Getting Started with the Pokémon TCG

Learn the basics of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, including setup, turns, evolving Pokémon, and battling to win.

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Key Takeaways

Basic Pokémon must be placed first in the active spot to start the game.
Players take turns drawing cards, playing Pokémon, attaching Energy, and using Trainer cards.
Evolving Pokémon and retreating strategically can improve chances of winning.
Understanding weakness and resistance is crucial for effective attacks.
Victory is achieved by taking all prize cards or knocking out all opponent’s Pokémon.

What the video covers

Introduction to the Pokémon Trading Card Game and winning conditions.
How to set up the play area including deck, prize cards, active spot, bench, and discard pile.
Coin toss to decide who goes first and drawing the starting hand of seven cards.
Selecting and placing Basic Pokémon in the active spot and bench.
Setting aside six prize cards and beginning the game by flipping Pokémon face up.
Actions during a turn: drawing cards, adding Pokémon to the bench, attaching Energy cards, and playing Trainer cards.
Evolving Pokémon to Stage 1 or Stage 2 to increase HP and attacks.
Retreating active Pokémon by paying retreat costs to switch with bench Pokémon.
Attacking opponents, considering energy requirements, weakness, and resistance.
Winning by taking all prize cards or knocking out all opponent’s Pokémon, with additional resources like local Pokémon Leagues and online FAQs.

Chapters

How do I start a game of Pokémon TCG?

Begin by flipping a coin to decide who goes first, then shuffle your deck and draw seven cards. Place a Basic Pokémon in the active spot and up to five on your bench, then set aside six prize cards.

What actions can I take during my turn?

You start by drawing a card, then you can add Basic Pokémon to your bench, attach one Energy card per turn, play Trainer cards, evolve Pokémon, retreat your active Pokémon, and attack if you have enough energy.

How do I win a game of Pokémon TCG?

You win by either taking all your prize cards, which you collect by knocking out your opponent’s Pokémon, or by knocking out all of your opponent’s Pokémon in play.

Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown

Speaker A

Welcome to the Pokémon Trading Card Game. You're just minutes away from playing. In this beginner's tutorial, you'll learn how to set up your play area, take turns, evolve your Pokémon, and battle your opponent. To win a game, you'll either be the first to take all your prize cards or knock out all your opponent's Pokémon. Let's get started.

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Before you begin your game, set up your play area. You'll need space for your deck, prize cards, active spot, bench, and discard pile.

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Next, flip a coin. The winner of the coin toss decides who goes first. After the coin toss, each player shuffles their deck and draws the top seven cards.

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Look through your hand for a basic Pokémon, which will be labeled Basic in the upper left corner. Basic Pokémon are the only Pokémon you can set up in the active spot at the start of the game. Choose a basic Pokémon

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from your hand and put it face down in front of you in the active spot. This will be your active Pokémon. You can also put up to five more basic Pokémon face down on your bench. It's important to build up your bench of

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Pokémon in case your active Pokémon is knocked out. Once both players have set up their Pokémon, set aside six cards from the top of your deck without looking at them. These are your prize cards. When you knock out an opponent's Pokémon, you get

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to take one of your prize cards. Now you're ready to start the game. Flip over the face-down Pokémon in play. You must start your turn by drawing a card from your deck. After you draw a card, there are several actions you can take

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during your turn. Let's go through them now. If you have basic Pokémon in your hand, you may add them to your bench to build your team. You may do this multiple times per turn, but the bench can only hold five Pokémon. Once per

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turn, you may attach one Energy card from your hand to any of your Pokémon in play. That Energy stays with the Pokémon and powers its attacks. Put the Energy card partially under the Pokémon so you can tell it's there. During your turn,

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you may also play any Trainer cards in your hand. Trainer cards can give you an advantage in a match. There are four different kinds: Item cards, Pokémon Tool Cards, Stadium Cards, and Supporter Cards, and they all have different effects. To

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play a Trainer card, show your opponent the card, follow all the instructions on it, then put it into your discard pile. During your turn, you can play as many item cards as you want, but you can only play one Supporter card per turn.

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Let's use this Supporter card to help us out. If your Pokémon has been in play for a full turn, you can increase its HP and attacks by evolving it. You may evolve a basic Pokémon to a Stage 1 Pokémon, or a Stage 1 Pokémon to a Stage 2 Pokémon. Check below a

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Stage 1 or Stage 2 Pokémon's name to see which Pokémon it evolves from. When a Pokémon evolves, it keeps all attached cards, such as Energy cards, and any damage counters on it. Once per turn, you can retreat. This

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will switch your active Pokémon with one from your bench. However, there is a cost to retreating. Let's look at the retreat cost for this Pokémon. Each icon here represents an energy that must be discarded to retreat. If your active Pokémon has taken

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a lot of damage, you may want to consider retreating it. Try this strategy if you have a strong Pokémon on the bench that's powered up and ready to battle.

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It's finally time to attack! Attacking is the best way to defeat your opponent's Pokémon.

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Look at one of the attacks listed here. Check to see if you have enough energy attached to the Pokémon to use the chosen attack. If you have the right amount and correct type of energy, tell your opponent which attack you are using and

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read the attack text out loud. Damage counters represent the damage done to a Pokémon. Before adding damage counters to a Pokémon after an attack, you'll need to check one more thing: Weakness. Some Pokémon have weakness to certain types. For example, Fire types are weak to attacks from Water-type

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Pokémon and will take double damage. Similarly, some Pokémon have resistance to specific types of attacks and will take less damage. One step closer to victory!

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A Pokémon's HP, or hit points, represent the Pokémon's health. Compare the amount of damage on a Pokémon with its HP number. A Pokémon is knocked out when it has taken damage equal to its HP. Pokémon that are knocked out go

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to the discard pile, along with any cards attached to them. As long as the defending player has a Pokémon in play, they can choose any of their benched Pokémon to move into the active spot. When you knock out an opponent's Pokémon,

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take one of your prize cards. Once you take your last prize card, you win!

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Defeating powerful Pokémon may allow you to take more than one prize card. These Pokémon have a special rule box on the card with more info. Continue taking turns and battling until one player wins by taking all their prize cards or

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by knocking out all the opponent's Pokémon. You're on your way to becoming a Pokémon Champion! Revisit the rules as often as you need to. FAQ videos and Quick Start rules are also available on the Pokémon TCG website to help guide you

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through your first games. If you prefer to learn in person, visit your local Pokémon League so another Trainer can take you through the game. Find your local League using the Event Locator on the Pokémon website. Have fun, Trainer!

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through your first games. If you prefer to learn in person, Visit your local Pokémon League so another Trainer can take you through the game. Find your local League using the Event Locator on the Pokémon website. Have fun, Trainer!

Topics:Pokémon TCGTrading Card GamePokémon tutorialbeginner guidehow to play Pokémon cardsPokémon evolutionEnergy cardsTrainer cardsPokémon battlePokémon League

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