How do Prize cards and winning work in Pokémon TCG?

Prizes come from your own deck

During setup, set the required cards aside from the top of your deck. You normally do not inspect them while they are face down. A card you need may therefore be in the Prizes rather than in the searchable part of the deck.

When you take a Prize, it goes into your hand. That can change the options available on a later turn, so Prize cards are part of the game’s resource flow as well as its score.

Read how many a Knock Out gives

An ordinary single-Prize Pokémon and a Pokémon with a multi-Prize Rule Box create different risks. Do not assume every opposing Pokémon is worth one Prize or that every card with an impressive illustration gives up the same amount.

Card effects can also alter how Prizes are taken. Resolve the exact text rather than relying only on the usual amount.

The other win conditions still matter

You can win when the opponent has no Pokémon left in play. You can also win when the opponent cannot perform the required draw at the beginning of their turn. Those conditions do not require taking all six Prizes first.

Simultaneous end conditions have specific resolution rules. Use the rulebook or a judge for the actual situation rather than deciding based on who announced a win first.

Think in Prize trades

Losing one multi-Prize attacker can give up more progress than losing a single-Prize setup Pokémon. That affects which attacker you expose and when you retreat or switch.

Pocket normally tracks points instead of a six-card physical Prize layout. A limited-event format can also use a different Prize count. Confirm the format before setting up the table.