games, the Pokémon Trading Card Game has a number of Special Conditions that can be inflicted on Pokémon, giving their opponent an extra edge in battle.
These Special Conditions are: Asleep, Burned, Confused, Paralyzed and Poisoned, and they are shown by turning the Pokémon card counterclockwise (Asleep), upside down (Confused) or clockwise (Paralyzed), or by placing a special marker on it (Burned or Poisoned).
Several Special Conditions can affect the same Pokémon — for those shown by turning the card, only the most recent one applies.
Asleep
If a Pokémon is Asleep, it can't attack or retreat. The card is turned 90 degrees counterclockwise to show its condition. At the end of each turn, the player flips a coin — if heads, the Pokémon wakes up and is no longer Asleep.
Paralyzed
When a Pokémon is Paralyzed, it can't attack or retreat during the player's next turn. The card is turned 90 degrees clockwise to show its condition. At the end of the player's next turn, the Paralyzed Pokémon recovers automatically.
Burned
The Pokémon card gets a Burn marker to show its condition. A Burned Pokémon takes two damage counters (20 HP) at the end of each turn. After taking this damage, the player flips a coin. If heads, the Burn is cured.
Confused
Pokémon video game players will know the words "It hurt itself in its confusion!" Confusion in the Pokémon TCG works the same way — when you attack with a Confused Pokémon, flip a coin. If heads, the attack happens normally.
If tails, the attack fails and the Pokémon takes three damage counters (30 HP). The Pokémon card is turned 180 degrees (upside down) to show its condition.
Poisoned
A Poisoned Pokémon takes 10 HP of damage at the end of each turn.
Special Conditions can also be cured by evolving a Pokémon or by retreating it to the Bench, which cures all Special Conditions.
How do you win the Pokémon Trading Card Game?
Like many other trading card games, the Pokémon TCG can be won in several ways:
The most common path to victory is to Knock Out six of your opponent's Pokémon and collect Prize cards. Each time you Knock Out a Pokémon controlled by your rival, you take one of the six Prize cards you set aside at the start of the game and add it to your hand. When you take your sixth and last card, you win!
Here are the 2 other ways to win your battle:
- If you Knock Out your opponent's Active Pokémon and they have no Pokémon available on their Bench to replace it, you also win.
- If your opponent has no cards left in their deckand therefore can't draw a card at the start of their turn, you win. This is called "decking" your opponent.
Is there a Pokémon card game app?
Besides the physical Pokémon Trading Card Game, you can play the digital Pokémon card game with the Pokémon TCG Online.
Pokémon TCG Online is a free app available on iOS and Android, for PC and mobile devices, that lets you play the Pokémon Trading Card Game against AI opponents or friends.
A tutorial mode makes the app a good way to learn to play the Pokémon TCG, while the app's deck builder helps you easily build a Pokémon TCG deck with your cards.
Personally, we prefer physical cards, boosters, displays and decks . The ones you can collect in binders and trade for cards you don't have in your collection yet. Find all our products around the card game of your favorite license and build your deck or your dream collection.