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Pokémon TCG guides

Physical Pokémon TCG and Live rules, with Pocket’s different format clearly separated.

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15 guides
Original PlayKORE illustration: How to play the Pokémon TCG: your first complete game. Set up the board, Take a complete turn, Resolve CheckupPokémon trading cards

How to play the Pokémon TCG: your first complete game

In the physical Pokémon TCG, use a 60-card deck to set up Pokémon, attach Energy and attack. You normally win by taking all six Prize cards, leaving the opponent without a Pokémon in play, or when they cannot draw at the start of their turn.

2 min readOriginal PlayKORE illustration: How to read a Pokémon card. Name and Stage, Attack requirements, Bottom-row rulesPokémon trading cards

How to read a Pokémon card

Read a Pokémon card from its identity and Stage through its attacks, then check Weakness, Resistance, Retreat Cost and any Rule Box. The printed text can change the ordinary rules.

1 min readOriginal PlayKORE illustration: What are the deck-building rules for Pokémon TCG?. Exactly 60 cards, Check copy limits, Check format legalityPokémon trading cards

What are the deck-building rules for Pokémon TCG?

An ordinary constructed Pokémon TCG deck has exactly 60 cards and normally no more than four cards with the same name, apart from Basic Energy. The chosen format adds legality restrictions.

2 min readOriginal PlayKORE illustration: What can you do on your turn in Pokémon TCG?. Draw, Prepare the board, Attack and end turnPokémon trading cards

What can you do on your turn in Pokémon TCG?

Start by drawing, take your permitted setup actions, then attack to end the turn. Some actions are limited once per turn, while others depend on the individual card text.

2 min readOriginal PlayKORE illustration: How do Energy cards work in Pokémon TCG?. Match attack symbols, Attach once from hand, Keep Energy after attackingPokémon trading cards

How do Energy cards work in Pokémon TCG?

Attached Energy satisfies attack costs. It usually stays attached after attacking unless an effect tells you to discard it, and you normally attach one Energy card from your hand per turn.

2 min readOriginal PlayKORE illustration: How do you evolve a Pokémon in the TCG?. Match the prior Stage, Check timing, Keep damage and attachmentsPokémon trading cards

How do you evolve a Pokémon in the TCG?

Play the matching Evolution card from your hand onto an eligible Pokémon in play. Normally you cannot evolve on your first turn, evolve a Pokémon the turn it entered play, or evolve the same Pokémon twice in one turn.

1 min readOriginal PlayKORE illustration: How does retreating work in Pokémon TCG?. Read Retreat Cost, Discard attached Energy, Promote from the BenchPokémon trading cards

How does retreating work in Pokémon TCG?

A normal retreat moves your Active Pokémon to the Bench and promotes a Benched Pokémon. Pay its Retreat Cost by discarding enough attached Energy, and normally retreat only once during your turn.

1 min readOriginal PlayKORE illustration: How do Prize cards and winning work in Pokémon TCG?. Set six face down, Take the printed amount, Check all win conditionsPokémon trading cards

How do Prize cards and winning work in Pokémon TCG?

In an ordinary physical Pokémon TCG game, each player begins with six face-down Prize cards. Take the appropriate number when you Knock Out an opposing Pokémon; taking all of yours is one way to win.

2 min readOriginal PlayKORE illustration: Pokémon TCG Special Conditions: poison, sleep and more. Mark the condition, Apply the correct timing, Clear it by a legal routePokémon trading cards

Pokémon TCG Special Conditions: poison, sleep and more

The physical TCG uses five Special Conditions: Asleep, Burned, Confused, Paralyzed and Poisoned. They affect the Active Pokémon and have their own attack, retreat and Pokémon Checkup rules.

2 min readOriginal PlayKORE illustration: Items, Supporters, Stadiums and Tools: what is the difference?. Item: immediate effect, Supporter: limited action, Stadium and Tool: lasting effectsPokémon trading cards

Items, Supporters, Stadiums and Tools: what is the difference?

Trainer cards have different timing and limits. Items and Tools are distinct from the once-per-turn Supporter and Stadium actions, and every card can add its own restrictions.

2 min readOriginal PlayKORE illustration: Standard vs. Expanded: which Pokémon cards can you play?. Choose the format, Check marks and bans, Check Live supportPokémon trading cards

Standard vs. Expanded: which Pokémon cards can you play?

Standard uses the current rotating card pool, while Expanded includes a wider historical pool with its own banned list. Check the event or app format before choosing a deck.

1 min readOriginal PlayKORE illustration: How to start playing Pokémon TCG Live. Correct app and account, Learn tab, Practice one deckPokémon trading cards

How to start playing Pokémon TCG Live

Install Pokémon TCG Live for a supported device, sign in to the intended Pokémon account and use the Learn tab before jumping into unfamiliar matches. Live teaches the physical TCG’s rules rather than Pocket’s separate format.

1 min readOriginal PlayKORE illustration: How to test a deck in Pokémon TCG Live. Understand the setup, Observe repeated openings, Change one weaknessPokémon trading cards

How to test a deck in Pokémon TCG Live

Use Live’s deck-testing and learning options to understand a deck’s setup before judging it in competitive play. Test the opening sequence, resource access and recovery plan rather than only the largest possible attack.

1 min readOriginal PlayKORE illustration: How do Pokémon TCG Live code cards work?. Verify the account, Review the code reward, Claim and check the InboxPokémon trading cards

How do Pokémon TCG Live code cards work?

Redeem the code from a specially marked Pokémon TCG product through Live’s supported redemption interface or the official website. Inspect the reward and account before claiming; a digital booster need not match the physical pack’s cards.

1 min readOriginal PlayKORE illustration: Pokémon TCG Live vs. Pocket: which one should you play?. Tabletop rules: Live, Compact mobile rules: Pocket, Separate collectionsPokémon trading cards

Pokémon TCG Live vs. Pocket: which one should you play?

Choose Live if you want to learn and play the physical Pokémon TCG’s rules. Choose Pocket if you want its shorter, separate mobile card game and collection system. Their cards, decks and progress are not interchangeable.

2 min read